Big or Small?

After last night I didn’t realize how common it was in our own society of how often women are getting ‘boob jobs’.   I always thought this was an occurrance for the elite, but it seems it is as easy to get like a Birthday Present.  I kid around with a certain co-worker and tell her if I ever won the lottery, I would buy her a set of boobs.  Poor girl, I don’t even think  a ‘push-up’ would help.  I just thought this as an expensive thing to get done.  When the girls in class last night mentioned the friends they new who where getting ‘jobs’ done you wouldn’t believe my surprise.    I couldn’t help thinking you’re so young!  Wait till you have children at least, they grow, not alot, but a bit that makes a difference. 

It does seem that women are becoming more and more ‘booborexic’  We’re not satisfied with what we got!  We want the melons!! But I don’t think we want them like this:

or like this

 Media makes it harder to be a woman, how can us real women compare to something like this?

The bottom line is we all like to look good but at what measures will we take to look good?  Some of us will do the healthy thing and committ to diet and exercise, but for others more extreme measures will  be taken, like extreme diets, boob jobs, libo, and blah, blah, blah.  What about just being and accepting yourself as a beautiful woman, or is that just taboo?

To Boldly Go…..

In preparing for our papers, it is important to stay away from split infinitives.  I’ve never heard of a split infinitive before so I can’t say I have ever used one.  If anyone has ever watched Star Trek it provides the perfect example of a split infinitive:  to boldly go where no one has gone before.  I’m sure now this must all give you an idea of what a split infinitive is, right?  As if,  I still don’t know what it means.  So I decided to research what it means and share it all with you.  A split infinitive is an infinitive that has an adverb between the to and the verb.  (the American Heritage Book of English Usage: a Practical and Authoritative Guide to Contemporary English, 1996 obtained from bartleby.com)

 I hope this makes sense for you all!

Cindy

Ross Horsely’s article was interesting.  Yes, I agree that there is a Gay culture.  But I don’t think it consists of the stereotypes that media portrays this culture to be.  Not all gay people are drag queens or butches.  They may have a certain sexual preference (we all do) which is a preference for the same sex, but each is different.  Not all gay male relationships are like the ones portrayed in “Birdcage” with Robin Williams.   I know of gay men, and their relationships are no way like the ones we see on TV, nor are they the same as heterosexual couples, however they do have certain roles in their relationships, one more probably masculine than the other. 

It frustrates me a little bit about the negative portrayals of gay people in the media, especially in the late 80’s and early 90’s.  It’s difficult enough for these individuals to come out and say they are gay to their families and friends, but it makes it even more difficult when ‘being gay’ is negatively expressed in the media (Saturday Night Live). 

I agree with Gross’s theory of ’symbolic annihilation’ where Gay culture is underpresented by media and where they have little say or control of what is being produced.  I also agree with his solution that minority groups should become the creators of what they want to portray to society.  This would be one way to do away with the negative stereotypes and images of the gay culture.

A prime example is Ellen Degeneres, she doesn’t come out on her show and act like a lesbian by hitting on all the women in her audience.  She’s like Opera, she treats everyone with respect, but only funnier!!  I remember when she first came out in her show, Ellen.  I hated the fact that everyone stopped watching her show because of that, and the mere fact that the network didn’t air her show anymore.  Did everyone forget why they first started watching it?  It was FUNNY!!  That’s why I watched it, I loved the humor and that is probably why I love her new talk show which is #1.  CONGRATS TO ELLEN!!!

The bottome line is, I think every sub-culture or culture should be respected for its own uniqueness.  Isn’t that what makes us a society?

Here is a clip from the Ellen Show that I thought you all might like.  ENJOY!

Happy Blogging!

Cindy

Her, I AM NOT!

I ‘m going to get a better body by buying this magazine!  NOT! 

It’s amazing how much we are influence by advertisements.  I remember when I was in Junior High I would buy all the teen magazines, look at the ads, and then I would go out to the mall in search of those items.  How dumb!  All that money I wasted by trying to copy those girls in those ads.  I never ever looked like them.  I might have dressed like them or tried to be like them but being a teenager and not very skilled in the make-up and hair department, I could never look like them. 

 You’d think as women we would know better to avoid advertisements that influence us to be something or someone that we are not.  Today’s teen girls are still doing what I did in Junior high.  It’s definitely something that is intergenerational. 

Now that I am older, I admit that I am still influenced by ads or commercials that promote “youngness”.  Being in my thirties I am more aware of the wrinkles that creep up on me in the night.  So when I see wrinkle creams in commericials and in magazines I get a little PO’d when they use younger women like the following in this ad for Avotone Anti-wrinkle cream.

 

This girl doesn’t need wrinkle cream, she needs Baby Oil!  To keep her shin soft like a baby!!  (Sorry for the sarcasm, but as if she has one little wrinkle on her body!)

It’s not just that we as women are influenced by these type of ads, its how women are depicted in them and the message that it sends out to the public that is more frustrating!  I by no means am a feminist but I do believe we should all be promoted in a way that is not demeaning to us.  A prime example is the following ad by GUCCI that places the woman below a man.  It gives the depiction that the woman should be down on her knees and be ready to give into all his demands. 

 

I mean women are not all sex objects nor do they want to be.  They do however want to feel sexy and desireable but not in a negative sense, they want to be respected and know that they can buy things or do things that is not going to be damaging to their character. 

The follwing ad shows a group of women that is not at all sexist or demeaning, but promotes healthy images of various types of women.  It also shows that women come in all shapes and sizes and ages.  Sure the picture is touched up a bit (what picture isn’t in magazines) but it does kind of give you the general idea of how positive messages about women can be displayed in advertisements. 

Happy Blogging!

 Cindy

After reading the article by Dave Itzkok, the ‘Pitchfork Effect’  I never really took into consideration of how I select to listen or buy or download music.  I’ve never heard of Pitchfork, and I have never gone on line or had to read an article of different music ratings to decide what music to listen to.

 If  I heard a song on the radio that got my attention I would try to remember it so I could download it from Lime Wire.  So after reading this article I realized there are influential sources that could make or break new comers into the music scene.  However, I have to admit I could care less about Pitchfork or any other music review critics that are out there to inform me of who is good or who is bad. 

I realize there are some people out there who rely on these sources to provide with information of what to download or what CD to buy,  what happened to our personal opinions or judgements of what to listend to?

It just frustrates me that people can manipulate others by influening them to listen to or not listen to certain types of artists because they say so.  It’s like saying we are weak little people who have no say on what is good music anymore.  Or like we are puppets on a string being led to supposedly ‘good music’. 

I feel for these new bands who are trying to make it big, but are quickly shut down by  sources like ‘Pitchfork’ who are just bloggers or new journalists out of school.  What happened to valuing the ‘artist’s’ individuality and creativity.  Sources like these can really dampen what could possibly be really great bands.   Who knows?  Obviously, they do.

 I may have gone on a tangent here, but I value any type of creativity, especially those who are brave enough to share it with the rest of us.  I will continue to go on to pick and chose what I want, I’ll be the judge to decide if I like it or not.  We all have different tastes in music, what I don’t like someone else will and visa versa. 

Here’s to creativity!!

Happy Blogging!

Cindy

I know I’m Smarter!!

I thought I would get one more blog in before class, so this this a quick one.

I watched the new game show with Jeff Foxworthy, Are you smarter than a fifth grader? I have to tell you, I felt pretty studpid!!! I only got one answe right, what does REM stand for? Well, I’m a Psych Major, I have better have gotten it right.

I don’t know if this show is to show how stupid we grown ups ca be. If we were in grade school again, especially an American grade school, we would get most of those questions right.

Anyway, I ended up feeling completely studpid after the show was over. How about you guys, the ones who watched it? Did it make you feel any smarter or worse? I thought it was like being on Jeopardy! Well, at least I get some of those questions right.

Anyway, see you all in class!

Happy Blogging !

Cindy

Super Freaks!!

I decided to use this title for my blog because I think it represents some of the people I saw at the theatre (I know not all people who go to movies are freaks, just some of them, and this title just popped out, so here it is!) I am a parent, which means most of my movie going experiences involves the “Wonderful World of Disney”! Which I don’t mind at all, having a child has its benefits!! I recently saw Bridge to Teribithia with my husband and 7 year old daughter at the Galaxy theatre.  We arrived a little early so that we could get good seats.  This gave us a great opportunity to ‘people watch’ in the lobby. I have to say I was getting a little disgusted.  Maybe I have never taken the time to notice this before, but some of these people were gross!  I mean they pigging out on popcorn, talking with their mouths wide open, butter grease on their faces.  We probably look like this when we are sitting in the dark and pigging out on own popcorn, but whatever happened to manners and NAPKINS!!!  Russell Smith referred the movie going experience as something like being in a pig barn.  This is what the snack booth area looked like!  I know that sounds rude but that is how I saw it.  I have to admit my family loves to pig out on popcorn when we go to the movies, isn’t that what moving going is about…the popcorn?  It’s not like we all go to the Galaxy everyday.  It is a special treat for all of us to enjoy!   

Who can afford to go to the theatre everyday?  Movie going is expensive!  Is it really worth it?  I remember when it only cost $2 to go.  I normally like to wait for the movie to come out on DVD.

Sitting in the theatre waiting for the movie to start is quit the experience.  You get to watch people scurry to get to what they think are the best seats.  Even when the theatre is empty people act like someone is going to beat them to their seats.  Because we got there early we got good seats, which is about centre row right in the middle. It was too early to get popcorn so we just sat in our seats and watched the people enter.  Some people look so stressed when they entered the theatre, I guess I would be to if I had like a million kids to take care of (a little exaggeration there, it was probably more like 3 or 4 kids).  

An elderly couple walked in and they were so cute holding hands, and then this middle age couple walked in with scowls on their faces, this is a family movie, BE HAPPY!  Why even go to a movie with someone and be all cranky, but then again this was a feel good movie, so maybe they needed something to feel good about.   

The movie was going to start so my daughter and I went to go get popcorn but we made a pit stop on the way.  My husband stayed behind to protect our seats (he’s one of the Super Freaks).  When we entered the bathroom, there was this lady checking out her butt in the mirror while her daughter was in one of the stalls.  Nobody, especially women want to be busted for checking out their butts in the mirror in a public washroom, this woman looked really embarrassed and turned beet red!  To make it worse my daughter asks, “Is there something wrong with her bum, Mommy?”  I just quickly ushered her into a stall while the Lady quickly grabbed her daughter and walked out of the bathroom.  I have to admit it was funny you had to be there!

 I don’t know about you all, but I hate lines!  One of my BIGGEST PET PEEVE is when people ahead of you see people they know and let them in the line, it really p#@%#$’s me off!  I also hate the fact there is not much to choose from the great popcorn menu!  I mean what a selection.  I would really like to see a ‘small combo’; you know a small popcorn and small drink for like 5 bucks.  Yeah right, like that’s ever going to happen!  

 Enough about the food, lets go back to seating.  Why is it with all the seats that are available in the whole theatre, people have sit right next to you!  What ever happened to space “I’ll respect yours, you respect mine…so MOVE OVER LADY!!   Some lady had to sit right next to us so my husband asked her to move over because that seat was taken.  If looks could kill, my husband would be 6 feet under.  She actually grunted at him and then moved over.   

As the movie was getting started it got all quiet, that was the best part!  When you are sitting in the dark and looking at a huge screen it allows you to get lost in the moment.  I noticed everyone looking up at the screen, captured by the story being told.  Why is it that when you get so wrapped in the movie at a special moment that a baby cries, which is what happened.  I have nothing against babies I love them, I mean I had one (thank goodness, she’s 7!!), but why do people constantly bring babies to movies.  Get a sitter, I I did.  In my own opinion, I don’t think babies should be brought out to the movies, they are too young to benefit from it, and Moms and Dads are too busy with baby to watch the movie, the best thing is to just get a sitter.  Am I being too harsh?  Maybe, but I think a little consideration for people who have spent money to go to a movie should be able to enjoy it and not listen to a baby crying through it. 

I don’t think people know others might be watching them in the movie theatre, which is why they do things that they probably wouldn’t do if the lights were on.  During the movie, I glanced around at different people, they seemed normal, then I happened to glance at the woman sitting near my husband, and I nearly ralphed…I shouldn’t share these gory details with you, but I will and I apologize.  She was eating her popcorn and picking her nose at the same time.  GROSSS!!  I quickly turned away; I couldn’t eat any more popcorn after that.   

That was last interesting part of my whole movie going experience. 

This movie experience probably sounds quite negative but not every movie I go to has such a negative feeling to it.  But then again, I wasn’t observing everything and everyone around me, usually I watch the movie and ignore everything else.  I think for the next movie I go to, I’ll just stick to watching it and not the people around me.   Happy Blogging! 

Cindy

 

News of ANNA

Happy Valentine’s Day everybody!

For some you who may not know, the the News has informed us that Anna Nicole is dead.
Here is a clip from CNN about her death.

I can’t help wonder if the news is not to blame for her death. (BESIDES ALL HER OTHER PROBLEMS) but …I mean just a couple of weeks ago she was on Entertainment tonight with her husband Stern being interviewed about the paternity of her baby’s. This was Top news on ET for about a week. 

 Personally I don’t care who the father is, just as long as she has a healthy baby girl, will I don’t think she’s going to be very emotionally healthy now that her mother is dead.

This type of ’soft news’ that ET reports is something that all of us enjoy, we love all the gossip! and who doesn’t.  But when they interviewed Anna along with her husband, they seemed to be pressing her about certain personal things, things that the AJ would not repeat or even share with millions of people worldwide! ( I guess she deserves it, she’s always liked the spotlight!)

Don’t you think it would be stressful to admit to certain things on TV, especially the paternity of your child’s father!  And then to die just a couple days later!  I don’t know but I can’t help thinking that maybe Media such as the news press buttons with people to do drastic things to themselves.  I don’t know, but I would love to hear your comments!

Happy Blogging!

Cindy

Canadian Blah Blah TV

I don’t know about you all, but I LOVE AMERICAN TV!!! 

Actually from reading some of your blogs, we seem to all be voyourers of American Television.  But why, how come we don’t watch as much Canadian Television as we Canadians probably should?  Do you think things would be different if we had no other choice but to watch Canadian TV,  if there was no other satelites, or American Networks like NBC, CBC, ABC that we have been exposed to,  just plain old Canadian Television.  I think I would be extremely bored, especially if the programs that are presently exposed to us like Corner Gas…(can’t remember the rest) what a bleak existence we Canadians would have! 

But why don’t we like Canadian Television, the text asks us how is Canadian Television different from American Television?  Well, actors for one, the actors in the U.S. seem more attractive than in Canada, our Canadian Actors look ordinary, not as attractive or their plump and bald.  Another reason is that their Broadcasting looks better, I don’t know do they spend more money on producing their shows?  Another reasons is their televisions programs are way more interesting than ours, I kind of get sick of listening to Canadian humor after awhile, don’t you? 

I guess I shouldn’t be so hard on Canadian Television and I should view more of it.   Here is a little clip of a new program that is going to be or already is on Canadian TV: Little Mosque on the Prairie.

Is Cool, taste?

Watching  Merchant of Cool  scares me!  It seems that kids are getting older and older, whatever happened to innocence!!  What I’m referring to is the young girl who is 13 but acts like she is 18 through her dress, make-up and her behavior.  She dances with boys like she is in adult night club,  I wonder what her parents said after they watched the vidio.  I know my reaction would be to ground her for life. (Oh my God, I sound like my mother!) 

However, media loves these ‘tweeny boppers’, they are their best customers!   Why?  Well, they definitely have more money than we did as teens, we were lucky to get 5 bucks a week, I can only imagine what kids get nowadays.    Teens, expecially tweens are easy to influence.  They like the idea of being cool, and the ways to be cool is to buy into what media has to offer.   The more that is offered the more teens will buy.  

Can you imagine the amount of stress this puts on parents?  Parents want their kids to be cool  so they will buy their children whatever they basically want, no one wants a ’geek’ for a child, parents want their kids to be cool.  

Competition also plays a huge role in this as well, parents will compete with other parents in buyging things for their children such as the latest fashions, cell phones, mp3 players… the list goes on and on.  The media does not only love the tweens but they love the parents, they have captured their audience in which they are making their millions off of.  

I have to admit, I have bought into the media ploys for certain things for my daughter, my family and myself, and to be quite honest I don’t think I’ll stop, I am part of this thing called CONSUMERISM! (doesn’t mean  I like it!)  Who isn’t?

The following clip gives you a little bit of an idea of how much $$$ tweens actually spend in Canada, (actually what parents pay)

 Happy Blogging

Cindy