Prep

(Ahhhhh) Prep, by Curtis Sittenfeld was not my favorite article to read. Not to say the novel was not well written, because it was. I just thought the plot was not well-developed. I felt as though I was reading a dairy..which is indeed interesting, however if I am going to read someones diary I would want to read something more "juicy" or dramatic. I thought that the idea of the novel was neat...the coming of age theme. but i guess i really did not think much of this novel, SoRRY Sittenfeld :(

Media Literature

Media Literacy- (Definition by Wikipedia)

Media literacy is the process of accessing, analyzing, evaluating and creating messages in a wide variety of media modes, genres and forms. It uses an inquiry-based instructional model that encourages people to ask questions about what they watch, see, and read. Media literacy education provides tools to help people critically analyze messages to detect propaganda, censorship, and bias in news and public affairs programming (and the reasons for such), and to understand how structural features -- such as media ownership, or its funding model -- affect the information presented. Media literacy aims to enable people to be skillful creators and producers of media messages, both to facilitate an understanding as to the strengths and limitations of each medium, as well as to create independent media. Media literacy is an expanded conceptualization of literacy. By transforming the process of media consumption into an active and critical process, people gain greater awareness of the potential for misrepresentation and manipulation (especially through commercials and public relations techniques), and understand the role of mass media and participatory media in constructing views of reality.

Media Literacy is was way for people to educate themselves about the media. Its a way to critically analyze what they see on tv, movies, magazines or hear on the radio..etc. rather than just taking it as it is. In a whole it gives people a better way to analayze the media and also connect the effecs of media to their everyday lives.

http://www.medialit.org/

http://www.medialiteracy.net/

http://www.ced.appstate.edu/departments/ci/programs/edmedia/medialit/article.html

Thomas Hine

"The Rise & Fall of the American Teenager" by Thomas Hine explained how teenagers came to be and how they are now. He gives the history of the teenager up til this point and also explains the "fall" that teenagers now face do to actions without the thought of consequences. THis pieces was well written and I was specifically interested on how the teenager "came to be." I had always thought that there was always such thing as a teenager. I like how he called teens "barbarians at the gate" , because thats how many people view teenagers. I do understand how many adults look at teens to be self-destructive. Some teens are indeed careless, destructive, nieve, etc. However I do not believe it is right that they stereo-type all teenagers.

The best part of HIne's article was about the 18yr old woman who threw away her baby, touched up her make-up, and then went back to dancing at her prom. OMG how crazy is that?

Anyways...i was trying to google this horrific story when I came across this picture...haha can you believe this girl really went to her prom like that..I just thought it was histarical!

MYSPACE

I honestlythought that Henry Jenkin's article was sooo boring. Everything they said about Myspace and Facebook I already knew.I must admit I am a "myspace head"! I just love it. I think its an awesome way to network and showcase your music or creativity. It is also a way to keep in touch with friends without "keeping in touch." I mean all you have to do is check out their profile and see whats new by looking at their status, bio, new photos, etc. The one thing I do not like about Myspace is all the young kids that I see have myspace. I see alot of young kids (especially girls) who have this alter ego on myspace which is usually more sexual & provocative. I do believe it is a good idea for parents to monitor their children if they do allow them to have myspace. The Horace Mann piece was a little more interesting ....probablly because it involved drama. All I can say is nothing on the internet is actually private. IF you do not want something to be "leaked" out to others, dont put it on your myspace, facebook, blogs..etc. simple as that.