One of the most interesting topics discussed in class today was how Jameson defined the difference between a pastiche and a parody. It was brought up that a parody “mocks an original” and is associated with a sense of humor. Jameson further expands the idea of a “parody” to include a mockery with substance, something that is created to honor or show respect to the original piece of work, something not necessarily with a negative connotation in the least. However, when Jameson describes a pastiche, he uses strongly negative words, including associating a pastiche with an “empty” or “bankrupt” recreation. A pastiche lacks important political and historical meaning.
In class, the Victoria’s Secret fashion show was brought up as an example of a pastiche of the human body. Unlike the vestiges from Ancient Greece celebrating the beauty of humanity, the Victoria’s Secret extravaganza exploits the body in order to make a profit and sell lingerie. Although I understand how Jameson can find recreations like this “empty” in the sense that they do not place a value upon thought, creation, and representation like many classic remnants of artworks do, I think these representations are valuable in a different mindset as well. They denounce what Jameson describes as the current dominate form of culture- that which is postmodern. Culture and art in Jameson’s postmodern sense idealizes the virtues of capitalism. The works are made for the purpose of profit, no longer expression. This is not to say this form of art and culture is less worthy of production than the intellectual works, but it does show the shift of values of the culture of our time. Although the works are pastiche and lack, as Jameson suggests, historical and political impact in the intellectual sense, they are meaningful in the capitalist society and thus are a huge part of our current culture.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
"It's Just Made for Television"
"Its just made for television" caught my attention. I interpreted Bourdieu’s statement as means to validate the variety of topics that are seen on TV. Recently, TV has become more sexualized and orientated towards drugs and alcohols. These themes are frequently found in almost every television show aired. I interpreted Bourdieu's quote as the justification for the inappropriate content found on TV. I think this statement can be used to justify the exorbitant amounts of sex and drug use that is often incorporated in any successful show aired. Sex and drugs are two themes which do capture viewer’s attentions and make these shows successful. These topics are appealing to many and make the television shows interesting. It's nearly impossible to watch a TV show that doesn't have sex and drug use or a reference to either of the two. TV impacts so many people and has the power to reach so many audiences so people on all levels are being influenced by the content found in television shows. In addition, I think the quote “ The evening news on French TV beings together more people than all the French newspapers together, morning and evening editions included. . . When the information supplied by a single news medium becomes a universal source of news, the resulting political and cultural effects are clear” ( 328). With this being true, so many French citizens are connected through this powerful communication outlet. This is fascinating because it really validates how TV affects people and can have an impact on what they see and hear about reality and worldly news. American TV has been known to falsify reality and alter the news. Since this outlet is so powerful and influential it’s hard for people to differentiate what’s been altered and what hasn’t. Therefore, maybe we aren’t getting the correct information and news but it’s playing a role in how we view the world and the rest of media.
bourdieu
This article made me realize how powerless everyone really is. Bourdieu says, “Through pressure from audience ratings, economic forces weigh on television, and through its effect on journalism, television weighs on newspapers and magazines…the weight then falls on individuals journalists, who little by little let themselves be drawn into television’s orbit” (335). Pretty much a loop of people and forces exist, each limiting the other. Television limits audience’s receipt of information. Censoring information and giving information which isn’t exactly true. For example, they can decide on what stories they tell, how they tell them, and what filming techniques they use to present the story. For instance in an article we read in cmc100, tv fosters a sense of fear. We all think our house is going to get broken in to. We have distorted views of minority groups. We think everyone who is marginalized is also a vicious killer. The portrayals help to keep the marginalized marginalized. And the media conglomerates know what they are doing. They are the puppeteers pulling the strings on their journalist marionettes. Pushing them in the way of “right” stories. Stories that fit into their ideals and don’t really contradict their culture. After I watched part of Outfoxed in cmc200, I decided to rent it and learn all I could about Fox. I really could not believe how ridiculous the system was. Journalists were told what stories to present. And if they did anything outside of Fox-like reporting, they were fired. Journalists who want jobs have to say what the media giants want them to say. And the media giants want certain stories to be told that benefit them. Stories that keep the audience watching. Every night there is some new update on the Casey Anthony case. Every day new information comes about and somehow they use this information to fill tons of time. Talking about this case distracts from real problems. (I’m not saying this isn’t a real problem, but every day talking about her text messages, her google searches, and her parents just saying they want to find Caylee is just a filler distraction.)
Kelsey Pike. Bourdieu.
Kelsey Pike. Bourdieu.
Bourdeu and Tv
Television is one of the most powerful forces of media that we have. As Bourdeu says, “television produces effects which, though with not precident, are completely original.”What I take his statement to mean is that television is one of the only mediums that we have that produces material that is like nothing else we ever see. The best example that he uses is the news. He uses the example of French news and says that it is the only medium to bring people together than news papers. News programs, mainly local ones, come on at exactly the same time each day. The characters, the anchors, are always the same, but the
stories are always different. Collectively, individuals are able to come together, yet remain in their own homes, and watch the same program. It has all real stories and real situations that we as viewers are first exposed to by them. Bourdeu calls this “homoginization.” Whereas newspapers are read at different times, and often show many different points of views for readers. Television news is something that always remains constant, thus making it one of our most effective forms of media.
stories are always different. Collectively, individuals are able to come together, yet remain in their own homes, and watch the same program. It has all real stories and real situations that we as viewers are first exposed to by them. Bourdeu calls this “homoginization.” Whereas newspapers are read at different times, and often show many different points of views for readers. Television news is something that always remains constant, thus making it one of our most effective forms of media.
Bourdeu and Tv
Television is one of the most powerful forces of media that we have. As Bourdeu says, “television produces effects which, though with not precident, are completely original.”What I take his statement to mean is that television is one of the only mediums that we have that produces material that is like nothing else we ever see. The best example that he uses is the news. He uses the example of French news and says that it is the only medium to bring people together than news papers. News programs, mainly local ones, come on at exactly the same time each day. The characters, the anchors, are always the same, but the
stories are always different. Collectively, individuals are able to come together, yet remain in their own homes, and watch the same program. It has all real stories and real situations that we as viewers are first exposed to by them. Bourdeu calls this “homoginization.” Whereas newspapers are read at different times, and often show many different points of views for readers. Television news is something that always remains constant, thus making it one of our most effective forms of media.
stories are always different. Collectively, individuals are able to come together, yet remain in their own homes, and watch the same program. It has all real stories and real situations that we as viewers are first exposed to by them. Bourdeu calls this “homoginization.” Whereas newspapers are read at different times, and often show many different points of views for readers. Television news is something that always remains constant, thus making it one of our most effective forms of media.
Marx: Ruling Ideas
**Note: I know this reading is from a while ago, I am just trying to catch up on blogs that I have previously missed.
"...the class which is the ruling material force of society is at the same time its ruling intellectual force."
This quote is a major theme in our ideologies that we live by. People who have the means to produce products make the hegemonic ideas of our society. These products are not only material products, they are also the ideas of the ruling class. For example, if a big corporation puts out a beauty product that supposedly takes back time by removing wrinkles, the lower classes believe that wrinkles must be bad and that they should go out and buy the product. This implements the ideas of the ruling class to those who are not in the ruling class.
Those who are in the ruling class wants those who are not to believe that these ideas are true. In most cases it works, but slowly and surly I believe many are becoming aware of the truths behind these ideas. These hegemonic thoughts are put into play so that those in the ruling class can stay there and make a profit off of the lower classes. They disguise their thoughts through the media and celebrities. They use people to sell their products who either look 'just like us' or choose people who are too perfect which keeps those who are 'normal' always striving for something better.
"...the class which is the ruling material force of society is at the same time its ruling intellectual force."
This quote is a major theme in our ideologies that we live by. People who have the means to produce products make the hegemonic ideas of our society. These products are not only material products, they are also the ideas of the ruling class. For example, if a big corporation puts out a beauty product that supposedly takes back time by removing wrinkles, the lower classes believe that wrinkles must be bad and that they should go out and buy the product. This implements the ideas of the ruling class to those who are not in the ruling class.
Those who are in the ruling class wants those who are not to believe that these ideas are true. In most cases it works, but slowly and surly I believe many are becoming aware of the truths behind these ideas. These hegemonic thoughts are put into play so that those in the ruling class can stay there and make a profit off of the lower classes. They disguise their thoughts through the media and celebrities. They use people to sell their products who either look 'just like us' or choose people who are too perfect which keeps those who are 'normal' always striving for something better.
Constantly Being Disciplined
'...but in the panoptic machine, invested by its effects of power, which we bring to ourselves since we are part of its mechanism."
This quote sums up the main idea of Foucault's article. As we walk through our daily lives it is sometimes hard to believe that we are constantly being watched. Even as I walk around campus, I don't see any cameras, but I know they are there. Not only do we have cameras on this campus, but there are also campus security and RA's walking through the dormitories to make sure no one needs to be disciplined.
In class, we talked about a new social code that will be implemented sometime next year. It will tell students to watch out for one another and to let someone in authority know if someone is acting in a 'bad' way. The quote above explains how even though we are not always watched, we still act as though we are. Kelsey gave a great example of the mirrors that are in Walgreens. We can't see to the other side, but because they are there, we would think twice before doing something like stealing.
In the show Gossip Girl, the main characters are always under surveillance because everyone has the power to capture the moment with their cell phone cameras. These days, everyone has the power. No longer is it a couple of people at the top, it includes everyone with the technology at their finger tips.
This quote sums up the main idea of Foucault's article. As we walk through our daily lives it is sometimes hard to believe that we are constantly being watched. Even as I walk around campus, I don't see any cameras, but I know they are there. Not only do we have cameras on this campus, but there are also campus security and RA's walking through the dormitories to make sure no one needs to be disciplined.
In class, we talked about a new social code that will be implemented sometime next year. It will tell students to watch out for one another and to let someone in authority know if someone is acting in a 'bad' way. The quote above explains how even though we are not always watched, we still act as though we are. Kelsey gave a great example of the mirrors that are in Walgreens. We can't see to the other side, but because they are there, we would think twice before doing something like stealing.
In the show Gossip Girl, the main characters are always under surveillance because everyone has the power to capture the moment with their cell phone cameras. These days, everyone has the power. No longer is it a couple of people at the top, it includes everyone with the technology at their finger tips.
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