Recently, at work, I have been listening to Minnesota Public Radio instead of my iPod. Public radio helps the time to go by quicker because it is entertaining and informative at the same time. I also prefer listening to news from the radio instead of watching the news on TV. There are multiple benefits that radio news can offer over other mediums.
Public radio stations are largely supported by member listeners who pay monthly support fees. Because of thismethod of funding, such stations have minimal bias on the issues they cover. Television stations that broadcast the news are owned by conglomerates whose goal is to make money. Their way of increasing profits is by competing for the highest number of viewers.
The conglomerate news stations lure their audience in by reporting news to get the viewers' attention. Such news typically weighs toward violence rather than the most important news as weighed by more objective measures. These stations also fail to include world news, ofetn limiting their reporting spectrum to the United States. Minnesota Public Radio provides coverage of the world and touches on the most important issues. Depending on the ownership of the stations, news coverage can trend toward propaganda. Conglomerates have helped with the low quality and the lack of reliability among news stations, although the Internet gives even less reliability than TV.
Due to the overwhelming ease by which one creates a web page and distributes information, the Internet is most certainly the worst source of information.
I can only hope that more people find greater worth in Public Radio and consume its news programs to benefit their awareness of the world.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Radiohead's Latest Album
British alternative band Radiohead released its latest album In Rainbows last Wednesday, October 10. Rumors have circulated about the new album for over a year. It took the industry by surprise when the band announced that they had plans to offer In Rainbows on their website for any sum of money. Customers have the option of buying a CD that will be sent to them on the release date or MP3 tracks that are received via e-mail.
Radiohead is able to offer the album at any price because they are not bound by any recording contracts. Their loyal fan base may not pay top dollar for the collection of songs, but they won't leave the band with empty pockets.
This event has changed the music industry forever. More bands will be adopting Radiohead's release method in the future, and labels may have to merge together or face the threat of an end to the middle man. For now, all that the record companies can do is wait and see; in time, music will likely become more accessible at a lower cost.
Radiohead is able to offer the album at any price because they are not bound by any recording contracts. Their loyal fan base may not pay top dollar for the collection of songs, but they won't leave the band with empty pockets.
This event has changed the music industry forever. More bands will be adopting Radiohead's release method in the future, and labels may have to merge together or face the threat of an end to the middle man. For now, all that the record companies can do is wait and see; in time, music will likely become more accessible at a lower cost.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Top Ten Screenplays
"American History X" (1998)
"City of God" (2002)
"Donnie Darko" (2001)
"Forrest Gump" (1994)
"Harold and Maude" (1971)
"It's a Wonderful Life" (1946)
"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975)
"The Princess Bride" (1987)
"Requiem for a Dream" (2000)
"Schindler's List" (1993)
A good movie is not based on box-office success or production value. The ten greatest screenplays of all time share little in common when it comes to the stories told. Each one is set in a different place and different time, but each has made an outsized impact on viewers.
These movies were successful because of their ability to reflect the realities of historical events and speculate about the possibilities of the future. Each film shapes socially unacceptable concepts in ways in which audiences can relate. The viewer is empowered to make a difference in the world and change the norms of society. The theme of a screenplay is crucial to its merit, but there are countless further contributing factors.
Acting, music, cinematography, and writing are the four key elements that contribute to the success of a movie. Well-known actors are able to add to the movie's success, but they are not essential. That said, the acting must be done well. The actors must make a connection with the audience; viewers must credibly perceive them as real people. Music is a similarly valuable factor in a movie. The music in "Forrest Gump" communicates the turmoil that the U.S. was experiencing during the Vietnam War. Cinematography is usually overlooked by the typical viewer, but it contributes to a movie's tone. Also, cinematography maintains the attention of an audience. The last key component in a successful movie is its writing. The words used should reflect a story's setting and capture viewers' emotions.
Each of the ten movies listed above fulfill these essential requirements, establishing them as exceptional films.
"City of God" (2002)
"Donnie Darko" (2001)
"Forrest Gump" (1994)
"Harold and Maude" (1971)
"It's a Wonderful Life" (1946)
"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975)
"The Princess Bride" (1987)
"Requiem for a Dream" (2000)
"Schindler's List" (1993)
A good movie is not based on box-office success or production value. The ten greatest screenplays of all time share little in common when it comes to the stories told. Each one is set in a different place and different time, but each has made an outsized impact on viewers.
These movies were successful because of their ability to reflect the realities of historical events and speculate about the possibilities of the future. Each film shapes socially unacceptable concepts in ways in which audiences can relate. The viewer is empowered to make a difference in the world and change the norms of society. The theme of a screenplay is crucial to its merit, but there are countless further contributing factors.
Acting, music, cinematography, and writing are the four key elements that contribute to the success of a movie. Well-known actors are able to add to the movie's success, but they are not essential. That said, the acting must be done well. The actors must make a connection with the audience; viewers must credibly perceive them as real people. Music is a similarly valuable factor in a movie. The music in "Forrest Gump" communicates the turmoil that the U.S. was experiencing during the Vietnam War. Cinematography is usually overlooked by the typical viewer, but it contributes to a movie's tone. Also, cinematography maintains the attention of an audience. The last key component in a successful movie is its writing. The words used should reflect a story's setting and capture viewers' emotions.
Each of the ten movies listed above fulfill these essential requirements, establishing them as exceptional films.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Magazines are a direct reflection of unintentional American ideals. Women’s magazines set unrealistic expectations for the size and attitude of an American woman. Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, and Seventeen are all directed towards a similar demographic and share a similar range of advertising, circulation, and promotions.
The four magazines are aimed to females between the ages of 15 to 35 years old. Although this age democraphic is somewhat broad, the women who are most likely to subscribe are concerned with fashion and keeping up with what’s fresh in a modern day world. They contemplate the way that they live their lives and think about how other people will view them based on their way of living. Because of their enthusiasm for keeping up with the latest trends, it is no surprise that the advertisers of these magazines are trendy.
Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, and Seventeen all have a great deal of beauty products and clothing. Advertisers for the younger magazines such as Marie Claire and Seventeen promote more generic brands like American Eagle, whereas Harper’s Bazaar and Cosmopolitan tend to favor exclusive brands like Channel, Mark Jacobs, and Dior.
America absorbs the images that are idealized on television shows and the attributes that are represented by them. Cosmopolitan might promote itself by dedicating an issue to a TV show like the OC, or by placing a famous and well-respected actress on its cover. All four of these magazines are published by the Hearst Corporation.
These magazines can usually be purchased at convenience stores and are found in waiting rooms for hair salons, tanning spas, and nail salons. The magazines’ target demographic is the base supporter of these businesses, which drives how and where they sell magazines. Advertisers, publishers, and promotions are important in the magazine industry because they are the key ingredients to a single group of subscribers.
The four magazines are aimed to females between the ages of 15 to 35 years old. Although this age democraphic is somewhat broad, the women who are most likely to subscribe are concerned with fashion and keeping up with what’s fresh in a modern day world. They contemplate the way that they live their lives and think about how other people will view them based on their way of living. Because of their enthusiasm for keeping up with the latest trends, it is no surprise that the advertisers of these magazines are trendy.
Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, and Seventeen all have a great deal of beauty products and clothing. Advertisers for the younger magazines such as Marie Claire and Seventeen promote more generic brands like American Eagle, whereas Harper’s Bazaar and Cosmopolitan tend to favor exclusive brands like Channel, Mark Jacobs, and Dior.
America absorbs the images that are idealized on television shows and the attributes that are represented by them. Cosmopolitan might promote itself by dedicating an issue to a TV show like the OC, or by placing a famous and well-respected actress on its cover. All four of these magazines are published by the Hearst Corporation.
These magazines can usually be purchased at convenience stores and are found in waiting rooms for hair salons, tanning spas, and nail salons. The magazines’ target demographic is the base supporter of these businesses, which drives how and where they sell magazines. Advertisers, publishers, and promotions are important in the magazine industry because they are the key ingredients to a single group of subscribers.
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