Extra Credit Assignment- Blogs

     Before taking RTF 305 I have not written previous blogs.  There were several positive aspects of writing the blogs throughout this course.  For instance, the blogs allowed me to be more focused on the key points of the material in the course.  I was able to express my own opinion over the main ideas and was able to share my input with fellow classmates by using the blog website.  The prompts given by our T.A’s were straight forward and easy to comprehend.  In doing so, I did not come across any difficulties in using the blog.  When I did have difficulty finding sources of information in order to answer the blog prompts, I was able to read other peoples’ blogs in my classes which allowed me to see what directions they took towards answering the given prompt.

     One of the types of blog prompts that was more interesting and less difficult were prompts that focused on key historical points in the film world.   These prompts seemed to be the most interesting because they covered issues dealing with how the use of film evolved over time.  For example, the fifth blog assignment dealt with understanding how a studio system functioned.  After almost completing RTF 305, it is easy to understand how important it is to know about the history of Hollywood, and what stages Hollywood went through to become what it is today.  The power points created by our instructors were extremely helpful by providing me with sources of information over the main ideas of the material covered.  The availability of this information made it much easier for me to complete the blog assignments accordingly. 

     One thing that could be improved in the blogging experience is to focus on more prompts dealing with types of film in today’s world, such as the growing market of independent films.  It would be interesting to analyze how independent film makers strategize and produce low budgeted films.  Yes, you can use my blog in a paper or report.

RTF Blog Assignment #10- Globalization

     According to Berg’s lecture, globalization can be defined as a process of increasing interconnectedness among nations, cultures, and people.   This allows “increased opportunities for communication, exchange of material, symbolic goods, and migration of people across national borders” (Berg).  Although globalization may lead to several positive outcomes economically, there is a loss of national culture in nations due to the increased flow of western culture across these nations.

     Cultural imperialism is a concept that explains the increased movement of western culture across nations.  This movement causes cultures to become the same or “westernized.”  Cultural imperialism creates a “loss of cultural autonomy and national sovereignty” (Berg).  Furthermore, there is an imbalance in global power structure due to cultural imperialism.

     Cultural imperialism can be seen in American cinema.  For example, film movement across cultures have somewhat   been dominated by Hollywood since the 1930s.  The film history lecture by Colin Tait emphasizes the globalization of American cinema and how cultural imperialism was involved.  Hollywood originally dominated film in the 1930s due to the studio powers that were in control at that time.  Professor Tait explained Hollywood as a destination for international talent.  Therefore directors, actors, and crew of this era were people who had fled from Europe.  The studio system is a prime example of how the flow of media through Hollywood film became Americanized.  Globalization has affected several media sources due to cultural imperialism.  Early Hollywood film aided the film industry into having a loss of cultural autonomy because of the increased international flow of non-American cultures into American Culture.

RTF Blog Assignment #9- Advertising Appeals

     One of the popular Gatorade commercials in 2009 exemplifies a powerful message of becoming a star athlete.  I feel this advertisement serves as a primary motivator to get out and play the sport you love.  This commercial draws attention due to the rapidly changing scenes of different professional athletes succeeding at what they do.  The other main, attention giver is the use of a drum beat that plays the role of synchronizing with what goes on in the various scenes in the commercial.  The beat enables the viewer to be on edge of what is to come.  During the duration of quick transitioning between scenes bottles of Gatorade are shown.  It is easy to observe the main message the advertisers are putting forth.  The ad implies that Gatorade can get you to the top level of whatever sport you play.  The intriguing display of athletes performing at what they do best gives the viewer a sense of motivation into becoming a star sports player.

     One of the advertising appeals used in this commercial is achievement.  An achievement can be described as something accomplished or something earned due to a superior effort.  Ads which use this special appeal engrave a message into the viewer that whatever product is being advertised can possibly lead to something being accomplished or achieved.  

     As I mentioned in the previous texts, there is a rapid transition between scenes of professional athletes performing in the different sports they pursue.  Some of the scenes shown include a soccer player scoring, a football player running the ball into the end zone, and a volleyball player making a superb spike.  Each of these actions displayed by the athletes is one way or another forms of achievement in what they do.  The appeal of achievement enables the product Gatorade to be seen as a primary tool for achievement in any specific sport. 

-here is the link to the Gatorade commercial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwhTYFwfACA