There's Kanye...

I'm feeling that Kanye isn't as strong and popular as he used to be anymore. The reason being, he's starting to lose his change, or should I say privilege on stage. He keeps bragging on about how good he is, and that he has a "Number one album" clearly states that he sticking up for Britney. In my opinion, I believe Kanye should try to make an effort and respect everyone else around him, than just trying to bring back one individual, Britney. Kanye had but any respect for the Black Eyed Peas when he said that he was better than them. Bragging doesn't help his cause. If he had some respect, I'm sure that would get him somewhere. Throwing a tantrum, and swearing wasn't a good idea for him. Yes, I understand he didn't win anything, but there's always a next time. Kanye should have just said the truth, and how he felt about the whole thing but instead, he was mad because MTV used Britney Spears as a topic for something to talk about, and not as the "Comeback". If he did so, he could have easily brought back his fans with the new album. Since that tantrum, I believe he's going to experience a harder time getting his fans back than he ever would if he didn't. Some things just come pretty clear in life. Let's think of it as common sence. I just hope for the best for Kanye. Good luck!

Kanye's Backstage Meltdown.

Kanye's Picture -
http://alisbasement.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/kanyeremix.jpg
Kanye's Video -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-631TgPP2s

...There's also Britney.

I completly disagree with all of the things said about Britney Spears. I also strongly believe the media would say and write anything just to get a story, and get noticed. There's magazines, than there's articles in newspapers. You'd agree with me that it's one story after another. Since Britney is a singer, shouldn't she be treated as one? She's basically getting harrased and criticized by the media everywhere she goes. Her fans tend to agree with the media, therefore adding more fuel to the fire. She's a singer! Why should people care about her body figure? They shouldn't. It's the talent that matters. Right? Britney has had 2 kids, addictions, and lots of stress. Why does all of this matter also? The media should give her a break. The media makes it worse by not leaving her alone and worst of all, making things up. I have faith in Britney, and believe she's changed alot in a way. She quit her addictions, still managed to have a good body figure after 2 kids, and not so much stress. Britney shouldn't listen to the media. If she were to read what I said here, I bet she'd agree with me. I believe it's false, and they do it just to gain money, and popularity. Overall, I believe she had alot of courage to come up on that stage and make a comback!

Britney's Comeback.

Britney's Picture -
http://musicbox.sonybmg.com/files/imagecache/grand_square/files/artist_images/britneySpears.jpg
Britney's Video -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK-T5Y1ZeVg

I wana be your what?

Learning about copyright in class made me think, could there really be such a thing? It also makes you wonder, why do people do it you may ask? The reason from my experience would simply be the author, in this case Avril Lavigne didn't want to make repetitive songs, or songs that possibly had the same meaning. It could be either. It could be both. We don't really know. What I do know though, is she wanted to take a risk. That she did. But, coming up with the same song as the Rubinoos? Coincidence? No. She purposely plagerized the song from the Rubinoos becuase I bet she ran out of ideas. You could agree with me. Yes, she slightly changed the song a little, but if you listen carefully you could find the resembelence in both songs. I may know the reason why people choose to plagerize songs after all. It may be becuase if you were to plagerize in example, one of Michael Jackson's songs, I bet you'd make a fortune in sales. You'd also get so busted. I know, it's a risk. But some people actually have the guts and courage to take it. It makes sense when you put together what you know, discuss matters in class, hearing from other people's opinions, sharing your own, and ofcoarse many more. Lastly, I must add if Avril tryed to make her own song, I bet she'd make an alright profit instead of losing money, friends, the court case, and fans.

Avril's Video.

Avril's Picture -
http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2007/database/newpics/avril300.jpg
Avril's Video -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZxrMb4Cilw

Gwen & her Harajuku Girls.

Discussing matters in class about Gwen and her Harajuku Girls has made me want to do some more research on the topic. I've noticed that when they're with Gwen, they seem happy "representing" their country. Though, don't forget they're under contract. Yet, nobody including me knows what's really going on. Is it just for the money? Hmm, if Gwen tells her Harajuku Girls not to talk, they do it. So I guess it is. Still, people from Asian descent don't agree with what Gwen is doing. They believe she's exploiting their country, as I do too. It comes to me, that adopting another country's culture isn't right because of all the negative effects it may have on the people. For all I know, Asian people could be viewing this in a totally different way, such as Gwen using her Harajuku Girls as "China Dolls". If it were my country, I'm sure I'd have strong negatives too. Sure I'd love to get paid for representing my country, but not in ways where you're given commands not to talk, and further more as Gwen is doing. There could be so many different reasons. If there were a positive, I bet it would be overlooked very soon. If people from Harajuku act as if Gwen's doing something wrong representing their country, you can bet they're right. I mean, they're Harajuku! She's basically represneting them. If they dislike something, change it! My reason for believing Gwen is exploiting the Harajuku Girls is, it's not all one hundred percent positive. There still may be people out there especially in Harajuku who think Gwen's making a false impact on their country and culture.

Gwen & Harajuku Girls's Video.

Gwen & Harajuku Girls's Picture -
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjldlxg5tujseN38ir7yrUjDYn_81Bw5tpGGRGJsbZ5y87ERxNclSolyTkBHy-C0prPESsaLS-DcK2KHg6fFxcw0b___S0qB3K8uPn-ZCgEArnc0F-LfGojtx8mDwKPXW8x0_Tea28nbk/s1600-h/gwen_stefani_002.jpg
Gwen & Harajuku Girls's Video -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioRIo1EJN4w

Reel Arabs are not Real Arabs!

If I were to create a media product to correctly portray Arabs, I would make a video showing the viewers, and demonstrating what regular Arabs do on a regular basis, rather than what they have been exposed to in the media. To do this, I'd need to show the viewers what I'm talking about. The true meaning of Arabs. In the video I would have an Arab family spending time with eachother, celebrating traditions, feasting, and many more qualities that correctly portray an Arab. On the other hand, I would be showing many videos and movies. A perfect example of this would be the the movie "True Lies". I mean, the name says it all anyway. Movies such as those cause the stereotypes real Arabs have been facing. In the media, you only see Arabs being portrayed as either rich and powerful, terrorists, suicide bombers, and many more things that put the "Reel" in Arab. Another example of a video I'd show would be what people think a "Typical" terrorist looks like. Achmed the Terrorist. In this video, you see exactly my point to how the media portrays an Arab, how Arabs are treated, and how others seem to view Arabs as a cause. Why choose Arabs? I'm sure other people would mind if we attacked them with stereotypes. That's why I don't think Arabs like the way they're being portrayed. With my video I hope I make an impact on lots of people's lives, because I want the world to see how an Arab should be portrayed rather than what we're given. Lastly, for all the people to view my video, spreading the word, and working together may cause a change how Arabs would be correctly portrayed in the media.

Achmed The Dead Terrorist.

Arab's Picture -
http://fast.mediamatic.nl/f/hmfm/image/755-500-334.jpg
Arab's Video -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uwOL4rB-go

Living in a Post 9/11 World.

Tuesday September 11, 2001. I was in a grade 6 class along with my classmates doing a small activity upon preparation for a test next period. Next period arrived, when I was feeling scared and unready. To sort of make things better, the teacher came in saying the test was canceled because of what happened over in The United States of America. I was wondering to myself, what was so bad, that the test was canceled as a cause? In short time, the teacher had explained to us what happened. I'm not sure I was getting all of it. Heh, I didn't even know what the World Trade Center was back then. Now that I know, I wish I'd cried that long ago. Though, when the teacher came in with the news, hardly any of us knew what was going on. The teacher started crying, so did a small portion of my class. I along with many of my classmates weren't feeling it. I guess it was because we didn't know what was going on. The day went terrible for me because so many people in my school were crying, yet I felt like I was the only one who didn't know what was happening. When I got home, it didn't change. My parents were in tears, and my dad was cussing in anger. I asked, what's going on, then I remember my mom telling me to have a seat. She told me how "A plane had crashed in the World Trade Center, killing many people as a result". I was feeling the anger too. I believe one hour had passed, when the news started to come on, overflowing channels with the terrible news. What ever channel you turned to, you'd notice that sure enough, you'd see the same planes crashing into the same buildings, over and over again. Talk about making matters worse! It felt as the day were passing on as if a bomb had dropped. So many tears. After all, it took us about two days to get over the sadness, and sorrow. I respect the day, and it's people. It's a shame it had happened.

We Shall Never Forget.

WTC's Picture -
http://www.america911.com/wtc-5.jpg
WTC's Video -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ0Uh5y5U5k&feature=related

Masculinity in Hip Hop.

You may agree with me that masculinity, as men see it nowadays has become an issue. I think this because I believe that the music the artists create, and the same music we listen to affects us in many ways, but we don't manage to see it. Now as I see it, we do have many "gangsters" as they're called in our generation. Before viewing the documentary I'd never thought that hip hop music could have so many negatives to it. In the song Tip Drill, even though it was my first time watching that video, it's not like I've never seen it before, but now since discussing matters in class about all the things that make up hip hop, I never would have guessed what the point to the song was, now that I know I'm not even sure if that song should've been published. Since I was little, I did like a little I liked hip hop as much as the next person, I just guess I wasn't paying attention to what the lyrics actually ment. Sadly to say, hip hop has shaped masculinity. I strongly feel if it's the music we like it's what we'll believe in to be a part of us. In a way, we'll be part of the music as well. Sure hip hop could be about money, guns, strength, and girls as in all its songs, but take some time to think about it. How many of us actually have that? What I don't get is why people listen to the same thing over and over again, never understand the point to it, yet act like artists in the hip hop industry do. The artist 50 Cent says he got shot in that one song, does that make us want to go out and get shot to prove we're men? Probably not. There are many ways we could prove we're masculine, but we just tend to stick with what hip hop provides for us. Yet again, I don't know why. Some artists such as Ja Rule, Tupac, Chuckie D, put fourth soul into their music to separate their music from all what's the same in hip hop. I just hope some of the other artists change their music style a little, and I'm sure everything will be fine. Hey, there could be a whole new view to masculinity for all I know. Lastly, I respect Diddy, and the other artists that contributed to a clean turn on hip hop. Keep it up.

Beyond Beats & Rhymes.

Hip Hop's Picture -
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/images/pics/Beats1.jpg
Hip Hop's Video -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjxjZe3RhIo

OJ Simpson's Mugshot, and Katie Couric.

What's going on with media and photo manipulation today? Sure, we could manipulate photos once and a while to remove unwanted things such as pimples, hair, ect. Though, Time magazine has gone beyond the line. Take a look at some mugshots of OJ and compare it to the cover of Time magazine. You'd soon find out what's wrong with that picture. Time has manipulated OJ from his original mugshot, making him twice as scarier, darker, and more evil. Some people might have not even heard about the story. Once they take a look at Time's magazine, what would they think of? "Oh, this guy must have done something terrible!". Those who manipulate photos may not realize what effect it may have upon people such as myself. I believe it's not right to do so, and think that many other people agree with me. Photo manipulation is an abused piece of technology, which brings me to my point. You can't just go around doing as you please, manipulating photos of ordinary people without consulting with them or asking for approval. Doing so may have a great impact on society and what it could think about some of these pictures. Say for example what happened with Katie Couric? I'm sure she didn't want anyone reducing her body weight. I know so because she had mad something of it. The news, and media always want a story to cover. Personally, I believe that's how it starts. First, they have a boring old story that nobody either wants to look into, nor talk about. When someone manipulates a part of that story "making it up," another news network catches on and creates a huge fuss about it. This is how word gets by in my opinion.

Photo Manipulation.

Photo Manipulation's Picture -
http://www.dphotojournal.com/wp-content/daily/image-manipulation.jpg
Photo Manipulation's Video -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OLBHgXMhmM