Manipulation...Right or Wrong?

In today’s media, majority of photographs in magazines, television, advertisements are retouched to make them look “better” and more appealing to the public eye. I had recently red an article in a book and it had asked how do you think photo manipulation/retouching affects a woman personally. I think that the kinds of manipulated images that were mentioned in the article can affect a woman’s esteem and self comfort. By changing the features on a woman to make her look more “appealing” makes the women feel not as beautiful and more self conscious of their personal features that in reality are extremely beautiful but they don’t see it that way. Why would someone change something that is already beautiful? I feel as if photo manipulation can become a little too much when that are cutting gout things such as arms, legs and chests, but when they are changing things such as the texture or tones of the image to make it look softer or more clear then I believe that’s fine because it’s nothing too drastic. Although before any photo manipulations are done, I believe that there should be a sense of permission from the ‘model’ that the photo is of to change any certain characteristics in the photo itself. If a photo has been changed, it should state somewhere on the photo itself that there has been changed made and this is not the original photo so that people are aware.


The OJ Simpson dispute is a perfect example of whether or not photo manipulation is appropriate. OJ’s mug shot that was posted on the front cover of News Week and Time magazine had caused some controversy because of the major differences between the exact same photo. Time magazine had altered the photo to change the images mood/appearance for a different feeling, but is what they did right? At the time the managing editor of time magazine, James Gaines, was asked why he had done it because many people felt as if it wasn’t appropriate. James Gaines has said that “The harshness of the mug shot-the merciless bright light, the stubble on Simpson’s face, had been subtly smoothed and shaped into an icon of tragedy. The expression on his face was not merely blank now; it was bottomless. This cover with the simple, nonjudgmental headline ‘An American Tragedy,’ seemed the obvious, right choice.” When I look at both photo’s beside each other, the differences are so dramatic. The original photo on the cover of News Week with no photo alternations, is more appropriate because it shows the actually feeling and emotion that is being shown from OJ’s expressions. However on Time magazine the alternations more or less seem to make you feel bad for him, it makes him look sad and in great need of help, and the headline “An American Tragedy” to me doesn’t fit. What’s the American Tragedy? The fact that he possibly is a ex-famous football star murderer? Or the fact, that his family had been murdered? It seemed as if they spent more time trying to focus on how OJ looked and felt in the magazine rather then the death of his family and whether or not he had done it. I don’t believe that photo manipulations in news events is appropriate because it’s altering the story then, but as for photo manipulation in ads to make them look more creative/artistic, that shouldn’t be a problem as long as they have permission from the person that is having their photo taken.

Much Music - Personal Response

Our media trip to the CHUM building and live television production (Much on Demand) had its positives and negative. I felt as if the trip was spent mostly waiting for things, and a lot of the other audience members as well as some staff were just rude. Once we had finally gotten inside and sat down in the area in which the show takes place, it was a chance for me to see what goes on and what behind the scenes looks like. When the show began to start, we had met the director. I had no idea that he was going to have to tell people to clap and cheer, so to me now when I watch the show, it kind of seems fake. I found that in the beginning when the director was telling people to clap and what not that people did as he said, but as the show went on and he continued to ask it was like people were getting annoyed and didn’t clap and cheer as much. Also when the show was going on I noticed a few different people with video camera’s recording the film, for me it’s hard to understand which one is actually going on T.V. live and why were there so many! Also on the show when there is music being played and the videos, I couldn’t tell who was doing it. I tried looking around but just couldn’t see them. I think maybe if we had gotten a tour before the show that would have been a little more enjoyable so that I’m not sitting there the whole show wondering how someone is doing what, when, why, where and how! When the show had gone to a commercial break, it was nothing that I would have expected. The director and Matte Babel did not seem to get along that well, no one was really listening to the director, also some of the hosts such as Leah Miller seemed really stuck up and rude because she barely took time to socialize with the crowed such as Tim D and Matte did. Things had also seem to be really unorganized, and for a show that’s being done live you think it would be, but when you are unable to locate one of your television hosts for when the commercial’s about to be over, that’s not too well managed. I personally thought the trip would have been a little different then what I had experienced. Parts of it were enjoyable but other parts weren’t as enjoyable, and now seeing things that happen when the show isn’t on air, really just annoys me now because it seems all fake and the female hosts just seem extremely stuck up which I would have never of guessed by seeing them on television. I think that the trip to MTV which we were originally told we were going on would be more enjoyable, not only because I watch that channel more but many students who had gone on the MTV trip said that they enjoyed it a lot more then Much Music.

What If All Voices Were Silenced

The back and forth controversy that media holds specific responsibilities is inevitable, and now the question is should media represenatives be able to announce publications in the form of politics? Personall, I don't believe so, but they are. Politicians try to frame issues and events to influence the "spin" that the media will give to their story, such as Miss Jessica Lynch and her "heroic" fairytale story. It's not fare that the media has the power to influence the public opinion when the media itself is based on politics therefore sending a "redirected" media feed/message and not allowing the public to know the accurate truth. This minimizes our freedom to believe and speak upon situations.

Now freedom of speech implies that we are able to inherent human right to voice one’s opinion publicly without fear of punishment or censorship. So why don’t we all just speak our minds, we’re able we? Apparently not. Natalie Maines had decided to speak her mind on the President of the United States, George Bush, at the time that 9/11 had been taking place. Natalie had said “I am ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas”. Is that wrong of her to say how she feels to the public? To her fans? I personally don’t think so. Freedom of speech is suppose to allow you to speak freely of what you feel and believe and not have any consequences. Natalie however had many consequence. The Dixie Chicks, one of the most famous girl groups ever, was banned from many radio stations, they couldn’t play, they were threatened, they lost many fans, they couldn’t go out without being called names, even television broadcasters were calling them names such as “bimbos” and saying that “they should be slapped around”. In what state of mind would anyone think that this is okay, to treat an equal who was only following something that she knew was okay to do, like they should be six feet under? And then later to find out that what she was saying about the war and what he was doing was true, so all of this controversy was created over something that was eventually seen true by the public eye. Freedom of speech is free, and our society should really show and reflect upon that.

Killing Time in Toronto

While walking from the Art gallery on our feild trip of Thursday May 21st, I noticed many advertisements for alcohol such as this Corona ad. Summer time is comming therefore Toronto has many!

Big Daddy's Crab Shack and Oyster Bar is one of the first restaurants that caught my eye! It's an Authentic Cajun cuisine with a great vibe and a casual atmostphere inspired by New Orleans!

Toronto has a variety of unique building structures. To the left is a new modern building which Toronto is now highly "populated" in, then to the right is a much older building style that gives Toronto some character, and lets not forget the CN Tower!

While walking down the streets of Toronto I couldn't help but notice the largest Tim Horton's that I have ever come across! Not only was this Tim Horton's a coffee shop but an internet cafe as well!

Advertisements for theatre plays was a very common feature of Toronto! The Sound of Music is a large attraction to Toronto's theatre entertainment this year.

The photo above and below shows two of the many advertisements I had also seen for the play Dirty Dancing. Dirty Dancing is one of the larger attractions to Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre since October 31st, 2007.

On the right side of the street, past the rows of cars is a strip of bars and restaurants. Being highly populated in Toronto, there is a large selection of restaurants.

This block is full of over a dozen different restaurants and bars! It seemed to be one of Toronto's largest attractions that day at lunch!

The Laugh Resort Comedy Club is Toronto's only independent comedy club!They have been Tonto's premiere choice for standup comedy for more than 15 years and have had such standup icons such as Adam Sandler, Ellen Degeneres, David Spade and Ray Romano!

Sex and the City. Plastered all over Toronto were the advertisements for the new Sex and the City movie which had earned millions this past week in theatres!

Republik is one of Toronto's most popular clubs attracting people from cities all around located on 261 Richmond st. W.

Starbucks is a large feature in Toronto! There is a starbucks located on almost ever block of Toronto!

Toronto...the city that never sleeps!

Media Inventory

When it comes to the TV, my parents use it the most, I use it the least, it is not restricted, the use is unrestricted, Myself and sisters use it the most for entertainment, my step dad uses it most for homework, and it isn’t too expensive to keep it running.

With the telephone, myself and my sisters use it the most, my step dad uses it the least, it is not restricted, the use is unrestricted, myself and my sisters use it mainly for entertainment, no one uses it for homework, and it is relatively expensive to keep running.

When it comes to the cellular phone, everyone in my family uses it the most, except for my youngest sister who uses it rarely, it is not restricted, the use is unrestricted, everyone uses it for entertainment, it isn’t used for homework by anyone, and all 6 cell phones are very expensive to keep running.

The computer, everyone uses the very frequently, however my youngest sister does use it the least, it is not restricted, the use is unrestricted, myself, my mom, and my sisters use it mainly for entertainment, and myself and my sisters all use it for homework, and it can be quite expensive to keep running.

Nelson (step dad) – his favourite “media tool” is the television and computer.
Jennifer (mom) – her favourite “media tool” is the computer.
Quila (sister) – her favourite “media tool” is the television and computer.
Ezra (sister) – her favourite “media tool” is the television.
Jesse (sister) – her favourite “media tool” is the computer.
Kayce (myself) – my favourite “media tool” is the phone and the computer.

Overall the telephone is the least favourite because it becomes harder to talk and there is no visual.

Children of different ages or sexes do prefer different items because younger children aren’t always into the more mature television shows, or computer programs such as older people are.

The item that is used the most is the computer because it’s where we communicate most of the time, find information, browse, do homework, and look up entertainment and music, and we also watch videos.

All of the items are used pretty much equally amongst everyone.

Harajuku

Harajuku girls…who are they? Well most of today’s society knows of the Harajuku girls being Gwen Stefani’s “little pets”, the girls that will do anything that Gwen asks of them. Gwen had originally “adopted” these girls into her media life because of their unique style, as she states in her song “Wind It Up”. Gwen’s idea of these girls is completely wrong, she literally is using these girls as pets. In an interview Gwen had had, she says for the interviewer not to speak to the girls because they’re not real, they’re only her imagination. They have had names made up for them by Gwen, “Love” is the name of Maya Chine, who had grown up in Japan, “Angel” is the name of Jennifer Kita, who is a Japanese American from Los Angeles, “Music” is the name of Rino Nakasone, who grew up in Okinawa, and “Baby” is the name of Mayuko Kitayama, who grew up in Osaka. One of these girls isn’t even from Japan, but is portrayed to be. The real identity of Harajuku girls is not being displayed appropriately when it comes to Gwen.


The term “Harajuku Girls” according to the English language media is to describe teenagers dressed in any fashion style who are in the area of Harajuku. Harajuku style is named for the Harajuku district of Tokyo. Harajuku has a wide range of diverse influences, and shows many different styles. Their styles have many different looks, ranging from Visual Kei, gothic Lolita, to punky modern looking, the styles are created by mixing and matching different clothing styles to create their own. For example, Visual Kei, refers to the Japanese rock musicians and is worn in style by using costumes, different looks and hairstyles, costumes and striking makeup. Gothic Lolita, refers to the fashion of frilly, head bands, and ruffled knee length skirts. Kawaii and Decora, refers to clothing that would appear to have been made for younger children, or clothing that is classified as being “cute”. Cosplay, refers to a fashion of dressing like characters from anime, manga, and video games. There are so many different styles of fashion within the Harajuku style, and a lot of it is created by personality.


So does Gwen portray the style of “her” Harajuku girls appropriately? In a way yes, it is different, and it does follow some forms or the original Harajuku styles. But is she right for doing what she’s doing? By controlling these women in the publics eye? I don’t think so. I believe that once people had started calling them her pets, I became against it all. These girls are real women, and they work hard, and I think that if they are being represented as Harajuku girls, that it should represent it accurately and that Gwen should learn more on the culture and the personality of it all.

You Can't Judge a Book By It's Cover

So we all know what a stereotype is, and if you’re kind of unsure what stereotype means, it’s a fixed idea about characteristics or qualities of a certain group or individuals. Well, one of my major concerns are the stereotypes that we as a society put on homosexuals, and how it’s affecting our worldwide communities. Is it really right for one to judge another on his or her sexual preference? Personally I don’t believe so, and I really think it’s been taken too far.


Where did people start to think that is was okay to judge someone on who they are? There’s a recent case in an issue of People Magazine of March 17, 2008, about a young 15 year old boy by the name of Larry King. Eighth grade, at E.O Green Junior High School in Oxnard, California, this boy was murdered by a 14 year old classmate for being a homosexual and being thought of as a young effeminate girl. Working in his computer lab first period on February 12, Brandon McInerney the 14 year old boy, walked up behind Larry in perfect sight of students, pulled out his father’s handgun from his waist and shot Larry in the back of the head twice. Honestly, what has society come to! Who ever thought it was right to murdering or bullying someone for something that may even be all based on genetics? When is it ever right!? If stereotypes were never made, issues such as Larry King’s case would never have happend.


Even our media perpetuates the stereotypes of homosexuals, in television shows such as NBC’s “Will and Grace”, whereas characters such as Will and Jack are both homosexuals but Jack is played as a masculine homosexual and Jack is played as the “flaming queen”. Even the television show “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”, gives off the stereotype that gay men are fashion mavens and neat freaks. All of these shows with homosexual characters contain stereotypes! How did it even come to this? Where did we get the idea that homosexual men are flaming queens, beyond effeminate, shoppaholics and beauty freaks? And for the homosexual females where did we get the idea that they’re all trying to be masculine and tough? Society has labeled all homosexuals with these titles! And yes, some homosexuals to tend to carry themselves that way, but more today than ever because of our stereotypes! And what people don’t understand, is that there are millions of homosexuals that do not fall under those categories! What’s so wrong about all of this is that no matter what people say, it is not possible to determine anyone’s sexual orientation just by looking at them and how they act, but because of stereotypes, people suddenly believe they can. Not all gay men listen to dance music, or like fashion, and not all gay men have high-pitched voices, or ‘limp’ wrists, and not all gay females try to take the role of a male, these are all stereotypes that society has made up. It’s not fare that their being judged and some being punished for it, there’s no rule to whether or not men have to like women and vise versa . I just think the whole situation has gotten way out of line and people need to stop and realize what their actually doing to people, it’s cruel and it needs to come to an end.



- Kayce