Blog 10

                                                              Bye-Bye Education

      In the article " The Dangers of Reality TV", Timothy Sexton gives us reasons why reality television is bad. One of the reasons that I feel is most important is the obsolescence of education. I agree in the sense of it not being recognized as much in the idea of becoming successful in life. I also disagree, because it is not an immediate answer when a child is asked about their ideas on how to become successful.
 
        Looking Back on society, education was the key to becoming prosperous.Young children's main goal was graduating from college and beginning their career. When comparing it to our youth now, the dangerous message reality shows put out is that education is completely unnecessary to gain success. These reality shows not only give children, but adults the idea to turn away from education.
   
        I believe these shows also give self-esteem issues when coming education. By watching reality shows, they subconsciously raise hopes by putting some type of reward and disguising it as success. This gives people the excuse "school is a waste of time" and " why go to school and face the difficulties of learning when I could just get on a reality show and humiliate myself  for money? " Again giving the thought of success and wealthiness with little effort.

   In conclusion, education should be taken more seriously instead of being pushed aside. Instead of  being the next contestant or cast member of a so called "reality show" earning fast money , people should concentrate more on their education and knowledge to get them far in life.

Blog 7

I always wondered what it would feel like to be a star in my own reality show since I was younger. Having cameras following me around and documenting everything I did. I started watching reality shows like "The Real World" and "Keeping Up With the Kardashians". I thought that this was actually how they lived every day until I learned that most scenes in the show were staged; just like the movie “The Truman Show.”

                In the passage "Truman Show Syndrome" by Colin Lecher, he explains how reality television has corrupted minds of most people. The majority of people that do watch reality shows seem to believe they are in one. As stated in the passage, "... these delusions are put into two categories: bizarre and non-bizarre.” Using examples of "I'm dead ', is bizarre and "Millions of strangers are obsessed with me' being non-bizarre.”  That example is a perfect statement to describe today's society. Using the examples social media such as Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube has people believing they grew famous over night or through time based on how many follower, likes, or subscribers they have. We watch reality shows so much that we start believing that people are watching us, or even compare their lifestyles to the people they are watching. As I mentioned before, the media has staged most reality shows. Adding more drama and characters we may think that are real people just for higher ratings.

I remember watching an E! special on former reality star Kristen Cavelleri from show " Laguna Beach". She said that most of the scenes were fake and some of the cast members were paid or bribed with expensive things to carry out rumors and drama just to make the show better. Another perfect way to get higher rating and watchers hooked; comparing this to a scene in the movie "The Truman Show" when Christof controls the rain when Truman is at sea. It was done for higher ratings.

      In conclusion, I believe reality shows are just like the chip the CIA planted into people’s brains. There to brainwash and control our way of living, and also produced  to distract us from bigger things happening in the world.

Blog 6

2. Throughout the film, there are shameless advertisements and product placements presented as part of Truman’s life. Is it moral to use Truman’s life as a means to monetary gain?

 In today's society people buy most things because a celebrity uses, wears, or makes it. That is one of the strongest strategies used in marketing. They figured that if a celebrity or reality star uses a certain product it can make a steady income. Using Truman was a moral way to sell things for the networks monetary gain, but it was also an immoral thing to do because Truman didn't know about it. A perfect example from the movie is when Truman is trying to speak to Meryl about his suspicions of living a staged life, and out of no where she starts reciting lines as if she were in a commercial for the hot cocoa mix. She did it mainly because if Truman used the hot cocoa mix people watching would use and drink it too. She also did it at the wrong moment, trying not to expose the secret that Truman was slowly catching on to. But that is our norm now; we buy things because a celebrity uses it. It may not necessarily be good, but if it is instructed from the celebrity to buy it, we do. Hence the fact that this is the best way from marketing purposes. They will always use this strategy because it has never steered them wrong.

Blog 5

         In the passage written by Jefferey Kluger " I Know the Truth, So Don't Bother Me With Facts", he writes about people believing in false beliefs and what it takes to get people to change their mind about them. Based on studies by professors from Ohio State University, they recorded that 750 people believed at least one rumor about the Islamic cultural center. Then decided on which true fact to expose in order change the opinion of the people. Further studies are being conducted on the brain to look deeper into why most people don't change their opinions even when presented with real facts.

         "Even when people do take time to learn the facts, the effort does no good". I took this statement from the passage because I believe that it has a lot to do with ego and experience. It takes a lot for a person to change what they thought and believed in after proving them wrong with true facts. Just like my grandparents, most people are very stubborn with what they believe in, and in order to change things true facts need to be presented

         As a girl, growing up with plenty of aunts, uncles, and cousins there was always something or someone being talked about. Whether it was a crazy rumor about who was dating or a twisted story about how someone in the newspaper died. I also had my grandparents who always spoke of stories and lessons that were quite outdated. They were such strong believers in what they preached. If you told them different to change what they thought, they would be more stubborn than an ox. Here’s a good example of when my uncle met his wife. It was like any other day, I was in my grandparent’s house after a long day of school. My uncle came home from work with a big smile on his face. Something was obviously up with him, so I asked him why he had such a big smile on. He had told me that his new relationship was going very well and my aunt said yes to be his girlfriend. He had told the family about his news after everyone came home. We were all happy for my uncle. Until my aunt Maribel asked what nationality she was. My uncle took a minute to respond, and finally said she was Puerto Rican. That’s when all the idiotic rumors about Puerto Rican Women started; how they were gold diggers, how they couldn’t cook as well as Dominican women, etc. My grandmother went on for about an hour saying that it wasn’t going to last and how she would rob him blind. Since I was young I told my uncle not to worry about what they said and how I couldn’t wait to meet her. He took my advice and they have been married for 7 years now and have a 2-year-old son. But still to this day my aunt and some others in the family say those things.

         I think some of my family’s thoughts and view on things will never change. I also think it has a lot to do with age and their experiences they’ve gone through. Hearing all these stories and gossip as a kid sounded so real to me just because it was my family, why would they lie. As I got older, I realized what instigation and adding a little white lie was. People added their two senses to the story just to make it sound more interesting, whether it was true or not. That is what everything comes down to; a whole bunch of misheard stories, instigation, and flat out lies.