7. THE HANGOVER PT 2

I watched the movie The Hangover Part II directed by Todd Phillips starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zack Galifiniakis and Justin Bartha. It is a comedy and is about 4 male friends who travel to Thailand for one of their weddings and go out the night before for his bachelor party. Instead of waking up cozily in their hotel room they find themselves in Bangkok without any recollection from the night before and are missing the bride's brother whom was with them the night before. Throughout watching this entire movie there was never a moment where I wasn't laughing and it reached the first movie's expectations. It kept me enetertained and really made me want to keep watching it. This relates to the key concept all media are construction beause the story line was made to lead up to different and unexpected events than that of the first movie.

6. TEEN MOM

On MTV I watched a reality show called Teen Mom. The show is about teenage girls raise their child that they had recently given birth to. Prior to watching this show I had watched 16 and Pregnant which had the same teenage girls except the show was following their pregnancy. Thinking about this show makes me wonder what society has really come to. Are we that ignorant and shameful to have made a show following  the lives of teen mothers? This relates to the key concept media construct reality because the show makes it seem like it is that easy for a teenager to raise a baby when really it isn't. The show sugar coats every situation making it seem like it's hard when it is actually much harder because unlike the teenage girls in this show who have sponsors (huggies, baby food companies), teen mothers out there don't have any of that.

5. TWITTER

Twitter is another very popular social networking website. It allows you to follow not only friends but even celebrities. Following means you are able to see what the person "tweets" (status updates). I am also a twitter user and I find it entertaining to see what people tweet about especially when people fight over twitter. Even celebrities tweet about personal events so it is like you know all about what is happening in their life. This relates to the key concept media have social and political implications because twitter is a way for people to get their voices and opinions heard especially if it becomes a trending topic all over the world. Twitter has become a source to get important things heard; most news stations have their own twitter profile too.



4. FACEBOOK

Facebook is the most popular social networking website out there. I myself am a facebook user and I think it is a great way to talk to and keep in touch with friends and family whether they live a street away or in another country. It allows you to know about one another. Facebook has made it easier for me to communicate with others. This relates to the key concept each medium has a unique aesthetic form because facebook is a unique tool of communication made easy for us to use from the comfort of our own homes or for that matter anywhere you are (facebook mobile, facebook app on ipad etc). Without facebook in my life, I feel it would be harder to get in touch with people. When I first became a facebook user it had completely changed my life; it was my new addiction to be on it almost 24/7. Now I still go on regularly but since that the craze of it is slowly fading so has my interest in it. 

3. BORN THIS WAY - LADY GAGA

The song Born This Way by Lady Gaga is her one of her newest hits for 2011. This song is quite controversial as it deals with controversial topics such as homosexuality, religion, colour etc. Though through her lyrics she strongly takes a stand and basically sings her heart out to let everyone know that whether they are gay, straight, transexual, coloured, white, jewish, muslim, christian etc they were born that way for a reason and they are perfectly normal the way they are. This relates to the key concept media contain ideological and value messages because Lady Gaga uses her song to relay important messages that she believes in and thinks that the world should always consider the point of view her song has. I personally think what Lady Gaga has done is amazing because she uses her fame not for herself but for people who are in need of understanding and motivation to be who they really are.

2. JERSEY SHORE

Jersey Shore is a hit reality television show on MTV. It is about 8 young Italian Americans by the names of Nicole (Snooki), Jenni (JWOWW), Sammi, Deena, Pauly, Ronni, Vinny & Mike whom live in a house together over the course of each summer. The show includes drama, partying, drinking, sexual content, minimum work and of course more drama. Through those components it has gotten so much publicity that it has become one of the most popular reality shows out there. I watch Jersey Shore purely for the entertainment the cast portrays through their stupidity. This relates to the key concept the media construct reality because since it is a "reality" show it appears that partying, the drama and drinking to get drunk EVERY day is normal when it really should be something you do once in a while after a long week of work and/or school. The show is giving off the wrong message to teenaers and young people (the majority of the population who watch it) therefore making them think that what they do is acceptable.



1. MCDONALD'S

When I think about McDonald's I instantly picture the golden "M" that is in every commercial, advertisement, store and merchandise. At the age of 3 I was first exposed to it while watching cartoons on the television. A commercial for a happy meal came on with children my age playing with the cool toys that came with the meal and playing in the play place after finishing their meal. All I could think was "man do I wish I could get cool toys and play in a big play place like those kids..." and evidently through the commercial McDonald's told me it was possible if I purchased a happy meal too. This relates to the key concept the media construct reality because through every McDonald's commercial, specifically the one I saw as a child, they make life look too put together and peachy when it isn't. Also, for parents they make it look like your child will sit there quietly and eat without any fit when that never happens in real life. As I have gotten older I realized that McDonalds is a) extremely unhealthy b) only there to try and sell you their products and c) give cheap toys in the happy meal.