Welcome!

Rob,


Thanks for visiting my blog!  It is finally complete.  Please keep in mind that my midterm essay and class quotations are on the "older posts" page.  I hope you enjoy it!!  :)


Amanda

Attendance Statement

Media Literacy has been one of the best classes I have taken at Saint Scholastica.  Because of this, I have done my best to attend every single class.  I have only missed three, which were for valid reasons:  two doctors appointments, and one family event.  It is not an easy class to miss.  I always get the notes from other people, but it does not make up for the lost class time and I sometimes found myself lost the next day.  Because of this, I made a point to go to every single class unless something unavoidable came up.  All of your classes kept me entertained and I am very glad I kept such good attendance! 

Video

Hi Rob!  Here are the images for my video.


Background:  http://astepaheadcdc.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/4-5-year-olds-1.jpg

First smaller image::  http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01358/child-television_1358457c.jpg

Second:  http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/how-dora-the-explorer-works-1.jpg

Third:  http://sesamestreetsongs.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/classic-sesame-street-songs.jpg

Thanks!

Documentary Week (Midterm Essay)

Documentaries are defined from Wikipedia as " a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record."  They tend to reveal important information that is not well known to the general population.  Before last week, I had only seen a handful of documentaries.  Most of them had been shown to me during classes in high school.  These include Super-Size Me, Freakonomics, and Invisible Children.  Last week in class, I had the pleasure of being exposed to more documentaries: Police State 4: The Rise of Fema, The American Dream, Fall of the Republic, and Food, Inc.  Each of these documentaries revealed information that I definitely would not have been exposed to, had I not seen the films.  Hearing the information presented from these documentaries was really eye-opening, especially Food, Inc. 

While I attempt to stay up-to-date on politics, I have to admit that I am not exactly an expert.  Government corruption is definitely a topic that I should spend more time educating myself on.  After viewing the three documentaries on the subject, though, I have a much more satisfying understanding of it.  I did not realize how many different theories there are on government corruption, and it is really interesting to hear all of them.  It is almost embarrassing to admit how little I knew about the topic before our documentary week.  It was hard for me to follow the action in the documentaries at times; especially in Fall of the Republic.  I felt that a lot of previous knowledge was required which I did not have, but I was still able to get a slight grasp on what was going on.  I realize now that something that pertains to the general public so much should really be more common knowledge than anything.  However, these issues continue to be "swept under the rug."

Of the documentaries we watched that focused on the government, the one that made the most sense to me was The American Dream.  The producers did a fantastic job of presenting the information in a way that was easy for someone who did not have a lot of previous knowledge on the subject to understand.  Adding bits of humor in to it was helpful as well because it kept our attention.  I have a much better understanding of the Federal Reserve now.  As American citizens, I think we should all be more concerned on the issues presented in The American Dream, as well as the other documentaries.

Ultimately, my favorite documentary to watch was Food, Inc.  All of the documentaries we viewed were on subjects that affected us all, but I felt that Food-Inc. is most closely related to our every day lives.  The information from it was absolutely shocking.  I hated seeing the way animals are treated and even found myself closing my eyes at parts.  The worst scenes were the ones showing the production lines of cows and chickens.  These sick realities really make us think twice before eating meat.  It is disturbing to think of the hormones and chemicals that go in to the food we eat every day, and the worst part is that most people do not even think twice before consuming it.  The part that really hit home with me was when the woman whose son died because of the bad burger.  I wanted to cry for her.  It was such a sad story that could have been prevented.  The other heartbreaking part was seeing these "farms" that are now closer to factories.  They pump these innocent animals with hormones to make them grow unnaturally large, and they kick them around as if they do not have feelings. 

I wish I could say that after watching Food, Inc. I am going going to become a vegetarian, but that would be a lie.  The sad truth is that most people who watch that film are going to walk away unchanged.  Sure, it will be a sensitive topic the first couple hours after viewing, but chances are that by the time dinner is served, all of that information about animal cruelty and where our food is actually coming from will be pushed to the back of the brain, never to reoccur.  This is because most people simply choose not to let this information affect them, and then pretend like they really care when it comes up in conversation. 

When it comes to topics like the corrupted government and the realities of what we eat, most people believe that ignorance is bliss.  They think life is easier if they do not need to worry about their unnatural food or living in tyranny.  It is true that life would certainly be easier without having to worry about these topics, but they are part of our every day lives and affect everybody.  To not worry about them is like pretending they are nonexistent, which is living in denial.  By not facing these issues, nothing is being solved.  It is important to at least be informed on these topics:  that is the first step to making a change.

50 Of My Favorite Things (50 Wikis)

1.  Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales (Link:  here)
Brothers Grimm fairy tales are amazing.  I did a huge unit on them in my 11th grade English class, and I loved every second of it.  I especially enjoyed reading the original stories that some of my favorite Disney movies are based off of, like Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty.  Some of the originals are very bloody and gory, and I understand why the left those parts out of the Disney movies.  Their fairy tales set Disney up for great success, and some of their other stories have been used in several different forms of media, such as operas, comic books, and television series.  There was even a movie musical made about the brothers themselves.

2.  Harry Potter (books) (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_potter)

I have been obsessed with the Harry Potter books ever since I started reading them about ten years ago.  A lot of people think it's weird, so I don't bring it up around certain crowds.  However, nothing will ever impair my love for the Harry Potter books.  I have read each of them over ten times and never get sick of them.  I believe that the Harry Potter series is what scratched the surface of the current fantasy craze everybody seems to be in (Twilight, Vampire Diaries, etc).  None of them will ever be as good as Harry Potter, though.  

3.  Harry Potter (movies) (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter_(film_series))

I have never seen a movie that was based off of a book and enjoyed the movie more.  Harry Potter is no exception to this.  Although the movies will never be as good as the books to me, they are still amazing.  The thing I love most about the movies is being able to see the characters grow up, rather than just imagining it in my head.  It is so amazing to see how much Harry, Ron, and Hermione physically change over the years.  They are so cute and innocent in the first movie, and by the seventh, they are grown and mature.  I am not a fan of how they added parts in to the movie that never happened in the book, such as the Burrow burning down in The Half Blood Prince.  They also left out a lot of things from the books that I would have enjoyed to see on the big screen, but I understand that the books are very long and it is hard to crunch them down to a two and a half hour movie.  

4.  Disney movies (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney_Movies)

Another one of my obsessions is Disney movies.  A few of my favorites are The Jungle Book, Aladdin, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid.  I can not imagine what my childhood would have been like if I was never introduced to these.  My parents always let my brother and me watch the Disney movie of our choice on Sunday nights, and I looked forward to it the entire week.  While Disney movies aren't exactly considered educational, I think they are great to fuel a child's imagination.  When I was young, my cousins and I would always role play to Disney movies.  They are not like television shows, where kids just sit back and let their minds numb watching it. Disney has impacted the media in many ways.  Not only are there movies, but the movies have turned in to television series, there is a Disney channel on cable, a radio station called Radio Disney, and merchandise can be bought nearly anywhere.

5.  Disney Movie Soundtracks (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Disney_film_soundtracks)

Along with being a huge fan of Disney movies, I also love all of their soundtracks.  My favorite composer Disney has ever had is Hans Zimmer, who did the score for The Lion King.  It is so intense, and I never get sick of it.  My other favorite Disney soundtrack is Aladdin.  It was written by Alan Menken and is also very powerful.  Disney soundtracks are great because people of all ages can enjoy them.  When I worked as a nanny over the summer, the kids loved listening to Disney music with me.  It was a great bonding experience.  I also listen to it with my friends, and my parents enjoy it as well.  

6.  Andrew Lloyd Webber Musicals (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Lloyd_Webber)

Andrew Lloyd Webber is amazing.  I can not think of a different way to describe him.  He has been referred to as "the most commercially successful composer in history."  Andrew has earned seven Tony Awards, three Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, fourteen Ivor Novello Awards, seven Olivier Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2006.  His best known musicals include The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Evita, and Jesus Chris Superstar.  Andrew began writing music at a young age.  My mother always tells me about how she once heard that when Andrew was just a toddler, he would take his toy soldiers and assign them all "roles" in musicals and put on productions with them.  Ever since I was young, my family has always listened to his musicals on road trips and long car rides, so I am familiar with most of them.  I enjoy them greatly.

7.  Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_and_the_Amazing_Technicolor_Dreamcoat)

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber (see above).  It is based on the story of Joseph from the Hebrew Bible's Book of Genesis, which is why I think it is so cool.  Just by listening to this soundtrack, we completely understand the story, rather than having to decipher it out of the Bible.  The musical has no dialogue - strictly singing.  It contains a wide variety of songs, including westerns, calypsos, and rock and roll.  While the soundtrack is absolutely amazing, the best thing is how the musical captures the story from the Bible so accurately.  It is engaging and makes people want to read the Bible when they are done, which I love.  

8.  Word of Mouth  (Link:  http://www.1to1media.com/view.aspx?DocID=30087)

Word of mouth has often been called "the most powerful form of media."  I have no doubt that this is true.  Marketeers depend on the word of mouth in order for their products to be successful.  When someone enjoys a product, they tell everyone they know about it and inspire their friends to buy it too.  Included under word of mouth is gossip.  Gossip is powerful and dangerous and leads to vicious rumors, yet nearly everybody participates in it.  Word of mouth is more powerful than any advertisement or form of media ever could be.

9.  Lifetime Channel Original Movies (Link:  http://www.mylifetime.com/)

The Lifetime Channel is best known for their made-for-TV movies.  While I have not seen anywhere close to all of them, I have seen a handful and have enjoyed them greatly.  All of the ones I have seen have been very inspirational.  Usually, the main character is on a bad track in life, or just in a sticky situation, and we get to see them turn their lives around.  They are always dramatic and entertaining.

10.  "Five" (Link:  http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/five)

"Five" is a movie that premiered on the Lifetime Channel last week.  It was created by five different directors, and it focuses on five different women and their battles with breast cancer.  My aunt was diagnoses with breast cancer in 2009, and ever since then, my family has done everything we can to support research and what not.  Watching this movie was really depressing, but also inspirational because we got to see the characters face the cancer and do their best to stand up to it.  I think that making a movie like this was a fantastic idea.  Using the media as a way to communicate about the severeness of breast cancer is smart because it is such a fast way to spread word and awareness.

11.  Text messaging (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Text_messaging)

Text messaging is currently the most widely used data service.  74% of mobile phone users world wide were active users of the SMS service at the end of 2007, and that number has only increased in the previous years.  I find text messaging to be one of the easiest and most efficient methods of communicating.  It is hard to imagine life without this luxury.  It is much more convenient than talking on the phone because you are able to do other things at the same time, whereas while talking on the phone, it is harder to focus on other activities.  It is also nice to be able to put a lot of thought in to your message and to be able to reread it before sending.

12.  Picture messaging (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimedia_Messaging_Service)

Multimedia Messaging is a way to send multimedia messages from one cellular device to another.  Pictures, videos, and sounds can all be sent through this method.  Picture messaging is one of my favorite things to do on a cell phone.  I think it is an excellent and easy way to communicate.  A picture says a thousand words, and it is amazing that we can capture this in our handheld devices.  

13.  Glee

"Glee" is a comedy/drama/musical television show on the Fox network.  Not only is it extremely entertaining, it is very inspirational.  There has been a breakout of Glee clubs in high schools and colleges throughout the United States.  It inspires youth to discover their musical sides and let them shine.   Songs that were previously not very well known, including show tunes, are becoming increasingly popular after being featured in "Glee," thus, people are being introduced to music outside of their usual taste.  "Glee" also destroys the negative reputation that students in performing arts receive of being nerds/dorks/etc.  "Glee" shows how cool the performing arts can be and sends other helpful life lessons to viewers as well.

14.  iPods (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod)

Music is a valuable asset to most people's lives.  A decade ago, it was not uncommon to see people carrying large boom boxes on their shoulders so they could listen to music on the go, but today, we see people with small ear buds and a handheld musical device instead.  iPods allow people to listen to their favorite songs without interruptions and without fear of reception issues/skipping.  More advanced iPods even allow people to store pictures, videos, and other applications.  The rapid development of iPods is truly remarkable.

15.  iPhones (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone)

iPhones were first introduced in 2007, and since then, five different models have been released.  iPhones serve as cellular phones, cameras, video cameras, music players, Internet devices, and are also able to hold a plethora of applications.  Apple was the first company to tie all of these assets in to one device, so they have flourished greatly from it.  iPhones make communication easier than ever with all of the different features they offer.

16.  AM Broadcasting (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AM_broadcasting)

For the first 80 years of the 20th century, AM was the dominant method of broadcasting.  It is simpler than FM and satellite radio, but it does have limitations.  It is very susceptible to electrical interference and sensitive to weather conditions.  Because of this, music radio shifted to FM in the late 1970s, leaving AM with talk shows, news, religious programs, and sports broadcasting.  AM is much simpler and cheaper to operate than FM.  During the day, AM signals travel via groundwave, and at night, they travel via skywave.  This enables stations to be heard much further away from their point of origin at night.

17.  FM Broadcasting (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_broadcasting)

FM broadcasting uses frequency modulation  (FM) to provide high-fidelity sounds over the radio.  Although FM broadcasting was introduced in 1933, it was not until 1978 that FM stations began to gain popularity over AM stations.  It is more complicated and expensive to operate than AM, but it is also not as susceptible to variables such as the weather.  Today, FM is the dominant broadcaster and plays mainly music, unlike AM radio.

18.  Talk Radio (Links:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk_radio, http://www.enotes.com/1990-media-american-decades/talk-radio)

Talk radio hit its peak of popularity in the 1990s.  Because of the repeal of the Federal Communications Commission's post-war Fairness Doctrine, there was a lot of political talk broadcast-ed  mainly from the conservative point of view.  Conservatives dominated talk radio in this time period.  Experts say that conservatives are generally more entertaining to listen to than liberals, because liberals have tendencies to try not to offend anybody.  This brought immense popularity to the conservative radio shows.   In 2004, a study was done that found that 17% of people regularly listen to talk radio.  From this study, they found 41% of talk radio listeners to be Republican, while only 28% were Democrats.  Of these, most are middle-aged males.  

19.  Sports talk (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_radio)

Sports talk radio is a radio format devoted to the broadcasting of sports events.  During games, the hosts give play-by-plays so the listeners know exactly what is going on.  When there are no games happening to commentated on, there are often debates and analyses done by hosts.  People are also encouraged to call in and voice their opinions on the latest happenings in the world of sports.  Many people, such as my father, prefer to listen to sports over the radio than to watch them live.  He says that he likes to hear the hosts' opinions on the game in addition to the play-by-plays.  

20.  Music radio (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_radio)

Music radio is a format where music is the main broadcast content.  Different stations broadcast different genres of music.  Top 40 stations feature the most popular music out at the time, with occasional weather and news updates.  Call-ins to request songs are encouraged, and there are also occasional contests.   In the mornings and at night, pop stations such as KDWB often allow call-ins to talk about issues in a sort of therapy session.   Also included in music radio are oldies, light rock, hard rock, country, indie, classical, and Christian.  These all have their own designated stations and styles of play.  Some play music for an extended amount of time and then have a plethora of ads, or they may do both in smaller amounts. 

21.  Food, Inc.  (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_Inc)

Food, Inc. is a documentary film we watched in class last week.  It presented information to the public that had not been exposed in such a direct manner before.  It concludes that corporate farming in the United States is environmentally harmful and also abusive to the animals.  The animals from these corporate farms are injected with growth hormones to make them exponentially bigger than they would be naturally (bigger animals, more meat).  This is in no way comfortable to the animals and is also not especially healthy for us to eat.  The producers invited rebuttals from the companies they targeted, but all of the companies declined.  

22.  Amazon (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon)

Amazon.com is the world's largest online retailer.  They sell basically everything you could ever think of:  books, music CDs, videotapes and DVDs, software, consumer electronics, kitchen items, tools, lawn and garden items, toys & games, baby products, apparel, sporting goods, gourmet food, jewelry, watches, health and personal-care items, beauty products, musical instruments, clothing, industrial & scientific supplies, and groceries.  The company is worth over 100 billion dollars and currently has websites for 9 separate countries.  It connects many, many different forms of media to one website.

23.  VeggieTales (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VeggieTales)

VeggieTales is an animated program that features talking/singing/dancing vegetables that convey moral themes based on Christianity.  While it is made for children, adults can also appreciate it.  Often times, they retell biblical stories in ways that children can understand.  They make a good balance between lessons and comedy in order to keep children interested.  I think it is great that the producers found a way to communicate these moral themes with children so effectively.

24.  Raffi (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raffi_(musician))

Raffi is Canadian singer/songwriter who I grew up listening to.  He is one of the most successful children's singers of all time.  Not only are his songs catchy, they can also educational.  I remember learning all about colors from one of his songs and about whale sounds in another.  I also owned a video with a lot of his songs and images to go along with them.  It was my favorite thing to watch, even though it was not action packed or comical like the videos children watch today.  His songs are wholesome and send great messages to children.

25.  Reader Rabbit (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reader_Rabbit)

Reader Rabbit is a computer game I played when I was a young girl.  In my younger years, I read at an extremely accelerated level.  I blame this on the Reader Rabbit games my mother would have me play.  The program is made up of a bunch of small games aimed to teach basic reading and spelling skills.  While I can not remember what any of the games actually were, I do remember having a lot of fun playing them, and evidently, it paid off.  Reading was my favorite thing to do as a child, and even though I keep a hectic schedule now, I still try to read one non-school book every two weeks or so.  I think that if more people would have played games such as Reader Rabbit when they were little, they would appreciate reading more than most people do these days.

26.  WebAssign (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebAssign)

WebAssign is a service that can be purchased by schools for them to do online homework off of.  In high school, I used it to do my physics homework.  Depending on how the teacher sets it up, students are typically given a certain number of attempts to submit the homework correctly, and if they get it wrong after that number of attempts, the question is marked incorrect.  I think it is a great, hands-on tool for doing homework.  It beats out the old fashioned paper homework because students are able to see if they are doing it correctly, thus  bringing down the number of questions asked in class.  WebAssign is a great advancement in the world of homework.

27.  Halloween (http://www.halloweenhistory.org/)

In the current United States, Halloween is a day where children get put on costumes and go Trick-or-Treating for candy around their neighborhoods.  It is a fun holiday with lots of traditions, but not many people know the true origins of it.  Halloween has its origins in the Celtic festival Samhain.  "The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture. Samhain was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and prepare for winter. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped and the deceased would come back to life and cause havoc such as sickness or damaged crops."  Masks and costumes were worn as an attempt to mimic the evil spirits.  This eventually evolved in to the Halloween we all know and love today!

28.  Vampires (Link:  http://www.squidoo.com/real-history-of-vampires)
Most people only know vampires from their favorite book and television series.  There is actually a long history behind these creatures.  Traditionally, vampires were viewed as foul and repugnant menaces.  Evidence of their existence was thought to include sudden deaths of people and livestock under questionable circumstances.  It was said that the only way to get rid of a vampire was to dig up the grave of the corpse, cut its head off, and drive a stake through its heart.  Oddly enough, vampires in society today are viewed as attractive, compelling, and non-threatening.

29.  Twilight (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight_(series))
Twilight is a series of four novels by Stephenie Meyer.  They are about a teenage girl named Bella who falls in love with a vampire named Edward.  While Edward is actually 104 years old, he has not aged physically since his vampire transformation took place.  The first novel was published in 2005, and since then, they have became insanely popular.  Movie adaptions are currently in the works, and there are many fan items available at stores.  The Twilight series inspired other vampire themed shows and novels and brought popularity back to the creatures.

30.  BlackBerry Messenger (BBM)  (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlackBerry_Messenger)

Blackberry Messenger is an Internet-based instant messaging system featured on BlackBerry cellular devices.  It allows messaging between one BlackBerry user and another.  The difference between this and text messaging is that BBM can be used internationally since it is through the Internet.  This is nice for students who go to school internationally and need a fast, convenient way to communicate with their families.  It is much more similar to instant messaging over a computer than text messaging because users choose a display picture/display name and have unlimited length of messages.  BBM helps communicate take place internationally in an easy and reliable way.

31.  Facebook (Link:  http://www.facebook.com)

Facebook is a social networking site launched in 2004, founded by Mark Zuckerberg.  It has more than 800 million active users.  After signing up for Facebook, you are able to create a profile that includes your hobbies, interests, and photos.  You are also able to add other users as friends and view their profiles.  Facebook offers common interest groups and provides many types of opportunities for social networking.  It is hard for us to imagine life without Facebook.  Being able to see the happenings in lives of people we haven't connected with in a while, being reminded of birthdays and events, and playing the games Facebook offers are luxuries we would never enjoy without the site.

32.  Facebook creeping (Link:  http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Facebook%20creeping)

Facebook creeping is an activity that refers to viewing the Facebook profiles of friends (or people you don't really know) and examining their photos, interests, and recent activities.  Creeping keeps us informed on what is happening in the people around us's lives.  For example, finding out someone's relationship status is exponentially easier when you have access to their Facebook profile.  There is something satisfying about getting information about these people's lives, even if we do not know them.  It is a fun and distracting activity.

33.  Nintendo (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo)

Nintendo is a corporation located in Japan that produces video games.  It started by producing hand made hanafuda cards in 1889.  It eventually developed in to video games and is arguably the most influential company in the industry.  The Nintendo Entertainment System was released in North America in 1985.  In 2010, it was named the single greatest video game console in history by IGN.  The Nintendo systems have evolved in to what we get to enjoy now:  the Nintendo Wii.  

34.  Rent (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent_(musical))

Rent is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Johnathon Larson.  It follows the story of a few characters struggling to survive in New York's Lower East Side.  The majority of characters also happen to have HIV/AIDS.  It started as a workshop production and moved to Broadway in 1996.  It is the tenth longest running musical of all time.  The show sparked an interest in HIV/AIDS to the public.  I think it is great when a serious topic such as this is portrayed in such a light because it spreads awareness in such an effective way.  Rent really tugs the heart strings of audience members and brings more sympathy to AIDS victims than before.  It also inspires people to do whatever they can for the cause.

35.  The Office (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Office_(U.S._TV_series))

The Office is a television show broadcast ed by NBC.  It is a "mockumentary," which means that it is scripted, but simulates the look of an actual documentary.  It shows the comical, every day lives of workers at a paper company (Dunder Mifflin) located in Pennsylvania.  It is the sort of show that needs to be watched by someone a few times before it can be fully appreciated.  At first glance, all of the characters seem weird and quirky, but when the viewer gets to "know them" after a few episodes, they are hilarious.  The Office inspired other mockumentary type shows and also turned Scranton, Pennsylvania in to a "hip city," says their Mayor.

36.  Toddlers and Tiaras (Link:   http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/toddlers-tiaras)

Toddlers and Tiaras is a reality series on The Learning Channel that follows child beauty pageants.  It is very controversial.  The young girls fake tan, stuff their bras, wax their eyebrows, and wear fake teeth.  The mothers push their children hard to do well in the pageants.  In my opinion, the world of child pageants is disgusting.  My least favorite part is the mothers.  It is so wrong what they put their children through.  Children aren't supposed to care about what they look like or be concerned about their body figures.  Participating in pageants causes them to become insecure at a ridiculously young age.  

37.  Barney & Friends (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_%26_Friends)

Barney & Friends is a children's television program.  It has been on the air since 1987 and teaches children through song and dance.  Barney (a dinosaur) emphasizes the power of love and friendship.  The other main characters (also dinosaurs) are BJ and Baby Bop.  The show has been criticized for its lack of educational value, but I think it sends great messages to children.  Many of the messages are about learning how to share and how to be nice people.  

38.  Bring It On (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bring_It_On_(film))

Bring It On is a movie about a high school cheer leading team.  It takes place in California and was filmed in 2000.  The main character is under pressure as the team captain because she finds out that the previous captain stole all of the team's routines from a rival team.  The movie is a journey of self discovery.  The main character finds that there is more to life than cheer leading.  The movie as a whole shows viewers that there is more to cheer leading than just looking pretty.  Viewers see how intense the world of cheer leading is and how much effort and athleticism really goes in to it.

39.  The Hunger Games (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunger_Games)

The Hunger Games is a book series I read for the first time last summer.  They take place in a post-apocalyptic world called Panem.  There are twelve different districts in Panem, and every year, each district must send a male and female child representative to compete in a competition called the Hunger Games.  In the Hunger Games, the children fight each other to the death and the winner is the person who doesn't die.  The books are extremely addicting and introduce readers to a whole new world they have never experienced before.  

40.  Pinterest (Link:  http://www.pinterest.com)

Pinterest is a fairly new (launched March 2010) photo sharing website.  People connect through shared tastes found on the website.  Photos are divided in to the sub categories of:  architecture, art, cars & motorcycles, design, DIY & crafts, education, film, music & books, fitness, food & drink, gardening, geek, hair & beauty, history, home décor, humor, kids, my life, women’s apparel, men’s apparel, outdoors, people, pets, photography, print & posters, products, science & nature, sports, technology, travel & places, wedding & events, other, everything.

41.  Werewolves (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werewolf)

Like vampires, werewolves have recently spiked in popularity thanks to the Twilight series.  Not many people know the real origins of werewolves.  The first tales of men turning in to wolves can be found in Ancient Greek Literature.  They were said to be under a curse, and the transformation from man to wolf normally took place under the full moon.  Werewolves have been said to have super human strength and senses.  Ever since Twilight, they have come back to be a popular subject for fiction.

42.  Justin Bieber (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Bieber)

Justin Bieber is a teenage Canadian pop singer.  He is also one of the biggest heartthrobs of our generation.  Fans of Justin are typically girls (of every age!).  He was discovered in 2008 and since then has been nominated for 65 awards and won 54 of them.  His 2011 movie Never Say Never is considered to be his most prestigious performance and was also very inspiring.  While he has many haters, I believe that Justin is one of the most talented artists of our time.  

43.  Tattoos (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattoo)

In the last decade, tattoos have become more and more mainstream.  They are now common to both sexes and all economic classes.  They can be a very controversial subject.  Many people consider them to be a means of expression, but others argue that they are rebellious and tacky.  My father would argue, "if God wanted you to have ink on your body, he would have put it there himself."  In 2010, about 38% of Generation Y was found to have at least one tattoo on their body, and this number is only expected to grow in the upcoming years. 

44.  Michael Jackson (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson)

Michael Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time.  He is often referred to as the King of Pop.  His album Thriller is the best selling album of all time.  Michael started as a member of the group The Jackson 5 (along with his brothers) and went solo in 1971.  According to Wikipedia, the music videos for his songs, including those of "Beat It", "Billie Jean", and "Thriller", were credited with transforming the medium into an art form and a promotional tool, and the popularity of these videos helped to bring the relatively new television channel MTV to fame. 

45.  Artificial intelligence (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence)

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is an interesting branch of computer science.  It is "the study and design of intelligent agents."  It raises philosophical issues about the nature of the mind and the ethics of creating artificial human beings.  Basically, what these people do is simulate human feelings and intelligence through machines.  It is currently one of the most difficult and intriguing problems in computer science.

46.  Twitter (Link:  http://www.twitter.com)

Twitter is a social networking service.  When you "tweet" something or someone, it is essentially the same as updating a Facebook status, besides the 140 character limit.  It is sometimes described as "the SMS of the Internet," referring to SMS messages.  It is used for a variety of purposes in many different scenarios.  It is increasingly being used to make television more interactive.  It is also fun for people to view the Twitter accounts of celebrities to make them feel like they know them better. 

47.  The Lion King (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lion_King)

The Lion King is a 1994 Disney animated film.  It is the 32nd film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series.  The story is about a lion cub named Simba who is the son of the king, Mufasa.  Mufasa's brother, Scar, is incredibly jealous and plots to kill both Mufasa and Simba so that he will be king.  He is successful in killing Mufasa, but only manages to make Simba run away for years.  His plan backfires years later when Simba returns and fights Scar for the title of king.  The Lion King is a classic that never seems to get old.  

48.  Neil Diamond (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Diamond)

Neil Diamond is one of the greatest treasure this country has ever had.  His career began in the 1960s and continues to today.  He has sold over 115 million records worldwide.  Neil was inducted in to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011.  To this day, Neil continues to go on tours and please audiences all over the world.

49.  Say Yes to the Dress (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Say_Yes_to_the_Dress)

Say Yes to the Dress is a reality series on The Learning Channel that follows events at Kleinfield Bridal Shop.  Every episode, a few women shopping for wedding dresses are documented.  The drama normally revolves around price issues, overwhelming advice from friends and family, and struggles with weight concerns.  It has had a large impact on the media by inspiring girls, young and old, to fantasize about their perfect weddings and wedding dressings.  

50.  American Idol (Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idol)

American Idol is a talent competition on the Fox network.  It started in 2002 and since then has become one of the most popular shows in the history of American television.  The concept is to find a new solo recording artist who is chosen by viewers' votes.  It has had a large impact on America.  So many people have decided to pursue singing careers thanks to the program.  People everywhere fantasize about trying out for the show and becoming the next American Idol.

Books and People in Media Literacy

1.  Khaled Hosseini
Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and moved to the United States in 1980. His first novel, The Kite Runner, was an international bestseller, published in thirty-eight countries. In 2006 he was named a goodwill envoy to UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency. He lives in northern California. (Source: click to view)  He is one of my favorite authors.  His novels are extremely powerful and rewarding to read.

2. Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult is another one of my favorite authors.  Her novels are usually about pretty controversial subjects, which make them even more interesting to me.  My favorite one is called Change of Heart.  It is about a death row prisoner who makes a request to donate his heart post-execution, but with lethal injection, this is medically impossible.  Source:  http://www.jodipicoult.com/change-of-heart.html

3.  Stephen Glass ( <-- click)

4.  Harry Potter

Harry Potter is hands down my favorite book series.  I reread them every summer and never get sick of them.  There are so many fine details that even though I have read each of them at least ten times, I still am surprised at some parts.  I am also very interested in the background of Harry Potter:  how JK Rowling was inspired to write it and what not.  For information on that, click here.

5.  The Brothers Grimm

When I was a junior in high school, we spent a few weeks in my English class studying the Brothers Grimm and their stories.  Disney adapted many of their stories and turned them in to animated films, all of which I am a huge fan of, so I loved reading the original stories.  A lot of them are pretty gruesome.  The first collection of their fairy tales was published in 1812 and contained over 200 stories.  (Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brothers_Grimm#Grimms_Tales) 

6.  Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs

7.  Al Gore:  Did he invent the Internet?

The answer is "no,"  although he did help promote it.  "as far back as the 1970s, Congressman Gore promoted the idea of high speed telecommunications as an engine for both economic growth and the improvement of our educational system. He was the first elected official to grasp the potential of computer communications to have a broader impact than just improving the conduct of science and scholarship [...] the Internet, as we know it today, was not deployed until 1983. When the Internet was still in the early stages of its deployment, Congressman Gore provided intellectual leadership by helping create the vision of the potential benefits of high speed computing and communication."^[52]

Souce:  "Wikipedia." Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2011. <http://www.wikipedia.org>.

8.  Paul Zak - Ted Talks

9.  Andrew Lloyd Webber

Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of variations, two film scores, and a Latin Requiem Mass. He has also gained a number of honours, including a knighthood in 1992,^[1] followed by a peerage from the British Government for services to Music, sevenTony Awards, three Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, fourteen Ivor Novello Awards, seven Olivier Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and theKennedy Center Honors in 2006.^[2][3]

Source:  "Home | Andrew Lloyd Webber."Home | Andrew Lloyd Webber. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2011. <http://www.andrewlloydwebber.com/

10.  Thomas Edison

Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison

11.  Harry Potter series

The Harry Potter series set a new standard for fantasy books.  They are incredible and reinvented the population's ideas of wizardry.  For more information, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter

12.  Meg Cabot

13.  Barack Obama 

Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

14.  Al Franken

15.  Chelsea Handler

16.  Christopher Paolini

17.  Suzanne Collins

18.  Richard Herrstein 

Author of Bell Curve:  Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life.  For more information, click here.

19.  Ken Kesey

20.  Oprah