Last Words

Taking this class this semester has opened my eyes to many different things. I had, as I previously stated in a blog, already taken a race and ethnicity sociology course at OU a couple of semesters ago and so some of this information was not new to me. But, although it is sad for me to say, even though it was just a couple of semesters ago I had already forgotten or just let it bypass me the fact that the media is so one-sided and not diverse enough. The fact that I had to LOOK for diversity in commercials and in movies is startling. It is startling to me because when I did look it was so easy to realize that the media portrays a white America, and appeals to non-minorities. The lack of minorities is staggering and it is ridiculous how accustomed we have become to it all.
As I’ve said before, I really enjoy taking these types of classes because they allow you to think and to think about things that need to be changed in our world. I do think these types of classes should be mandatory, because close-mindedness is not an attractive thing and most of all it is not something that is going to help progress our thinking. True, most people will NOT change the way the live their lives, and they won’t change the way they think—but taking these types of classes will for at least a brief moment open up their eyes to a new way of thinking.
I guess I have an idealistic point of view, whereas I wish that everyone would just stop hating/stereotyping others and get along—I’m not saying you have to be actively involved in someone else’s life, but don’t stereotype or hate someone you don’t know. It is ridiculous the amount of insults and hurtful things I hear come out of people’s mouths. I just can’t understand the amount of hate someone has for another HUMAN BEING just because of the way they look, or because they are female, or their sexual preference. I just wish the world was a more understanding and accepting place.
The media does play a HUGE role in why people believe certain stereotypes and the media needs to be the ones to stop that portion of the role. As I’ve said before, watching over and over and over newscasts about minorities robbing, murdering, raping, and so on will give people a tainted view of minorities—especially if that is the only view they are seeing, which is most often what is shown. Whereas whites are shown doing good deeds, saving the day, or doing random things that don’t deal with crime. The media needs to become more diverse in the news room itself and in the news stories.
As for writing blogs, I really have enjoyed this. I had never written a blog before so I was weary of it at first. But I have learned to like it. Who doesn’t like writing what they feel and think? Overall, I’ve enjoyed it—and they have really made me sit down and think about issues that are important to me.
I don’t really plan on getting into a journalism career—after taking all of these classes and changing my major from psychology I have decided that I do not love journalism enough to sacrifice everything for it. But I know that having this degree will help me in a lot of different fields, and I know that having the knowledge from this class will help me in my everyday life. Thanks :)

Hip Hop in the Media

The five different artists that I had not listened to previously were: Asher Roth, De La Soul, The Foreign Exchange, Jay Electronica, and 88-Keys.





I watched 88-Keys- "True Feelings". The video is very artsy and interesting, I liked the song and the video a lot.
I also watched Asher Roth- "I Love College". The video is based around his night at a crazy college party and what happened at it.
I watched "Buddy" by De La Soul and the video was mainly shot in one room with a whole bunch of people in it.

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=37634392&blogId=484861501

I watched The Foreign Exchange's "Take Off The Blues". The video is shot in a club setting and is a more of a R&B song.

I also watched Jay Electronica's "Bitches and Drugs". His video is taken straight from the movie "The Wall" and he just raps over it.

http://www.myspace.com/jayelect

I then listened to 102.7 and 103.5 which both broadcast some mainstream and popular hip hop songs.

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Boost Mobile phones used hip hop to help sell their products at one time. They used people like Ludacris and Kayne West.
And the actually have a Hip Hop Abs-- so obviously therein lies the hip hop advertising.
http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/hip_hop_abs.do?code=HIPHOPABSDOTCOM

Hip hop can be found in mainstream culture by looking all around. One example is rims on cars--22 inches and bigger have come from certain rap songs that have made it the "it" thing to do to your car. http://www.stupidcollege.com/Images/40_Inch_Rims.jpg
Hip hop became such a popular thing over the past five to ten years. It is the majority of the music played on top 20 radio stations and the ideals in the music have become the ideals of the young public.

My parents listened to rock and roll in the mid to late '60s. British groups like The Beatles, and then more protest-like songs. It was only really one genre, rock and roll. They said they kind of listened to folk, which was more Bob Dylan-like. My mom called it mainstream rock. So, now I listen to mainstream music also. People will get mad and say I'm stupid I'm sure, but I really do like the popular stuff on the radio--I mean it is there for a reason, it has a catchy tune I suppose, haha. But I like hip hop and r&b the most, I listen to rock and all of the other genres, but not really any country. And I also listen to The Beatles still and music from the '60s too.

Hip hop, as I said, really has grown a lot over the years in mainstream media. Before I don't think much attention was given to it, but now a lot more is. It's a more popular genre to listen to, so advertisers are using that to their advantage.

Out of all the artists I listened to, I REALLY enjoyed The Foreign Exchange. I'm glad I did this assignment, because now I have someone new to listen to! :)

The Perpetuation of Subtle Prejudice

There are so many advertisements that don't depict non-white people in them for fear of losing white customers. Here are some advertisement examples that may or may not show non-whites in the ads.

1. Original Coca-Cola TV commercial

Had numerous races along with whites in it, which is pretty surprising considering how old that commercial is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mOEU87SBTU

2. The Nike Basketball commercial

Shows different races but in a sports atmosphere.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPmfbhVGbIQ

3. Mean Joe Green commercial

Another minority is shown in a sports context, instead of just a regular ad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xffOCZYX6F8

4. Troy Polamalu commercial

Remake of the Mean Joe Green commercial, but with a different race; still a minority and still in reference with sports.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJu6OrztFwc

5. Cosmopolitan magazine

The very first page and ad is one of Mary J. Blige singing and is for a Citi Bank card
There are about 83 ads, some are with people and some just have products.
Of those 83, there are only 10 minority ads.
In most of the ads I would say about 80% of them were minority celebrities as opposed to minority models nobody knows.
Also, in most of the minority ads there was only one person in the ad, and their body or face took up the whole ad.

6. Fashion Rocks magazine

There were only about 24 ads throughout the entire magazine.
Of those 24 ads, 4 ads had minorities in them.
But, the magazine itself had a vast array of famous actors and musicians throughout it, including minorities.

7. CareerBuilder.com commercial

Doesn't just have white people in it, also has some minorities, although there are more white people than minorities. Plus it is hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79tMMFja-Fw&feature=PlayList&p=593B9A455D27422B&index=33

8. Pepsi commercial

The only minorities in this commercial are in the background

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3ImtTlv5p4

9. Pizza Rolls commercial

There is one black boy with three other white children. It seems like they "had" to put in a minority, so they threw in one black.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DahXeTmT3XA

10. Sonic commercial

No minorities, only white people, as if only white people eat at Sonic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjY9VGEUdGs

Reflection--

• I've noticed that in the majority of the commercials and ads there are only white people. Minorities are very underrepresented in the media, which reinforces people's ideas that they aren't as important, they don't matter, and that they are simply just not around.
• As I looked at the ads and watched the commercials it was pretty shocking to notice the lack of minorities. I mean, honestly, if you are not LOOKING for minorities in ads you don't notice the huge disparity between minorities and whites. And in the majority of the minority ads they were widely-known celebrities, instead of just minority models. The NAACP noticed the lack of minorities in ads and sent letters out to companies.

http://www.smartbrief.com/news/aaaa/storyDetails.jsp?issueid=CA7D6D06-7CB3-49CF-8345-699A836027D9&copyid=A232C871-EB87-4E98-9C58-53A0973B45DD&brief=aaaa&sb_code=rss&&campaign=rss

• I read that minorities are statistically represented in four different aspects of the media in ads. One sports, two singing melodic sales pitches, three food, and four alcohol. Along with those they are represented in ads that are geared directly toward a specific minority. Like Ebony magazine is directed to African Americans.
• Another thing I noticed is that commercials and ads NEVER show interracial couples, still to this day they don't. And if they do, it is an Asian with a white person the majority of the time. I would assume this is because Asian Americans are known as the "ideal minority" or "model minority."
• It is pretty sad to be able to notice a lack of an entire group of peoples in our advertising. People watch an entire hour of ads a day on T.V. meaning we are being bombarded with ads filled with only one race thus reinforcing in our minds that our society is completely made up of white people. It is a fake world, that we don't live in.
• Since we are journalism majors, most of us in this class, we should get into our fields and begin the change that this society needs. We need to make sure that minorities are equally represented in the media. I know it doesn't feel like it, but one person trying to do the right thing really does make a difference. And even people who aren't journalism majors, they too need to be the change needed to get rid of the prejudices of the media and in life.

Really interesting videos from Dove:

Social Movements & the Media

1. Who determines the news or sets the agenda?

People who are in power are those who set the agenda for news. The president, the people in prominent government positions, top executives of TV news stations, top executives of radio stations, and all of those that are of equal in power are the people who determine the news. They skew the news to their advantage, as in with 9/11 and the war; journalists were afraid to ask tough questions to the President and just went along with whatever anyone in high power said was true. They were afraid because they would be seen as unpatriotic if they even thought of another option than war.

2. How was the war initially reported by the media?

• The war was initially reported by the media, as I stated above, obediently. They took everything the President said as truth and they didn’t question motives or question anything at all. A couple of newspapers and people had the courage to ask the tough questions of those in power and they were immediately dubbed unpatriotic and many people showed their distaste for their remarks. Journalists acted as ‘stenographers’ as a reporter wrote.



• http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/01/31/6762
  
  3. Why do we need a media that specifically represents different interests of people of color? Aren’t those interests everyone’s interests? What can be done to increase the mainstream media’s interest in other topics and concerns? Aren’t those interests everyone’s interests?



• We need a media that specifically represents the different interests of people of color because our media now is portraying them inaccurately. With a more abundance of people of color in the media there would not be as many inaccuracies of race and culture. With different cultures comes different interests, no not everyone has the same interests. And it is not just a race thing, interests are individual to a certain person, no matter what color. More people of color need to be hired into positions of power in the media, such as top executives of TV stations and radio stations. Mainstream media would change drastically; there isn’t a day that I can’t go and turn on the TV and see a white person, but there may be some days when I can’t find an American Indian or a Pilipino.
  
  4. What has the media covered recent social protests? Jenna Six – Proposition Eight



• The media really did not cover Jenna Six or Proposition Eight as much as I think it should have. Especially Jenna Six, I had no idea about it until a Facebook group was made. It makes no sense that there shouldn’t have been intense coverage of Jenna Six and Prop Eight. As said in the Bill Moyers video, the protest against the occupation of Iraq with more than 100,000 people was barely broadcast anywhere, and if it was for only a short, short time. People with a different idea than what the man in charge have get no or slight coverage. Proposition eight, same-sex marriages, did NOT get as much coverage as it should have especially for those in California who were voting for the proposition. Jenna Six was full of racial tension and here we are in the year of 2009 and this stuff is still going on, ignoring it is not going to make matters better.
  
  5. Was the media beneficial for the Civil Rights Movement?



• Yes, I think the media was beneficial for the Civil Rights Movement because the majority of the racial problems happened in certain areas around the United States and without the help of the media people in other areas would have been oblivious to what was going on. The images of dogs tearing at people and fire hoses knocking people over showed people in separate areas the disturbing and horrible things that were happening all over. It encouraged them to help with the movement and become involved. Also, the ability to broadcast Martin Luther King Jr’s speeches was a major help for the movement. People who could not attend the speeches or who didn’t know about them could watch them on television and become inspired.


• 
  
  6. Your thoughts and reflections on setting the news agenda, minority media and the media and reporting the war.



• I think that reporting now-a-days is nothing like it used to be. Reporters used to hound out the answers they needed and they used to dig up information and find the truth. Now reporters just go along with the ‘news agenda’ and don’t ask the tough questions or even ask questions at all. And yes, I know there are some great reporters who actually do go out and seek the answers the public wants to know, but not enough. I think it is a corrupt system if the people in power control the news agenda and ultimately lead us to believe whatever it is they want us to believe. I definitely agree that there needs to be more minorities in power and at the top of their fields in the media so that they can be portrayed accurately and also to get other types of media interests out for everyone to absorb. The media did an absolute horrible job reporting the war; they went along with everything the President said and didn’t question his motives. What if we had all trusted everything President Nixon said, and didn’t probe into the Watergate situation and find the scandal. Without the real journalistic traits that were once valued, people in the United States are getting a skewed view of the news and world. Ask questions and try and find the truth, don’t just accept what people say.



• http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=220538&title=jim-cramer-pt.-2

Gender & Racial Stereotype Tracking

2/25/09 - 10:45 am
Magazine- Cosmopolitan
Mustang Blue fragrance for men
Gender stereotype


2/25/09 - 11:30 am
CNN.com
The Post depicting President Obama as a chimp
Racial stereotype and innuendo


2/25/09 - 12:00 pm
Personal Conversation with roommate Caitlin Stojkovic
Traditions West
Conversation about gender stereotypes in commercials and magazines
Gender stereotype



2/26/09 - 12:00 pm
HGTV Decorating Show
Woman doing the laundry, man watching TV and eating
Gender Stereotype

2/26/09 - 7:00 pm
The Hot Chick (movie)
Stereotyping Asian and Black girls
Racial stereotype

2/26/09 - 9:30 pm
Personal Conversation with friend, Stu
Traditions West
Conversation about WWE Wrestling and the gender differences between the wrestlers
Gender Stereotype

2/27/09 - 3:00 pm
T.I. Music Video- Rubberband Man
Expensive cars, dice, dominos, and making large amounts of cash stereotypes
Racial Stereotype

2/27/09 - 5:30 pm
Detail Magazine
Miller lite beer ad with woman in bathing suit
Gender stereotype

2/27/09 - 5:45 pm
Personal Conversation with friend, Stu
Conversation about racial stereotypes in 80's and 90's movies
Racial Stereotype

2/27/09 - 12:00 am
Tropic Thunder (movie)
Robert Downey Jr. plays as a white actor playing a black soldier in a movie
Racial Stereotype




Reflection --

I was not that surprised by all of the gender and racial stereotypes I found in the media. I have taken a race and ethnicity class where we talked about the media reinforcing stereotypes, and I have also taken a gender class discussing the same thing. Although I know they are prevalent in the media, it doesn't take away the edge of seeing women dressed scantily for men's beer ads, or *most* rap videos showing racial stereotypes for black youth to aspire to (expensive cars, expensive jewelry...) There is a lot of stereotypes in commercials and music videos, but also with ads and movies. The video above about the gender stereotypes in commercials is a good example, because it shows many different commercials filled with male and female stereotypes. As said in The Big Lebowski "What makes a man? A pair of testicles."

Racial and gender stereotypes in the media definitely reinforce people's perceptions of other races. Watching these images constantly and without knowing or realizing that they are actually reinforcing the stereotypes have people just assume they are true. Before taking my two classes I mentioned above, I didn't actually realize and notice all of the gender and racial stereotypes in the media; now that I have taken an interest in looking for them and telling people about them I notice them all the time. It really is something that you just look past, you don't pay attention to, you just figure that it is right and normal. But in all reality we need to realize they are just stereotypes and have little or no truth behind them at all.

I have experienced some racial stereotypes because I had a black boyfriend and on numerous occasions I heard people walking by and mutter racial slurs under their breath or just people (usually white) asking me why I'm not dating a white guy, like it makes a difference. It just made me feel upset and sad that people don't have the open-mind and tolerance to look beyond color. I know that I have not experienced the amount of racial discrimination other people of other races have, because well...I'm white. As far as gender stereotypes go, I can't think of a specific instance where I was stereotyped for being a woman. It is hard to determine because it is disguised pretty well, as in women not being payed as much as men for doing the exact same job.

Big 12 Schools Race Based Admission

These are some of the Big 12 schools, and what is found online for admissions:

OSU- race & ethnicity is optional
Kansas University- ethnic background optional
All Texas schools- ethnic background optional
Iowa State- ethnic background optional
University of Missouri- gender & ethnicity & origin optional

University of Colorado- gender & ethnicity voluntary

University of Nebraska- racial/ethnic background required
Kansas State- ethnic & racial group required

After watching the Tim Wise video in class, what do you think about the idea of privilege?Please support your answers.

• Privilege is something that is very hard for white people to see that they have. It's hard to show evidence of that because of the "denial" people have towards privilege. They acknowledge that minorities are underprivileged, but they won't acknowledge that they are overprivileged. I believe that it is a true and real concept. White people just need to realize that they do have a privilge over minorities.

How does the media utilize privilege in media representation?Give examples.

• "White people create the dominant images of the world, and don’t quite see that they thus construct the world in their image."
  Richard Dyer
• Most TV/Movies/Commercials are geared towards a white audience. It is not hard to turn on the TV and find a white person. It's not hard to find a white family sitcom, or a commercial with a white couple cuddling together. It is a little harder to find a minority family sitcom (although, they are making more now-a-days. BUT they are full of stereotypes about that minority group ex: House of Payne)
• http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/reviews/2007-06-05-house-of-payne_N.htm

For the next several days, please keep a list (try) of the privileges you see in your daily experiences. They can be your privileges or what you believe to be someone else's privilege. You should have a minimum of eight and they will be listed in your blog.

• I am surrounded by my race almost constantly, especially at OU
• I won't be asked "What are you?" or "Where are you from?" on a regular basis
• The majority of the history I am taught is about white history, I know very little about other cultures history, besides HUGE, prominant figures in history.

• I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group
• I can easily buy posters, post-cards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys and children's magazines featuring people of my race.
• I can choose public accommodation without fearing that people of my race cannot get in or will be mistreated in the places I have chosen.
• I can find make-up very easily that matches my skin tone.
• I will feel welcomed and "normal" in the usual walks of public life, institutional and social.

Do you think society still believes in the one drop rule?

• The one-drop rule is a historical colloquial term in the United States that holds that a person with any trace of African ancestry is considered black (unless having an alternative non-white ancestry which he or she can claim, such as Native American, Asian, Arab, or Australian aboriginal).[1] It developed most strongly out of the binary culture of long years of institutionalized slavery.--Wikipedia
• I'm sure some people still believe in the one-drop rule. I haven't personally heard anybody say anything about this, I actually had to look it up. I was pretty sure what it was, but I just haven't ever heard that in conversation before.

Reflection: At the end of the video Tim Wise talked about responsibility of knowledge and Beverly Tatum (1992) suggests that as adults we have a responsibility to identify new information and change our behavior based on this new found awareness. Please discuss from your perspective.

• After watching Tim Wise's video, it is his plan and hope that people will become aware and realize that there is such a thing as white privilege and to start changing the way they act. They have a responsibility to realize they are more fortunate than others and to not take advantage of that.