My last blog...

Now, in all the blogs I've read from classes prior and even blogs within my own class, the cliché for this blog is to talk about how excited you are about ending blogging as well as tie in helpful ideas from the semester. I wanted to diverge from this, but realized that its cliché for a reason, it works.

My overall sense of media literacy has developed throughout this semester. I have to thank careful observation and helpful principles in developing my skills as a media literate individual. The branch of media literacy that I became most interested with this semester is the Politics of Production. I am fascinated at the integral roles each player has. Vertical integration has to be one of the most intelligent and useful tools that gets people by in the media industry. The ability to unite the different levels of production under one company name is incredible. This tool expedites efficiency.

I feel as though I have a better understanding of intention in cinematography now from our brief overview of cinema tools. The idea that the director can associate good feelings with a particular character based off of all the other objects that show up on one side of the screen is incredible.

I believe that this course has strengthened my understanding of the relationship between today’s global community and the media that governs it. I have made changes in my life based off of information I have learned in class.

Here is where some great summarizing statement should go. Unfortunately, I have nothing profound to say, except I am now a producer of media.

The Sinful Compass

A dear friend of mine is joining a campaign to discourage Christians from viewing the film The Golden Compass. His talking points consist of misquoted scripture and murky premises. However, his passion on this subject would make you believe that if this movie gained enough popularity, it would bring about the demise of Christianity as we know it. According to him, neither children nor adults are capable of identifying truth from fiction when it comes to serious spiritual issues like these. He claims that his current studies toward a bachelor's degree in youth ministry gives him the background needed to critique this film.

I would like to disagree. Based off of what we discussed in class in regards to the book Eyes Wide Open, to shelter a child’s mind would be to put them at a severe disadvantage when it comes time to expose them to the real world. I must say, ‘protecting’ our kids by refusing to expose them to movies like this only hurts them later on when parents are not there to provide a truthful outlook on the media text. Also, I have a hard time believing that children will be won over to the Atheist side through this movie. Even young children are capable of deciphering truth from fiction. Children are going to see this movie because it’s an adventure movie with cute furry computer generated animals, not to examine the potential deep-rooted symbolism regarding religion and truth.

In the end, I believe that fearing this movie is equivalent to having weak faith. If you are shaken by the notion of a movie stealing believers away from the church, then your idea of the power of truth is miniscule. I do not believe that we should continue to limit our children’s exposure to all types of media supplemented with a biblical worldview.

Macy's March...

As discussed in class, vertical integration is a powerful tool used by media. I observed this during the Macy’s Day Parade. Primarily in the relationship to the floats in the parade, as well as the commercials that came on during the break. I found myself wondering if they had actually taken a commercial break, or if the balloon was still on the screen.
Of course, I do not mean that literally. I can tell the difference between a commercial and ‘programming’. But what happens when the programming has become an advertisement in itself? That is clearly what has happened in the Macy’s Day parade and I believe it is working to the advantage of everyone involved.
The first profit-eer is Macy’s itself. This department store carries all of the products featured during commercials AND featured characters and bands in the floats. So, as viewers gather in front of the television for some pre-dining entertainment while the turkey cooks, they’re receiving prompting to purchase items that can be found in the sponsor’s store.
Secondly, advertising is found not only in the commercials, but throughout the program. Each float features a product, like the Pillsbury dough boy. And if the float has no commercial theme, they slap an up and coming artist who is preparing a new album release in the coming holiday season. So, it is clear that the advertising is taking place on multiple levels.
Lastly, the commercials reflect the very same products that are featured on the floats as well as products that Macy’s themselves feature. It is essentially some large Macy’s fetish. Self-gratifying and vertically integrated. So next time you’re watching featured programming, just remember who’s sponsoring it and how many advertisements you spot.

Turkey Time...

Thanksgiving is the one holiday that commercialism did not take over. Although media has got its grimy hands on everything, Thanksgiving has seemed to be the holiday least-touched. And I for one am thankful for that.
I believe it has to do with the lack of gift giving, yet it still appears that in spite of this, ‘holiday’ gifts are advertised on the television non-stop. It seems as though Thanksgiving provides a safe holiday buffer between Halloween, buying massive quantities of candy, and Christmas, buying massive amounts of everything anyone could ever want.
Thanksgiving is a time for families, which are often forgotten in the business of buying that comes with other holidays. The only markets that receive Thanksgiving revenue are potato farms, turkey farms, and stuffing farms, but I have my doubts about the latter.
As is clear from advertisers, Thanksgiving is somewhat of a break that has been granted to prospective buyers. It is the so called ‘lull before the storm’. Thanksgiving is the calm before the rush, exactly what shoppers need, time to visit with family and receive pre-prepared lists of Christmas wishes. The needs that Santa cannot fill are then passed on to aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas, friends and neighbors. Commercialism has not destroyed Thanksgiving, and it is for these reasons that Thanksgiving will continue to be unaffected, yet still used as a way to manipulate the market.

A Whole New World

The Movie Mcluhan’s Wake is a film that is both confusing and complex. Through understanding his speeches and his life, Marshall Mcluhan’s impact on the communication realm is clear. The four ideas presented in this film are ones that are held true today. By understanding these, we can better understand how the world interacts. One that I’d like to focus on is how he talks about stopping the growth of modern technology.

By following Mcluhan’s plan, ending mass media would stop negative human interaction. This, however, would not solve the problem. The core issue here is what individuals do with media. The politics of production are the most influential level of media literacy involved here and express that we cannot give up mass media simply for the sake of what some people are using it in a negative manner for. Instead of regulation and censoring media, we should only encourage individuals to produce their own media, which is why the internet is so influential.

Mcluhan only saw the beginnings of what was to come. If he was able to see today’s communication world, he would understand that things have worked out for the better and that the global society in which we live today is positive and encouraging.

New Technology

Stumbling into the dark classroom, we watched the movie Mcluhan's wake. I still don’t seem to comprehend the main arguments of the film, since it is based more on a visual level than a contextual level. Regardless, I have determined that one of Mcluhan’s arguments was that technological advancement is detrimental to society. I would disagree.

Mcluhan would die to know the integration of technology and daily life that exists today. He found the television to be incredibly invasive to daily life. But if he saw how the internet has spread and become a primary form of communication for some, he would not be able to fathom the great depth that the internet has taken society. The dependency so many have on the internet is unfounded. To think that some people survive uniquely on the internet, ordering and receiving products through the mail, is incredible. It has created the village again out of a global society. It is remarkable to see the growth with which this new realm of communication is expanding.

Mcluhan was wrong. Communication through mass media is a positive example of human interaction and the television will not lead to the downfall of democracy. Instead it will be used as an influential tool to help shape the masses and spread ideals.

Dammit, Janet.

Arguably, the Rocky Horror Picture Show is the best-known and longest-running cult film. It’s still on limited release in theaters more than thirty years after its initial debut. The film mocks conventions of science fiction and horror movies, but has a serious lack of plot. What was the attraction, then, to this film? Was it a “so-bad-its-good” outlook? What spawned the obsessive fandom that resembles cult activity? It seems that the popularity of the film was created more from the fan base rather than the success of the movie itself.

Perhaps the appeal is the way that the films address topics that are not usually considered appropriate or mainstream. Maybe it’s the controversial nature and unconventional techniques used to create the diagesis. Perhaps the characters are so drastically unique and unrealistic that they give adults a rare opportunity to play.

As the fans perpetuate the success of these movies, new features are incorporated as their involvement in the text deepens: they didn’t just wake up one morning and decide to throw toast at the screen. Regardless, eventually a “script” of interactions with the movie has been created and mysteriously maintained. This intrigue draws in the younger folk with a sense of mystery and a need to understand traditions from the past. Cult films, especially in the case of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, have come to transcend generations.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show has proven itself to be a timeless piece of cinema history. Engaging young and old, male and female, expert and novice, it’s a unique experience for all. We expect this affinity group to continue to grow, not only in number, but also in design grammar – developing more interactive activity with each viewing.

So what upcoming or present films will resonate or offer some new, innovative idea different from that of the mainstream market? Since the concept of cult films appears to be relatively young, it will be fascinating to examine what common elements will spawn other obsessive, cult fan bases.

Co-written by Alyssa Pearson and Phill Demarest

Sweet Transvestite

I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey. It seemed a fairly ordinary night when five Malone students donned go-go boots, black skirts, and red lipstick. They set forth to encounter an incest, transvestite, homosexual musical cult film titled The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Upon arrival, these students were greeted with scantily clad men, scantily clad women, and squirt guns. It was evident that this was a night they were going to remember for a very long time.

First on the agenda was a costume contest. Men and women flooded the stage dressed as Rocky, Eddie, Janet, Columbia, Magenta, Dr. Scott, Brad, and the ever scandalous Frank-N-Furter. With the applause-o-meter as the weighing mechanism for judging the costumes, winners took home theatre-passes.

Pre-movie activities included step-by-step instructions on how to do the Time Warp, demonstrations of “elbow sex,” and finding all the Rocky Virgins and branding them with a red “V” on their foreheads. Viewers could also purchase prop kits that included various objects for interaction with the movie. A list accompanying the kit provided directions for use.

1) Rice to throw during the wedding scene

2) Newspapers and water pistols for the storm

3) Flashlights for the song “There’s a Light”

4) Rubber gloves for the creation of Rocky

5) Noisemakers celebrating Rocky’s birth

6) Toilet paper for the phrase “Great Scott”

7) Toast for when Frank-N-Furter proposes a toast

8) Party Hat for dinner celebration

9) Cards for when Frank sings “cards for sorrow, cards for pain”

The movie began and chaos ensued. Amidst shouts of “asshole” and “slut,” it was difficult to actually determine what was going on. Finally it was understood that “asshole” was assigned to close-ups of Brad Majors, and “slut” was attributed to close-ups of Janet Weiss. Everyone seemed to have some sort of comment in reaction to most lines of the movie. Audience members also danced along with the cast during the Time Warp and made full use of the props. It rained in the theatre along with the film, and cascades of toilet paper fell from the sky for fifteen minutes following the “great Scott” phrase.

Although these actions are all well and good, we still failed to comprehend what it meant to be a Rocky Horror enthusiast. One thing that we did articulate was that all of these actions have developed over time and were in no way planned by the authors.

So, what makes cult film?

More to come. I know you are shivering with antici…

pation.

Co-written by Alyssa Pearson and Phill Demarest

The greatness of YouTube...

Growing short of ideas, we turned to the faithful www.youtube.com. Our journey came to an end when we came across the Team America: World Police montage. Acting as both entertainment and education, this montage gives the run down of what is necessary to show an effective character development. We chose to evaluate the Rocky montage using the lyrics of the Team America montage.

“That’s when you need to put yourself to the test, and show us a passage of time…” This will require a montage. As we see in Rocky, Rocky needs to develop his skills so that he can defeat Apollo Creed. To show the duration of progress, the montage is used to accentuate the growth of Rocky’s skills.

“Show a lot of things happening at once, remind everyone of what’s goin’ on…” Montage’s draw the viewer away from the reality of time constraints to an alternate world where the passage of time is sped up for the sake of covering a lot of progress in a short period of time. Apollo Creed is a powerful character that will take much effort to beat. So, Rocky must train significantly to defeat his foe. There is then a review of the current status of all subplots that join together in preparing the viewer for consequent scenes.

“From just a beginner to a pro…” Rocky was out of shape. He had to train in order to become a better fighter. To show all these steps would be entirely inefficient to the film. The viewer would also loose interest, according to Lexi. They can assume what happens through showing little clips.

“If you fade out it seems like more time has passed in a montage…” Film techniques such as the fade out are what help create a sense of passage of time. Without them, it would be an abrupt end leading the viewer to believe there was specific ending, opposed to a progression of ability.

So, it is clear that Rocky illustrates the main themes that Team America makes jest of. However, these points are true because they’re effective. They allow the director to control time and the pace of character development in the movie.

Stephen Colbert

We love Stephen Colbert. Why, you ask? Cause he’s amazing. F-ing amazing. He’s credible, his opinion shapes ours, we love hearing his voice in our homes, we look forward to watching him on television, and if he appeared in another media text, WE’D TOTALLY WATCH IT!

What does this all mean? We’ve formed a parasocial relationship with Stephen Colbert. In short, we have a one sided friendship with him. You may find this to be strange, however you may have a parasocial relationship and not know about it. In fact, many people do, especially with television personalities.

Walter Cronkite is a perfect example of a person in the media who became trusted and welcomed into the homes of many. During the Vietnam War, his opinions were greatly influential in drawing the American people to the opposing side.

Today, there are many people who idolize Stephen Colbert as well. Facebook has several groups dedicated to him, including one that sponsors him as president. With over a million members, it’s well on it’s way to two million. The incredible success expresses the beliefs of the people of the United States who have put their trust in such a figure.

Our love for Stephen Colbert is founded in the basis of parasocial relationships and is what drives us to engage all forms of media with which he is associated. The significance of these relationships in our lives shapes us into who we are and what we believe.

180

As movie night began in Whittier Hall, Phill and Lexi settled in for an hour and a half of Steve Carell pleasure. The movie Evan Almighty set the stage for this entertaining evening. As the movie drew to a close, the final scene depicts a conversation between ‘God’ and Evan, played by Carell. As the camera cut from ‘God’ to Evan, we looked over at each other to see if we both saw what had just happened. Sure enough, it was mutual; we had just witnessed a 180 degree plane medium shot. During the standard post-movie discussion time, the positives and negatives were clear points of interest.

We determined that there were many positives qualities to this style of shot. First, each side of the shot contains ideas and qualities particular to each character. By maintaining the placement of each character, the director is able to shape the emotions of the viewer by associating particular meanings with particular characters. Evan was kept on the right side of the screen, while ‘God’ stayed on the left. There was no way for us to mix up the order of each character, because they were presented in a clear and organized manner. Lastly, this shot enables the director to create a conversational setting for the characters. Blocking out the business of the surrounding world, this shot creates a moment between the characters into which we are given a window. These positive attributes to the 180 degree medium shot work together to form a more organized scene.

The obvious negatives of this shot include force, bland convention, and deceptive perception. Directors use force to manipulate the feelings of the audience. Emotional baggage is associated with these shots through connotative meaning. Stifling the creative mind, these shots restrict the ability to conceive new cinematic patterns. They limit our ability to conceive new forms of emotional association with characters. Pure convention does not allow for creativity. We think we’re interpreting the scene while in fact, the director has already established total meaning with very little room for audience involvement.

Through understanding each of these meanings, we had a well rounded post-movie discussion. Now we understand the positive and deceptive tools of director’s and how they shape and manipulate the emotions of each viewer.

Authors: Lexi Hartline and Phill Demarest

Mediagasm

…

Moments later, a car passed us that had a yellow ribbon magnet. Messages contained within this symbol, ranging from music, war, and disease, confirm the theory of second order signification. Following our previous discussion, Phill had a Mass Mediagasm as the recognition of class material and life came flooding into conversation.

This symbol finds its origins in the song by Tony Orlando and Dawn, “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree.” This brought the connotations of love, forgiveness, openness. In the early 90’s, the symbol resurfaces under the banner of the Persian Gulf War. Americans tied yellow ribbons around the trees in their yards as a welcome for the troops returning from conflict. This was done to alleviate perceived tensions relating to the Vietnam Conflict. While the ribbons still retained the connotations of forgiveness and openness, the meaning shifted more towards patriotism.

Around the same time, actors started wearing a red ribbon pinned to their lapels in an effort to raise awareness for AIDS. This gave us the shape that is now manufactured as magnets for car bumpers. Widely accepted as an easy and cost-effective way to express patriotism, the idea caught on and was co-opted by other groups.

These continue to develop at a quick rate that starts with the communication of basic awareness. Many organizations have attempted to employ the use of ribbon magnets to support their mission. Pink, indicating breast cancer awareness, has also appeared on people’s bumpers conveying support for a cure. This more closely resembles the original AIDS ribbon which fought for awareness of this epidemic. Black and white, for POW and soldiers MIA, identifies closer to the yellow ribbon, still maintaining a patriotic theme.

Those in the van acknowledged that they had seen other ribbons, such as a puzzle piece design signifying autism, and a ribbon that was half red, white, and blue and half yellow, further emphasizing the mixture of patriotism and forgiveness.

All in all it was a wonderful trip as we were able to apply our communication knowledge to real-world events. Ah, sweet euphoria.

Co-written by Alyssa Pearson and Phill Demarest.

1 (330) 867-5309

On our Forensics journey back from Berea, Kentucky, a compilation disc triggered a conversation. As everyone struck up the chorus “867-5309,” the curious Ann Lawson begged the question, “Why is it that you know and like the songs I grew up with in high school?” Speculation ensued regarding this cyclical twenty-year phenomenon.

The observation was made that in the 1970’s, the most popular TV shows were “Happy Days” and “Lavern and Shirley,” both set in the 1950’s. Then again in the late 90’s, “That 70’s Show” emerged. Interest in this show, we believe, was founded in the adults’ desire to reminisce. Curiously enough, when TV producers attempted to re-create the success of “That 70’s Show” with “That 80’s Show,” it flopped. Perhaps not enough time had elapsed to create the nostalgic buffer.

The high ratings of these shows cannot come solely from reminiscing adults, so they must appeal to a wider demographic. The shows are never targeted towards people in the forties, but to the younger generation. So what would motivate younger audiences to buy into nostalgic references that they did not experience?

Returning to the music that started the conversation, we both realized that we were exposed to the favorite songs of our parents. We were constantly bombarded by nostalgic references – each song was accompanied by stories of prom, warm summer evenings, first loves, and childhood memories. Therefore, when these shows emerge, we begin to relive the stories that our parents told us, creating familiarity and a similar reminiscent experience.

Upon further investigation of this issue, the subject of recursivity beckoned. Cycles are formed through the rebirth of shared interests. Identified in this cycle are the key ideas that are the foundations of recursivity. TV producers’ ability to apply innovation to the conventional desire to recapture the “good old days” satiates the apparent need for nostalgia.

…

Co-written by Alyssa Pearson and Phill Demarest.

Pika Pika...

I ruined MTV for my cousin today. After I revealed that it was one elaborate advertisement, he began to weep. He could see it, I could see it, anyone who’s watched the documentary Merchants of Cool can see it. But why do so many teenagers not see it?

It’s because of the elaborate feedback loop that marketers engage to siphon ‘cool’ from today’s youth. Once the ‘cool’ is documented and analyzed, it is carefully illustrated in profiles. Then artificial and some natural circumstances are added before its sent off to the producer who turns this enhanced image of today’s teen into a STAR!

The lie that is the MTV Star is actually a biomorphic individual who takes on an assigned identity. False rivalries are formed between actors for the sake of publicity and interviews are staged to create an intense experience for the teen following the actor’s life.

This loop is initiated by the ‘cool hunters’ who examine the lives of normal teenagers. After identifying trendsetters, they are then able to take a unique aspect of someone’s outfit and overnight turn it into tomorrow’s fad.

The image the youth sell to the ‘cool hunters’ is then resold back to the youth, for money. Producers reuse the images relentlessly until they finally kill it and it becomes a thing of the past, for more on that just call my friend Pikachu.

The King *Insert Whip Crack* of Pop!

When I peered over my sister’s shoulder the other day, I noticed she had one of those new trendy preteen pop magazines. Then I realized, it wasn’t new at all, it was the same thing that Nickelodeon magazine and Highlights had been for me and my parents. It made me begin to wonder, what gives these magazines the edge they need to endure in an America where kids can’t hold attention long enough to read a short story?

So, after she fell asleep for the night, I went into the kitchen to find her magazine. Before I could open it, I was hit in the face with POP. I was overwhelmed wit the number of headlines they were able to shove on the cover. After counting about eight cover stories, I examined the pictures linked with each. Twins, on opposite corners of the page, were branded with different accusations of love, one boldly claiming in an interview, “Yeah, I’d totally date a fan…” In between, the cover is riddled with cool date ideas, and hip and young new actors.

Once I had been saturated in teen culture simply from viewing the colorful cover page, I began flipping through the pages. The stories looked like advertisements and the advertisements looked like stories. Embarrassing stories mailed in by supposed readers are marked by the “Embarr-O-Meter”. Each story begins with a mildly embarrassing situation which is inevitably followed by the phrase, “…IN FRONT OF MY CRUSH.” Yes, it is clear, every awkward situation will be magnified in front of anyone’s lover, yet the intentional placement of the crush in every story leaves me wondering, is it real? Perhaps it’s just another instance of pop, something to grab the attention of the reader. But how long will it last? As I picked up another issue of the same magazine, I noticed the embarrassment section was still included. Can it really be just as shocking every time? At what point does the reader begin to realize the outlandish claim of “the crush”?

Pop has determined my idea of cool before, but I wonder myself how many ‘crush’ claims I fell to. Pop is like a cheap whore, its intriguing while it lasts, but its unique nature looses value quickly.

Happyness

While evaluating the movie “Pursuit of Happyness”, I considered the overwhelming myth of the possibility of success. The movie is riddled with impossible life circumstances that, through determination, Will Smith can overcome.

The myth in this movie is true on several levels. First, America has created a society where education and dedication, when used together, can produce success. The American dream was born out of the hope that families can move to a country where they can support themselves and have a modest living. Despite the shift toward an unattainable American dream today, the original dream is possible. Will Smith did not have to get rich as he did in the movie to be successful, but his ability to provide for his son is the only success necessary to prove the thesis of the movie. Secondly, after setting personal goals, for example the Rubik’s Cube, Smith was able to attain his goals. The scanners he is selling to pay his rent also acted as a goal to attain. Smith proved this myth true for both of these reasons.

However, this myth gives false hope. Smith’s story is only entertaining because of its rarity. The false hope this myth brings is what drives many less fortunate individuals to attempt risky business in hopes of success. The danger these individuals put themselves in for this possibility of success is often not worth the negative consequences, but because this myth continues to be perpetuated in American society, they persevere.

Obviously, this myth, however entertaining it might be, can and does harm individuals who try to work themselves out of poverty. Not saying that working out of poverty is a poor choice, only a difficult one.

Males Organizing Outrageous Kids Society

MTV has them, so does VH1. No, I’m not talking about music videos, I’m talking about Mooks. These are fictional characters that only exist in the character world of television. As described in the film “Merchants of Cool” these outlandish males perform outrageous stunts to capture the attention of adolescents. Once these young ones are enticed, their attraction to Mooks continues to grow. The concept of popularity shifts then from prep to whoever can get the most laughs.

The nature of the Mook manifests itself in stages in many men’s lives. Although it may not find its place in every man’s life, as it does appear, it often begins with a simple realization. That realization can be summed up in the below formula…

(M+R)/C=F

Essentially, this formula means, “Me acting ridiculous in a particular circumstance yields funny.” I experienced this during my middle school years. After discovering that ‘random’ was funny, I became a mild Mook of my own. I based my character off of those who I saw on television who were only fictional realities. For me, the formula looked like, “Phill wearing blaze orange on St. Patrick’s Day is funny.” Unconventional dress and behavior affirmed the Mook method of attention in my life.

The Mook continues to develop and find will eventually find itself as a common part of the American male. As it grows and shapes today’s youth, the ideal of the Mook will set the stage for humor in tomorrow’s media. It will also affect the nature of social interactions in all male settings. The role of the Mook will take precedent to the humor of yesterday. Limits will continue to be pushed until the edge of humor and ridiculousness is more defined.

If you want to view Paradise...

The story of Charlie Bucket is one of honesty and success. It employs several myths, but to understand these I will first examine the story itself.

In the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, five unsuspecting children receive golden tickets that are their gateway to a world of imagination. The story explores each child’s character flaws incorporates their respective failures into their demise.

Charlie’s life is reflective of that of the possibility of success. As seen in his life, he is the most unlikely of the children to be successful. However, through his honesty and commitment to integrity, in the end Willy Wonka gives him the factory because of these positive characteristics.

This movie does not negate any myths; it only alters them to fit its plot. By developing these myths, it enhances the storyline.

This story appeals to me because of what I bring to it. It gives me a sense of hope for tomorrow. That the unimaginable is attainable through remaining dedicated to yourself and your dreams. Even the unknown is better than holding onto that gobstopper. My story is meshed with this one because I hope that by being loyal to my beliefs, my life will be better off in the end.

It's that time of year again...

The microwave gave a distinct *ping* as my popcorn finished and I settled in for my annual Star Wars dual trilogy weekend. After all the necessary preparations, I pressed play.

Episode II exposed a prevalent storytelling theme that could be referred to as the Threat of a Conspiracy. Once Obi Wan Kenobi confirms that a Sith Lord is controlling the Senate, he has to warn the other Jedi’s and stop the ongoing deception. While broadcasting a distorted message back to Corresant, Kenobi is captured and must find his way to freedom so he can relay the message back to his allies. This journey of exposing a hidden conspiracy is what creates the thrill necessary to keep the attention of the viewer. Indeed, Kenobi’s warning brings the clone army and the day is saved, at least until the next episode.

Skipping ahead several hours, in Episode IV, another myth appeared. This is the myth of the Possibility of Success. Young Luke Skywalker, the most unlikely character to escape poverty and powerlessness overcomes the odds. As the nephew of a moisture farmer, young Skywalker meets the previously mentioned Kenobi. After learning his fate, Skywalker must leave Tatooine and train to become a Jedi to battle the forces of the Dark Side. Through his hard work and dedication, and the occasional nudge of Kenobi, is what helped Skywalker become a powerful force in the galaxy.

After the battle on Hoth in Episode V, Skywalker splits from the group to meet the famed Yoda. Skywalker must receive training from Yoda to become a Jedi. Upon arrival in the Degobah System, Skywalker is shocked to find that Yoda is short, green, and eats snakes. This rustic personality embodied by Yoda is exactly the storyline most of this episode revolves around. The Wisdom of the Rustic storytelling device is employed here as the young and prideful Skywalker has to battle Yoda’s seemingly backwards ways of discipline. However, in the end, the apparently simple life of Yoda is what makes him so great. Skywalker then learns the true meaning of unlearning what he has learned.

Throughout Episode V, the underlying theme is that of the Eternal Return. This storytelling myth expresses that life used to be great, but something has happened that has taken away the bliss of the old days. So, Skywalker and the rest of the Rebel Alliance must combat the Emperor and the forces of the Dark Side to bring balance to the force. It is through the battles and victories that in the end, the Rebel Alliance defeats the Empire.

Of course, the overall story of the trilogy is that Skywalker must rise and overcome the dark side. However, a smaller yet immense problem arises when Skywalker finds out that Darth Vader is his father. The story changes when the villain is related to the protagonist. So, instead of defeating Darth Vader through killing him, Luke attempts to find the good in Anakin Skywalker, which in the end results in Vader’s turn against the Dark side as he kills the Emperor. The lesser lesson he learns in Episode V helps him overcome the entire Empire in Episode VI and bring balance to the force.

Lastly, as I observed Episode IV, V, and VI it was apparent that Luke Skywalker was the messianic figure that the Rebel Alliance was looking for. Taking on the story of the Coming of the Messiah, Skywalker rose to the role of the last hope. It was through his personal journey and final willingness of self sacrifice for the Rebel cause that he was able to overcome the Dark side and save the galaxy from tyranny.

These six myths are not only prevalent in Star Wars, but throughout American storytelling culture. As these concrete examples bring clarity to the myths, it is clear that they all are interdependent and work best when they are employed together.

Hi, my name is Phill and I've been alcohol free for 20 years...

I am a facebook addict. From dawn to dusk, the refresh button is my muse. Wall posts, pictures, and messages draw me into this social network giant. Graciously, some computer programmer created the “Remember this password” option, allowing me to log in faster. I am instantly plugged into this online community. Contained in your profile is all the personal information you choose to include. Once your online identity is established, the search bar can help you peruse the network to find old high school buddies and meet new people. However, the most important element to facebook is that it legitimizes relationships. It appears that in today’s culture you are never truly dating anyone until you’ve updated your status on facebook. This “social alarm” is put in place to inform all potential interests that the user is now off limits. As facebook continues to grow, so does its diversity. Groups can be created and joined by any user and this enables like-minded people to connect in serious or humorous ways. These groups are often formed because of inside jokes or campus events. The colorful personality expressed by each individual through the simplicity of words, and not lavish layout, separates facebook from other social networking sites. Facebook allows each user to portray his or herself in a concise and equal manner. After searching for new friends or joining another group, I find myself scrounging for wall posts to boost my post count. Other users are able to leave messages on a communal board located on each user’s page. I often find myself competing for posts in a not so ethical manner, all for the sake of who can get to 3000 posts first. I won. Joining this network is simple, fun, and educational. Facebook has shaped my interactions with my peers and reconnected me with old friends. I do not take lightly the communication gift that is facebook.

Letter to the Department of Communication Arts of Malone College

Dear Professors of the Communication Arts Department,

I believe in being dedicated to interpersonal learning throughout my academic journey at Malone College. By engaging others in my learning experiences, I have come to a deeper understanding of my dependency on others in this atmosphere. Through relating to others, I convey my thoughts and ideas and in turn receive others’ reactions, which strengthen my comprehension of the subject matter in most every class. I have a passion for unifying group members toward a common goal, understanding. Even at the sake of “getting along”, truth must be conveyed. Only through the revelation of truth can people be reconciled after a debate or group interaction. I see these qualities exemplified through the Communication Arts department and desire to mature these qualities in myself. Thank you.

-Phill Demarest