EXTRA CREDIT-The Illumination Project

 I really enjoyed watching the Illumination Project. I used to attend PCC and have seen some of the students on campus and also knew about this class.  It was really interesting to see the different view’s watching the people from the audience. Almost everyone had a different facial expression. Some were angry, some just were there to get credit and looked bored, and then some looked like they have been in that situation and what was being said onstage was just wrong and hurtful. I thought it was also very interesting to see how people would go up and change a situation. Our good ol’ Jordan himself got up there. And even though it was not a funny matter to see one student making fun of another Jordan knocked it out of the park! He really made good points and talked so calmly, which was so funny for me because he really does that in real life. I have seen it! He will call you on shit if he thinks it’s wrong! There was one portion that really got to me… and that was that there was a Latino girl working as a coffee shop worker, and one of the girls makes a comment that she shouldn’t work here if she can’t speak English, because she got her coffee order wrong. It affected me because that is a comment that is made far too often. And it is really hurtful. But also because I have worked in a coffee shop I also know how easy it is to screw up a coffee. Man oh man that is just not something you do... People are vicious about their coffee. LOL but people make those comments choosing to pick out others race, which in my opinion and many other is very wrong. A lot of what they showed was from personal experience and that was good to see that they use real life occasions but sad to see how racist people are. I have personally been in situations where because I was white I was looked upon as I shouldn’t have been in this restaurant that I went to. It was not a good feeling. So I could see where each one of these people was coming from. I think that them going to different schools and doing this helps people try and stand up for what they believe. If its race, or gender it doesn’t matter. I think it helps develop easy ways to stop hate!  I enjoyed watching people react to different ways that things can be handled! And i also loved watching the teacher be so proud of her students and the students that got up there to try and change a situation!

Anna

The Illumination project is something that is really cool, and at the same time, really eye opening. I love the fact that it is Interactive theater. It completely engages the viewers to jump in and best of all, speak their mind and attack in issue such as racism in a deep personal way. I find it extremely difficult to just sit and watch something and then process it later. This differs in the aspect that you have to process the scenes quickly and jump in when you feel something is wrong. I, of course, had to jump up on stage and interact. I caught myself quickly trying to process my thoughts and what i am going to say all while walking up the stage. It's an unreal experience for sure. It opens your eyes along with your mind, and makes you reflect and analyze your own behavior. Next time the Illumination Project come back to LBCC, i definitely recommend going to see them. 


Jordan 

EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT!!!!

For this week’s blog we chose the Gazette Times!

Describe 

I would have to say that the primary focus for this paper is local news. Talking about what is going on in our community. With a mix of a little Obama!  It always gives the sports section with good stats on Blazer scores and players. But also has a nice touch of our local high school basketball players.

This paper is organized into sections, with a mix of small and long articles. Photos there are many. But something I noticed was that there was at least one major photo on each page and the rest if there were any were very small and low key.  The kinds of things that were advertised were outdoor sports stores. (Oregon Outdoors) pets, (Animal crackers pet supply) Bridal show, banks, Etc. I wouldn’t say that there was a lot of advertising in the heart of the paper but there was enough.  But there was just a section to show what stores are having what sales. So a complete section that a reader can either chose to open or not.  First thing I noticed that was different from the hard copy vs. the online version was that the first page to come up online was all about sports. Not what was on the hard copy?  There was a portion of the online version to get all the coupons for this paper.

Analyze

I have to say that I think what sets the Gazette Times away from papers like the Oregonian is that it really likes to give a mixture of what is going on in the city of Corvallis as well as a little about the world.  From what I can tell the editor really likes to focus on his community. But allows much space for things like Obama Cuts to our Federal Aid!   Greatest strengths for this paper would be the color pictures and the black and whites. The little things in the bottoms of the page that advertise for whatever it may be.  And the fact that you don’t have to search for what it is your looking for. You want classifieds you just go to the page you don’t have to tell exactly what you’re looking for. Online there seems to be a good amount to view.. Another downside to online is if you don’t have internet… no online…

Weaknesses: online can be good but getting to a spot can be difficult…. it can be a hassle and If you don’t know where to look then you may not find it online

Interpret

I think the target would be a working person. That doesn’t normally get time to watch news or keep up on what is going on locally or worldwide.  I do not think the paper if targeted for children, or the guy that plays WOW all the time. Just working middle class.  The ads and photos and stories seem to fit very well and go together well. No offensive messages that I could find. I think writers these days pretty well do a great job of staying neutral.

Evaluate

I prefer to have a hard copy. I can get so lost online trying to find something I was told to see in the paper. The online versions make me crazy. Sometimes they can be helpful and you can get more information because people will get on and blog about a story. But other than that I see no point in having an online version.

Engage 

I personally do not engage with the paper at all… But I know some older folks that make it an everyday habit and its part of their daily routine! And I do not follow them on facebook.

Conclusion

I learned that I really hate looking for things with the online paper! I think there should be more photos in a paper and more pages! Not just on Sunday!

Media Blog #2: "Sons of Anarchy"

Our show that we chose for this week’s blog was Sons of Anarchy. Sons of Anarchy is an American television drama series which airs on the FX cable network. It premiered in 2008, and in show's first season had 5.4 million regular viewers. 'Sons of Anarchy' was created by the producer of 'The Shield,' Kurt Sutter.

The series follows a notorious motorcycle gang which is the founding chapter of the Sons of Anarchy, located in Charming, California. They are called the Redwood Chapter. The main character is Jax Teller, vice president of the club. He begins to question himself and the club, which is the key drama in the story line. We watched it on DVR from last season airing on Jan 30th, 2011. It was Season 6, Episode 1. 

This episode is about Jax (the main character) going to Belfast to find his son that the Irish took. They fly a friend’s plane over and borrow bikes while they are there. After they arrive, they meet up with the local Sons of Anarchy chapter (Dublin) and start the search. The entire episode is full of excitement and you never know what’s coming next. They randomly get stopped on a back road by the Irish police, and the Sons end up beating all the cops, and even holding a few hostages to get some juicy information out of them and then going on their way. All the time they are in search of finding Jacks son Able. I have to say that Jax, Able, The priest, Jema (Jax mom) and Clay are all noteworthy!

 Sons of Anarchy in comparison to other Prime time network shows, in similar in ways, but also very different in others. It shows the family aspect, with loyalty, respect, and drama. Then on the other side, it shows the bad side of it all with violence and death. The process of watching the show was interesting. During the show we were looking for anything to be advertised; Shirts, cigarettes, beer, just about anything really. We were very shocked to see that every beer label was turned or blurred out so we couldn’t see it. It was like this on almost anything that could have a brand label or so on. On some of them, for example, the beer bottles, it was very easy to tell that it was a popular brand, but thanks to some very well placed bottles and blurs, we are not able to tell the brand. In the commercials, it was pretty apparent that they were targeting men. Some of these commercials included Beer, WWE(pro wrestling), New action/shoot em' up movies, and obviously, Motorcycles. They advertised with a stereotype that would be watching this kind of show.  I also wanted to see how much commercials change with the show. So we pulled up an episode of House to see what kind of commercials are in that. I was amazed at how different they were. More towards an everyday housewife and definitely family friendly, some of the advertisements included cars, IPods, and phone services like Verizon or T-Mobile.

 

I do believe that Sons of Anarchy is geared towards Men, but also they throw in the Women bikers and the family aspect to bring in women. They are your stereotypical hardcore biker dudes surrounded with drugs, sex, and violence. This particular episode was filmed in Belfast and I think they do not only a wonderful job on taping but the editing is done perfectly. I would have to say that Sons is not much like other shows that I have seen, maybe some movies about being poor and a part of a bad world. I think what makes this show unique is that they take you all over the world and show a brother hood in a sense. I think it’s just a drama yes, But it always keep you interested! At one point they kill off a main character! We are not used to seeing that! 

In Conclusion, Sons of Anarchy is an awesome show....if you are into that type of show. Critics love the show because it’s edgy and it crosses borders. It is a show that will keep you on your toes, and make your jaw hit the floor. Anna is a diehard viewer and Jordan says if he had more time, he would be a die hard. I think that this show reflects a lot of what the US culture wants in TV. It’s using a real life motorcycle gang and showing the in’s, the out's and the all-around of living that type of life. Its nitty, It’s gritty, but it’s damn good TV. 

Jordan Hunt/Anna Grace

Sons of Anarchy episode we watched.

Sons of Anarchy Facebook page

Sons of Anarchy Official Page