Harry Potter is coming. Harry Potter is coming. Media Meditation #4

Source: IMDB.com

The most popular books series that has been written… EVER, has one of its final two movies coming out in a just a couple weeks; a fact that most people are already well aware of, and have preordered tickets for. HARRY POTTER PART AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1 hits theaters November 19^th and fans are going crazy.

The mass craze over the series is completely understandable if you ask me. With an amazing storyline, characters for everyone to connect to, and more conflict than most writers could imagine putting into an entire series, in just one book; JK Rowling made the series better than any other.

As a whole, the series has greatly changed both the book and movie world. How many movies before the series has had millions of people at the movie theaters at midnight just to see it before anyone else? Better yet, how many books have there been that people line up as soon as stores open, the DAY BEFORE they’re released in order to get them before everyone else?

The new movie has such a high excitement level building for it that they had no choice but to make it into two movies, which will also make them MUCH more money.

In addition to everything else, Harry Potter has created a science fiction, magic world, craze amongst movie goers and brought about series like Twilight, which UNFORTUNATELY, has become quite popular.

Source: moviefone.com

There hasn't been a Harry Potter event where people haven't dressed up and acted the part. The movies and books have created a HUGE fan base and amongst the crowds of crazed fans out to see the movie on November 19th at midnight will be me. Even if it means no sleep for the night.

Food Network Magazine: My Ultimate Goal

THESIS: Food Network Magazine is a compilation of various tips, recipes and advice from various chefs aimed to help people cook better and a greater variety of things.

FIVE FACTS:

•        Thaw a turkey in the refrigerator not on the counter or in the microwave. Doing so takes days but it will stop any bacteria from forming on the bird, which starts when the bird reaches room temperature (page 52).
•        When baking it is better to premeasure ingredients and set them out in front of you. In doing so it makes it easier to get the recipe correct if you get distracted by family and friends who may be coming over for the holidays or by other things you may be cooking (page 53).
•        The difference between natural and regular peanut butter is that regular peanut butter gets hydrogenated oil, which has bad trans fats in it, to extend its shelf life. Natural peanut butter has a tendency to separate so it usually needs to be stirred before being eaten (page 50).
•        Every Thanksgiving one turkey is delivered to the White House instead of being eaten. In July 25 newly hatched turkeys are put in a VIP barn. After rigorous training and having to listen to the song that will be played at the parade on repeat two birds are selected, in case one gets scared (page 47).
•        When the birds fly from the White House to Disneyland in Southern California Disney pays for them to have a first class flight where the passengers from coach can come and visit them if they wish (page 42).

TRIUNE BRAIN: Food Network Magazine uses the Limbic Brain to a great extent with the many images that are placed on its pages. From the pictures of many different pies, stuffing, turkeys, readers see as many things as they read. The fact that they use so many pictures probably helps those who are trying to redo their recipes. The Neocortex is also used in reading Food Network Magazine because readers have to work through the many recipes that are given throughout.

EIGHT TRENDS: Technological- Not only does Food Network publish a magazine but the magazine is put online at foodnetwork.com. Personal- Although readers may read the magazine on their own times and have their own personal opinions that they do not share, it is also possible to go online and discuss the recipes and advice that is given. Aesthetic- Food Network, which was once only a television channel, has reached out to other types of mediums such as the internet and magazines.

SEVEN PRINCEPLES: Emotional Transfer- Some of the recipes that are in the magazine may spark memories or ideas for the readers. The readers could flash back to cooking in their grandmother’s kitchen or of a recipe that they made with their mother as children. Individual Meaning- Although the recipes most likely hold the same meaning for the readers, the “In the Know” section of the magazine may have different meanings to the readers because some of them may make the mistakes that the cooks are talking about.

TWENTY-NINE PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES:  Simple Solutions- Many of the articles within this issue of the magazine are supposed to help solve the many problems that surround cooking a Thanksgiving dinner. Some of the problems are simple, while others, like a dry turkey, cause more of a commotion on this holiday. Testimonial- In the “In the Know” section of the magazine Ted Allen and Ellie Krieger, two cooks from Food Network with good reputations give advice on how to have the perfect holiday meal. Either/Or- When describing the various ways to make three popular pies, apple, pecan and pumpkin, the “classic” versions of the pie, that many readers had as children are mention as well as new recipes.

The Amazing, Original, Fantastic Midterm Reflection

1.   After studying 21^st century media for eight weeks in this class, what have you learned? Please be specific.

a.       Since being in the class I have learned a lot about the music industry as well as the movie industry. I did not realize that Sony was SUCH a large part of the industry as a whole. With movies, I did not know just how far movies have come since first being created.

2.  What is the most important thing you have learned about yourself as a critical reader, a writer, and a thinker in this class so far?

a.       So far in this class I have learned that as a reader I am more likely to pay attention to what I am reading if I know that I am going to have to blog about it. If I were reading without having to blog I would not retain as much information.

3.   What’s one thing you would do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?

a.       If I were to take this class again I would study the power tools more intently in the beginning so I wouldn’t be cramming them in now, at the half-way point.

4.   What’s one thing you would like me to do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?

a.       Honestly, the way the class is run works out very well for me and I am able to learn a lot in class. All of the videos and applications that we do in class help me grasp the ideas well.

5.  Please comment on the usefulness of the power tools, our course blog, your personal blog, our in-class quizzes, our films, and our book(s) as learning tools.

a.       Power tools: The power tools help out a lot when analyzing videos and such. Overall, they are very helpful to the class and understanding what we are learning.

b.      Course blog: The course blog makes it easier for me to understand what I read each week and I get to put it in my own words, which helps me to better understand.

c.       Personal blog: I LOVE blogging as a part of the class. It lets me use a lot of the things that we have learned in class and apply it things that I love… like Disney classics and Country music.

d.      In-class quizzes: The in-class quizzes keep me in-line with my reading and keep a lot of the information fresh in my brain.

e.      Our films: The films allow us to use our power tools to analyze things we may have missed i.e. “Reel Bad Arabs” talking about Aladdin and other films.

f.        Textbook: The textbook is honestly the least helpful to me because I am more of a visual learned and I learn by doing. However, getting to apply what we read in the blogs really helps me understand the information.

Disney corrupting the minds of youth? Media Meditation #3

     Most children in the United States have seen the classic Disney films such as:  Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and The Rescuers. Each of these four films has messages or images hidden in them that most children do not notice. In other cases, they notice years later.






     With Disney, being one of the more economically stable companies, messages such as these will not completely destroy the empire, but many of the movies have since been changed. When the movies go into the "vault" for 10 years they often alter them in order to take out any of these hidden messages.
     Since the original movies first release, more of these messages have not been found, but that is not to say that they do not exist in the newer films, such as Toy Story 3 or Finding Nemo.
     In The Little Mermaid, arguably one of the more popular Disney Princess movies, there are at least two hidden images. The first is the more commonly known image, the castle portrayed on the cover, as well as in the film, has a penis right in the center of it.

     In addition to this image, when Ursula and Eric are getting married the priest is said to be a little too happy about the festivities. Although it later becomes known that it was nearly the priests knees, the original thought is not quite as innocent.

     The Lion King is yet another popular Disney Classic that has a hidden message within it. Although many young children who watch the film may not know the meaning of the word "sex" the fact that it appears within a Disney movies brought about much commotion for the world-wide industry.

     The letters spelled out in the dust that blow as the lion collapses are often hard to see if you are not looking for them. Once you know they're there, it's all you see during the scene. 

     Aladdin, one of the most popular Disney movies of all time has a more verbal message concealed within it. In once clip of the movie Aladdin says "good teenagers, take off your clothes."

     Many people do not hear the line when they watch the movie without knowing. Like in the other films, once they know it's there they question how they ever went without knowing.     The last film I want to bring up is The Rescuers. In once scene from the film you can look behind the mice and see a naked woman in the window. 

     As a child I watched many of these movies many many times. In the case of Aladdin, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid, I have the original VHS copies of the films that were put out before anyone noticed and could  take them out. Overall, the films are still amazing.      The many messages that are able to be hidden without someone noticing, and the company is still able to be the biggest child's movie company in the world and one of the biggest franchises world-wide. 

Expressing Champlain's awesomeness in only 60 seconds.

Sarah: Welcome to another cheery morning here on campus.

Courtney: That’s right, we’re here broadcasting straight from Champlain, and it looks like it’s going to be another typically beautiful day here.

Sarah: We’ll take a brief moment to hear about some activities happening right here on campus.

Lucas: Yep! Here at The Hub everyone is signing up for Dead North, the scariest thing around.

Katie: I’m a Junior here at Champlain and I go every year. It is definitely not for the faint of heart!

Lucas: Not only does Champlain offer tickets to events like Dead North, different events happen right here on our beautiful campus each week.

Katie: There are plenty of clubs for people just like you to join, and if you can’t find one you like, you can even make one yourself!

Courtney: Thanks guys, that was really informative.

Sarah: You should go to The Hub after class and sign up for all the different activities that Champlain hosts!

Courtney: That’s one great thing about a small campus. The groups here really get involved with the student body to create a fun atmosphere where everyone can find a way to enjoy themselves.

Sarah: I know that there are already 6 clubs I’m interested in, not to mention all of the activities I’ve done so far.

Courtney: So Sarah, tell me, what is your favorite thing about this college?

Sarah: Well, bigger schools are so impersonal. Teachers don’t even notice if you go to class or not! Where as here at Champlain you get the quality attention you deserve. not to mention have you heard our motto: Audeamus, Dare to be Different.

Lucas: Well, I think that is all the time we have for today. Signing off this has been the Daily Champlain Broadcast.

ALL : Same as StateFarm Theme:
Like a good college, Champlain is there!