Glee: feminist friendly

Last night's episode of Glee was centered on the great Madonna. A variety of her songs were sung throughout the hour long program and coincided with the messages of the storyline in the show. One message in particular stuck out to me, fair treatment for women. In this episode of Glee, the girls get treated unfairly and are looked at as sex symbols. This stereotype is something that has been occurring for years and years. However, it is not very frequently that a television show or film picks up on the sexist behavior and addresses it. Glee is the musical exception. In this episode, the main male character Finn decides he needs to talk to the other guys about respecting women and treating them fairly. He then assigns all the guys to apologize to the girls whom they've mistreated. This show provides a positive connotation for fair treatment, which I can only assume will increase their numbers of viewers. Glee generally sets positive messages on a variety of topics such as gay teens, virginity, and diversity. This specific program has a way of taking the lives of diverse high school singers and solving their problems through positive messages and current music. It is important that at least one program out of the hundreds out there has positive messages, especially one that has over 13 million viewers. On the surface many see promo's for the show and assume it is all about singing and nothing else. I challenge those people to try the experience known as Glee. It will surely provide a positive message on one or many problems faced in adolescent hood, and will keep your toes tapping for weeks.

Shrek Series: Semiotic Central

I spent my past weekend's activities scheduled around when tbs was showing Shrek the Third next. I throughly enjoy the "Shrek" series, needless to say, watching the third was on the top of my priority list this weekend. When I begin to think about why I enjoy the Shrek films so much, I realize it is all due to the semiotics within the context. If we evaluate Shrek and all it's connotations, it is really not a children movie at all. I think that is partially what makes the film a draw to people my age and even older. These films take a classic fairy-tale premise and sprinkle in adult humor and sexual undertones. In the second movie alone there is a reference to Ponochio wearing a thong and one of the other characters being drunk. Although the children watching this film probably are not picking up on the semiotics behind the characters behaviors (Ponochio lying about wearing a thong makes his nose grow). The symbols that appear throughout all three films are incredibly important when looking at theme, connotation, and plot. Take for example the scene in Shrek 2, where the king goes into the forest to buy the evil potion. Although the evil potion in the land of far far away is a fictional substance, I can't help to think what connotations this potion is paralleling...perhaps a drug? Also, while in the forest at this "potion house" the ugly step sister from Cinderella is present, she happens to look a lot like a man. Is Dreamworks trying to pawn off a cross dresser to resemble the ugly step sister? Again these films work so well because of the underlying connotations within the jokes and contextual themes. There are many symbols that can be pulled from the films that help to better understand semiotics. Semiotics or not, this series will continue to provide hilarity and entertainment for years to come!

Orbitz Commercial LGBTQ Friendly

Recently I saw a Orbitz commercial that was catered to the gay community. The components of the commercial that made it gay friendly were subtle and almost non-existent but were still present. It was discussed last week in class, how the use of gay advertisements effects consumers. Although Fejes is primarily talking about gay advertisements for clothing and accessories, not all gay advertisements are limited to just that. The commercial for Orbitz is a prime example of how other consumer products can and are being advertised in a way the gay community feels accepted and involved. The commercial has a handful of subtle gay symbols. If we evaluate the commercial closely the equality symbol (3 yellow stripes) is shown on the shirt of one of the men playing golf. We then see the towel dangling on one of the golf bags is a rainbow. Lastly, the third symbolically gay aspect of this commercial is the wording of the "Orbitz" man who directs his comment towards two of the men implying they shared a room. It is becoming normal for advertisements to reach out to the LGBTQ community. The advertising industry is beginning to realize that in order to sell to a large demographic they need to advertise to a diverse and large demographic. This commercial, I believe, has not got very much recognition as a "gay" commercial because the semiotics are so subtle. Each symbol that is represented as gay is flashed only for a second or presented in a manner no one evaluates it. Orbitz is reflecting the belief that being gay is accepted, especially when you use the Orbitz product. This means the Orbitz company is friendly and accepting of anyones beliefs, culture, and sexual orientation. By having this commercial the Ortbitz market is expanded exponentially.

Just Bieber: Teen Douche...I mean sensation

Over the past few months, 16-year-old Justin Bieber has been a growing sensation within the media and hearts of nine year old girls. Although he has catchy lyrics and a heavenly voice, his cocky over the top attitude has me running to other teen stars such as Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers. After Justin appeared on Chelsea Lately, it was decided, Justin Bieber is a teen douche who is gloating in his fame instead of being thankful for it. Many may argue against this statement, but I have a handful of evidence that supports my argument. It's safe to say, my ideological analysis on Justin is just this: he does not deserve his money and recognition for his voice. I believe this because he has not hit puberty yet and his voice could change drastically upsetting his fans and cougar loving mothers, he is cocky and trying for unobtainable goals such as seducing Kim Kardashian and Chelsea Lately. He was recently reported throwing a temper tantrum because he did not like the picture People magazine used of him for the cover. I mean seriously Justin...really?! You are sixteen, and obsessed with older women. Why not wait a little while until your voice grows in along with your legality. I feel sorry for the girls who cry over your appearance and suckers that spend hundreds of dollars on your concert tickets only to inevitably get nose bleed seats. His sweet voice is tricking young innocent oblivious girls into his perfectly groomed head. Well, I am here to say, "SNAP OUT OF IT LADIES" there are better fish in the sea.

You know you WATCH me xoxo

Who am I? I'll never tell. Gossip Girl. I watch this show religiously, but I am still a critic. Every monday I tune in to watch a series of events go wrong in the lives of these "teenagers". Their problems range from killing people, being drugged, and dealing with dating your best friend. Although the majority of America knows these types of problems don't frequently occur in the everyday lives of adolescents, thousands still tune in every week to watch them happen to others. It's not enough to say that Gossip Girl is the only show doing this. It's the whole CW network. It is impossible to watch a show on the CW without seeing some unrealistic plot that is magically solved in a hour or half hour time slot. I mean, realistically if I shot and killed someone and then confessed it to my friends, I would not be okay with it any hour later. I would need a serious dose of Dr.Phil amongst other remedies. I'm wondering why as a society we continuously watch shows that week after week have story lines broadcasting ridiculous issues but no story lines that address serious issues in the lives of teens? Although it is a lot more entertaining to watch the witty dialogue in Gossip Girl, then talking out drama with a friend, I'm wondering why the issues of STD's, divorce, eating disorders, and dating are not more prominently mentioned. Perhaps it is because those topics to bring in ratings, or do they? I guess we'll never know.

Keeping Up with maturity

Keeping Up with the Kardashians is one of today's most watched shows for many unexplained reasons. Don't get me wrong, I watch it as if it were my own religion but the content that is shown on a weekly basis is bordering on stupidity. Although I enjoy the show, I'm wondering why Kris Jenner finds it so necessary to constantly be "young" and with the "in" throughout every episode. It is getting a little ridiculous. Kris you are sixty and need to start acting a little bit more like it...or at least stop slipping Viagra pills that mistakenly get taken by your son. It must be embarrassing enough to be twenty and have been slipped the "magic pill" but if your mom was the one to do so, well that reaches a whole new level of insanity. The E! network is just brewing with shows identical to this. Take Kendra for example, what has happened to our society that millions of us are watching a show about a former playmate? I guess Kris Jenners ridiculous antics will have to keep up to parallel the ratings. As for the rest of the Kardashians and their maturity, well at least they're only in their 20's.