Culture Jamming

I have to admit that before this course, I had not heard of the term “culture jamming”. From my understanding, culture jamming is the opposition or resistance of media advertisements and messages to provoke further opposition and questioning in the minds of the general public through graffiti, the alteration of ads, and other forms of media sabotage. For my example of culture jamming, I chose the social activist group known as Adbusters. Founded in Vancouver, this organization publishes an activist magazine dedicated to political and social causes.
This non-profit organization is perhaps the best example of culture jamming, basing its views on anti-consumerism. Showcasing sabotaged ads and politically charged billboards in its popular magazine allows for the circulation of its take on “detournement”, the reuse of media images that are construed to give a different message than the intended, original one. It is often done in a satirical manner, giving the reader a good laugh and something to ponder. It is a stand against big business organizations and the government, usually poking fun at their pathetic accusations and empty promises. Not only does Adbusters take part in culture jamming, but they have also done much campaigning, founding “Buy Nothing Day” and “TV Turnoff Week” to raise awareness about the over-consumption of the public and how unnecessary it is.

National Media Education Week

The importance of media literacy has never before seen such significance in our culture as it has now in the 21st century. In order to get ahead in education and even land a respectable job, being able to decode and deconstruct the meanings beneath messages has become essential. It has been brought to the attention of educators and the general public that the need for a basic knowledge in media is crucial in the classroom now. However, I cannot recall any unit in my studies in high school being devoted to media. At my high school, the only way you could learn about this was if you took it, and very few people I knew had. So why is this? Surely the basics of media are just as important as the fundamentals of English and Math. I mean, it’s all around us. At an early age, we’re exposed to various forms through the radio, television, magazines, and for the especially interested individual, the newspaper. National Media Education Week was brought about the increase awareness of the necessity of media literacy, to make sure our youth has the basic skills needed to surf the net safely and ethically. As we enter the digital age, the availability of information on the internet is becoming more and more accessible to children, and although the internet has many advantages, it can have very negative disadvantages as well. If we are schooled on what to believe in the media and what to disregard, the benefits will be seen in our society in no time. Participating in this awareness week made me realize the need for a basic background in media for all Canadians and the world over.

We Are At War!

When the US declared war on Iraq six months before the tragic events of September 11th, their main reason for invading was national security. But 8 years later, some are questioning the motives behind the US government’s decision to bring war on the Middle East. Many speculate it was a decision motivated by the American interest in oil, with considerable evidence pointing towards Bush’s main reason being that his cabinet said that 'Iraq remains a destabilising influence to the flow of oil to international markets from the Middle East'. Oil companies have seen profits increase fifty percent in the last year alone due to the war which makes one wonder, are US motives really as noble as they want us to think? Through the media and propaganda we are told that the invasion was an attempt in protecting Iraqi human rights, the threat of weapons of mass destruction, and other issues of concern, but how can we be so sure when thousands have died, and little if no change has been seen at all?
If you ask me, the fact that we are at war rarely enters my mind; it’s become a part of life for many people, and I don’t see the point. Little change has been made and the only outcome that has come from it is death. No progress has been made for the blood that has been shed. We have constantly waged wars in history, so naturally it must be human instinct, but when will we smarten up and learn from our mistakes? Does it really have to take thousands of lives to prove a point or make change?

Source:

Sunday Herald newspaper (UK), "Official: US oil at the heart of Iraq crisis", 6 October 2002.

The American Presidential Election

Although the election decision does not affect me, it’s hard not to become interested in the happenings south of us; especially when there was so much hype around it. Never before has a Canadian election seen so much attention as the American presidential decision did, and whether you tuned in or not, one thing is certain- history was made in the appointing of the first black American President, Barack Obama. Even non-Americans united in the celebration of this new era. Nevertheless, one question holds sanction in many minds- will there really be any changes made? Of course it won’t happen overnight, that’s a given. However, senator Obama claims he will “do what’s necessary” to repair the economy. His plan to do this includes 2.5 million more jobs with opportunities in the rebuilding of roads and bridges as well as schools- jobs that should have been taken care of years ago. Hopefully this fresh new face will live up to his promises for this fellow nation. If he stays true to his word, changes should be seen soon after he steps into office this January. So many times before has politics seen such empty promises as those of George Bush and Steven Harper, while little progress was made.

Media Hegemonies: The Walt Disney Company

Sure, Walt Disney was a wealthy man, many of us can oblige to that. But how wealthy exactly? And what exactly does his name own? Surprisingly, it’s most likely a lot more than you thought. It’s one of the largest media corporations in the world, founded in 1923 by a team of brothers Walt and Roy Disney. From its humble beginnings as an animation art studio, to the eight theme parks and resorts worldwide, this company has come a long way. As a company, they have virtually covered every area of the media, owning prospects in film, television, books, magazines, and the radio. Not only does Disney own the obvious label of Walt Disney Pictures, but it also houses Touchstone, Miramax Films, Hollywood Pictures, and Pixar. As for the small-screen, it owns several networks across the states, including ABC and eighty percent of ESPN channels, as well as ABC Family, the Disney channel, Toon Disney, SOAPnet, and a partial percentage of the Lifetime Networks, A&E, and the History channel, to name a few. Who would have ever thought that the same company that made Mickey Mouse a household name would support ESPN boxing? As if this was not enough coverage, Disney found a way to make its way into our cars everyday through ABC radio station, owning over 50 stations across the US. As if this wasn’t enough, Disney broadened its horizons to the music sector, with Walt Disney, Hollywood, and Lyrics Street Records. Also, for more educational purposes, this major corporation entered the publishing sector, owning 17 publishing imprints worldwide, not to mention 16 magazine titles including 50% of US Weekly and joint ownership of Biography with GE and Hearst.
With all this ownership, what are the implications? Well, if we take into account the fact that the vast majority of media corporations are supervised under the Disney Corporation, one can see the direct correlation between the subject content, and the everpresent views imposed upon it by the funding source. This means that much of what we watch, listen, and read is provided by a single, biased source, hindering different ideas and individuality from other small corporations that are being bought out by Disney.

Buy Nothing Day

Consumerism has become a major part of the everyday life of Canadians and people the world over, causing many to be in debt, and some consequently to have more than others. On November 25th, people across the world will celebrate Buy Nothing Day, a day created by social activists in Vancouver in attempts to raise awareness about the issue of over consumption. It’s hard to imagine even just a day without spending even a little, as everything costs money. Today, nothing is for free, with gas prices skyrocketing and the cost of living ever-changing. Compared to other countries however, Canada’s cost of living is considerably lower than most countries. Food, recreation, gas, and cars are all investments that are cheaper in our nation; however, car insurance remains very expensive here. Realistically speaking, many things bought on a daily basis are not necessary to our survival, yet we still insist on spending like no tomorrow. Which makes me wonder, could I go a day without buying anything at all? Sure, it would feel strange, but I’d manage, making do with what I had in my fridge. This could only last for so long however, we e need to spend to eat and clothe ourselves. Maybe we’re just a nation of consumers trying to keep up with the rest of the world. Either way, it’s an honourable attempt at circulating awareness of something that in retrospect is very unnecessary.

Net Neutrality

It seems today, nothing is sacred with the ability to access anyone’s information through the long list of private social networks like MSN, Myspace, and Facebook at any given time without the consent of knowledge of the individual. We have the ability to find out a great deal about someone without ever having to talk to them, and this can be scary. In the age of technology, public interests co-mingle with private now that anyone can be a ‘participant journalist’. The social utility of Facebook was initially set up to allow people to keep in touch with loved ones for free and update them with pictures and messages. However, there are some disadvantages to these networks as well. With a quick search of your name, a stranger can have access to all sorts of information, possibly putting you in danger. Unfortunately, whether knowingly or not, you could be giving private information about yourself through pictures of your home and family to perfect strangers. Even employers have been known to look up a possible employee after an interview to determine your future at their company. Certain pictures that were meant for only friends to see could be taken out of context and ruin your chances at landing that job. This is why it is wise to be smart about what you put up on private networks because they aren’t as private as one would think. I know that I am always careful of what I put on my Facebook profile as I have a few cousins that can see all my pictures and messages. The most important thing is to use your common sense; if it’s something you wouldn’t feel comfortable saying in a room full of people, then maybe broadcasting it to all of Facebook isn’t the best idea!