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!

"High on colour, long on comfort"- Ad Analysis

I’m a firm believer in the visually appealing, so when I saw this ad, I thought it would be fun to analyze. Since I couldn’t find the exact image I found in Cosmopolitan, you’ll have to use your imagination while I explain my analysis. It shows a close up of the heel of a red pump (shoe) and a lipstick of the same colour beside it. Below is the caption, “High on colour, long on comfort”. The way I’ve interpreted it, they are using the shoe as a marketing ploy for their lipstick through a play on words. Clinique represents the lipstick with the image of the shoe. Because it is a “high” heel, this pertains to the “high on colour” part of the slogan. Then they use the idea of a comfortable heel to tie into the lipstick’s marketing ploy of being “long on comfort”. Besides, who doesn’t love the look of mile high pumps with matching red lipstick to go with it?

One Web Day

Would I be going a little too far in saying I would probably go through withdrawal without the internet? Maybe, but that’s the truth. My exposure to the internet began when I was around the age of twelve, using MSN messenger to chat with friends. From then on, I was hooked. Anything and everything you want with a simple click of a button from research to pictures to forums, the internet is instant satisfaction guaranteed. We live in a fast-paced culture where we know what we want and we want it now, which makes me wonder if I’ve lost my patience in some ways. Unlike students from other generations, I seldom ever take a book out to research a topic unless it calls for it. It’s just all too convenient to type in the area of interest and obtain the information in a matter of seconds. Because I have grown up with the internet, knowing nothing else, I wouldn’t go as far as saying it has changed my life, but rather is a major part of it. I find it hard to go a day without checking my Facebook or signing on the MSN to chat with friends, especially now that I like away from home.
ICTs, also known as information and communication technologies, have transformed our culture into a society dependent on such technologies as the radio, television, and internet. They have improved our way of communication and productivity as tasks that used to take hours or even days, now take only minutes. They have also fast-tracked our daily lives, sometimes making it hard for some to keep up with all the technologies thrown at us today and easy for others to get caught up in all the fuss. Sure the iPhone has some cool features like its ability to tell you where you are and how to get where you’re going with its GPS system, but have we gone too far with technology advancements? Are they really improving our lives or simply complicating them?

A Day in the Life: Media Log

After keeping track of my exposure to media for a 24-hour period, I found that I am technologically-advanced individual. Unlike my parents, I am a proud owner of a cell phone and iPod, which to my displeasure is in repair right now. Needless to say, I’m going through withdrawal without it and salvaging any chance I can to use my roommate’s. Since the beginning of university, I have found that my media exposure has been cut down a significant amount from what I’m accustomed to. No cable has meant missing my favourite weekly reality shows on MTV, resorting to DVDs and the episode series of Friends. Regardless of missing a few good episodes of the Hills, (which through the miracle that is mtv.ca can be viewed at any time), I don’t mind this absence in my life. It helps me focus on things that need to get done, such as this blog!
During that day, the type of media I participated most in would have to be both my cell phone and use of such messaging services as MSN and Facebook. It’s an automatic thing for me to right away sign into MSN and Facebook when I turn on my computer. I find little else use for it, other than school work. With that said, I am one of millions across the world who contribute to the media economy of such social utilities. Another way I like to keep in contact with people is through text messaging, which my new phone has made hard to resist; it has a fold-out keyboard used specifically for texting that I find hard to resist. It is my means to communicating with others around me, but it comes at a price. Like they say, nothing in this world is for free right?

The Ecology of Media

The television was initially used by university professors so that people from across the world could participate in lectures in one given place at a time. Since then, this technology has broadened its horizons to primarily entertainment purposes. In its early years, television was a luxury, with only the affluent being able to afford such a pastime. It was an advancement of the radio, which greatly impacted society as it became a means of relaying information on recent events and happenings. People would gather round the radio to listen to their favourite shows being broadcasted through airwaves. This popularity sparked and interest in being able to visually see these shows by various inventors dating back to the 20s. It was not until the 1952 that Canada first established commercially licensed stations with the founding of CBC. It began a cultural phenomenon of television shows, including Hockey Night in Canada, which still exists today. Besides entertainment services, the television has connected us geographically to events and news happening the world over, keeping us up to date in commerce and culture. It has greatly impacted the way we live, as we have become accustomed to cozying up to our favourite show with our loved ones after a long day’s work. Though its purpose was to connect us all, it seems to be doing the exact opposite. Instead of enjoying time outside with friends and family, we have become a culture that likes to sit in front of the tube rather than have to communicate with others. Its function has turned into an escape route from reality through video games and fictional shows which makes one wonder, have we gone too far with our use of the television? Or is it simply another advancement that has changed our way of life for the better?