The same concept goes for going to the cinema to watch a movie, a theater to view a play, or a record store to buy a CD. It is the environment that you immerse yourself in that you are paying for.
The question can be raised, Where is the line for paying for entertainment drawn? This is the million dollar question of the day. Prostitution, drugs, and alcohol are just a few of the forms of entertainment people often pay for; but, is this wrong? This is where one's morals come into play and the decisions can be further determined, but morals aside, how is paying for these things any different from paying for a thrilling ride at an amusement park or a new CD? This can be left up to interpretation and it is something that we do not feel fully comfortable answering quite yet as each individual's opinion will vary and we do not want to express our views on this topic without further researching and exploring this controversial topic more in depth. So we ask you to exercise your mind and ponder is paying for pleasure okay?
Friday, April 13, 2007
Paying for Pleasure
Today in class, following a heated vote and a bit of romanticism, the class got somewhat more involved as we began to discuss pleasure and whether or not it is okay to pay for it. We say yes!
Since the beginning of time, people have been striving to entertain others in some capacity. These people work hard to make a product or performance that is enjoyable for the masses and their hard work and long hours should be compensated. From artists to prostitutes, these pleasure providers need to be paid for their dilligence and talent.
Which brings us to another point, the audience members expect certain emotions and feelings to be evoked when entering their chosen entertainment venue. They go into these things wanting these experiences to be fulfilling to their expectations and if it means paying for it, so be it, they are paying for what they believe will be a worthwhile time that might possibly have them traveling on an emotional roller coaster...and they will like it.
Speaking of roller coasters; picture a long line ahead of you and behind you. There are children crying and music blaring around you. But all that you are focusing on is the adrenaline pumping through your body as you eagerly anticipate your turn on the thrill machine. Overhead, you hear rumbling and the ground beneath you is shaking as current riders scream past you doing a 360 degree flip hundreds of feet in the air. A smile creeps across your face as you are pleased already with your decision to come to an amusement park that would not be the same without the thrill of the rides and the smell and taste of the food, the trill of laughter, the wind in your hair as you soar at 100 miles per hour. This is what people pay for...for their senses to be stimulated at all times of their entertaining period.
Since the beginning of time, people have been striving to entertain others in some capacity. These people work hard to make a product or performance that is enjoyable for the masses and their hard work and long hours should be compensated. From artists to prostitutes, these pleasure providers need to be paid for their dilligence and talent.
Which brings us to another point, the audience members expect certain emotions and feelings to be evoked when entering their chosen entertainment venue. They go into these things wanting these experiences to be fulfilling to their expectations and if it means paying for it, so be it, they are paying for what they believe will be a worthwhile time that might possibly have them traveling on an emotional roller coaster...and they will like it.
Speaking of roller coasters; picture a long line ahead of you and behind you. There are children crying and music blaring around you. But all that you are focusing on is the adrenaline pumping through your body as you eagerly anticipate your turn on the thrill machine. Overhead, you hear rumbling and the ground beneath you is shaking as current riders scream past you doing a 360 degree flip hundreds of feet in the air. A smile creeps across your face as you are pleased already with your decision to come to an amusement park that would not be the same without the thrill of the rides and the smell and taste of the food, the trill of laughter, the wind in your hair as you soar at 100 miles per hour. This is what people pay for...for their senses to be stimulated at all times of their entertaining period.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Fandom at it's prime (part 2)
Or when the other of our writing duo was told she was moving to Florida and threw a fit, until she realized that her new town would be only 30 minutes away from Orlando, that's right, boy band central and the home to both BSB and *NSYNC and was immediately excited to get to Florida.
Yes, we admit, we were pathological to some, but we weren't the only ones. The only downside to our boy band fascination was that as we got older, so did they, and as we approached the time in our lives that we began to not admit any longer to our love, our favorite bands kept going, almost to the point that they shouldn't have and just stopped. We have no problem admitting that we enjoyed both *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys first two albums much more than *NSYNC's 3rd and BSB's 3rd and 4th (really guys, when 4 out of the 5 of you are over 30, the fad is over, it's time to stop).
There were the times when you really felt as though you belonged when gathering around a big screen with you were 10-20 other girls anxiously watching *NSYNC Live From Madison Square Garden or the Millenuim Tour of Backstreet Boys (yea, we weren't fast enough/wealthy enough to get the sold out tickets). With each shot of our favorite singer, squeels of joy resounded throughout the living room of the friend with the biggest television.
With every episode of TRL, re-run of MTV Music Awards, or recorded Making the Video, we couldn't help but fall a little bit more in love with each boy band sighting.
Another admission that we must make, is that we went through a period of role distancing. Yes, we lied. We lied about our obsession and claimed that we never listened to them. But we grew out of this and later on in life, we dusted off our CD cases and felt comfortable with once again rocking out with the boys.
There was no need to look up the lyrics of their songs when you listened to the songs as often as we had. Hence, even now our still remembering them as we sit back and reminisce on the days of our youth when everything was so carefree and the only worry you had was who your competition for the heart of your favorite boy band member.
Yes, we admit, we were pathological to some, but we weren't the only ones. The only downside to our boy band fascination was that as we got older, so did they, and as we approached the time in our lives that we began to not admit any longer to our love, our favorite bands kept going, almost to the point that they shouldn't have and just stopped. We have no problem admitting that we enjoyed both *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys first two albums much more than *NSYNC's 3rd and BSB's 3rd and 4th (really guys, when 4 out of the 5 of you are over 30, the fad is over, it's time to stop).
There were the times when you really felt as though you belonged when gathering around a big screen with you were 10-20 other girls anxiously watching *NSYNC Live From Madison Square Garden or the Millenuim Tour of Backstreet Boys (yea, we weren't fast enough/wealthy enough to get the sold out tickets). With each shot of our favorite singer, squeels of joy resounded throughout the living room of the friend with the biggest television.
With every episode of TRL, re-run of MTV Music Awards, or recorded Making the Video, we couldn't help but fall a little bit more in love with each boy band sighting.
Another admission that we must make, is that we went through a period of role distancing. Yes, we lied. We lied about our obsession and claimed that we never listened to them. But we grew out of this and later on in life, we dusted off our CD cases and felt comfortable with once again rocking out with the boys.
There was no need to look up the lyrics of their songs when you listened to the songs as often as we had. Hence, even now our still remembering them as we sit back and reminisce on the days of our youth when everything was so carefree and the only worry you had was who your competition for the heart of your favorite boy band member.
Fandom at it's prime
Picture 1999. How old were you? What music did you listen to? If you're a girl, and you're now 19, in 1999 you were most likely an obsessed 11 year-old girl that blared nothing but Backstreet Boys and NSYNC on your Casio Boombox. Welcome to the lives of Cheryl Brooks and Kylee Bryan.
Now, there were the fans of the music, and then there were the fans of the music. You know what we mean, the fans listened and knew some of the words. They would dance to the beat if it happened to be on the radio. The fans (we're admitting we're guilty right now) of the music knew every word and could recall it 8 years later when they pulled out the old CD's from the childhood and still to this day, know the dance moves from the particular lines of the songs. Not only this, but can remember the music videos and they play in our, I mean their, heads every time the song is played to this day.
Most of these two bands songs focused on love and relationships, inspiring dreams to develop in the minds of every pre-teen to not only find the man of her dreams, but to want the artists themselves. This got to the point where a girl claimed her man (in the words of Kerri Pomarolli, our chapel speaker a couple of weeks ago, "Name it and claim it ladies!") and fought anyone trying to take him. It was survival of the fittest, only the certain girls were worthy enough to really claim the best members of the group.
And not only claim, but yes, scenarios were formed in the minds of these girls. We, I mean they, pictured ourselves as the girls in the music videos and knew that one day, we would be the ones that "God must have spent a little more time on" in the eyes of Joey, JC, Justin, Lance, and Chris. And we would be the ones that Nick, Kevin, Brian, Howie, and AJ would give "all they had to give to."
There were times when one of us would watch the "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" music video and see Brian Littrell do a back flip off the wall and tried every day to complete this feat. And even sometimes now, experiments with this action in the hallway of Fox 2 East, returning to the wishful desires to be a sweet dancer like Brian from BSB.
Now, there were the fans of the music, and then there were the fans of the music. You know what we mean, the fans listened and knew some of the words. They would dance to the beat if it happened to be on the radio. The fans (we're admitting we're guilty right now) of the music knew every word and could recall it 8 years later when they pulled out the old CD's from the childhood and still to this day, know the dance moves from the particular lines of the songs. Not only this, but can remember the music videos and they play in our, I mean their, heads every time the song is played to this day.
Most of these two bands songs focused on love and relationships, inspiring dreams to develop in the minds of every pre-teen to not only find the man of her dreams, but to want the artists themselves. This got to the point where a girl claimed her man (in the words of Kerri Pomarolli, our chapel speaker a couple of weeks ago, "Name it and claim it ladies!") and fought anyone trying to take him. It was survival of the fittest, only the certain girls were worthy enough to really claim the best members of the group.
And not only claim, but yes, scenarios were formed in the minds of these girls. We, I mean they, pictured ourselves as the girls in the music videos and knew that one day, we would be the ones that "God must have spent a little more time on" in the eyes of Joey, JC, Justin, Lance, and Chris. And we would be the ones that Nick, Kevin, Brian, Howie, and AJ would give "all they had to give to."
There were times when one of us would watch the "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" music video and see Brian Littrell do a back flip off the wall and tried every day to complete this feat. And even sometimes now, experiments with this action in the hallway of Fox 2 East, returning to the wishful desires to be a sweet dancer like Brian from BSB.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? (Part 2)
Let's not forget about quite possibly the most creepy part of the documentary, our female(?) friend that liked to dress as a particular female character on the show. We put the question mark after the aforementioned female because it was quite clear, this was a man. Now, we can understand having a liking to the show or even a certain role on the show, but again we say, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" It was hard to take this portion seriously as we were uncontrollably laughing, that we missed the explanation as to why he/she was singing randomly in the middle of it's(???) interview. Not only are the followers of Star Trek interested, but they go one step further and bring their entire families into their Trek land. And sadly, more often than not, the family members have no choice in this matter, as they are babies and small children. Oh, and we must mention the dog. Yes, that's right, even man's best friend has been converted to Trekkie-ism. Throughout the documentary, the camera crews interviewed couples and individuals about their fascination with the show and surrounding them was their children and pets, fully dressed in Star Trek apparell. And Trekkies come in all shapes, sizes, ages and genders, etc. One spotlighted Trekkie was a 14-year old boy named Gabriel. This boy who at the age of 14 should not be nearly as obsessed with anything as he is with Star Trek, has tailor-made costumes made for him to travel to conventions with his pot-smoking pappa (he admitted to it, we're not judging). He aspires to inherit his sweet van/truck/vehicle of some sort that is personalized and very Star Trekish. He really looks forward to it, but after all who wouldn't? Oh yea...that's right, not us! To Gabriel, we must say once more, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Wow, has got to be the only thing we could say at the conclusion of the documentary. Thank you so much Andrew Rudd, for exposing us to the world of Star Trek. And we must also thank our parents and say "Thank you Mommy and Daddy for not being Trekkies." =)
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?
Friday was definitely a different class (Different is about the understatement of the year by the way). Walking in, we knew that we would be watching a documentary on Star Trek fans, yet we had no idea what we were in for. From the opening credits, we were taken on a whirlwind journey of fantasy and a completely different world than what most of us had ever been exposed.
The title of "fan" is not the appropriate term for these faithful watchers of the cult classic that is Star Trek. They call themselves "Trekkies" but they are so much more than that. They have taken fandom to a whole other level and made it their lifestyle. From the man who changed his entire dental practice to the man who spent $1,500 on the "headpiece" of Worf to add to his collection. These trekkies are obsessed to the point of incomprehensibility (is this a word? oh well if it's not...it fits) to all non-trek watchers.
One trekkie became a juror for the Whitewater scandal and wore her "uniform" to the courtroom daily. She was adament about the fact that there was nothing different between her and any other person with a uniform. Her argument was that if any other person that was in the military would wear their uniform to a hearing, she could too. This was point that we could not say anything but "ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW?!?" We're not being judgmental, but feel that a television show should not dictate the way one lives.
The title of "fan" is not the appropriate term for these faithful watchers of the cult classic that is Star Trek. They call themselves "Trekkies" but they are so much more than that. They have taken fandom to a whole other level and made it their lifestyle. From the man who changed his entire dental practice to the man who spent $1,500 on the "headpiece" of Worf to add to his collection. These trekkies are obsessed to the point of incomprehensibility (is this a word? oh well if it's not...it fits) to all non-trek watchers.
One trekkie became a juror for the Whitewater scandal and wore her "uniform" to the courtroom daily. She was adament about the fact that there was nothing different between her and any other person with a uniform. Her argument was that if any other person that was in the military would wear their uniform to a hearing, she could too. This was point that we could not say anything but "ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW?!?" We're not being judgmental, but feel that a television show should not dictate the way one lives.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Media Conglomerate Debate (Part 2)
Because of the fact that the conglomerates that are a part of the Big Ten control society, the smaller stores and businesses are unable to do anything without their approval; therefore, prohibiting their abilities to branch out and expand with new ideas for people to gather. This also effects the individuals in society with being exposed to different viewpoints and ideas because the only things that are being distributed through media are being filtered through the Big Ten's views and biases.
This, brings us to our side's final point. Because of these narrowed views, foreign countries have a skewed sense of what America is really like because of the ideals portrayed through the media due to the conglomerates deliveries via news, radio, TV, and magazines.
Granted, our opposing debaters made a few valid points, they did not convince us to sway our views on media conglomerates. Their main point was that media provides a way to see what is going on outside our typical Midwestern world and be more exposed to what's going on outside of what we see in our everyday lives. A media conglomerate is on balance according to the other side. They keep news production and their business goals separate (Yea right!) THey have billions of dollars at their disposal to entertain/inform us in any way possible...more like they have billions of dollars at their disposal to corrupt America and skew everyone's ideas to what they believe to be true! To all of their arguments, we say "For Shame!"
Overall, the debate really made us think more thoroughly about what is being presented to us on a daily basis by way of the multiple media conglomerates in America.
This, brings us to our side's final point. Because of these narrowed views, foreign countries have a skewed sense of what America is really like because of the ideals portrayed through the media due to the conglomerates deliveries via news, radio, TV, and magazines.
Granted, our opposing debaters made a few valid points, they did not convince us to sway our views on media conglomerates. Their main point was that media provides a way to see what is going on outside our typical Midwestern world and be more exposed to what's going on outside of what we see in our everyday lives. A media conglomerate is on balance according to the other side. They keep news production and their business goals separate (Yea right!) THey have billions of dollars at their disposal to entertain/inform us in any way possible...more like they have billions of dollars at their disposal to corrupt America and skew everyone's ideas to what they believe to be true! To all of their arguments, we say "For Shame!"
Overall, the debate really made us think more thoroughly about what is being presented to us on a daily basis by way of the multiple media conglomerates in America.
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