I love my research job

Recently, my life has taken way too many changes at once. My contract is about to end, and the photocopy room anxiously awaits my arrival to feed the pdf scanner all the amazing thesis', papers and works of the Art History doctor I am working for. If I have enough spare time I skim over bodies of works, dealing with carnal art, homoerotic art, you name it I have probably come across it at some point or another. Unfortunately, the lack of company can become eerie and the constant construction doesn't seem to alleviate the problem. The best part about the job is that I can collect as many files as possible and store them on my computer, it's began to look more and more like an Art Historical encyclopaedia, which will have a lot of advantages in the foreseeable future. I am considering internships abroad for next summer, Spain being my number one choice. I think that's all I have left to say for today, and I am off to finishing up work and enjoying the rest of my rainy, comfortable afternoon.

Tasks to do before contract expires:

• Finish Ch. Summaries
• Complete Mashup bibliography
• Get the email mess sorted out

Net Neutrality

The principal issue of net neutrality is based on the regulation of telecommunication services. Policies are established to promote and preserve the stability of the industry, to increase the public interest and to provide satisfaction to the consumers. However, there are two sides to this debate. On one side of the debate the public interests and consumer activists want to protect net neutrality, meanwhile businesses believe that competition in markets will cause self-regulation and lead to better services for customers.

However, there are infringements upon net neutrality. The Canadian Telecommunications Act states that “Except where the Commission approves otherwise, a Canadian carrier shall not control the content or influence the meaning or purpose of telecommunications carried by it for the public.” Unfortunately, the act isn’t always upheld, which leads to cases of non-neutrality. For instance, when Telus blocked the server of a pro-union site their actions caused an additional blockage of 766 unrelated sites for subscribers. In another case, HostonFiber (an ISP offering web hosting services) evicted a client’s online website that featured a gothic subculture magazine. The website actually ended up being removed from the servers.

I believe that our access to information on the net is vital to our freedom of expression. Industries should not be regulating our information, or taking control over what we choose to view. Individual preference is important and it should be preserved. This aspect has made the internet a successful tool and as individuals we have the right to choose what we want to participate in.

"What is Net Neutrality?" 24 Nov. 2008 < http://whatisnetneutrality.ca/ >.

National Media Education Week

“Media education is the process through which individuals become media literate - able to critically understand the nature, techniques and impacts of media messages and productions” (Media education week, 2008). In the sense of this aspect, studying media has enabled me to become aware of the analysis of media related contents. I am now aware of aspects in television and magazine ads that I was not aware of in the past. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to provide insight on media literacy to anyone but myself, but I was able to participate in various unintended and intended small activities.

As the media education week website encourages, I decided to participate in media education week by refraining to purchase any consumer products that are the usual ‘wants’, which are unnecessary and fuel further materialistic habits. Coincidentally, I also participated by picking an essay topic for my media class that analyzed and criticized the devaluation in the portrayals of women in magazine advertisements. A survey was also presented in my media class and I participated by providing my previous media related experiences in high school. Unfortunately, I did not participate in an activity that educated children in elementary schools, nor did I have the privilege of joining an activist movement. However, by not purchasing any unnecessary products and through my essay (although that was purely coincidental) I was able to contribute in some form even if it wasn’t colossal.

I should have been more apprehensive and active in media education week. Although I did not participate in stimulating conversations and debates I was able to engage in discussions during my media lecture. My professor was discussing copyright issues and individuals in the classroom including myself provided our viewpoints and debated whether we considered it a fair practice. In my opinion, I believe that copyright restrains the concept freedom, specifically when it reaches to the degree in which the human genome is patented.

“National Media Education Week.” 24 Nov. 2008
< http://www.mediaeducationweek.ca/101_whatis.htm >.

A Day in The Life: My Media Log

Since literally everything is now accessible through the internet I am inevitably an active participant of media texts. The fact that the internet facilitates distances, availability of information and it alleviates time constraints is what propels me to continue using it. I am a participant in media economies by contributing to the usage of mass communication tools and internet services that are readily available. However, I do not contribute to media economies through the purchases of on-line products. In terms of monetary funds, the most I have contributed to was courselink, which was only activated on the grounds of my tuition payment. Internet services such as these are indicators of how dependent we have become on the internet.

Another media text that I depend on is Google, which functions as the all seeing and all powerful general search tool. In respect to me and the reasons as to why I am so overly dependent, the cause is mainly the fact that I cannot depend on communication tools that do not deliver information instantaneously. I can no longer read a map, and extract the information I need, since the internet functions as shortcut I have deviated away from other ‘antiquated’ media texts. I am aware that I am not the only individual suffering from a massive case of impatience, we live in an age of instant gratification, but I can only speak for myself. Other media texts that I indulge in include facebook, youtube and msn messenger. As a participant in these media texts I am a contributor to the media economy simply by becoming one of the millions of users who propel their economic goals. I am a mere number that causes other millions of numbers to join through information that I disseminate or that the website ends up promoting.

I rarely engage in media texts that are not internet based. I do not purchase magazines that often, since moving in residence I have limited access to the preference of channels on television and I am not interested in newspapers. I sound rather ignorant, but this isn’t the case, I simply choose to become informed through the internet. In respect to my personal choice, the internet functions as an all purpose tool and it fits into my lifestyle.

Media Hegemonies: What Does Walt Disney Own?

I have provided examples of the medium of communications that Disney owns, however there are many more and these are just the tip of the iceberg. Disney owns ABC internet sites such as ABC, ABC News, and ABC Sports. Other internet sites include ESP Deportes, and soccernet. Examples of the magazines that Disney owns include Buena Vista Magazine, and ESPN. Disney also exerts dominance over books such as ESPN books and ABC Daytime press. In the section of radio, Disney owns ESPN Radio and 73 stations of ABC Radio. And lastly, in the area of films, Disney owns Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures along with Pixar and Buena Vista.

What I found most disturbing was the amount of television programming that Disney owns. ABC entertainment, daytime, sports, kids and the news channel are all owned by Disney. In total, Disney owns 97 percent of ABC’s television programming. For ESPN, Disney owns 80 percent of their programming component. Surprisingly Disney also owns roughly between 37-40 percent of television programs such as E! entertainment network, lifetime television, and the history and biography channels.

What are the implications, you ask? Since Disney has control over the access of information that individuals will be exposed to, their imperialism over other mediums of communications promotes a homogenous point of view. Therefore, they have the power to control and shape the perceptions of the masses. Walt Disney’s dominance over radio, news, books, films and television shows limits our selection of other forms of communication. The fact that Walt Disney is worth approximately 35.51 billion dollars is an aspect, which indicates not only the ridiculous amount of power that they have, but the continuous support of the masses that purchase their goods and services. The situation becomes even more complex when the directors on the Walt Disney board have affiliations with other companies. The implications are far reaching, impacting the decisions we make in our selection of media related sources and our consumer habits. If the masses continue to support Walt Disney, this will only facilitate their ability to expand their imperialistic ventures, which will only limit our availability to other forms of communication.

“The National Entertainment State: 10th Anniversary.” 24 Nov. 2008 <http://www.thenation.com/special/2006_entertainment.pdf >.

Buy Nothing Day

Buy Nothing Day is an activist movement taking place on November 28th across North America, and on the 29th at an international level. For the duration of 24 hours, participants are expected to “detox from consumerism” by not shopping. It is considered to be the “largest 24 hour moratorium against consumerism.” The event is perceived as a financial break from consumerism, an experiment and a public statement against mass consumption (Buy Nothing Day UK, 2008).

With the highly anticipated Holiday shopping season, groups of anti-shopping activists have gathered to accomplish their goals. One of their goals is to gather as many individuals as possible to participate in a 24 hour suspension of shopping against the destructive power of advertisements and corporations, which try to persuade individuals to indulge in consumerism (Revkin, 2008). Individuals can participate in a variety of activities that protest consumerism. Whirl-Mart is an activity in which an individual, followed by a congo line of participants, can push a shopping cart without purchasing anything in the store. Another activity is the credit card cut up, in which individuals can place an end to the increasing interest rates and debt through a simple cut (Buy Nothing Day, 2008).

In terms of consumption, the movement targets the wealthiest 1 billion people on the globe, who are the privileged 20 percent that consume 80 percent of the goods and services in the marketplace (Revkin, 2008). However, as I stated above the movement encourages individuals of all social classes to collectively join and protest against consumerism. The scale of the protests can be large as witnessed in Reverend Billy’s “What would Jesus buy?” trailer, or small like joining a facebook group or participating in Whirl-Mart activities with your friends.

“Buy Nothing Day.” 20 Nov. 2008 <http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd>.
“Buy Nothing Day UK.” 20 Nov. 2008 <http://www.buynothingday.co.uk/#>.
Revkin, C., Andrew. “A Fresh Advertising Pitch: Buy Nothing.” 20 Nov. 2008 <http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/22/a-fresh-advertising-pitch-buy-nothing/>.

We Are at War: My Response

I have three main reasons as to why I oppose Canada’s combatant role in the Afghanistan crisis. My reasons include inhumane practices, environmental impacts and the societal desire to withdraw. Although the Canadian army does not torture the captured Taliban, the detainees are transferred to Afghan authorities who participate in torture. As stated by the globe and mail, “The Harper government knew from its own officials that prisoners held by Afghan security forces faced the possibility of torture, abuse and extrajudicial killing” (Koring, 2007). Examples of torture that the detainees endure are beatings with bricks, deprivation of sleep, and electric shocks (Canada out of Afghanistan, 2008). These practices are inhumane and void of morals. Whether these detainees are criminals or not, they deserve the right to fair trail with a lawyer. Barbaric torture is not the solution, and as Canadians we should advocate civilized methods that preserve human rights. If we deal with criminals in our country in a modern and humane manner why should we contribute to degrading inhumane practices elsewhere?

The deployment of radioactive weaponry used by NATO, such as the depleted uranium munitions, leads to grave consequences for the local environment and it is also responsible for the birth defects. In 2001, approximately 800-1000 tons of depleted uranium had been used (Canada out of Afghanistan, 2008). The image above demonstrates not only the irreversible conditions of this child, but the thousands of innocent lives who currently are and will continue to suffer.

As a Canadian, I agree with the majority of Canadians who do not view the Afghan conflict as an issue central to our national security. Approximately 47% of Canadians want our troops to be withdrawn from Afghanistan. Although Al-Qaeda has never attacked Canada, the issue of our nation fighting alongside the U.S. causes Canadians to worry that the risk of being attacked will increase (Power, 2008). I understand their view on the issue; however it is also necessary that we do aid the crisis in Afghanistan without engaging into combat. I am not an expert in this subject matter, but through donations and relief in the form of food and basic necessities we should alleviate the detrimental conditions without causing further harm to individuals and the environment.

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“Canada out of Afghanistan.” 20 Nov. 2008 <http://canadaoutofafghanistan.ca/index.html>.
Koring, Paul. “What Ottawa doesn’t want you to know.” 20 Nov. 2008 <http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070424.wdetaineereport0425/BNStory/Afghanistan/home>.
Power, Samantha. "Keeping Canada in Afghanistan." 20 Nov. 2008 <http://www.time.com/time/>.