Every night many people "set up camp" infornt of their televisions waiting anxiously for this weeks episode of their favorite reality television show. What is our obsession with watching average people live in a house together, or our fixation with a rock star looking for love?
When MTV's The Real World came to Oxford looking for its next "roommate", hundreds of college kids lined up outside of The Levee hoping to get their fifteen minutes of fame. The Real World is a reality tv favorite. The show is about the interaction between seven "strangers" all living in one house. The cameras are on 24 hours a day 7 days a week catching the roommates doing everything from sleeping to fighting. Every week thousands of people tune into see what they will do next. Why is everyone so interested in what seven random people are doing? You have to admit it is pretty entertaining watching people you don't know live in an amazing city, getting drunk, hooking up, working, and fighting. Basicly they are doing everything you are not doing at that moment. It proves to us, by watching the show, that we as people are not the only ones making mistakes, having bad days, or missing someone we love.
Rock of Love, my personal favorite, is also a reality tv show focused on average people. But, Rock of Love differs from The Real World in many ways. The main difference is that on Rock of Love the girls are all after one thing. They are all out to win the heart of Poison front man Bret Michaels. Every Sunday night at 8 o'clock my tv is tuned into VH1. On every show the girls are competing for Bret's time and attention. They take part in challenges where the winner receives alone time with Bret. The challenges range for motorcyle building, football games, and a good ole dance off. Rock of Love is not the only show of its kind where a super star in search of love turns to reality tv. 1990's rap superstar Flavor Flav jumped on the reality ban wagon by staring in the show Flavor of Love. What makes these shows so apealing? Who am I kidding, who hasn't had a crush on a celebrity and thought, " oh what I would give to have a chance." The girls on these reality shows are given that opportuity we have all dreamed of. Bret Michaels and Flavor Flav are not my type, but don't get me wrong, it makes for great tv!
As long as we lust for celebirties and need reassurance that we are not the only ones making mistakes reality television is not going anywhere. Untill the voids are filled within our own lives we will settle for out weekly dose of reality television to fill in.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
"Facebook" and "Myspace"..A predators best friend
61 percent of teens have a networking webpage posting pictures and information about themselves. 1 out of 5 believe these pages to be safe. The University of New Hampshire researchers found that 1 in 7 youth have received a sexual solicitation online.
Imagine a place where people post thier name, address, phone number, and picture to friends, strangers, and potential predators. Well, a place like this really exists. To many college students and teens Facebook and Myspace are a favorite past time.
Myspace is a networking site open to anyone and everyone. When you sign up to be a member, the first step is creating a webpage. During this process you fill in your name, hometown, and a short paragraph about yourself and your interests. After the "About Me" portion is complete you upload a default photo of yourself. There is alos an option to fill out a survey revealing information such a sexual preference, relationship status, and your reason for joining Myspace. All profiles are open to the public. There is a function called "friend finder." In this space you type in the name of the person you are interested in finding. The database is searched and everyone with the same or similar is revealed. You are able to choose from this list the person you were looking for. You then have to option to ask this person to be your friend. When you ask someone to be your friend a message is sent to them stating they have a friend request. The person can choose to except or reject this request. Myspace does attempt to put limits on its members. All members must be over the age of 14. While this sounds great there is no way to diferentiate between a 9 year old pretending to be 15, or a 50 year old man acting as a 16 year ole highschool student.
Facebook, like Myspace, is also a networking website. It differs in that Facebook was intended for college students. When signing up for Facebook membership you must have a college email address such as @olemiss.edu. With this information the members are placed in "Networks" according to the school they attend. On facebook you are not only restricted to friends in your "network." You can send and accept friend request from people in any "network." Facebook also has a search feature. This allows its members to locate old highschool friends. Within in the search you can conduct and "advanced search." This is a much more specific search to narrow down the outputted results. During this search you not only search for a name, alos included are things like hometown, highschool, graduating year, network, and sex. Although Facebook was started for soley college students it has now expanded and ,like Myspace, is open to the public.
Websites like Myspace and Facebook are a great way to keep in touch with friends, but you have to be smart. Now, both Myspace and Facebook allow its members the option to make their profile "private." By having a private profile the information on your page and pictures are restricted and can only be viewed by the people you have chosen to be your friends. Creating a private profile can reduce the probability of being targeted by an online predator.
Imagine a place where people post thier name, address, phone number, and picture to friends, strangers, and potential predators. Well, a place like this really exists. To many college students and teens Facebook and Myspace are a favorite past time.
Myspace is a networking site open to anyone and everyone. When you sign up to be a member, the first step is creating a webpage. During this process you fill in your name, hometown, and a short paragraph about yourself and your interests. After the "About Me" portion is complete you upload a default photo of yourself. There is alos an option to fill out a survey revealing information such a sexual preference, relationship status, and your reason for joining Myspace. All profiles are open to the public. There is a function called "friend finder." In this space you type in the name of the person you are interested in finding. The database is searched and everyone with the same or similar is revealed. You are able to choose from this list the person you were looking for. You then have to option to ask this person to be your friend. When you ask someone to be your friend a message is sent to them stating they have a friend request. The person can choose to except or reject this request. Myspace does attempt to put limits on its members. All members must be over the age of 14. While this sounds great there is no way to diferentiate between a 9 year old pretending to be 15, or a 50 year old man acting as a 16 year ole highschool student.
Facebook, like Myspace, is also a networking website. It differs in that Facebook was intended for college students. When signing up for Facebook membership you must have a college email address such as @olemiss.edu. With this information the members are placed in "Networks" according to the school they attend. On facebook you are not only restricted to friends in your "network." You can send and accept friend request from people in any "network." Facebook also has a search feature. This allows its members to locate old highschool friends. Within in the search you can conduct and "advanced search." This is a much more specific search to narrow down the outputted results. During this search you not only search for a name, alos included are things like hometown, highschool, graduating year, network, and sex. Although Facebook was started for soley college students it has now expanded and ,like Myspace, is open to the public.
Websites like Myspace and Facebook are a great way to keep in touch with friends, but you have to be smart. Now, both Myspace and Facebook allow its members the option to make their profile "private." By having a private profile the information on your page and pictures are restricted and can only be viewed by the people you have chosen to be your friends. Creating a private profile can reduce the probability of being targeted by an online predator.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
"Things that never cross a man's mind"
"Things That Never Cross A Man's Mind"
I need to go shopping* These shoes are all wrong* Just look in my closet* Not a thing to put on* I wonder how these jeans make me look from behind* Things that never cross a man's mind*
Lets turn off the TV* Now can't we just talk* Lets lay here and cuddle* Till we both drift off* If we don't make love* That'll be just fine* Things that never cross a man's mind*
That joke is too dirty* This steak is too thick* Ain't no way in the world I'll ever finish it* That car is too fast* This beer is too cold* And watching all this football is sure getting old* Wish I was working this weekend* Not on the lake wetting my line* Things that never cross a man's mind*
Her lips are too red* Her skirt is too tight* Her legs are too long* And her heels are too high* Boy, she looks like the marrying kind* Things that never cross a man's mind*
That joke is too dirty* This steak is too thick* Ain't no way in the world I'll ever finish it* That car is too fast* This beer is too cold* And watching all this football is sure getting old* Wish I was working this weekend* Not on the lake wetting my line* Things that never cross a man's mind*
I feel a little bloated* I think I'm fixing to start* That movie was good except for the violent parts* Brad Pitt is sexy* Why did he change his hair* I knew him and Jenny never had a prayer* These curtains clash with the carpet* The color scheme is a crime* Things that never cross a man's mind* Things that never cross a man's mind*
The lyrics of this song accomonied with a catchy tune summerize the main differences in men and women's thinking.
In the first verse the song concentrates on the differences in the way men and women value their personal apperences. Women spend more time thinking about what to wear, and also how they look to others. When a man is getting dressed its not the opinion of others that they have in mind. Men pick out clothes that are comfortable and work with their lifestyle.
A stereotype is the focus of the second verse. Many think of women as being the more sentimental and emotional gender. They enjoy talking and cuddling, while men are expected to with hold all emotions and feelings.
The chorus of the song takes things that men would say and switches it to how a woman sees it. To a man, a steak could never be too thick, and a beer too cold. The chorus assumes that men would rather fish and watch football than work.
Similar to the first verse, the third verse centers around apperence. This verse differs in it talks about how women look in mens eyes. The song assumes that all men are attracted to women that wear red lipstick, tight skirts, and high heels. At the end of the chorus is says "Man she looks like the marrying kind. Things that never cross a man's mind." This phrase points out the fact that when a man notices a women, marriage is not the first thing on his mind.
Taking into consideration that this song is based on assumptions and stereotypes, It is a fun way to poke fun of differences between men and women.
Analyzation can be broken down into four different groups. The song " Things that never cross a man's mind." Is an example of comedy. Comedy is the marriage story. The boy and girl fall in love and wish to be together but something is keeping them apat. In the case of the song, the something hindering the relationship is the differences between the men and women. If the two can over come the differences the love will be triumphant.
I need to go shopping* These shoes are all wrong* Just look in my closet* Not a thing to put on* I wonder how these jeans make me look from behind* Things that never cross a man's mind*
Lets turn off the TV* Now can't we just talk* Lets lay here and cuddle* Till we both drift off* If we don't make love* That'll be just fine* Things that never cross a man's mind*
That joke is too dirty* This steak is too thick* Ain't no way in the world I'll ever finish it* That car is too fast* This beer is too cold* And watching all this football is sure getting old* Wish I was working this weekend* Not on the lake wetting my line* Things that never cross a man's mind*
Her lips are too red* Her skirt is too tight* Her legs are too long* And her heels are too high* Boy, she looks like the marrying kind* Things that never cross a man's mind*
That joke is too dirty* This steak is too thick* Ain't no way in the world I'll ever finish it* That car is too fast* This beer is too cold* And watching all this football is sure getting old* Wish I was working this weekend* Not on the lake wetting my line* Things that never cross a man's mind*
I feel a little bloated* I think I'm fixing to start* That movie was good except for the violent parts* Brad Pitt is sexy* Why did he change his hair* I knew him and Jenny never had a prayer* These curtains clash with the carpet* The color scheme is a crime* Things that never cross a man's mind* Things that never cross a man's mind*
The lyrics of this song accomonied with a catchy tune summerize the main differences in men and women's thinking.
In the first verse the song concentrates on the differences in the way men and women value their personal apperences. Women spend more time thinking about what to wear, and also how they look to others. When a man is getting dressed its not the opinion of others that they have in mind. Men pick out clothes that are comfortable and work with their lifestyle.
A stereotype is the focus of the second verse. Many think of women as being the more sentimental and emotional gender. They enjoy talking and cuddling, while men are expected to with hold all emotions and feelings.
The chorus of the song takes things that men would say and switches it to how a woman sees it. To a man, a steak could never be too thick, and a beer too cold. The chorus assumes that men would rather fish and watch football than work.
Similar to the first verse, the third verse centers around apperence. This verse differs in it talks about how women look in mens eyes. The song assumes that all men are attracted to women that wear red lipstick, tight skirts, and high heels. At the end of the chorus is says "Man she looks like the marrying kind. Things that never cross a man's mind." This phrase points out the fact that when a man notices a women, marriage is not the first thing on his mind.
Taking into consideration that this song is based on assumptions and stereotypes, It is a fun way to poke fun of differences between men and women.
Analyzation can be broken down into four different groups. The song " Things that never cross a man's mind." Is an example of comedy. Comedy is the marriage story. The boy and girl fall in love and wish to be together but something is keeping them apat. In the case of the song, the something hindering the relationship is the differences between the men and women. If the two can over come the differences the love will be triumphant.
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