"With Friends Like These"
a. Facebook is not only an expanding social networking tool, it is an advertiser’s dream with the neoconservative freedoms of capitalism backing it.
b. I would agree with Hodgkinson that Facebook has become an important part in the market of investors buying shares. It is crazy to fathom the growing numbers of Facebook users, and the amount this business is actually worth. For example buying 0.4 of the share is worth $60 million, that shows how influential it has become to wealthy investors and corporations. I also agree with Hodgkinson’s description of the privacy options on Facebook. There is no doubt that everyone’s information is out there, no matter what the privacy settings are. This article made me go back on my own Facebook page and look through the privacy policy. I am aware of where my information goes but I doubt many kids in high school know that Facebook is more than a tool to chat with friends and look at pictures. I disagree with the point that corporations are benefitting from Facebook selling users’ preferences on their profile. Although I am sure it happens, I do not think most users are going to list their favorite drink, potato chip, or restaurant. Companies would have to go through tons of information to gain insight on consumer habits. I also disagree with Zuckerberg’s tactics of listening to users and helping them find their way into cyber-friendships. I think his goals, and the other original founders are completely oriented to Facebook as a business and only want to help sponsors, corporations, and shareholders.
"Making of a Literate Mind"
This article really examined many of the topics we have been discussing in class. For example, production techniques, and advertising strategies. There is a purpose for advertisers attempting to get us to react to or to have an emotional response to an image. Our brain, and our limbic system will see advertisements and remember them, but the ads are too quick for us to deconstruct or think about them thoughtfully. One point that stood out for me was that media, and corporations have a single goal in mind, and undermining the health and education or children is an acceptable externality. There are countless examples, in the article they mention McDonalds takeover of Sesame Street.
"Still Killing us Softly 3"
1. People are de-humanized in advertising to create a stereotype and grab people’s attention
2. Woman are portrayed in a variety of formats either as sex symbols, as passive, or promoting a body type.
3. Only parts of woman are used in ads for example breasts, promoting the idea that they are present because of their body
4. Ads create and continue gender roles, particularly for children in the Calvin Klein magazine ads
5. Advertising has people chasing a fictitious body type, achievable with certain genetics, maybe?, computer imaging, and starvation. This creates self-esteem and health issues
Kilbourne uses a lot of images and advertisements to present her research. Her sarcastic and humorous tone did not appeal to me but it did not take away from me believing the message. Without a doubt women are stereotyped in advertising and like it said in the ad publication culture and ads are inextricably linked. Although she does mention how men can be victims of this too her presentation focuses on women. She could have made her argument more clear why the image of a women is more profound and debilitating for society.
1. FB: You were motivated to check privacy settings - cool. And yes, the money involved is HUGE. So, it's okay that FB is a giant data mining tool, posing as an innocent social networking site, that benefits sponsors, corporations and shareholders?
ReplyDelete2. Williams: The author is a colleague, friend and my co-teacher in my summer media lit course at SMC. He rocks!
3. Kilbourne: Lots of complex, disturbing material to think through. Her research spans 25 years and, as a woman, it's frustrating how little has changed, or actually worsened. :(