Forum #6: The Media & Identity - Mr. E's Forum: 2006-2007

Date: Feb 16, 2007

Forum #6: The Media & Identity

Date: Feb 16, 2007

RE: Forum #6: The Media & Identity

Date: Feb 16, 2007

(Replying to the Merchants of cool)I don't wanna hear "there's no way out" if there's a will, there's a way. Just because you don't have a solution now doesn't mean one dont exist.

You dont live the life of eminem, you don't know what goes through is mind and you never walked a day in his shoes. So you shouldn't talk about him or his lyrics. And get off Tom Green's case, if he wasn't on tv he couldn't do the exact same things obviously, but he'll still be the hilarious person that he is and he will find ways to entertain others. He may have some screw's loose upstairs but give him credit, he's a funny guy.

What's this talk about "it's hard to escape all the advertising"? here's a suggestion, there's a power button on your television...push it.

Date: Feb 16, 2007

RE: Forum #6: The Media &amp;amp; Identity

Date: Feb 16, 2007

RE: Forum #6: The Media &amp; Identity

Date: Feb 16, 2007

RE: Forum #6: The Media & Identity

Date: Feb 16, 2007

1.
Why don't you buy some no-name?
.Um probably because i've never even seen a no name ANYTHING and i like the stuff i buy now soo i just buy things that i like.!

What do you think of the Eminem-Grammy controversy?
I dont even care about Eminem but who ever gets mad at him and what he does probably should stop caring hes just trying to make $$$$$$$$$$$$!

2.10 facts i learned
1. Aol and Time warner have is the largest media merger in history.
2.Many teens look at media to find there identity
3.MTV noticed in the 1990s the ratings were going down so they started a new teen research campaign
4.Viacom is one of the 5 media giants responabile for selling all of youth culture
5.Walt Disney is the 3rd largest global media
6. Sony is none for electronics but it no has 1,000 and more subsidaries around the world. and they are media partners with many different companies.
7.According to WB they said" Kids want to see sex and violence because thats whats on TV"
8.The midriff is a character pitched at teenage girls
9.

Date: Feb 16, 2007

Kate Snell! wrote:

1.) Do you ever think that maybe it's not your choice? That you're just being programmed in some way?
I do think that in some way our generation is being programmed. They use celebrities and attractive people or objects in order to hook us onto a specific product or new type of technology or name-brand items.

What about the gender images and the stereotypes being marketed? Any thoughts on the boy "mook" idea or the girl sexpot idea as sketched in the FRONTLINE film? Did that ring true to you?
I think the stereotypes are one of the biggest hooks. Some people think its wrong to stereotype in any way BUT its what makes people buy things or watch certain movies/t.v. shows.

2.) 10 Facts:
-1) The "mook" and the "midriff" are the characters that MTV and other companies use to catch teens.
-2) Marketers now use "rage rock" as big business.
-3) Advertising sells anxiety to the young and tells them that they are not thin enough or pretty enough and it tries to sell them the 'cool' they need to have the right friends, or else they are losers.
-4) American teens spent $100 billion last year.
-5) This generation of teens is the largest America has ever seen.
-6) MTV used the "enthnography study" in their market research of teens.
-7) Marketers keep teens under constant survalience in order to find what pushes thier buttons.
-8) MTV and other commercial outlets spoke out about the rise of bands such as Limp Bizkit, in order to promote them and make them main-stream. This made them more appealing to teens.
-9) In order to reflect the desire's of teens, marketers use music and imagery that glorify sex, violence, drugs, and anti-social behavior.
-10) Teens look to the media to find their identity.

Good facts i couldnt even find 10 myself! and i like the answer to your questions i agree with you alot !

Date: Feb 16, 2007

Do you ever think that maybe it's not your choice? That you're just being programmed in some way?

I do think that in some ways that there is attempted programimg. It seems like the advertising industries are putting the most popular celebrities out to market the newest things and making it seem like we HAVE to have it and we suck if we dont. But we dont HVE to be 'programmed'. we can get away from it by just shutting off the televisions and getting off the computors. i think we choose to be programmed.

What about the gender images and the stereotypes being marketed? Any thoughts on the boy "mook" idea or the girl sexpot idea as sketched in the FRONTLINE film? Did that ring true to you?

Stereotypes are a HUGE hook. they kinda force people to go and watch certain movies and buy certain clothes and make it seem like your going to be a complete dork and a looser if you dont have these things. when in all honesty, theyre material things. they dont change who you are. people shuoldnt think differently of you just because you dont wear the same kind of shoes they do...

Date: Feb 16, 2007

I think the kids that are talking are right about some things but other things are stupid the companies just want to make money thats what everyone wants they say the companies make us wear baggy clothes and nice shoes that cost a lot they dont make us or me do anything I dont want to do I want to make money and that gets girls when you have nice things thats why most people do things to be fresh (look nice) the kids on the other forum are idiots they dont know why everyone does the things they do and thats what I think

Date: Feb 16, 2007

RE: Forum #6: The Media &amp; Identity

Date: Feb 27, 2007

RE: Forum #6: The Media & Identity

Date: Feb 27, 2007

jamie i do think you are right enimen is just trying to make money so let him be everyone else is trying to do the same .85

Date: Feb 27, 2007

amanda i do think you are right in saying that some teens are not programmed most of them do what they like to do not just because others do it but because they like it same thing with the clothing you wear old navy because u work there but also because u like it see me i never waer old navy maybe once in a while but see we both could like the same music but dress completly different.

Date: Feb 27, 2007

donald

everyone in the media industry just want to make MONEY!!!!

Date: Feb 27, 2007

katie

i do belive that i belive more teen should be them selves instead of trying to fit in all the time your friends should like you for who you are not what u wear or what u listen to it might change you on the outside but not the inside.55

Date: Feb 28, 2007

1)You don't think Eminem's lyrics are actually coming from him?

Davis: I doubt it. I think that's an example of someone who's trying to market the next level. No one else is doing that, so he's ahead of the game.

I think he it is coming from him because its based on his life and he makes his own music because i wouldnt no why he would be talking about some other persons life its based on his so he wrote about it and i think hes a good artist.

2)Was what the media executives were saying about teenagers true to your experience?
Willis: I think what the Internet has done is to diversify the opportunities we have to find something we like. If you look at who complained about Napster and those kinds of programs, it was the big labels. . . . Whereas you see a lot of smaller [artists and labels] supporting programs like Napster, because they can really get their stuff out [to the public]. It allows me to download a band from ex-patriot Americans in Hong Kong or something. I can do whatever I want to, as long as the people are willing to put it out there. And it's the small artists who are doing that.

I agree with what this person is taklin about there just doing all this so they can get more money on there products and it works because a lot of kids are using there products but i do agree with what hes saying

Date: Feb 28, 2007

10 facts
1)They spend their days sifting through reams of market research data.
2)They conduct endless surveys and focus groups. They comb the streets, the schools, and the malls, hot on the trail of the "next big thing" that will snare the attention of their prey--a market segment worth an estimated $150 billion a year.
3)They are the merchants of cool: creators and sellers of popular culture who have made teenagers the hottest consumer demographic in America.
4)FRONTLINE correspondent Douglas Rushkoff examines the tactics, techniques, and cultural ramifications of these marketing moguls in "The Merchants of Cool.
5)Teenagers are the hottest consumer demographic in America.
6)At 33 million strong, they comprise the largest generation of teens America has ever seen--larger, even, than the much-ballyhooed Baby Boom generation.
7)Last year, America's teens spent $100 billion, while influencing their parents' spending to the tune of another $50 billion.
8)the stock characters that MTV and others have resorted to in order to hook the teen consumer.
9)The "midriff"--the character pitched at teenage girls, is the highly-sexualized, world-weary sophisticate that increasingly populates television shows such as Dawson's Creek and films such as Cruel Intentions.
10)MTV truly reflecting the desires of today's teenagers, or are they stoking a cultural infatuation with music and imagery that glorifies violence and sex as well as antisocial behavior and attitudes?

Date: Feb 28, 2007

Tiff wrote:

katie

i do belive that i belive more teen should be them selves instead of trying to fit in all the time your friends should like you for who you are not what u wear or what u listen to it might change you on the outside but not the inside.55

I agree with you it may change who you are in the out side but it wont change who you are in the inside.

Date: Feb 28, 2007

Tiff wrote:

donald

everyone in the media industry just want to make MONEY!!!!

But isnt that what basicaly everyone wants not just the industry?

Date: Feb 28, 2007

My generation is asking for explicit content and advertising. It’s why teen dramas occupy the primetime slots, and why they produce higher ratings than other television shows. These shows deal with risqué topics regularly, including teen pregnancy, abortion, homelessness, coming out, rape, alcohol addiction and drug abuse. It’s as though the television once used for pure entertainment, is now a compilation of shows that mimic the worse public service announcements ever conceived. There are reasons why MTV and FUSE garner high ratings. Our teenage society wants what they glorify, advertise, and highlight; “coolness”, sex, and music. In this study, teens 15-18 voted MTV first out of thirty-five television networks under the following categories: I frequently view this network, this network is relevant to me, I am more likely to pay attention to commercials, and Because of this network’s brand image, I am more likely to have a positive impression of advertisers (http://www.mediavillage.com/pdf/11-07-03.pdf). It’s what sells and sadly what most teens my age fancy.

I didn’t think much of the Eminem-Grammy controversy, mainly because I don’t think much of Eminem. I mean, he’s an artist getting paid to do what he does best. I don’t see any foul in this, even if what he advocates can be construed at violent or discrimiatory. He’s as big as he is because enough of our society condones and agrees with what he “yaps.” If anything, it’s a national controversy, not really why the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences voted for Eminem. Why do we as a nation pardon some of the hateful things this guy raps? It’s part of what makes me at times have such a cynical view of society, and sometimes question if I’m misanthropic.

Date: Feb 28, 2007

Ten things Learned:

Teenagers are the hottest consumer demographic in America. At 33 million strong, they comprise the largest generation of teens America has ever seen.

America's teens spend an average of $100 billion annually.

MTV visited teens’ homes to view first hand their lives, interests and to ask some quite personal questions.

Kids feel frustrated and lonely today because they are encouraged to feel that way. (?)

Viacom is the second largest global media conglomerate.

The $165 billion mega-merger between AOL and Time Warner, approved by the FCC in January 2001, is the largest media merger in history.

If you go to Chile today, the middle class of Chile is brand name conscious.

In Sweden they allow no advertising to children under 12 as the condition of broadcasting.

"Teens are like Africa. It's this range that they're going to take over and their weaponry are films, music, books, CDs, Internet access, clothing, amusement parks, sports teams. That's all this weaponry they have to make money off of this market, to colonize this market."

Four of the five music companies that sell 90 percent of the music in the United States, they own almost all the TV stations in the largest markets.

Date: Mar 1, 2007

MERCHANTS OF COOL!!!!
MY OPINION ON THE EMINEM QUIESTION IS I THINK TEHRE JUST MAKING AND THINKING OF SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT. THEY ARE JUS MAKING CONVERSATION WHO REALLY CARES IMAGINE OF THE BULLSH** THEY SAY IN OTHER RAPPPERS SONGS WHAT CAUSE HE IS WHITE HE CANT WSAY WHAT HE WANTS TO SAY JUST DROP IT HE'LL SAY WHAT EVER HE WANTS CAUSE HE IS ARRAGONT CONFIDENCE AND IN IDENTITY WITH HIM SELF

Date: Mar 1, 2007

michael Depina wrote:

(Replying to the Merchants of cool)I don't wanna hear "there's no way out" if there's a will, there's a way. Just because you don't have a solution now doesn't mean one dont exist.

You dont live the life of eminem, you don't know what goes through is mind and you never walked a day in his shoes. So you shouldn't talk about him or his lyrics. And get off Tom Green's case, if he wasn't on tv he couldn't do the exact same things obviously, but he'll still be the hilarious person that he is and he will find ways to entertain others. He may have some screw's loose upstairs but give him credit, he's a funny guy.

What's this talk about "it's hard to escape all the advertising"? here's a suggestion, there's a power button on your television...push it.

I AGREE I DNT THYNK THAT THEY SHOULD JUDGE HIM AT ALL THEY DNT KNO **** ABOUT HIM FEEL ME1

Date: Mar 1, 2007

But do you feel you're getting fed more explicit stuff by the media? Or do you feel that you, as a generation, are asking for the more explicit material?

I think that we are getting fed explicit things by the media but at the same time we want more of it. I mean look at videos games. Some of the most popular games are violent, bloody ones like Grand Theft Auto and shooting games. But at the same time there are lots of alternative things we could choose that aren’t explicit, but we don’t choose them as often. I don’t know if that is because of the media, but I definitely think that it’s our choice in what we buy, not the media’s decision. If we found something too explicit we wouldn’t buy it.

Do you ever think that maybe it's not your choice? That you're just being programmed in some way?

I don’t think something is ever not your choice. You always have a choice in what you do or buy. I do not believe that we are being programmed. I think that the media does influence our choices but they never program us. I see lots of things in TV programs, commercials, billboards, magazines, and other forms of advertisement and I don’t ALWAYS go “Oh, I want that!” Honestly, I think that if anything were programming us, it would be the Internet. So much information is available on the Internet that you can be influenced or informed about things much more easily.

10 Things I Learned About the Media1. Males and females are used in the media as sex symbols and are described as “mook” and “midriff.”2. MTV made Limp Bizkit popular by continuously promoting them on-air.3. The media causes anxiety by advertising that skinny is good and fat is bad.4. Viacom owns lots and lots and lots of companies including MTV.5. TRL is just a big, worldwide focus group of teens.6. Advertising targets teenagers because they are the largest group of consumers.7. MTV helps break artists into the music scene.8. Look-Look is a research company for youth culture all over the world.9. Correspondents for Look-Look are trained to identify trend-setting kids, and then hire them to report on the new “cool” things before they become really popular.10. Internet is a huge part of the spreading of popular things in youth culture and what’s popular among teens.

Date: Mar 1, 2007

katie d wrote:

Do you ever think that maybe it's not your choice? That you're just being programmed in some way?

I do think that in some ways that there is attempted programimg. It seems like the advertising industries are putting the most popular celebrities out to market the newest things and making it seem like we HAVE to have it and we suck if we dont. But we dont HVE to be 'programmed'. we can get away from it by just shutting off the televisions and getting off the computors. i think we choose to be programmed.

What about the gender images and the stereotypes being marketed? Any thoughts on the boy "mook" idea or the girl sexpot idea as sketched in the FRONTLINE film? Did that ring true to you?

Stereotypes are a HUGE hook. they kinda force people to go and watch certain movies and buy certain clothes and make it seem like your going to be a complete dork and a looser if you dont have these things. when in all honesty, theyre material things. they dont change who you are. people shuoldnt think differently of you just because you dont wear the same kind of shoes they do...

I totally agree with you on the last part. I don't think that having the newest clothes from Hollister or Aeropostale makes you cool. It's who you are that makes you cool not your clothes! :D Who cares what you wear!?

Date: Mar 2, 2007

Mason wrote:

But do you feel you're getting fed more explicit stuff by the media? Or do you feel that you, as a generation, are asking for the more explicit material?
I think that we are getting fed explicit things by the media but at the same time we want more of it. I mean look at videos games. Some of the most popular games are violent, bloody ones like Grand Theft Auto and shooting games. But at the same time there are lots of alternative things we could choose that aren’t explicit, but we don’t choose them as often. I don’t know if that is because of the media, but I definitely think that it’s our choice in what we buy, not the media’s decision. If we found something too explicit we wouldn’t buy it.
Do you ever think that maybe it's not your choice? That you're just being programmed in some way?
I don’t think something is ever not your choice. You always have a choice in what you do or buy. I do not believe that we are being programmed. I think that the media does influence our choices but they never program us. I see lots of things in TV programs, commercials, billboards, magazines, and other forms of advertisement and I don’t ALWAYS go “Oh, I want that!” Honestly, I think that if anything were programming us, it would be the Internet. So much information is available on the Internet that you can be influenced or informed about things much more easily.
10 Things I Learned About the Media1. Males and females are used in the media as sex symbols and are described as “mook” and “midriff.”2. MTV made Limp Bizkit popular by continuously promoting them on-air.3. The media causes anxiety by advertising that skinny is good and fat is bad.4. Viacom owns lots and lots and lots of companies including MTV.5. TRL is just a big, worldwide focus group of teens.6. Advertising targets teenagers because they are the largest group of consumers.7. MTV helps break artists into the music scene.8. Look-Look is a research company for youth culture all over the world.9. Correspondents for Look-Look are trained to identify trend-setting kids, and then hire them to report on the new “cool” things before they become really popular.10. Internet is a huge part of the spreading of popular things in youth culture and what’s popular among teens.

Mason, I agree that things such as television and advertisements don't really program people and that the internet, though, has a really big influence on people because so many people use it as their source of news and entertainment.

Date: Mar 5, 2007

Grades updated - March 4th

Date: Mar 5, 2007

1) "There's no way out" if there's a will, there's a way. Just because you don't have a solution now doesn't mean that one doesn't exist......."It's hard to escape all the advertising"? Here's what to do, since there's a power button on your television, and you want to escape the advertising....push it. The only thing that I think that has a big effect on teens today is the internet, you can find just about anything you want there.

2) 10 Facts:
1. Last year, teens spent $100 billion, while their parents spent $50 billion.
2. According to WB they said" Kids want to see sex and violence because thats whats on TV"
3. 75% of teens have TV’s in their bedrooms.Viacom owns CBS, MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, BET, UPN, Nickelodeon, Paramount, Blockbuster, and Simon & Schuster.
4. MTV visited teens’ homes to view first hand their lives, interests and to ask some quite personal questions.
5. If you go to Chile today, the middle class of Chile is brand name conscious.
6. Four of the five music companies that sell 90 percent of the music in the United States, they own almost all the TV stations in the largest markets.
7. Males and females are used in the media as sex symbols and are described as “mook” and “midriff.”
8. In Sweden they allow no advertising to children under 12 as the condition of broadcasting.
9. Kids feel frustrated and lonely today because they are encouraged to feel that way.
10. Bertelsmann is a privately owned conglomerate with interests in 600 companies and 53 countries

Date: Mar 5, 2007

RE: Forum #6: The Media &amp; Identity

Date: Mar 5, 2007

RE: Forum #6: The Media & Identity

Date: Mar 6, 2007

amanda wrote:
I don’t think teens are completely ‘programmed,’ I mean I wear and listen to things that I like, some of those things are popular, others aren’t. Just because you like something that is popular doesn’t mean that you had to be ‘programmed’ in order to like it.

I agree I like what I like and if no one else likes it than tuff sh**.

Date: Mar 8, 2007

Do you ever think that maybe it's not your choice? That you're just being programmed in some way?

It’s always your choice. People can’t make choices for you however; they can affect what choice that you make. For example, what shoe brands you choose to buy or what clothing brands you choose to wear. It doesn’t matter what people think it only matters what you’re comfortable in. Just because you like something or wear something that is well known or popular doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re “programmed” to like it. Although sometimes, it’s difficult to tell for example I work at Mc Donald’s just because I work there and eat there doesn’t mean that I won’ eat at other fast-food restaurants. I actually don’t enjoy eating the food as much as I used to because I’m around it 24/7 even though I hear about it at work all the time.

What about the gender images and the stereotypes being marketed? Any thoughts on the boy "mook" idea or the girl sexpot idea as sketched in the FRONTLINE film? Did that ring true to you?

The gender images and stereotypes being marketed are insane. Everyday, whether it’s on television in a newspaper, or magazine, you see the media marketing various stereotypes. Some may be true but several are just mocking American teens or young adults. A lot of times, the audience that companies are trying to reach, don’t even respond to their ads because they’re insane and not believable.

10 Thing Learned About the Media

1. Teens look to the media to find their identity.
2. Sprite tried to help sales by starting an ‘anti-marketing’ marketing campaign and when that didn’t work they turned to hip hop culture to show they understood teens
3. The "mook" and the "midriff" are the characters that MTV and other companies use to catch teens.
4. Last year, teens spent $100 billion, while their parents spent $50 billion.
5. MTV used the "enthnography study" in their market research of teens.
6. Aol and Time warner have is the largest media merger in history.
7. According to WB they said" Kids want to see sex and violence because thats whats on TV"
8. Last year, America's teens spent $100 billion, while influencing their parents' spending to the tune of another $50 billion.
9. Teenagers are the hottest consumer demographic in America. At 33 million strong, they comprise the largest generation of teens America has ever seen.
10. 75% of teens have TV’s in their bedrooms

Date: Mar 8, 2007

Catherine wrote:

10 facts
1)They spend their days sifting through reams of market research data.
2)They conduct endless surveys and focus groups. They comb the streets, the schools, and the malls, hot on the trail of the "next big thing" that will snare the attention of their prey--a market segment worth an estimated $150 billion a year.
3)They are the merchants of cool: creators and sellers of popular culture who have made teenagers the hottest consumer demographic in America.
4)FRONTLINE correspondent Douglas Rushkoff examines the tactics, techniques, and cultural ramifications of these marketing moguls in "The Merchants of Cool.
5)Teenagers are the hottest consumer demographic in America.
6)At 33 million strong, they comprise the largest generation of teens America has ever seen--larger, even, than the much-ballyhooed Baby Boom generation.
7)Last year, America's teens spent $100 billion, while influencing their parents' spending to the tune of another $50 billion.
8)the stock characters that MTV and others have resorted to in order to hook the teen consumer.
9)The "midriff"--the character pitched at teenage girls, is the highly-sexualized, world-weary sophisticate that increasingly populates television shows such as Dawson's Creek and films such as Cruel Intentions.
10)MTV truly reflecting the desires of today's teenagers, or are they stoking a cultural infatuation with music and imagery that glorifies violence and sex as well as antisocial behavior and attitudes?

I like you facts I had some of the same ones and highly agree with the ones that you decided to use over other ones. :]

Date: Mar 8, 2007

Assignment: Check out what teens thought about the documentary and some of the issues it raised.

1) Choose two of the questions or comments raised in the discussion and offer your own opinions on them in the forum. [40 points],
2) Read the synopsis and browse the site then list 10 things you learned about the media, who controls it and how it influences teens. [40 points]
3) ask a question or respond with a comment to another student’s post.

honestly mr E this Eminem thing is all a bunch of "BS" like the kid said...
Eminem is my FAVORITE rapper. ive met him.. talked to him and everything. and honestly . he tells the truth ..
his lyrics are real. and i listen to him alll the time.. ever person has anger in them . has somthing rong with there life... that somtimes they feeel like that .. he raps about it and thats his way of exspressing it.. and honestly... ME LISTENING TO IT.. IS A WAY OF RELEASING MY ANGER. its like he has so much emotion and passion in his lyrics.
and the media should back off. he has the right to say what ever he wants. and if kids are influenced by it.. there parents should do somthing.. thats like seeing a kid Spraying a building with spray paint .. and blaming the SPRAY CAN !i get really upset about that .

ten things i learned ::
1 .33 million teenagers are in the FRONTLINE thingy
2 .girl teenagers are more mature then they should be
3.they have adopted an almost anthropological approach to studying teens
4.Kids feel frustrated and lonely today because they are encouraged to feel that way
5. as more and more teens look to the media to define what they should think and how they should behave
6.even some cool hunters are no longer sure that their work isn't having a negative impact.
7.they rreally take all this serouisly
8.they make the problems bigger then what it is
9. somtimes they strech the truth
10.and i dont no another one.. lol

Date: Mar 9, 2007

Grades updated - March 9th

Date: Mar 13, 2007

Why don't you buy some no-name?

I don't go by that. I go for whatever i like.

Do you ever think that maybe it's not your choice? That you're just being programmed in some way?

Everyone has their own choices. I don't think people are being programmed. Everyone has their own view of things. For example, i can like a shirt and someone else might not, to me i don't care becasue its what i like and what makes me happy. It has to do with self-esteem and whatever makes you feel comfortable.

10 FACTS:

1. Last year, teens spent $100 billion, while their parents spent $50 billion
2. The "mook" and the "midriff" are the characters that MTV and other companies use to catch teens.
3. The midriff is a character pitched at teenage girls
4. Aol and Time warner have is the largest media merger in history.
5. American teens spent $100 billion last year.
6. Males and females are used in the media as sex symbols and are described as “mook” and “midriff.”
7. If you go to Chile today, the middle class of Chile is brand name conscious.
8.Teenagers are the hottest consumer demographic in America. At 33 million strong, they comprise the largest generation of teens America has ever seen.
9.Kids feel frustrated and lonely today because they are encouraged to feel that way.
10.America's teens spend an average of $100 billion annually

Date: Mar 13, 2007

amanda wrote:
I don’t think teens are completely ‘programmed,’ I mean I wear and listen to things that I like, some of those things are popular, others aren’t. Just because you like something that is popular doesn’t mean that you had to be ‘programmed’ in order to like it

I agree ...we all like different styles. We all listen to music whether its hip-hop, rap, r&b, or underground or etc. Regardless we still all listen to music (as an example)

Date: Mar 26, 2007

Grades updated - March 26th

Date: Mar 28, 2007

What are your opinions on the tactics and techniques of the marketing media who are targeting our teenagers? Have they gone too far?Now a days there are TV shows, movies, and commercials that are about violence, drug, and sex. I think that young kids if they see a commercial or a movie about drugs or violence or smoking they will probably you know think its cool and would want to do it specially if their friends does it or pressure them into doing it. I think that TV commercials, movies, and shows can be very helpful. There are some commercials that tells people to stay away from drugs and smoking and tells people what could do to you and your body and the bad things that comes with it, also about sex telling the dangers of unsafe sex and diseases and all. Some movies are very helpful to everyone some with good messages and some with bad ones. I think its more likely that a 9 or 10 years old would start smoking or have sex if a TV show or commercial or movie say its ok and its cool they will probably have no problem deciding or feel any pressure to do it then a 16 or 17 years old kid. But I think that TV shows, commercials, and movies can be helpful to kids on deciding if they should do something or not regarding drugs, smoking, sex, or violence. 10 facts

1. Teenagers are the hottest consumer demographic in America.2. Many teens today look to the media to help them decide what choices to make.3. Last year teens spend $100 billion, while their parents sped $50 billion.4. Walt Disney is the 3^rd largest global media.5. Sony has more then 1,000 subsidiaries worldwide.6. Vivendi Universal is the number 1 music company in the world.7. AOL and Time Warner is the largest media merger in the history.8. Viacom is the 2^nd largest media merger after AOL and Time Werner.9. MTVs TRL is the hottest program for teenagers today.10. 75% of teens have television in their room.

Date: Mar 29, 2007

Do you ever think that maybe it's not your choice? That you're just being programmed in some way? I do think that because everyone wants something new and when they make something such as an IPOD they make it seem like its the best thing and everyone just has to have it, they have popular celebrities advertise clothing, music, ipods and much more to attract us. That its the COOLEST thing to have it. I think we want to be like were programmed because we want to have the best. I think that eminems lyrics really do come from him because he talks about his life.. most rappers talk about, drugs ,sex and money. Eminem raps about real life situations like his family, his career, his childhood. 10 facts:(1) 75% of teens have TVs in their bedrooms(2) According to WB they said" Kids want to see sex and violence because thats whats on TV"(3)Today's young people are generally unresponsive to traditional brand marketing messages.(4) Sony made its name with electronics, but it now has more than 1,000 subsidiaries worldwide, many of them key media partners.(5)were the target for for the media marketers of popular culture today.(6)that everyone wants to have the newest trends.(7) Last year, teens spent $100 billion, while their parents spent $50 billion on trends.(8) Sprite launched a teen-targeted ad campaign which poked fun at marketing itself.(9)The past decade's wave of media mergers has produced a complex web of business relationships that now defines America's media and popular culture.(10) MTV is a youth marketing empire. Launched 20 years ago, the cable channel employs a simple but brilliantly commercial concept--use record companies' promotional music videos as creative programming.

Date: Mar 29, 2007

I think this generation is being fed more explicit things because that is all we see on television these days. Back in later generations, the violence, sex, and crime was on television for people to see now that is all you see. I feel in some ways it does influence the teenagers growing up in todays world. I dont think that we as a generation are asking for the explicit material but it is all we know it is what we grew up with, it is what many may think is cool.

I dont think that all Eminems lyrics are coming straight from him because a lot of what he says is for entertainment. However, some things I do feel he believes in because he tells a lot of stories in his lyrics about his childhood, growing up in a trailer park and his life now.

10 things Ive learned

teenagers are the hottest consumer demographic in America
last year, americas teens spent $100 billion, while influencing their parents to spend $50 billion
Marketers try to search out the next best thing by studying teens and watching there every move
Some big companies are now no longer sure that there work isnt having a negative effect on teens
Kids feel fustrated and lonely today because they are encouraged to feel that way
Teenagers increasingly look to the media to provide them with a ready-made identity predicated on todays version on whats cool.
Kids culture and media culture are now one and the same and it becomes impossible to tell which came first
teens compromise the largest generation of teens America has ever seen at 33 million strong
The companies have begun to manufacture a desire a bid to secure a lucrative market

Marketers have gone too far trying to reach the hearts of teens

Date: Mar 29, 2007

I agree with you Ashley I don't think we are programmed either. People do what they like!!

Date: Mar 30, 2007

I disagree with the idea that Im being brainwashed its just not true I think for myself I can tell what the difference is between what companies are trying to do and that they are just really looking out for themselves. As for the no names that is what I buy I dont by the new 120$ pair of sneakers because they look cool and everyone says you need a pair of those. I buy 40$ sneakers thats the most I spend on shoes and I buy no name clothes as well, yes there are one or two nice pairs of clothing that I have but for the most part I support the no name brands in that they usually still make the shoe just as well and last.

market segment is worth 150 billion dollars a year
teenagers are the strongest demographic in America
to raise ratings MTV visited teens to see how they could make themselves cool
insane clown posse is labeled to teenagers as our rock to rebel against the marketing system and their never ending desire to take everything and turn it into money
The market finally admits to selling put downs to the American youth so that they believe they need to buy these things to make themselves feel better.
Even the president of MTV believes that they are throwing this stuff at kids at a too young of and age.

Date: Mar 30, 2007

Sabrina wrote:

I think this generation is being fed more explicit things because that is all we see on television these days. Back in later generations, the violence, sex, and crime was on television for people to see now that is all you see. I feel in some ways it does influence the teenagers growing up in todays world. I dont think that we as a generation are asking for the explicit material but it is all we know it is what we grew up with, it is what many may think is cool. I dont think that all Eminems lyrics are coming straight from him because a lot of what he says is for entertainment. However, some things I do feel he believes in because he tells a lot of stories in his lyrics about his childhood, growing up in a trailer park and his life now. 10 things Ive learnedteenagers are the hottest consumer demographic in Americalast year, americas teens spent $100 billion, while influencing their parents to spend $50 billionMarketers try to search out the next best thing by studying teens and watching there every moveSome big companies are now no longer sure that there work isnt having a negative effect on teensKids feel fustrated and lonely today because they are encouraged to feel that wayTeenagers increasingly look to the media to provide them with a ready-made identity predicated on todays version on whats cool.Kids culture and media culture are now one and the same and it becomes impossible to tell which came firstteens compromise the largest generation of teens America has ever seen at 33 million strongThe companies have begun to manufacture a desire a bid to secure a lucrative marketMarketers have gone too far trying to reach the hearts of teens

KEVIN:i agree we are bieng shown more explicit things but the new genereation can handle it we have become more muture at an earlier age maybe because of the media but we are still able to handle it far better than generations past.

Date: Mar 30, 2007

The Merchants of Cool
1)But do you feel you're getting fed more explicit stuff by the media? Or do you feel that you, as a generation, are asking for the more explicit material?
I believe 100% that we are getting fed with more and more explicit things by the media.

2)Do you ever think that maybe it's not your choice? That you're just being programmed in some way?
No, I dont believe we are getting programmed, I believe its your choice because an ad is not going to take you by the hand and be like oh buy this now.

Ten things I learned
Understanding how to sell to teens has become a highly competitive industry all its own.
Sprite launched a teen-targeted ad campaign which poked fun at marketing itself. For awhile, it worked. But then focus groups showed kids were getting wise to Sprite's anti-marketing campaign.
Viacom is one of the five media giants responsible for selling nearly all of youth culture. They're the true merchants of cool.
Today, the new MTV is all about learning what kids really want, then delivering it to them.
So MTV embarked on a new teen research campaign, the hallmark of which was its "ethnography study."
The MTV machine doesn't listen to the young so that it can make the young happier. It doesn't listen to the young so it can come up with startling new kinds of music, for example. The MTV machine tunes in so it can figure out how to pitch what Viacom [MTV's owner] has to sell to those kids....
If companies can get in on a trend or subculture while it is still hidden, they can be the first to bring it to market. So cool hunters"--those who can track down the latest cool trends in teen life--can make a lot of money marketing their expertise to companies marketing to teens. Information on what is "cool" can be used to create products that will reflect back exactly what the kids will want.
Wrestling is currently the hottest thing among males 18-24 and among teenage boys. And it's been propagated across the entire spectrum of teen media. It's broadcast 15 hours a week on five different networks and is seen by 15 million people.
Along with the Mook, the media machine has spit out a second caricature in teen marketing. It's a stereotype that could be called the Midriff. The Midriff is no more true to life than the Mook. If the Mook is arrested in adolescence, the Midriff is prematurely adult. If the Mook doesn't care what people think of him, the Midriff is consumed by appearances. If his thing is crudeness, hers is sex. The Midriff is really a collection of the same old sexual cliches, but repackaged as a new kind of female empowerment.
The WB network was launched in 1995 with family-friendly shows. But WB soon discovered its cable tv programs couldn't compete against racy Fox programs like "Beverly Hills 90210."

Date: Mar 30, 2007

Adia: It's both. . . . And society as a whole, because of this downward spiral in teenagers, is kind of going downward. Let's take sex and violence, which is what you see everywhere. I am inevitably polluted with it all the time. But once I turn 18, I'm not just going to forget about it. It's still going to be there. And I'm going to take that pollution (that's what I'll call it for now) and I'm just going to take that with me for the rest of my life. And that's just going to affect everything from then on. I think it's a downward spiral not just for the teenagers and the media, but for US culture. . . .

I think that what Adia said here is true. Once you see something on television that continues to air and you're constantly bombarded with it, it'll stick eventually no matter what. And it's also true that what you see and learn from those things will affect your future decisions.

Tor: I still have approximately no connection with the media. I don't have time for TV, don't have time for the radio, really. I don't have time for the newspaper. I have time to notice things like as I'm walking around. I think, people are realizing that things like TV (just as an example) are becoming faulty, and that people are rebelling against that just by blocking it out.

This is also true of what Tor says here. I know quite a few people who just don't care much for T.V. and just prefer doing other things to occupy their time and to learn from such as reading. It's true in that they just block out the things that they don't care for and seek other alternatives.

Things I learned about the media:
1. They spend their days sifting through reams of market research data.
2. At 33 million strong, they comprise the largest generation of teens America has ever seen--larger, even, than the much-ballyhooed Baby Boom generation.
3. The "midriff"--the character pitched at teenage girls, is the highly-sexualized, world-weary sophisticate that increasingly populates television shows such as Dawson's Creek and films such as Cruel Intentions.
4. The "mook" is a perpetual adolescent: crude, misogynistic--and very, very, angry.
5. But marketers have accepted the challenge: rage rock is now big business.
6. You talk about newspapers, magazines, movies, TV shows, radio. It's all alike, calculated to make as much money as possible as quickly as possible.
7. The word "trash" is old-fashioned, because this is a state of the art, highly sophisticated venture that we're talking about.
8. The entertainment companies--which are a handful of massive conglomerates that own four of the five music companies that sell 90 percent of the music in the United States--those same companies also own all the film studios, all the major TV networks, all the TV stations pretty much in the ten largest markets.
9. They like to test whether or not their advertising is relevant to these kids or what kind of advertising is relevant, so that they can do something similar.
10. They take it, they tweak it, they make it more acceptable, and that's when the mass consumer picks up on it and runs with it and then it actually kills it.

Date: Mar 30, 2007

jenna wrote:

The Merchants of Cool
1)But do you feel you're getting fed more explicit stuff by the media? Or do you feel that you, as a generation, are asking for the more explicit material?
I believe 100% that we are getting fed with more and more explicit things by the media.

2)Do you ever think that maybe it's not your choice? That you're just being programmed in some way?
No, I dont believe we are getting programmed, I believe its your choice because an ad is not going to take you by the hand and be like oh buy this now.

Ten things I learned
Understanding how to sell to teens has become a highly competitive industry all its own.
Sprite launched a teen-targeted ad campaign which poked fun at marketing itself. For awhile, it worked. But then focus groups showed kids were getting wise to Sprite's anti-marketing campaign.
Viacom is one of the five media giants responsible for selling nearly all of youth culture. They're the true merchants of cool.
Today, the new MTV is all about learning what kids really want, then delivering it to them.
So MTV embarked on a new teen research campaign, the hallmark of which was its "ethnography study."
The MTV machine doesn't listen to the young so that it can make the young happier. It doesn't listen to the young so it can come up with startling new kinds of music, for example. The MTV machine tunes in so it can figure out how to pitch what Viacom [MTV's owner] has to sell to those kids....
If companies can get in on a trend or subculture while it is still hidden, they can be the first to bring it to market. So cool hunters"--those who can track down the latest cool trends in teen life--can make a lot of money marketing their expertise to companies marketing to teens. Information on what is "cool" can be used to create products that will reflect back exactly what the kids will want.
Wrestling is currently the hottest thing among males 18-24 and among teenage boys. And it's been propagated across the entire spectrum of teen media. It's broadcast 15 hours a week on five different networks and is seen by 15 million people.
Along with the Mook, the media machine has spit out a second caricature in teen marketing. It's a stereotype that could be called the Midriff. The Midriff is no more true to life than the Mook. If the Mook is arrested in adolescence, the Midriff is prematurely adult. If the Mook doesn't care what people think of him, the Midriff is consumed by appearances. If his thing is crudeness, hers is sex. The Midriff is really a collection of the same old sexual cliches, but repackaged as a new kind of female empowerment.
The WB network was launched in 1995 with family-friendly shows. But WB soon discovered its cable tv programs couldn't compete against racy Fox programs like "Beverly Hills 90210."

I agree with you 100% in that ads don't program people and tell them to go buy things. Also, about how more and more explicit stuff is being fed to the younger generation..it's quite indded true. You can't turn anywhere anymore without seeing something advertising something explicit. I'm always hearing ads for condoms or something of the sort on the radio at least once almost every time I turn the radio on. It's getting pretty frustrating in that they would advertise something like that on the radio that could be heard by little children. I mean, they should learn about that kind of stuff...but not over the radio. xD That would probably traumatize them even more.

Date: Mar 31, 2007

Laura: I think it was accurate, but it wasn't me tellint ehm. It aws them telling me.

::: i like that she said that beacuse i think that a lot when i hear things on the news and on tv.. they have adults telling people why teenagers do things and sometimes their wrong. yah they were teenagers at one time but they've matured and grew into adults and they look at it from thier point of veiw and not a teenagers. i think teenagers should talk about the problems of teenagers instead of adults. :::

Laura: No. It's trying to make money. That's the problem, we're a money-making culture.

::: again i she makes a good point. i don't think the media really cares about the problems in society they just care about their pay check and a good problem to talk about will make people watch and listen. i don't think they really care about what they say or do as long as their makein money. :::

1.) when teenagers watch mtv, they see what the people are doing on it and it's cool to act like that, but those people on mtv are in thier 20s and it's not cool to act like that
2.) parents sometimes block mtv because of the explicet contenct
3,)mtv and other companies use the midriff and other things like clevege to lur in teens
4.) pictures and girls on tv give teens the image that their not pretty or skinny enough so they have to buy things and not be happy
5.) american teens spent $100 billion last year
6.) people go out into the public and kind of stalk teens to see what their doing and to find a new way to sell things
7.) a marketing stratigy is to use sex, violence, drugs, and anti-social behavior to sell products and reflect the desires of tteens.
8.)AOL and Time Warner have the largest media merger in history
9.) Sony is known for electronics
10.) According to WB they say, "kids want to see sex and violece becasuse thats whats on tv".

Date: Apr 1, 2007

Grades updated 4/1/07