Modern Media- Redo

I created these pages with the intentions that the image would explain the quote and vise versa. The first two are about how much we depend on technology and that times have most definitely changed. Everyone is guilty of using technology and being sucked in by the media, whether we think its negative or not. I thought the other day, how weird it is that my generation's kids won't have to even have to know what a VHS is, even though they weren't from THAT long ago. I feel materials are depreciating like books and newspapers, we technically don't even need to watch the news to receive the daily happenings of the world. So the quote about Jesus, I found a little comical, because it would probably be very true.






This page would be directed more towards an audience of my generation or even a bit younger, where everything in media revolves around being obnoxious almost, or just being loud and seen. I felt this picture of Perez Hilton was a perfect representation of what I am talking about and it pertains to the quote, as well. He is such a loud, obnoxious, drama filled person and that's what the media is glorifying for some reason, but they aren't the right role models for younger audiences. I don't necessarily agree with this at all, it isn't fair that people who are just as smart or smarter don't get heard, because they do things properly or are just normal and quiet. For example, when there are elections it always becomes a he said she said war, which isn't the point at all. I rather be told why I should vote for you, not why I shouldn't vote for someone else. We spend too much time worrying about everybody else and the media only glorifies it.




I wrote this one about Violence in the media as of late and how it's been on a fast rise for some time. Before the rise, there were violent movies, video games, and books, but it wasn't excessive. For some reason, it's become who can be the most extreme or best in everything, so we just keep trying to make the new scariest, grossest, most violent stuff we can think up. It makes me sad, because I don't think there is anything we could do to get rid of what we've done or even just moderate the violence. Moderation is key, and my dad taught me that, I just wish the world would feel the same way.



I decided to make one that wasn't necessarily negative towards the media, although it focuses more on the fact that we're feeding the media. The only reason it's still around is because we're being sucked in and are allowing ourselves to do so. I agree with this quote all the way, we feel it's this big bad thing, which is it, but we invented it and are keeping it alive. The human race tends to create things and then realize that it wasn't that great of an idea. Media unfortunately, I feel, will never disappear, especially with the younger children. I remember being 12 and 13 buying those teenie bopper magazines, because everyone wants to know whats "in" and who is the biggest celebrity at the moment, not to mention the fashion trends. It's a vicious cycle that we created and I doubt we can stop it. There's always going to be young teens who want to know what's in, or how to look that pretty, or that want to see cute pictures of the opposite sex, because that's when you start becoming interested. On the other hand, you can't completely give the media no credit, after all they do know what strings to pull to encourage the viewers to buy the magazine every week.

Federico Fellini- Director Essay

Loralei Hurlock

10.13.10

Lit & Media

Fellini Essay

Federico Fellini was a well reputable Italian film director born on January 20^th 1920 and died on October 31^st 1993. Although, he has passed away he is still and will be considered one of the most influential directors of the 20^th century. He has a certain style, although his movies vary from comedy to tragedy, they are very baroque styled and very fantasy/dream filled. The three movies of Fellini's I chose to watch were La Strada (1954), Roma (1972), and Amarcord (1975). After watching all three, I have been able to discern similarities between them, but they also each had many differences that made that movie unique and memorable.

First, I watched Roma, which is very fast paced. I'd like to start by saying he definitely is fully involved with his films, wether he is directing it, or acting as well. He's very autobiographical, which I noticed a lot with Roma. It's a film about his youth in Rimini, Rome and is a collective of a series of random episodes of his life. There were two stories going on throughout the movie, which made it a bit confusing for me. One is him as a young man in the late 1930s and early 1940s. The second one is of the director of a film crew creating a film about Rome. Another Fellini technique I observed was that he switches a lot between reality and things that have already happened, or between two narratives like this one. It makes it very interesting, but it was hard to keep up sometimes.

Secondly, I watched La Strada, which is strange to compare to Roma, but I enjoyed both. La Strada is a film about Gelsomina, played by Fellini's wife Giulietta Masina, who was sold to a gypsy Zampano by her mother for 10 000 lire, in order to take place of her dead sister, Rosa. She's entirely adorable and just wants to be an artist and appreciated. Zampano and Gelsomina travel as a circus type act to different towns for some cash. Throughout the entire movie she was faithful to him and would do anything for him, but he increasingly depreciates her and resorts to cruelty to maintain his dominance. It's a rather sad story, even though still comical, it was quite a change from his other movies I watched. He got the idea from a man he remembers frim his childhood of the character Zampano, once again drawing from his own experiences, specifically childhood memories. I thoroughly enjoyed this film, it was easier to follow, because it was a lot more slow paced then his other films. He is more linear with his shots, compared to Roma or Amarcord, which he used a lot of panning.

Last, but not least, I watched Amarcord, which was very, very random at times. It's a comical drama film with some references of his youth and coming of age story. This movie, like Roma, was quite fast paced. I feel like it was more confusing, only in regards to how random things were and as to why certain things were happening.

Overall, I really enjoyed his films and would like to watch more and broaden my experiences with older films. Fellini is a very egotistical person, not necessarily in a bad way, but it shows in his movies. The films seems to generally include memories, dreams, fantasies and desire, which makes it easy for everyone to relate to, as well.