Call of Duty? Or Call of Violence?

Call of Duty. Harmless video game or a picture of violence that influences audiences? This is a very difficult determination. We have learned in previous classes that media can influence audiences in many ways. We even learned from George Gerbner that heavy viewers of television were influenced more than light viewers. So, how does this apply to video games? Could it be the same concept. If Gerbner can make that correlation between television and effects, then couldn't it be the same for video games?

Call of Duty is one of the most played video games in the United States. Statistics show that during call of duty's first week, the average play time per week per person was 20.45 hours. This game has taken the U.S by storm. But why is it so popular? The violence. Violence is the main key to any video game. Without the violence aspect of this game as well as others, this game would not sell.
How does this violence aspect effect its audiences? Dr.Rich, a doctor at the Children's Hospital, said,
" All video games create behavioral scripts, which encourage the player to respond to the virtual environment in certain ways and rehearse those behaviors over and over. If the game is fun, the brain connects those behaviors to positive feelings."

He also said, "Rather, the concern is what the research shows: that playing such games shifts players’ ideas of what’s normal." 
Video games such as these ultimately effect its audience. It alters their normal way of thinking. And the problem isn't necessarily apparent. Most video game players have no idea what is happening to their brains after they are done their several hours of gaming. They just think its a game. But is it?  What is it really doing to it's growing audiences?
It is shown that players of these games have more violent tenancies. So as this trend continues to grow, its players will continue to grow as well and possibly violence.  

That 70's show: A show about Masculinity?

I was watching one of my favorite T.V. shows and I realized that there are a lot of masculine aspects to this show whether it be a charachter that represents masculinity or a character that is the complete opposite of masculinity.

The creaters of the show seem to be telling a story of masculinity through its charachters. The characters of Steven Hyde, Michael Kelso, and Red Foreman. The character that represent the opposing role: the wimpy and easily made fun of are Fez and Eric foreman.
Hyde and Kelso are the epitome of masculinity. Hyde is the tough guy that drinks and breaks all of the rules. Kelso is the ladies man, who is not the brightest, but always seems to get what he wants. Red Foreman is the father that takes control over just about everthing. He using his yelling and sarcasm to enlist fear in his son and his sons friends. Each of these characters shows an idea of masculinity whether that definition being rebellious, flirtacious or feared.

The other characters, Eric and Fez, show an opposite idea of masculinity. Eric Foreman is the wimpy friend who is scared of his father and even sometimes scared of his friends. It seems like he is never the leader, he is the follower. Fez is the foreign exchange student who is often made fun of. He is not able to get a girlfirend and is often questioned on his masculinity.
Now, this show is a very popular show on T.V. My question is, do people realize what they are watching? They are watching the strong male characters who get their way. This is very rarely the case. Just because you are tough and feared, are you automatically popular? In a lot of cases no.
Then you think about, who would most male viewers want to be like? The tough character or the wimpy submissive character? More guys would gravitate towards the tougher character for the simple fact that they would most likely emulate them.

The female characters also play an important role in this idea. The character of Donna, who is also Eric's girlfriend, comes off as a very tough woman. She would be the one that "wears the pants in the relationship'. By having a strong woman paired up with not as strong of a man, is this saying something about his masculinity? Absolutly. By portraying this relationship on such a popular show, it is showing that a man is not a real man if he has a strong partner. Although, it shows a positive role for females, it doesn't necessarily give a strong role model for males in relationships.

Next time you watch a show, think about how the characters play a role in how you think about femininity and masculinity. Jackson Katz wrote, "The poses we strike and the images we create can tell us a great deal about what's going on in individual men's lives and in our culture as a whole." He is saying that our portrays of media say something about our culture and how we think. Media plays a strong role in how we think and how we act as females and males.
By watching this show you see both masculine men and submissive men. You also see strong women and feminine women. So the question is, who do you want to be like after watching this show?

Masculinity in Advertising

http://youtu.be/7cZH861tZhs


In class, we watched footage of television clips from famous T.V. shows that depicted masculinity and what it is like to be a "real man". These depictions occur frequently on the T.V shows we watch from day to day. But what about what is in between the shows? Commercials can be just as influencing as the T.V shows we watch.
While flipping through the channels the other day, I saw this commercial for a gillette razor. It amazed me at how masculinity is drawn out in one single 30 second commercial. You have these three celebrities, who are the epitome of masculine. They are dressed nice, and walk with a specific manly swagger. They even walk into the room and get all the women's attention. By seeing this commercial, what exactly is it telling men?
This commercial is telling men that if they buy this razor then they can be as manly as these men. Perhaps that only manly men use this razor. Deffinatly by using this razor, it puts them at a higher class to where they can dress nicer and get more women's attention. It seems that the ultimate man uses this razor.
What is this saying about men in advertising? That advertisements want to show men as "real men" to sell their products. Author, Tom Nakayama, said, "In general, these concentrated views of manhood suggest the many ways in which advertising negatively affects men by narrowing the definition of what it means to be a man in American society." I believe this is true. By narrowing the idea of manhood in the media, it is negatively affecting its male viewers and buyers. They will believe that if they do not buy a gillette razor, then they are not really a real man. This is not the case.
Advertisements such as this are altering our way of thinking and how we view ourselves as a whole. While flipping thorugh the channels, think about what the commercial is saying and how it can affect you.

How 16 and Pregnant Shows Gender Roles

I am the first girl to admit that I watch mtv's 16 and pregnant and teen mom. But I never thought it would relate to school in any way. While in class and in our reading, the topic of gender is discussed and how it is portrayed in media.

            In our textbook reading of chapter 3, "the meaning of memory", there were several television examples of how women are portrayed on TV shows. Their examples relate back to the 1950's. One of the books examples was "Mama's Birthday" in which the woman didn't have much of a say as to the decision making was in the family.

            In class, we also discussed the women's role in the household. The women were portrayed as the housewife back in the 50's which sooner had a turnaround due to economic problems. Women did not often have jobs in the 1950's and the men were the sole bread winners of the family.

            While thinking about this concept of equal rights and women in the work place, I thought about an episode of "16 and Pregnant". This episode was about a girl named Aubrey who was 16, pregnant and getting married to her boyfriend. Her and her husband had financial issues which led them to have to live with her grandmother after the baby was born. Her husband, Brandon, had a full time job but could not afford to get them out of her grandmother's house. When they realize their financial situation Aubrey decided she wants to get a job. Automatically Brandon has a problem with this. Brandon even said, " It's more practical that I work, Your contributing by taking care of the house." He does not respect her wishes to work, even though Aubrey shows the argument that she wants to be seen as equal. Throughout this episode it seems that job roles were a big conflict between the two of them.

            Though watching this episode and talking about equal rights of women in television, it makes me realize that a lot of the same issues for women are still occurring today and television makes it apparent to viewers.  I have included a link to the episode on mtv's website.

http://www.mtv.com/videos/16-and-pregnant-season-2-ep-15-aubrey/1652862/playlist.jhtml