Society's Need for a Queer Solution

This reading was all about Homosexual and Heterosexual gender roles and how they are perceived by society via t.v. They used Will and Grace and Ellen as an example of shows that help address both. I thought that Will and Grace was a good show that is directed to homosexual and heterosexual lives. However, this article said that Will and Grace is comical and is almost mocking gays in a sense. I don't really think that's what this show is doing. The book goes on to say that Jack is the "stereotypical" gay man with flamboyant actions and I thought they were looking down at how this character was created. There are some gay people who are just like Jack. They are flamboyant and don't really care that people just see them as a gay person. That's they're identity and that's fine with them. Will is a gay man also but he's the complete opposite and doesn't necessarily let his sexuality define him. I think this is a great example of all the different people in our society. There are people like Jack. And then they are people like Will who believe their career and successes in life should identify their character and not who they're attracted too.
Also, I read how homosexuality was known to be present in the "olden" days. Some historians and psychologists believe that anyone is susceptible in being "tempted" by the other sex. Others believed that sex was a sin in general. Foucault believed that homosexuality IS a person's identity. I think that's wrong to do. I don't see myself or other straight people making that our identity. That isn't the first thing I think of when I would want to describe myself. Having your sexuality, no matter if you're homosexual or heterosexual, be your identity, I personal think that you're making it easier for people to judge you and for people in society to have a false sense of what you're all about.

American Idol

Once again, I got suckered into watching American Idol. I'm completely disgusted at the way they "cut" the bottom singers. Ryan Seacrest has no sympathy in the fact that he's destroying someone's dream. He basically looked in the camera and said, "Sorry, your time is up," and gave the camera a little smirk. The girl was completely shocked and heartbroken. She didn't even want to sing one last time and held back lots of tears when she was finished. The man that was cut before her looked sad and Ryan gave him a quick hit on the shoulder and wished him luck.

How worse can this show get? I feel so bad for these people that have to be let down in a fake, unemotional way. However, this was just the first cut of the season. Maybe when they're down to 8 people things will get more personal but Ryan Seacrest has been doing this how since the beginning. He doesn't need to act as if he's losing his job if he doesn't do something right. He looks nervous. Hm, maybe he is on the brink of getting let go. With his cheesy phrases and actions, who wouldn't fire him?

Grey's

Considering I've felt like I've been on my death bed for the past 3-4 days, I've had a lot of time to watch t.v. I can no longer write about my beloved House because I have Sorority meetings on Tuesdays and I'm quite bummed out about that.
Next in line is Grey's Anatomy! There's just something about Grey's that's really captivating. Maybe it's that everyone on there is a doctor and is beautiful. I find that unrealistic because I've been to quite a few doctors and I've never been in love with any of them like I am with all the male surgeons at Seattle Grace. Or maybe that's it's a soap opera at night. The kind of soap opera that isn't the trashy type but show "real life" problems in their drama. Affairs, lies, sex, deaths...etc etc.
Anyway, this past Thursday on Grey's, it was the second part of a three part drama extravaganza. Long story short, a huge ferry boat basically exploded and there were lots of victims. This episode was all about Meredith being in the water and nobody but a mute little girl knew where she was. The producers/writers of this show are doing a really good job in keeping people on the edge of their seats with suspense! After the show ended, I couldn't help but hear people talk and write about the show and how they can't believe "Meredith is dead" even though nobody for sure knows what is going on.
I have a really hard time believing Meredith is going to die on the 3rd part because A. It's called Grey's Anatomy and Meredith's last name is Grey. B. Meredith narrates and gives "advice" at the beginning and the end of the show. C. Grey's Anatomy wouldn't be the same and therefore die and I don't think the creators would want to lose out on all that money.
Basically, my rambling on about this show is how I've discovered creators little ways of making "hit" shows more hip! I bet more people are going to tune in this Thursday to see what happens to Meredith, therefore gaining more viewers.

Readings

After reading for Monday and Wednesday, I thought about t.v. a little differently. I'm all for empowering women and making sure we have equal rights, but after reading that most television shows show women as being passive and "homemakers" I got a little upset. Now, there's nothing wrong with being passive and there's nothing wrong with being a stay at home mother, which mine is, but to see that people will respond and look at women differently.
I've experienced men, in particular, that have made sexist comments relating to me and other women being stupid and that our place is in the home and after reading that mass amounts of tv watchers think tv is actually real life makes me contemplate whether or not I should support something so vile.

Essay One

When the essay was first assigned, I was a little mad. I'm really skeptical about advertisements, especially when people try to tell ME how I respond to them. But, I looked over the requirements and just started writing.
I kept looking at the requirement sheet and my ads and basically, my words came together! I had a few problems, thanks to my roommate pointing them out, with my tone and voice. My paper sounded a little informal at first, but with some proofreading and editing I changed that really quick.
I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my English papers. I probably had 4 "rough" drafts and my roommate probably had my entire essay memorized by the end of the first week.
The day of peer editing I was really confident with my paper, I felt like it was my final draft, and my group responded to it really well! I got a lot of positive feedback and good constructive criticism as well. I took (some) their advice and now I'm really ready to turn it in.
Overall, this assignment was good. I think it let us be creative with our emotions and really analyze how (some) people perceive advertisements.

House

FINALLY. After two, long weeks, my beloved show was back on. And I'd have to say, it was a flop. After sitting through countless auditions of American Idol and even George W's speech, my hard work of being House's number one fan didn't pay off.
This episode, which really wasn't an episode, had to deal with House and a rape patient. At first, House didn't want to take this patient on because she was ONLY raped...
I found that quite disturbing until he explained how he likes dealing with the extraordinary cases. That made me think, "Wow, rape is really common in our world." That makes me very upset to know that every time a woman, or a man, gets raped they're just another number added to the barrel of millions more. What makes them so special?
House ended up caring for this girl, even though he kept reinforcing the fact that she was healthy. She stayed in the hospital and basically had a heart to heart with House. He also expressed himself, which is a first, so I suppose that's why the creators thought this plot was a good idea. Except, the only thing we learned is that House was physically abused by his father, which would explain his aggressive nature, but I had always thought it was because of his leg? AH.
Next week's show looks better and I'm ready for a great plot so I can give a better analysis on why Hugh Laurie is my hero. :)

However, Grey's Anatomy was good so they made up for my loss.

The Coolhunt

So, upon reading this chapter I didn't really know what to expect. When the book introduced DeeDee and Baysie I was kind of bothered. I didn't know my fashion sense was in the hands of a 40 year old and a ditzy wannabe teenager.
I guess it's nice to know that people try to introduce new products, even if it is only to the urban culture, to see what the consumers like. However, these "coolhunters" aren't just trying to please us, they're trying to make their pockets grow. I kind of interpreted this article as, "If the urban "culture" likes our products, the rest or America will follow along." Hm.
I also liked how they explained Tommy Hilfiger's popularity among the rap community and the rest of the urbaners. It's not because old Tommy is a hip young dude, it's because he hires people that are hip and young and know what each "class" of people want and like. Then he sends those people out to help in making him buy his 10th mansion in San Tropez.
After reading some of these articles, it makes me not want to buy anything ever again. Advertisements and products are all just a ploy in spending and making money. But, I guess that's how the world goes 'round.