Fear In The Media

All Video - YouTube.Com

All Pictures - Google.Com (Photo Search Engine)

All Music - Incompetech.Com (Royalty Free Music)

Walk A Mile In Her Shoes

Today I attended the 'Walk A Mile In Her Shoes' event at LaFolette Field. The event was to spread awareness of domestic violence against women. I think that this was very fitting given the current climate of the University. (Ball State Ass Slapper) I felt that the volunteers did a great job with the event... Especially by having the BSU Swim, Basketball, and Football Players run and do relay races in shiny cherry red pumps. It was definitely a sight to see and I was so glad to be a part of it all.

Even though the event and the atmosphere was light-hearted, the topic of domestic violence is a serious one. Everyday, women all over the world are subjected to some sort of violence. Albeit, not always physical, this violence can manifest itself in several ways. For example, there is the constant verbal abuse from the mouths of men or even sometimes from ourselves. The words bitch and whore are now used as terms of endearment (that’s my bitch, I love all my ho’s, etc.) or even a badge of honor (I’m the baddest bitch, queen bitch, 5 Star Bitch, etc. -> very popular with female rap stars)

In addition to that we have the sexual abuse that is always prevalent but more often than not, in a college situation, hidden in a shroud of comedic funjoy (after all boys will be boys). The Ball State Ass Slapper Incident was of course hilarious to most because of the way the University chose to inform us, but what those women had to endure was pure evil. I think that if slapping ass and calling names on this campus is going to become the norm, I may just have to rally the troops, cause a ruckus, and start another revolution.

PopCulture Analysis...How I feel thus far.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Comm 322. I have always been the type of person who chose to look a little deeper at all the media that was being fed to me on a daily basis. A television show was never just a television show, and songs on the radio always meant something deeper to me. I would of course have friends that would never let me live it down and I was considered a kill joy or a prude most times but I couldn't help but over-analyze things. In this class I realized that there was a place for people like me and that what I was feeling wasn't strange at all... I guess you could say that I found a home in the pop-culture rhetorical criticism community.

Thanks Kristen!!!

However, with all of my new found freedom and knowledge, I can’t help but want to be more cautious with my brain and how I think. If you log on to youtube this very moment and type in conspiracy, or pop culture criticism or anything in that realm, you will be re-directed to some of the ‘best and brightest’ (sarcasm) that the internet has to offer.

For instance, this week in the world of paranoia, there is a video floating around of Obama giving an acceptance speech in Chicago where his famous line ‘Yes We Can’ is played backwards to reveal … you guessed it! Some sort of Satanic greeting. (apparently Yes We Can backwards is Thank You Satan)

I do not prefer to live the sort of life that has be on the edge about every little thing on the internet or television. I do understand that there are things that lie beneath the surface and that there are always forces at work but sometimes… I’d just love to tune out and not even think about it. A ‘NO MEDIA’ day is much needed. If we all purged ourselves on a regular basis, maybe ‘programming’ wouldn’t even stand a chance. Im due for one of those sessions asap… Im sure my brain will appreciate it.

H.I.P.-H.O.P.

According to Professor Griff, former Minister of Defense for the HIP-HOP super group Public Enemy, the true definition of hip-hop is an acronym. Higher Internal Power-Helping Our People.

When people discuss who the face of HIP-HOP is today, you hear all sorts of different answers. If you are prescribing to Griff's definition you may want to look a little closer as to who you give this title to.

When I listened to Griff a little closer he revealed that there are insane forces at work behind the scenes in the Hip-Hop community. A world we may have never been exposed to if it weren’t for this brave and passionate messenger. Imagine for a moment if you will an industry filled with lies, secrecy, ritualistic sacrifice, mind control, and under the table financial dealings… According to Griff this is the current state of things in the mainstream music world. The part that makes it all a little scary is the grand affect that this one industry in particular has on the thoughts, behaviors, and buying patterns of mainstream American society alone! Here are a few examples

-Clothing (sean john-pdiddy rocawear-jayz phat farm/baby phat-russell simmons yumz-soulja boi … and the list goes on)

-Beverage (conjure conjac-ludacris ciroc vodka-p. diddy armadale vodka- jay-z crunk juice-lil jon vitamin water-50 cent… and the list goes on)

-Major World Events/Philanthropy (we are the world-haiti edition, vote or die campaign-gore vs. bush, the campaign to get Barack obama in office was HEAVILY influenced by hip hop artists…and the list goes on)

In the article, Professor Griff goes into more startling detail of his research and first-hand accounts of the current state of the hip-hop community. I think it’s a good read but don’t take my word for it. (reading rainbow reference)

Who Is the face of Hip-Hop?

Window Seat : Death of GroupThink

"They feel most comfortable in groups, less guilt to swallow. They are us, this is what we have become, afraid to respect the individual. A single person within our circumstance can move one to change, to love ourself, to evolve."

Ebony Marie Chappel : naked. transparent. protected. individual. collectivization.

my latest facebook status got me a lot of questions from my friends that i couldn't readily answer. here is my best attempt :

ok. after i watched badu's video for window seat, i was like damn...i feel the need to be liberated also from all of the constructs and ideologies that i've let shape who i am, the relationships i have with people, how i see myself, how i see God, etc. I am naked. (as in im no longer hiding behind anything or covering anything) i am transparent (meaning i feel as if i am an open book. ask and you shall know) i am protected in all of that (even though i am in an extremely vulnerable position by being both naked and transparent i have peace and joy and i know that God has my back) i am an individual (meaning that my thoughts and beliefs are mine and i dont feel the need to conform. and lastly...collectivization, because all of those things work with eachother and exist because of the others. without one, i am missing something. collectivization is also there because i feel that i am this way not only to help liberate myslef but to liberate my environment (everyone around me) we should all have a collected mindset as far as liberation goes.

i think i may be pulling a badu soon...

Little Jersey Shore

Kids Re-Enact the MTV Series, Jersey Shore.

POP CULTURE. WHY? (1 REASON)

Barack Obama, became the first sitting president to ever appear on late-nite television. His campaign was impacted greatly by the amount of pop culture coverage it received. (Oprah,MTV,BET,) He's even been called the biggest brand name of today.

(Julianna Goldman for Bloomberg.com)

Why should people study pop culture? (just one reason)

Because we the PEOPLE elected a president based largely on his 'cool' appeal. (albeit rather ignorantly) I am an Obama supporter but those who try to deny the direct impact of his popularity on their decision to vote (whether it be for him or not) are living in a damn fantasy land. In order to be a responsible consumer of pop culture one needs to understand the impact that it has on a macro level but also the impact (if any-for the skeptics) it has on you personally.

I have , over time, become more increasingly aware of the ‘noises’ all around me. Anytime I have that catchy ‘lady gaga’tune in my head or have the overwhelming urge to run out and purchase whatever the hell it is that beyonce’ is selling this week, I have to sit back and examine where all of this is coming from. If I am doing things because I genuinely fell the desire to is fine, but if my everyday dealings are influenced by the crap I hear on the television or read on the internet , then for me, that is a huge problem. I try to limit my intake… Its difficult at times but being constantly aware give me a sense of control. I know that I cannot control the behaviors of others but if I do my part to make sure that what I am doing is on point then, I have already won have the battle.