Michael Moore's "Capitalism: A Love Story"

While I was watching TV this afternoon, two commercials stood out to me.  The first, a NutriSystem ad, struck me as being hegemonic, but the other, a trailer for Michael Moore's new film, "Capitalism: A Love Story," seemed to be refreshingly counter-hegemonic.  

Click HERE for the NutriSystem Ad.

This advertisement presents the perpetually recurring image of hegemonic femininity.  The goal of the ad is to make women feel that they need to lose weight, and lots of it, in order to be happy.  I agree that exercising and being healthy is important, and can improve one's self-esteem, but losing 40 pounds by eating chocolate cake and pot roast is not only unrealistic, it is unnecessary.  The commercial assumes that anyone who doesn't have a slim waistline, like that of the "new and improved" Marie Osmond, is  unhappy, and suggests that there is only one factor that affects one's happiness: weight.    

By the way, did you see how tiny that plate of meatballs was?!? 

Click HERE for the "Capitalism: A Love Story" movie trailer.

This trailer stood out to me because it is counter-hegemonic.  Amidst all of the usual hegemonic commercials, it was extremely refreshing to see something and someone who isn't afraid of challenging the dominant ideology.  This is what gives counter-hegemonic forces a chance.  When they reach the main stream media, they are noticed.

This film not only challenges those who are in power, i.e. politicians, wall-street traders, etc., it also gives the common person a feeling of empowerment, as opposed to helplessness.  It brings to the forefront issues that most Americans simply accept as out of their control, and presents the idea that there is something we can do to fight back and be treated fairly.  "There's got to be some kind of rebellion between the people that have nothing, and the people that have got it all," says an average-looking man in the trailer.  This statement is a prime example of counter-hegemony.  It contests the hegemonic social order.

I'm sure the film will receive much criticism and be the center of much controversy, but this only makes me want to see it more.  

Kickoff Post: Media and Me

I would describe myself as a somewhat average consumer of mass media.  I follow several TV series, including The Office, House, Psych, Man vs. Wild, Top Chef, and more.  I am a netflix subscriber, and watch a good deal of movies.  I read the occasional newspaper or magazine, but rely primarily on the internet and television for news.  In fact, I get most of my news from Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart.  I have a facebook account that I check multiple times a day, even though checking it once a week would suffice.  

Looking back on my opening statement, it is a bit scary that this is what I consider average consumption of media, but even scarier is the fact that the general public would likely agree with me.  

As far as music goes, although I am not interested in today's popular music, I am a lover of music.  I believe music can unite groups of people and spread important messages.  It is something that should be studied, explored, and appreciated, as a form of entertainment, as a vehicle for expression, and as an art form. 

If I were to choose an area of expertise or extreme interest in relation to mass media, I would have to choose professional sports.  I have always loved sports, but only recently have I become aware of the relationship between sports and mass media.  Mass media has a huge effect on professional sports, and vice versa.  I hope to elaborate on this in future posts, but a classic example of sports influencing media and the media influencing sports is the Super Bowl.  Companies and advertisers from all over work frantically to come up with effective commercials to be played (at an unbelievably high price) during the Super Bowl, and people who are not even interested in sports tune in to the game just to see the commercials.  

The media can also turn locker rooms into soap operas, and create heroes and villains among athletes. A couple examples of this are T.O.and Brett Favre.  Click HERE for a video of Terrell Owens talking to the media after a game.  In the interview, he blames the media for "pointing a finger" at Tony Romo, his quarterback.  While his sudden burst of emotion and tears in defense of his team mate is quite entertaining, this is also a good example of the effects that being under the constant scrutiny of the media has on athletes.  

It often bothers me that mass media is so accessible, and ultimately smothering.  I wonder what types of activities and values are falling by the way side as people become more and more enveloped in the technology and media that is constantly at their fingertips.  Walking around campus today, it seemed as though every single person was looking down at their cell phone, only looking up from time to time to make sure they didn't run into anything.  

I am certainly not blaming anyone for their consumption of media.  Like I said, I consider myself among the majority of media consumers.  There is hardly a time in my dorm room when the television or my laptop are not the focus of my attention, and often times it is both.  I have to go to the library if I want to escape the media and focus on my homework.  Taking a look at my desk calendar, I find that it is riddled with times and dates of sports games and television shows, and I become disgusted with myself for planning my life around something on television.  I think it is very important to take a step back from your life, and look at what kinds of effects media is having on you, and ask yourself if you are spending your time in a way that is beneficial to you.  I do think that entertainment for entertainment's sake is important, and even necessary at times, but I also believe that it cannot hurt to take a more critical look at what the media is presenting to you, and more importantly, how it is effecting your life.