Blog 6 = How stereotypes define you

Blog 6 = How stereotypes define you

I'm 18 years old male and was born in China and group up with strong Chinese heritage.  I currently live in Buffalo, Minnesota. A suburban town located an hour away from St. Paul.  Growing up with Chinese heritage, some of stereotypes I get from friends and classmates are I'm good at mathematic, I'm smart, I'm pro at Ping Pang, I love rice, and the phrase Ching Chong Ding Dang is part of my language (which is absolutely wrong).  Besides having a Chinese heritage, growing up in a middle-income family I always enjoy playing tennis.  During my free time, I usually would hang out with friends or watch movie at home.  

Except for Ching Chong Ding Dang as part of Chinese language and every Chinese is pro Ping Pang player, the accuracy to the depictions that I stated earlier are quite true.  Although I can't say all Chinese are always excelling in math, same mathematic courses do usually teach one years or earlier in China than in America.  But one stereotype that I agree and can confirm of is all Chinese love to eat rice.  Each ethnic has its positive and negative stereotype.  One of positive effect on stereotype that Chinese excel in math is people tend to believe Chinese have the right answer comparing to other.  One of negative effect for stereotype like Ching Chong is people will make fun of Chinese by saying this phrase.

Reality TV: Good, Bad, or Ugly?

            Reality TV Shows is a television genre that has an unscripted play and unedited clips throughout the show.  Although I was not into reality show, I have a positive stance on it. 

            Reality TV Shows helps viewers to see some of obstacles and conflicts that other people face in life.  If the show is well planned and acted out, it can encourage viewers to overcome obstacles with determination, hard work, and confidence.  Reality TV Shows such as America Got Talent shows glimpse of the participant’s life (ordinary people) and their life obstacles.  I remember one episode when there was a sightless singer who had perfect scores from all three judges.  I think that participant is the inspiration for many television viewers across America to do something that they never thought they’re courageous enough to do.

            Beside inspiration and encouragement, Reality TV Shows also entertain viewers with true-life event and story.  We live in a culture that is covered by mass medias and information; one of the reasons why Reality TV Shows is so popular is because it provides people (viewers) something that they can relate to.  One of most fascinating aspects about Reality TV Shows is to see how actors in the TV can speak and behave in a way that is so similar to our-selves, which lead back to my point of finding inspiration.

            Although I have a positive stance on Reality TV Shows, I still do believe, that there are negative aspects among them.  Reality TV Shows does not “require” talented actors for the show to be famous nor a well write and plan script, which these two characteristics have been the foundation for successful TV shows for the past.  Actors in Reality TV Shows sometime purposely make fun of themselves for the entertainment of others.  Another negative aspect is that the cost to produce each episode and the show is significantly lower than other type television genre, which brings to my question: is the show truly a reality show, or is it just the producer wants more money.

            Every television genre has its own pros and cons, but I believe the pros of Reality TV Shows outweighed its cons.  The producer maybe in it for the wealth and status, but if the show can bring life changing inspiration to viewers than I think this television genre is worth to keep growing.

Link to other articles, information, or sites to support what I said:

Pros and cons of reality TV shows

Pros and Cons: Reality television

Mission Impossible (September 1966 - March 1973)

Plot summary:  

This is an American television show that tells about the mission of a team of secret government agenys known as Impossible Mission Force (IMF) and how they defend the world against the evil organization (Crime Loard - "dictators").  They work along with CIA organization in United States.  The setting takes place in London, Czech Republic, Scotland, and Virginia.

Characters:

Tom Cruise - Ethan Hunt

Jon Voight - Jim Phelps

Emmanuelle Béart - Claire Phelps (as Emmanuelle Beart)

Henry Czerny - Eugene Kittridge

Jean Reno - Franz Krieger

Ving Rhames - Luther Stickell

Kristin Scott Thomas - Sarah Davies (as Kristin Scott-Thomas)

The producer is Bruce Geller (October 13, 1930 – May 21, 1978).

Importance to Television:

Mission Impossible won numerous awards throughout its run.  It won Emmy Award for Dramatic series in 1967 and 1968, Outstanding Achievement in Film Sound Mixing in 1969 and 1970 consecutivily. Beside Emmy Award, Mission Impossible also won Edgar Award in Best Episode in a TV series and Golden Glob for Drama Television Series in 1968.

Reflection:

James Bond always has some advance tech accessories.  I remember one time he used his phone screen to remotely control his car to park.  In my Opinion, i think it was a great and successful action show.

Big Bang Theory (Sept 24,2007 - Present)

 

Short Plot summary:

Penny move into an apartment across from two extremely smart scientists (Sheldon and Leonard).  The story is a comedy show that talks about life story between Penny, a very attractive and out-going young lady, and two socially award geeks and their scientist friends.

Characters:

Johnny Galekci – Lenard Hofstadter

Jim Parsons – Sheldon Cooper

Kaley Cuoco – Penny

Simon Helberg – Howard Wolowite

Kunal Nayyar - Raj Koothrappali

Melissa Rauch - Bernadette Rostenkowski

Mayim Bialik  - Amy Farrah Fowler

Importance to television:

It impact on society by being more supportive of scientific field, specifically physic.  Many young viewers such as student will be more appreciative of physics and make physic a popular major to study in.

It has been nominated for several awards.  One of them was People’s Choice Award for Favorite Comedy in 2010.  Other awards include Emmy Award, Golden lobe Award, EWWY Award, and Teen Choice Award.

My connection:

When I first watch the show, my first impression of the show was that there was two scientists using big fancy words that I never heard or seen of.  Although it made the show more elusive, it made the show more entertaining.  After few episodes, getting use to these scientist “slang” add another meaning to the show, especially when they’re doing rock, paper, scissors, lizard, spock.

• Which of these examples do you remember seeing in TV shows or movies? Did you realize at the time that these were product placement?
• Describe at least one more example of a product placement that you have seen recently--or in the past. I will give you 5 points extra credit if you can insert a video or images as an example on your post.
• In your opinion, how effective is the use of product placement? Do you think it affects the sales or recognition of brands? Explain your answer.

I didn't remember many examples in the two videos from TV shows or movies, but I didn't know that these were product placement at the time.  Although I didn't realized which movie the Chevrolet car is from, but I have seen multiple times a producer puts exotic car into the movie to embellish the overall quality of the movie. (example: Transformer I-III, James Bond)

While I was watching the news press about the Boston bombing suspect, one of the reporter used his iPhone recorder in place of the old fashion microphone. Even though the iPhone only appears on screen for less than 5 seconds, I remembered it.

I think it was effective product placement since he was the only reporter holding up a iPhone to record the messages.  The iPhone definitely stands out from the rest of the microphones.  In additional, iPhone was already a brand name phone, which will only add more recognition of the brand and favoritism.

Tobacco & Alcohol Advertising

This ad was created in 1950s, promoting the healthy cigarette myth. The man in the ad with suit and tie is obviously trying to portray that more professionals now smoke Kent.  I assume that they are trying to relate professionals and smoking (bold and large font stating "more scientists and educators smoke Kent with micronite filter"). Like Mrs. Cary have in her blog about the football advertisement, this ads try to imply that cigarettes could make a person look more intelligent and sharp, which is outrageously deceptive - Kent contained crocidolite asebestos, which is one of the deadliest forms of the fibrous mineral.

Then they go way over the bottom by adding, "For good smoking taste, it makes good sense to smoke KENT" to suggest that smoking cigarette is a good sense and it taste good.  The skyscraper at the back delineate that the man in the ads is somewhat of a high salary manager and his facial expression suggest that if anyone wants to make big money and sharp as he is then they have to smoke Kent.  

This is definitely a transformational advertisement, trying to make the people feel like the man in the ad if they smoke Kent. The cigarette company hopes that medium and high-income male worker will somehow make the connection that smoking will make them intelligent and look wealthy.  The small font of "than any other cigarette!" also shows that Kent is the best cigarette in the market if anyone wants to smoke.  Although for nonsmoker this ad might be stupid and fallacious, the real danger is for adults or maybe teenager that doesn't know about fibrous filter.