(Disclaimer: After I wrote this, I noticed there were more responses to the discussion board. Since I didn't see these before I finished writing, I only wrote about four people's opinions.)
I see that most people (Jacki, Aneshia, me) have a DVR, while Angie relies on Netflix.
As far as the writer's strike, three of us thought it greatly affected the content on the TV. A couple of people thought that dragged down the writing of Heroes and Lost. To me, I thought the first season of Heroes was compelling. The second season lost luster. The third season had a terrible first half (note to writers, never send your characters to Africa for an extended period) but I thought the second half of the third season recaptured the sense of pace and excitement that the first season of the show had. I got too busy to watch the fourth season. I don't think that writer's strike was the reason for Heroes degrading in quality. I just think they ran out of creative ideas. As for Lost, while I don't remember that point in the series well, I don't remember it being too much of a difference in quality overall to the series. Sorry if this response seems too long-winded, but at one time these were two of my favorite TV shows, so I have big opinions regarding them.
As far as how many hours we watched, a couple of us (Angie and me) could watch a bunch in short spurts and then not watch very much at other times. Jacki watched a lot of TV. Aneshia didn't watch much TV until bed.
I maintained that shows usually had a cliffhanger to encourage a person to watch commercials in order to get the next segment of show. Aneshia is not enthralled by commercials, using that time to do something else. Jacki and Angie are seeing ads embedded into sites like The NY Times and YouTube.
Angie solely uses Netflix as her TV, so everything she watches is online. I mostly use Netflix except for the occasional TV show. Jacki only watches online sparingly. Aneshia does not watch online.
I believe cable as we know it will become obsolete. Instead we'll opt for a selective channel system. Jacki theorizes that as video games become more mainstream, more channels dedicated to them will pop up. Angie believes that there are already too many choices, which can drive away people like her from the TV. Aneshia has no opinion.
I don't like reality TV and have a hard time seeing the appeal of it. Angie doesn't watch it, but can see the appeal. Jacki said that the genre is okay, but that they lack substance. Aneshia is the most devoted watcher of all of us, with the three shows she watches taking up Thursday night.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
My Theater Experiences
Probably the first movie I can remember knowing the title of was The Lion King. Although I know I've been to the theater several times before that. I just can't remember the movies. I know they were cartoons, probably from Disney.
My most memorable movie experiences occurred back in March 2006. At that time, the Brookings theater was showing The Hills Have Eyes and V for Vendetta simultaneously. V for Vendetta kept me engaged for the duration of the movie, a rare feat for a movie to do. I found it very entertaining yet philosophical. Also, there is no way for Natalie Portman to not look attractive, even is she shaved her head.
I really liked how The Hills Have Eyes divided itself into two parts. The first hour was intense and creepy wondering how the characters would survive. After the trailer scene, it became a revenge movie. It achieved that rare sensation of adrenaline running through my body that only the best action movies can do (some other examples are The Rock, RoboCop, and Taken). In short, it made me feel all masculine.
These two movies remain two of my favorite movies. For them to be shown in the same time period provided me an entertaining and memorable weekend.
My most memorable movie experiences occurred back in March 2006. At that time, the Brookings theater was showing The Hills Have Eyes and V for Vendetta simultaneously. V for Vendetta kept me engaged for the duration of the movie, a rare feat for a movie to do. I found it very entertaining yet philosophical. Also, there is no way for Natalie Portman to not look attractive, even is she shaved her head.
I really liked how The Hills Have Eyes divided itself into two parts. The first hour was intense and creepy wondering how the characters would survive. After the trailer scene, it became a revenge movie. It achieved that rare sensation of adrenaline running through my body that only the best action movies can do (some other examples are The Rock, RoboCop, and Taken). In short, it made me feel all masculine.
These two movies remain two of my favorite movies. For them to be shown in the same time period provided me an entertaining and memorable weekend.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Chapter 6 questions
Page 162
1. How did advertising come to dominate radio economics?
When the FCC forced NBC to sell off its second network (which became ABC), this allowed radio to become a stronger medium for information. Money spent on radio ads doubled, surpassing the expenditures of newspapers. This money made radio a profitable medium.
2. What kind of regulation was necessary to develop technically?
Radio Act of 1912
3. What kinds of programming characterized radio networks in the 1930s-1940s? Why did they decline?
News reports, especially those that relayed information from London during World War II; propaganda; television became a mass medium and the networks focused their resources on developing television networks
4. How did radio formats change after the decline of radio networks?
The radio focus became local instead of national, which made for cheaper operation. Recorded music, news, and talk radio developed on these localized formats.
5. How did FM radio and 1960s-1970s music genres affect each other?
Since there were many FM stations, those stations could specialize in certain genres and subgenres. In turn, those genres gave FM stations an identity.
6. Why did radio station ownership concentrate in the 1990s?
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 allowed radio station groups to buy many more stations and become much larger.
7. How do new technologies like webcasts, smartphone apps, and podcasts affect broadcast radio?
They divert the local radio audience into finding more specific mediums to satiate their musical tastes.
Page 176
1. What kinds of radio networks exist now?
non-commercial radio, satellite radio, internet radio, and high definition radio
2. How are radio formats related to music genres?
Radio formats adjust to the changing audience and their preferred music genres.
3. What are the target audiences for some of the main radio formats?
FM radio stations target old and middle ages with oldies, middle and younger crowds with rock and other genres from that time (1970s-1980s), young people with 1990s and 2000s music.
AM stations cater to those that live in small towns with country, religious, and talk radio. Other AM stations can cater to minorities, such as Latinos.
4. Why does the concentration of radio ownership cause concern?
Less diverse music gets played because concentrated ownership of stations means more standardized formats.
5. What copyright challenges are raised by Internet radio and podcasting?
People illegally recording music played on these stations and then copy it so others can have it, therefore leaving the artist uncompensated.
1. How did advertising come to dominate radio economics?
When the FCC forced NBC to sell off its second network (which became ABC), this allowed radio to become a stronger medium for information. Money spent on radio ads doubled, surpassing the expenditures of newspapers. This money made radio a profitable medium.
2. What kind of regulation was necessary to develop technically?
Radio Act of 1912
3. What kinds of programming characterized radio networks in the 1930s-1940s? Why did they decline?
News reports, especially those that relayed information from London during World War II; propaganda; television became a mass medium and the networks focused their resources on developing television networks
4. How did radio formats change after the decline of radio networks?
The radio focus became local instead of national, which made for cheaper operation. Recorded music, news, and talk radio developed on these localized formats.
5. How did FM radio and 1960s-1970s music genres affect each other?
Since there were many FM stations, those stations could specialize in certain genres and subgenres. In turn, those genres gave FM stations an identity.
6. Why did radio station ownership concentrate in the 1990s?
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 allowed radio station groups to buy many more stations and become much larger.
7. How do new technologies like webcasts, smartphone apps, and podcasts affect broadcast radio?
They divert the local radio audience into finding more specific mediums to satiate their musical tastes.
Page 176
1. What kinds of radio networks exist now?
non-commercial radio, satellite radio, internet radio, and high definition radio
2. How are radio formats related to music genres?
Radio formats adjust to the changing audience and their preferred music genres.
3. What are the target audiences for some of the main radio formats?
FM radio stations target old and middle ages with oldies, middle and younger crowds with rock and other genres from that time (1970s-1980s), young people with 1990s and 2000s music.
AM stations cater to those that live in small towns with country, religious, and talk radio. Other AM stations can cater to minorities, such as Latinos.
4. Why does the concentration of radio ownership cause concern?
Less diverse music gets played because concentrated ownership of stations means more standardized formats.
5. What copyright challenges are raised by Internet radio and podcasting?
People illegally recording music played on these stations and then copy it so others can have it, therefore leaving the artist uncompensated.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Chapter 5 questions
Page 135
1. How did music genres evolve from earlier music traditions?
Genres build on regional music to cater to a specific audience, such as Southern gospel, blues, and bluegrass. Genres can also evolve when two different types of music blend. Country music formed from a combination of bluegrass, gospel, western, and western swing.
2. What are the major genres and traditions that fed into rock and roll?
blues, country, western swing, and rockabilly
3. How did record/CD sales and radio affect each other over time?
The 45 rpm record provided a way for radio stations to play a hit song without needing the entire album. In return, not only did radio play move people to buy the 45 single, but they also bought the 33 1/3 full albums, and later, CDs.
4.What has led the segmentation of rock into sub-genres since the 1960s?
Segmented radio stations allow for new artists to create new genres within rock, such as punk.
5. What has been the impact of MP3s and Internet music downloads on the recording industry?
New artists continue to emerge. In the days of Napster, record companies suffered financial losses as people opted not to pay for downloads. In the days of iTunes, record companies are seeing healthy profits as people are willing to pay a small amount to buy a song.
Page 144
1. How has the digitization of recording formats affected the industry?
New artists and genres continue to emerge. Another revenue stream opened for record companies with digital downloads.
2. What is the relationship between recordings, labels, and major music companies?
Music companies own the labels, who own the recordings along with artists.
3. What is the impact of record clubs and major retailers like Wal-Mart on the music industry? What about online retailers like iTunes?
Back when physical media was the undisputed format, Wal-Mart only carried CDs that had no offensive language as a result of a court case. This caused artists to change lyrics in their songs in order to have their albums sold at Wal-Mart. Clubs, such as BMG, sold CDs either through mail or Internet catalogs. That format is dying. Now iTunes is overtaking Wal-Mart as the top dog with its digital download system.
4. What copyright challenges are raised by Internet music technologies?
The struggle by record companies and some artists to limit piracy in order to keep being compensated for their labor.
1. How did music genres evolve from earlier music traditions?
Genres build on regional music to cater to a specific audience, such as Southern gospel, blues, and bluegrass. Genres can also evolve when two different types of music blend. Country music formed from a combination of bluegrass, gospel, western, and western swing.
2. What are the major genres and traditions that fed into rock and roll?
blues, country, western swing, and rockabilly
3. How did record/CD sales and radio affect each other over time?
The 45 rpm record provided a way for radio stations to play a hit song without needing the entire album. In return, not only did radio play move people to buy the 45 single, but they also bought the 33 1/3 full albums, and later, CDs.
4.What has led the segmentation of rock into sub-genres since the 1960s?
Segmented radio stations allow for new artists to create new genres within rock, such as punk.
5. What has been the impact of MP3s and Internet music downloads on the recording industry?
New artists continue to emerge. In the days of Napster, record companies suffered financial losses as people opted not to pay for downloads. In the days of iTunes, record companies are seeing healthy profits as people are willing to pay a small amount to buy a song.
Page 144
1. How has the digitization of recording formats affected the industry?
New artists and genres continue to emerge. Another revenue stream opened for record companies with digital downloads.
2. What is the relationship between recordings, labels, and major music companies?
Music companies own the labels, who own the recordings along with artists.
3. What is the impact of record clubs and major retailers like Wal-Mart on the music industry? What about online retailers like iTunes?
Back when physical media was the undisputed format, Wal-Mart only carried CDs that had no offensive language as a result of a court case. This caused artists to change lyrics in their songs in order to have their albums sold at Wal-Mart. Clubs, such as BMG, sold CDs either through mail or Internet catalogs. That format is dying. Now iTunes is overtaking Wal-Mart as the top dog with its digital download system.
4. What copyright challenges are raised by Internet music technologies?
The struggle by record companies and some artists to limit piracy in order to keep being compensated for their labor.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)