Culture Jam

Culture Jam, The Uncooling of America

The “Culture Jam” sets the tone of the culture jam in America. The thesis is very clear, “America is no longer a country. It’s a multimillion- dollar brand”. The corporate world controls the power and we the people has to listen and watch. The people are so tuned in their own routine that they are stack in their own world. The mass media plays an important role in the American culture. Lasn also reveals on the harmful effects of television and advertising on our society and children. People have separated themselves from their natural environment, and now live mostly through a consumptive, technology based world. The corporate world has all the powers to control the legislators to protect them so that they can make million dollars in profit.

I agree with Lasn that families have drifted apart in this technological world and everyone have their own agenda but still live as a family. Most of us live an unnatural life where we all have to depend on unnatural food. The environment that we live in today has created an atmosphere that has made us detached from this natural world. The mass media has affected our children and us and taken control of our lives. The corporations advertising dollars have been working well for these corporations where we are the victims of their ad campaign. The big advertisers control the broadcasting corporation and it is hard for individual citizens to buy airtime. This shows that the freedom of speech for people is denied where they cannot express their views freely. People are so addicted to the cyberspace that they start to lose focus on their family and friends. This addicting has not only affected the health of the people but has also affected the family values and relationship as stated in Culture Jam “the family matriarch dies in front of the television, rigor mortis set in and her thumb is fixed on the remote” (CJ p46-47).

The cult that we live in today has taken a toll on us where we live our life in stress, anger and aggression. We live on debt that will stay with us for the rest of our lives and there is no way of getting out of it but still we love to live the American dream life. In postwar America, people were happy and enjoyed their family life and bought things with cash and also had savings. This era has ended and the dream soured. I agree with Lasn that corporations have gained a lot of power now then they used to have. Before they were controlled by States and had little powers as the States kept a close eye on them but now they have all the powers that they can do anything they want to please them. As Lasn states that “ Corporations made huge profits from procurements contracts and took advantage of the disorder and corruption of the times to buy legislatures, judges and even presidents” (CJ p67-68). The corporate world has become very political and dirty that the legislators have bent towards them and has supported these corporations to maximize their profit on the expense of individuals. This not only makes the corporation more powerful but also gives them the mandate to carry on the assaults on individuals by high interest rates, hidden charges, overdraft fees and so on.

I agree with Lasn the corporations are not human and they don’t have any feelings. Corporations are unique creatures that have the power and hunger that they cannot go with it. As Lasn states “A corporation has no heart, no soul, no morals. It cannot feel pain. You cannot argue with it. That’s because a corporation is not a living thing, but a process- an efficient way of generating revenue”(CJ p157). The hunger to make money and the power to control the authority’s to make money and be protected. When we, the consumers break the law or commit a crime, we have to face the law and accept the judgment that is delivered to us and that record will stay on our profile of the rest of our lives. On the other hand, if a corporation is found guilty, the CEO will be fired or it will face a lawsuit. But at the end of the day they will hire new CEO, pay all the fines and continue doing business with. The stakeholders will join other corporations and still collect their dividend. But we should blame ourselves for giving these corporations this power. We did not stand up against them when we are victimized. We have the right to do so but we are still holding back and this holding back has given the corporation the powers. We should stand up and start the “second American revolution” (CJ p163).

Culture jammers believe that America has become a multitrillion-dollar brand with technology, television and advertisement. Lasn as a culture jammer, aims to change the way the information flows, the way that corporation gain power and the way the television stations are run and the way the other culture industries run their agenda. America, one of history’s great liberators is in desperate need to be liberated from itself “from its own excesses and arrogance”(CJ p61). People have become addicted to this culture that it is hard for them to focus on their family and health. The cult that we are in has controlled our lives but still we want to live the American dream life.

Reflection
By reading this book, I have learned the culture jam in America. I have realized the cult that we live in today but we still love to live this life. I have also learned the role the corporations play in our economy and the society that we live in. ‘Culture Jam, The Uncooling of America’ also reveals the he errors that our society has made in the process of creating our culture.

Television and Culture

Television and Culture

Television has had a great impact on human behavior but rather than communicating, it dictates a philosophy of life, moral judgments and a lifestyle. The invention of the television has had an impact on all aspects of human lives. It has affected how we work; interact with others, behave in society and the way we live our lives. Television presents a violent image of society where fantasy and reality are often confused. It is a system controlled by only a few, yet the impact of their decisions reaches millions. Television has contributed to illiteracy by eliminating critical analysis and original thought. It creates and perpetuates stereotypes. Television has become a major industry all over the world, especially in the industrialized nations, and a major medium of communication and source of home entertainment. Television is also used in many industries. A few examples are for surveillance in places inaccessible to or dangerous for human beings, in science for tissue microscopy, and in education. Today you can find a television in almost every home. Television news has become a visual newspaper but without the depth necessary for a comprehensive understanding of current events. The general public and especially parents have to become aware of the dangers of television.

The addiction of television has become a way of life for most families. Despite the development of the Internet, television is still one of the most important sources of information. TV is everywhere we go to and we spent lot of our leisure time watching TV. It plays such a significant role in people’s everyday lives that it’s almost impossible to imagine how we would live if there were no TV. It is practically impossible, however, to find a family that doesn’t have a television. There are a lot of advantages making television so popular. The main reason why so many people choose this means of getting information and entertainment is its simplicity and convenience. All you have to do is to press a button and sink comfortably into a chair. As stated in ‘Television Addiction Is No Mere Metaphore’, “ the amount of time people spend watching television is astonishing. One average, individual in the industrialized world devote three hours of a day to the pursuit- fully half of their leisure time, and more than on any single activity save work and sleep. At this rate, someone who live to seventy-five would spend nine years in front of the tube”(CC p148).

In drama TV show ‘Sex and the City’ four beautiful female New Yorkers gossip about their sex-lives and find new ways to deal with being a woman and they discuss about their sexual desires and fantasies, and their love lives. The show is shot in New York City around Manhattan and focuses on Carrie Bradshaw and her three best friends, Miranda Hobbes, Charlotte York and Samantha Jones. Carrie Bradshaw, who is a writer, is always looking for love as she says, “I'm looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't-live-without-each-other love.” She is an open-minded woman who stays in her one bedroom apartment is very independent but often feels lonely. After having several long-term boyfriends, Carrie is entangled with "Mr. Big" in a complicated, multifaceted on-and-off-again kind of relationship. Samantha Jones, a single independent businesswoman, who is very outspoken and confident with her life and career. She always shows support and loyalty for her friends. Samantha has a very open sex life and loves to explore new sex partners and do not have a steady relationship. Charlotte York is a married woman with two kids and believes in true love and faithful relationships. After a good romance life she marries and later divorces. She marries again to her divorce lawyer who later converts her to Jews. After failing to conceive, she and her husband adopts a girl from China. Miranda Hobbes is a career minded lawyer and like to be a working lady. She also has an on and off relationship with his boyfriend and later marries and have a child with him.

‘Sex and the City’ is a popular show, which attract millions of viewers here in America and has become a highly rated TV show. It has won a number of awards in the TV industry including the golden globe award. It is also aired in many other countries like UK, Australia, Brazil and many more. It has also made two movies with the second one just released last month. The movie stated in New York and later moved to Abu Dhabi in Dubai where Samantha is been invited by a wealthy Arab sheikh for public relation campaign for his business. She convinced all her three friends to accompany her for this all expense paid trip. In Abu Dhabi, they discovered the culture of the Arabs and the differences between the Eastern and Western world. Samantha’s open sex life made the sheikh to cancel the business meeting and they had to cut short their trip and return home. The movie reveals that sex is not allowed on the streets in the Arab world and anyone caught doing it will be dealt with strict Islamic laws. The action of Samantha shows the disrespect of the Islamic culture. The movie shows the way of life of the Arab women that they wear American clothes under their traditional Arab clothes (hijab). The movie also reveals that every country and community has there own culture that should be respected.

‘Desperate Housewives’ is also a highly rated drama TV show that is viewed by million of audience. It focuses on the secrets and the truth of the ladies of Wisteria Lane. The show is based on the murder and mystery of the neighborhood and life behind closed doors of the suburban life and each episode brings new mystery to the neighborhood. The ladies of Wisteria Lane have their own secret and they way they deal with their secrets. At first housewife Mary Alice Young committed suicide right in the middle of her comfortable living room and Susan Mayer, ever-looking for love in all the wrong places and agonizing over the behavior of her daughter, Julie. There was Lynette Scavo, with her irritated children, blamed herself for leaving her business career and staying home to look after her husband and children. There was Bree Van De Kamp, who is divorced and also lost her son due to the her control freak life style and ex-model Gabrielle Solis, who despite having married into money and luxury couldn't stop herself from having an affair with teenaged gardener John. She states that “The only person more self-centred than me is Carlos; he's so self-centred he doesn't even know how self-centred I am”. Her husband Carlos always had his suspicions that she is unfaithful. There was divorced Edie Britt, who competed with Susan for widowed plumber Mike Delfino.

The culture of this show reveals three problems that we face today. First, looking after children full time is very hard work. Second, it’s hard to be open about problems for fear of being seen as a bad mother. Third, there’s almost no public recognition of what a crucial role in society this is. It is also is a popular show, which attract millions of viewers here in America and has become a highly rated TV show. The popularity of the show has won a lot of honors and award including six Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. The show has also attracted a lot of international audience that is aired on a numbers of countries worldwide and in April 2007 it was reported to be the most popular show in its demographic worldwide, with an audience of approximately 120 million. Desperate Housewives has become a popular show that is watched by many families and has millions of views but since the show is rated, it is not recommended for viewers under age eighteen.

‘Las Vegas’ shows focuses on the issues within the working environment in Las Vegas. It shows a surveillance team that watch for cheaters in Montecito Casino & Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, where you can do anything you want but Ed Deline and his crack surveillance team will be watching. Just remember, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. The show is a faced-paced drama hat follows the elite Las Vegas surveillance team in charge of maintaining security of one the city's largest Casino. What makes this show so popular is that it doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is; an action packed sexy drama set in "Sin City" were anything can and does happen! The head of the surveillance team is Ed Deline, the former President of Operations and Head of Security of the Montecito Resort & Casino, and also a former member of the Board of Directors. In his team he has Danny McCoy, as his apprentice and the head of security and the president of operation of Montecito hotel. There is Mike Cannon, an engineer, who is the head valet and also helps in the security department to help during Danny's military absence. Samantha Jane, Delinda and Nessa Holt are there to attract people to play high end games and spent money at the Montecito. Mary Connell role is a special events director and A.J Cooper is the owner of the Montecito, who’s net worth is about $2 million. The show is also had some guest star such as famous actors and actress who come to Las Vergas. Like the other two shows, this TV show has got millions of audience and is also viewed in other parts of the globe. The show also reveals the culture of gambling where people become so addicted that they start to cheat to win money. The show also advertises Las Vegas to the rest of the world of the environments and excitements of ‘Sin City’ and behind the scene of the gambling world that every move of us in the casino is watched. It has also won five awards and is nominated seven times.

In these Drama TV shows, the directors use technical codes and conventions. There are a lot of technical codes used so focus on the characters and the environment the show takes place. Technical codes make the show more entertaining and exciting where it focuses on different characters and scenes. If sound is said to be the symphony of the emotions then truly music plays a key part in this universal orchestra. Music has the ability to alter our mood, change our point of view and compel us to think, act, and respond a certain way. In these shows, music is used to tell the story and strengthen the already deep mood of this drama. At certain times the music dives to slow synthesized violin suspense, at other times it can lift the intense political mood to show hope and love in a romantic dulcet tune. Such codes are well applied in these drama TV shows. These shows are also viewed in many other parts of the world and are quite popular. The shows reveal the American culture and the American fashion to the rest of the world and the typical conventions are constructed through the settings and location, cloths and make-up, colors, and the music of each episode.

Television viewing is so overwhelmingly prevalent nowadays that living without TV is often considered an extreme deprivation. TVs are everywhere, whether you are in a hospital, auto shop, or in the dentist’s office, there’s always a television by the waiting area. It’s a useful tool to help you from the boredom of waiting. Sure, people got other things to do and there are magazines lying around the table but people are more intrigue on what they see on the TV shows. Drama TV shows like Sex and the City, Desperate Housewives and Las Vegas are the most popular TV shows that are aired here in America and other parts of the world and attract millions of audience all over the global. It is a common leisure time activity for these audiences. TV is one of the most popular forms of entertainment and will remain the most popular form of entertainment in the years to come.

Reflection
By doing this essay, I have learn the culture that is associated with TV. Television is everywhere we go to and has become on of the popular entertainment. In this research paper, I have learned how watching TV has changing the world in terms of fashion, living and education of other cultures. The addiction of television has become a way of life for many families but at the sometime they get to know people and places of other parts of the world and also learn others cultures. TV is and will be the most popular form of entertainment.