Blogging Experience

I can say that I truly enjoyed my blogging experience. I really like the idea that I can voice my opinion on a specific topic on the Internet and have other people give a response back to me. In doing so I felt that blogging helped me learn the material for class by relating my topic to the the material. I have always felt that when one learns something new that they should apply it to real life to help understand in a different perspective. Blogging is much more superior to traditional papers because it is all digital. Commenting on other peoples projects would be more complicated, because if the assignment was in paper form then every student would have to have a copy of their partners assignment.

The most important detail I learned through my project was semiotics. Before learning about semiotics I had no idea how much detail was put in show, music and art to describe people and places. Now when I look at a poster or and album cover I will not miss out the important details. In the end I feel as though I am more interested in my topic because I want to analyze The 70's Show for accuracy and look deeper into than just the show than just the plot.

Postmodernism

Postmodernism can be defined as culture produced by the media in terms of style over substance. Style over substance portrays that appearance is more important than reality. For example when someone buys a brand new car in most cases they make a down payment on the car and take a loan out for the remaining amount that they owe . However when one buys a car they are usually very excited because they have a new car, but in reality they do not actually own the car until years down the road when it is paid off. This shows how reality is less important than what they see.

Postmodernism proves how media has an effect on society and focuses on the impact of individuals. Postmodernism shows how the media shapes ones beliefs. The media attempts to control what material items we buy, what music we listen to, and what we watch. For example, when shows are put together specific music that is played and clothing that the actors wear are all pre determined to influence the people what to buy.

After learning about postmodernism I felt that my topic That 70's Show does not provide a good example when relating to postmodernism. This television show is a comedy sitcom that deals with the ordinary every day lives of teenagers during the 1970's. Such as getting into trouble, and everyday drama between friends and relationship troubles.

While I was learning about postmodernism a specific show known as One Tree Hill popped in to my mind as an excellent example. One Tree Hill is a very modern show that can be classified as a night time soap opera. This show attracts teenagers because it is about the life of a group of high school kids and the struggles they face.

This show in my opinion is a great example of postmodernism because most teens who watch the show look up to the actors and actresses as a hero. The fans of the show including my sister and some of her friends want to be just like the actresses because they look up to them. The producers of the show intended to make the actors and actresses idols for pure benefit of sales. After watching the show first hand I easily understood that the clothing actors wore and the music they played are setup for pure advisement. At the end of the show, for example, the the music that was played on the show is stated and also says that the CD can be purchased online.

One Tree Hill also elaborates high school and makes it seem as though high school is a once and a life time opportunity and can be seen as the best time in one's life. The actors are always saying that they do not want to graduate from high school because then they hit the real world. This is an example of postmodernism because it shows an exact example of style over substance. One Tree Hill portrays high school as an opportunity to meet new people, go to sporting events and have the time of ones life but never actually shows the work involved such as projects and tests. The show concentrates on the fun a teenager has and not the reality that teens are in school to learn.

Clip Analysis!

For my clip analysis I watched the first few minutes of The 70"s show, episode 411. This clip, in my opinion has a strong stereotype towards men. The stereotype labels men as not being capable of living with out women. In other words it portrays the guys in the episode as being lost with out women in their life.

The episode starts out with the four guys all sitting around in Eric's basement watching television. Eric asks the boys if they herd the sweet sound of no women, a statement of freedom. Kelso, who is in a steady relationship with Jacky, says "I still hear voices; Jacky's voice is burned into my brain." The way I understood the statement was that Kelso never hears the end of Jacky; she is always telling him what to do and correcting his mistakes. Even when she is not around Kelso can still hear the ringing in his ears. The author portrays Kelso as a dumb, air head, but usually Jacky straightens him out. As the guys all sit around they realize that without the women to decide what they are going to do for the night that the decision was in their hands.

The boys decide to go out for a guys night at the bowling ally. This is a rare occasion because usually Eric's girlfriend Donna is right beside him and Jacky is also right by Kelso's side. At the bowling ally the guys get about halfway through the game and wouldn't you know it, a girl that Hyde knows walks right up to him and gives him a kiss. At this point Eric, Kelso, and Fez, the other single guy are all shocked. Here once in a blue moon they get a chance to hang out with just the guys and a random girl that the guys have not met before barges right in. The guys now realize that if their girlfriends were their with them that they would not feel left out. Here again, the guys are lost with out their girlfriends, first they had nothing to do because the women usually make the plans, now they could not even have one guys night out because this new girl came barging in.

I do not agree with the stereotype the author portrays men as in this episode. I can think of many examples at the top of my head of very successful single men that are just fine with out a women's help. Sure women can most certainly be beneficial, but a man can defiantly survive with out a women in his life.