Television, Titles to Tell by Brooks Spears

Television, a world filled with innumerable series and shows, sitcoms and soaps, dramas and comedies. It can be seen all around us and it is nearly impossible to avoid. It draws in hundreds of millions every week and inspires us everyday. It is a quintessential source of entertainment where we can all see something we enjoy.
I enjoy several shows both past and new, many of which were showcased in this year's Emmy extravaganza. Game of Thrones, How to Get Away with Murder, Breaking Bad, and many more have been a part of the Emmy's exorbitant repertoire. From acting to character development, story to scene, all of these shows represent a great aspect of American entertainment. From shows like Sleepy Hollow to Big Brother, Supernatural to Daredevil, Empire to the Walking Dead; we can see the range these shows can offer and watch as their enigmatic stories play out.
And that's just it; that's the reason I watch the incredible series television has to offer. They all allow you to follow some new world, a new place where anything can happen. Suspense and tension show the depths to which we plunge ourselves into these shows. They put you onto the edge of your seat as you impatiently await what will happen next. It's these shows that allow us to watch over entirely new scenes and characters and envelop into something more, something deeper, something we love.

Assignment 6:Create Your Own Adventure

What interests you? What is your point of exigence? What's on your mind?  What do you want to chat about? Rant about? Learn about?

'Cause really, isn't it all about you? <wink wink nudge nudge>

This week, create three writing prompts that you find most intriguing. Then, choose one prompt and respond to it.

Note:
Please don't make the other prompts "dummy" prompts - I'll be revisiting these options later next semester.

Ready...

Go!

Due Sunday, October 4th at 11:59 pm

For the Love and Hate of Television

I love TV. I'm fascinated by every aspect of its creation, production, and execution. I love the way you can flip through channels and find millions of different shows, each about something different. It's fun to watch, too. Some shows are exciting and dramatic, while others are interesting and informative. These various categories can appeal to a wide range of audiences all over the planet.

And because television is so accessible, more people will see more shows. Of course, the actors who star in more popular shows are recognized almost everywhere.

Once a year, those shows and actors are compiled and ranked into several categories; the best of the best in each category wins an "Emmy." Ironically, other shows are put off so that the Emmy Awards can air, in their full glory. For one night, everyone's eyes are on their television set more often than usual, so they can find out if "their show" won an award. 11.9 million people, in fact.

Meanwhile, in only a few weeks, broadcasted across the world (just like the Emmys), the winner(s) of the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize will be announced. Last year, just over 25,000 people tuned in to view the event. That's 0.002% of the people who watched the Emmys.

That's a staggering statistic. The Nobel Peace Prize is given to the most influential proponent of societal growth at that time; only those who have instigated radical change (e.g. Malala Yousafzai) in their community or region are even eligible to receive it. And let, less than a 100th of a percent of the number of people who watched the Emmys watched that event.

When we value acting and popularity over real, measurable, important change in our world, we have to collectively ask ourselves a question: why? Why is a list of famous people and shows 476 times more viewed than a list of society's most influential people? Is it because of the glamour of TV and the lack of glamour in a young girl fighting for her education in a war-torn, desolate nation?

Of course, the Nobel Prize recipients aren't going to change their goals to become more flashy or popular, because that isn't their goal; their goal is change.

I love TV. I'm fascinated by every aspect of its creation, production, and execution. But I also love people fighting for equality when all odds are against them and when they expect to have no recognition. The person who will win the Nobel Prize this year is not an actor who struggles to stay out of rehab; they will be a person who struggles to affect their community, their region, and the lives of everyone on Earth for the better.

TV's True Intentions -catherine van tatenhove

Rust Cohle is a talented and troubled Louisiana State homicide detective and he has a renowned ability to squeeze confessions from criminals. Unfortunately, his past is filled with the loss of his daughter in a car accident and the termination of his marriage leading to his abuse of cocaine and heroin. He only talks when you want him to stop, and he carries around an unusually large notebook where his brilliant mind scribbles details of investigations. Rust taught me that even if you feel like death created time to grow the things it would kill, that there is a monster at the end of every dream, and life is just a vicious cycle that even then light will always win even if darkness has reigned supreme for a long time. And, Rust did all of this without even being real.

This is why I love TV. Because thousands of miles away Matthew McConaughey hashed out every intention of Rust Cohle in 40 pages of notes, and he embodied everything he believed Rust to be. And, now millions of people relate on a deep level through the emotions and morals Rust evoked from them. This is a side of TV that I believe is a brilliant and difficult art that relies on a relationship between the viewer and the producer. It isn't for everyone, and to some it seems like a pretentious, uneducated, and brain rotting waste of time. But, you would be hard pressed to find someone who couldn't identify or relate to Rust in any way. So, love it or hate it TV's intentions will always be to alter the way you see the world not necessarily to keep you from seeing it.

Alexis Kirkland: For the Love and Hate of Television

Probably one of the most common electronics you will find in the average household is a television. I used to be a slave to TV, having to keep it running as background noise, even wanting to work at Nickelodeon Studios. Well, that would still be a pretty awesome job, but I've moved past that. However, I still revel at the idea that TV is going to rot my brains, I adore being driven by advertisements and love knowing that big companies are controlling me like a robot through subliminal tactics. I love the submission of myself to entertainment.

I don't watch it as much as I used to, but when I do, I make sure I get the full effect. I grab a glass of water, I'm snuggled on the couch, eyes locked to the artificial lights burning my retinas, sharing a bag of chips with my dog. For me, I like the ambiance of watching TV more than the actual show itself. Unless it's Beyond Scared Straight, because that show is my favorite non-acting show of all time. But back to the ambiance; I have fallen in love with the culture of how people watch TV, so of course I'm going to share some BBQ Lays with my dog and sit too close to the screen. Of course I'll search relentlessly for the remote rather than pressing the buttons on the TV. Of course I'll keep the volume too loud. Doing all the things that you're not supposed to do, that make you seem like an awful person, makes my TV experience 100 times better.

Don't even get me started on the advertisements. Most people hate commercials. I love them. Like I said before, I can't get enough of the thought that I'm being used by corporations through their ads to do what they say. Buy this, go here, download that. Even the culture of commercials, remembering the slogans, reliving old memories with friends while watching old ads for breakfast cereals ("Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids!"), paper plates ("Oink, oink, Zoo Pals!"), and even ones for the Shirley Temple complete DVD series ("Shirley Temple like you've never seen her before! New restored edition! ANIMAL CRACKERS IN MY SOUP!") make me smile. And I wish I could tell you exactly why, but for some reason, I just love commercials and I love knowing that I'm a pawn for company after company after company.

So I guess you could say that if you remember any of those slogans I just recited from memory, then television is definitely a convenient delivery system for advertisers to send their messages to the masses. Whether you like it or not, you're being brainwashed by those advertisers through tactics and gimmicks and the classic "But wait, there's more!" Maybe you prefer to eat organic quinoa during your programs and keep the dog off the couch. Maybe you've got a volume limit (unless, you're my mom, who tells me that if it's too loud, you're too old). The IQ-dropping commercials and loads of snacks may be an inane use of time for some people, but for me, I can't get enough of it.

For the Love and Hate of Television-Anya Slepyan

As an introvert, I have a painful relationship with mixers and get-to-know-you games. But my experience as a camp counselor and participation in various YMCA events have taught me that when entering a new program, mortifying mixers and name games are pretty much inevitable.  So when I recently attended the orientation for Leadership Lexington, I knew I was doomed. It did not surprise me in the least that a major portion of the day was allotted to group bonding and team-building (basically exactly the kind of forced social interaction that I live to avoid). In one of the “games” that we played, we were randomly assigned groups, and we had to find five hobbies or characteristics that everyone in our group had in common. At first it was difficult; the boy sitting next to me started off with something along the lines of “so we’re all republicans, right?” After a couple of seconds of emphatic-head shaking on my part, other suggestions started rolling in. Eventually we got to the topic of TV and entertainment. Although the five of us didn’t have the same favorite shows or movies, we could all agree that we spent at least some of our time watching television (mostly Netflix) and that we enjoyed it. When all of the groups had to later share their common traits, we found that watching TV was pretty much universal among the groups of students.

Of course, the fact that a majority of people likes or does something does not make that something necessarily good; sometimes the exact opposite is true. However, it is undeniable that television is engrained in our culture, especially that of younger generations who now have the benefit of instant streaming, anytime and anywhere. And as with any cultural phenomenon, there is both good and bad that can come out of it. It is true that many Americans spend far too much time watching TV than doing other activities, like moving. Furthermore, there are definitely shows that make me embarrassed to belong to the human species (i.e. Bridezillas, Preachers’ Daughters, Keeping up with the Kardashians). But it would be incorrect to make a blanket statement that all TV is damaging or completely lacking in value. While television brings us trashy reality TV, there are also sources of social and political commentary (Vice, Colbert Report, Daily Show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver), educational sources (documentaries, PBS, History Channel, Ancient Aliens), comedy (Arrested Development, 30 Rock, Parks & Rec.) and other shows that are just—objectively—really, really good (Game of Thrones, House of Cards, Mad Men).

Anything in excess can be bad, and that certainly includes TV. But TV can also be a valid source of entertainment and information. One of the best, and worst, features of modern television is that the viewer has such a variety of choices that she can make of TV whatever she wants. The power to choose between so many shows and programs also gives the viewer the responsibility of assessing the merits and issues of each one, and making a personal decision based on those ideas. I believe that TV is what you make of it, and what you decide to watch determines its value (or lack thereof).

For the Love and Hate of Television (AKA my favorite shows)

Why do I watch television? For me, TV has always been my way of escaping the real world. Whenever I am tired, stressed, or bored, I like to just sit down and watch a couple episodes of TV. It calms me down. Reading is that escape for some people, just not for me. I like to read, but it takes more effort for me to sit down and read, than it does to turn on an episode of That 70's Show.

I could go on to explain this more, but I honestly would rather turn this into a TV show recommendation for anyone reading this.

Supernatural. Two brothers saving people, hunting things; the family business. This show is actually amazing. It is equally funny, thrilling and sad. Gossip Girl. A show about high school students in the upper east side of New York. While it might sound dumb, it is hella addictive. That 70's Show. How can a show with a group of awkward teens in the 70's not be funny? This is my personal favorite when I just want to laugh and take a break from the horrendous thing called being a teenager in high school. The Voice. I've always been obsessed with singing shows. This once is by far my favorite of them all, but that may or may not have something to do with Adam Levine being a judge... I don't know.

For the love and hate of television - Kyle W

TV. Our world today revolves around it. There is TV for everyone. News channels, educational channels, movie channels, prime time television, kids cartoons, adult cartoons, reality TV, sports channels, comedy channels, food networks, etc... The list could go on forever.
Many people spend hours a week or even a day watching TV. Some people argue that watching TV is entertaining and that's why they do it so much but others say that it's a waste of time. Neither side of is completely right but neither side is completely wrong.
While TV can be a huge waste of time and you can loose an hour to a whole day or even more to mindless TV watching it can also be very entertaining and you can immerse yourself into the stories being told or you can learn an interesting new recipe or learn what's happening in the world around you. Reality TV is a waste or time either way though.
As well as a huge waste of time and at the same time a good form of entertainment TV is also a very good way for advertisers to deliver their messages. While watching TV you are going to be exposed to commercials whether you want to be or not and so some advertisers have gotten their message to you and maybe even convinced you that their product is a good investment.
Commercials are such a big part of television that's the only reason people watch TV sometimes such as during the Super Bowl when the best advertisements are played and millions of people see them.
So yes TV is a good form of entertainment and it is an inane use of time and it is a convenient advertisement delivery system, all at the same time.

For the Love and Hate of Television--Lucy Whitman Sandmeyer

I'm a binge watcher: I'll lie down in with my phone held in some precarious position and watch until I can’t keep my eyes open or until my mom tells me I’m being unhealthy. Though usually that doesn’t deter me from whatever excellent series I’ve committed way too much of my time to. Ask me if I watch TV though, and I’ll say no. We’ve got maybe seven channels on my TV, and most of them frequently play advertisements for dementia medicine or dentures, so I rarely/never use the “TV” part of my TV. Instead, I’ve got Netflix and Amazon Prime and YouTube and a couple other websites that keep me entertained without (m)any advertisements. This unhindered form of TV has become more and more popular as I’ve grown up in this technological age and it’s made me beyond spoiled. It means I only watch what I want, when I want, without interruption, save for concerned parents and the occasional text or two. 

This freaks me out. I’d rather spend my live watching Bones then working and becoming a forensic anthropologist. I’d rather watch spy movies than get off my butt and workout. I’d rather live through other people, fictional people, and that’s really not good. In fact, it’s terrifying. I consider myself a pretty reasonable person but knowing I’ve spent about two and a half 24-hour days watching one series convinces me otherwise.  What I think happens is unscheduled, uninterrupted periods of relaxation happen very little in our work-centric school system (and sometimes society) so we take solace in things that require the least amount of attention possible. What this tells me, for me at least, is I need to be doing things with my life that make it more fun than living vicariously through made up people. Unfortunately, my education, while sometimes enjoyable and usually interesting, is time consuming, hard, and not a good enough incentive to stop turning my brain into mild mush, full of unnecessary TV plot facts. So I’m going to keep watching my Bones, and Narcos, and Buffy, and Marvel movies/AOS, and feel bad about it but good enough not to stop.

For the Love and Hate of Television

Television is a waste of time. It's great to be able to relax late at night and mindlessly process trivial information, sure, but to the extreme proportions Americans utilize television, it's unacceptable.

When statistics such as "54% of 4-6 year-olds who, when asked to choose between watching TV and spending time with their fathers, preferred television" show up, there is a crisis on our hands. Americans are becoming so reliant on telecommunication that they have no real communication in their life. If a TV is more important than spending time with our parents, it's obvious who our real "loved one" is. According to recent studies, children who watch TV in excessive amounts tend to be more antisocial when placed in a setting with other children, have weaker academic performance, and are more likely to have major health concerns as they grow older, cutting 5 years off their expected life span compared to that of a child who doesn't watch TV in excessive amounts. TV is more accessible now than it was a few decades ago, and many researchers fear that it will show in today's children and teens as they approach retirement age- they predict these results will only worsen with each passing generation.

For the Love and Hate of Television-Matthew Telfer

The trio of Anders, Blake, and Adam can never be rivaled. These three guys are the main characters of the show Workaholics which is, by far, my favorite show on televison. But Workaholics is not for everyone. A show about the life of three young telemarketers who spend most of their time partying  is not appropriate for families sitting in their living room looking to watch a family friendly show.

Even though I watch Workaholics and football a lot, T.V. shows don't appeal to me as much as they use to. I think this results from me not having a lot of free time usually due to homework, and, most times, when I watch television shows I feel like I could be better utilizing my time.

I'm astonished every time I read about a new contract in the NBA where a player receives upwards of 100 million dollars in a five year span. I wonder how they can possibly spend all that money. Here lies our problem in society. When people in the entertainment industry are able to make hundred fold what Nobel Prize winners make, that's when we know we have a dilemma. The Emmy Awards were advertised constantly on television while it's hard to find event what day the Nobel Prize awards are given out. We , as a society, need to do a lot better job of recognizing the people who make important advancements in areas that effect us more in our everyday lives. I'm not saying we should totally get rid of entertainer's salary because, for example, football players are putting their lives on the line every time they step on the field but scientists, physicians, and writers should be respected more.

For the Love and *Hate* of Television

Personally, I don't watch any television. I don't have cable, and I don't have Netflix... yes I know what you all are thinking, "Wow she must not have a life." On the contrary though, I actually do a lot more than a regular person does. According to Nielsen, the average American over the age of 2 spends 34 hours watching television a week... that's INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One-fifth of an average American's week consists of watching TV. So what's so interesting that is taking up this much time of our lives, you ask?  I don't really know, it's pretty much a bunch of crap. I honestly don't think I can even think of a TV show that I like. I just don't understand how, like said above, pointless award shows like the Emmy's are aired over the Nobel Peace Prize. Society needs to reevaluate what is important in life and history.  However, I must admit that I do like a good movie. And I also watch inspiring videos. I love to be inspired. It gets me out of a rut and up and trying again. But, I can't think of any TV shows that would do that. It's mostly videos on YouTube or documentaries.

TV and electronics obsession will become the downfall of humanity. Honestly, it seems like nobody even has real face-to-face conversations anymore, or when they try to, it's interrupted by their phones with a text. I think I am guilty with the phone, because I probably spend way to much time than needed to on it, or at least I used to, but it still distracts me. But the more I look around, the less living I see. Spending 1/5th of your life watching a screen doesn't seem like a productive way to live life. And over the past year, I've started to realize that more and more. I want to actually go and live an exciting adventure, and not watch someone else do that on television, making myself jealous of the celebrities on a show. Everyone says, "I wish I was her/him" or, "I wish I could do that," while watching television needs to un-glue their faces from the television and realize that you can just go do that!!

TV destroys people's time and their self-confidence. I think it's also a huge waste money for that matter.

For the Love and Hate of Television

      Why do we watch TV? I think everyone's views are different, but we all have one thing in common with watching television, we watch for enjoyment. I watch TV because I enjoy it but also because it helps me stall from doing my homework, which I know many people do.
      I've recently got my mom to watch the "Vampire Diaries". This is my second time watching this series but in making my mom watch it, its become sort of a bonding experience. We can't watch it without the other and she swore to me before she started watching that she wouldn't finish all 6 seasons. We are now almost on season 5, so we see how well that worked. I think when a television show can bring people together it's doing what its whole purpose was in the first place, to entertain. When a television show can evoke strong emotion like crying and extreme joy, then the writers of the show have done their job right. I've kind of made a connection with the characters and like in the "Vampire Diaries", when people die (which is quite a lot), it feels like you've lost a friend or family member. Also with the "Vampire Diaries", I've realized that it's such a good show because I'm able to watch it all again and still laugh and cry at the same times. The best part about watching a series is telling other people to watch it and then watching them become obsessed with it because you know how they feel, you've already been through it.
    Another show that I just recently started is "How to Get Away With Murder". The good thing about fall is that tons of new shows are starting up again. I was watching "Scandal", another great series, when I saw a commercial for "How to Get Away With Murder". It looked really good and I knew the first season was already out on Netflix so I decided to watch it this weekend. It's kind of like a mixture between "Scandal" and "Law & Order". Its amazing how something about college and learning about becoming lawyers interests me because I have absolutely no interest in becoming a lawyer. Again with this series, it's become a bonding experience with my sister. We just sit in the  living room and watch TV together, even though watching this takes away from my moms time with the "Vampire Diaries", but I'm happy either way.
     I think that Television is great. Now some shows not so much but having a favorite series or show that you stick with, can help you in life. I know me personally, I look forward to a certain day of the week because I know a new show is going to come on and once that day comes, it gives me a bit of a pick-me-up. Its something to look forward to like hump day, once you reach it everything will get better.

TV

Certain TV shows, like the Emmys, receive the publicity they accumulate because the majority of people like to watch "crap." I also like to watch 'crap', only because it can be very entertaining, sometimes. i would agree that the importance stressed on certain TV shows is ridiculous, but people like it and when more views flow in, people make more money.

The greatest show of all time is Seinfeld, created by Larry David. The show is based on Larry's life played by the part of George Castanza, a hothead from New Jersey who cant figure out how to tackle life. Jerry Seinfeld however, is the main character of the show and is a stand-up comedian who gets involved in all of his crazy friend's problems. His best friend, Cosmo Kramer, is a complete spaz, and has some sort of crazy idea day after day that usually ends in a trip to the hospital or a police arrest. Elaine, Jerry's ex-girlfriend, can never seem to find the one man she truly loves despite her constant dating. The show is creative and entertaining, and thats why so many people enjoy watching it.

As a fan of good televison, I will admit that their are more important things that could be televised, but entertaining shows appeal to the general population, while a Nobel Peace prize ceremony, my not.

A world in pictures

This picture was taken in 2007, the year of the first released iphone. The advanced technology within this mobile device completely changed everyones lives. Everything became faster and easier because we now had the world at our fingertips with, "Just the touch of a button," as creator, Steve Jobs, would say. Since this release, all other phone manufacturers had tried to match the power of the iphone, but the development has been too fast and nothing is as advanced while still being so incredibly simple. When you walk down the street, or observe a sporting event, or even sit in class, you are bound to someone holding an iphone. They have become the most reliable and useful technological source for the culture of the world.

For the Love and Hate of Television - Grae Chambers

I've been hooked on TV since I first learned how to get to Sesame Street. My favorite toy as a child was the "magic commote", which sounds way cooler than it is, because it was a TV remote. Part of me is ashamed to admit this, because every study shows kids should limit their exposure to television. But growing up with Saturday cartoons has showed me the good side of TV. Yes, the main reason the heads of hollywood get together to create elaborate characters is to make money and entertain the masses. These ring leaders have a secondary purpose; its to create stories that teach us about our own lives.

Many of the morals that shape my life, I learned from TV. Contrary to what some may think, the drama filled episodes that pull us in week after week aren't just filled with white noise. Freshman year I opened my Netflix and saw Greys Anatomy in the suggestions category. It was approximately 12:30 am on a Friday night and the one thought in my mind was "why not." Within a month my eyes and ears had devoured 9 seasons. Over 100 episodes. My life was forever changed. Being the semi-realistic person that I am I know that working in a hospital bears very very few similarities to my beloved show, but I was inspired. I had a new dream. I was going to don scrubs and save people. Now I know that my abnormally small thumbs don't make for great surgeon hands, but thats beside the point. Every fake medical profile shown in that show intrigued me. I can thank Grey's Anatomy for my current grade in anatomy class. This is why I watch Tv.  Although its "all hollywood", It can make you feel things and make you think about your own life and how you want it to be.

In a post about TV, I can't ignore all of my other favorite shows, so I'm going to list them here. These are the best shows to love and die by: How I met Your Mother, Scandal, Scrubs, One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl, Greys Anatomy (of course), The Vampire Diaries, and New Girl. (Honorable Mention goes to Private Practice because its almost Grey's but not quite.)

The fact that the Emmys get more attention than the awarding of the Nobel Prizes is not lost on me. I believe this is because we are a culture obsessed with beautiful people. Celebrities. Beautiful minds often get lost in the mix. But someone with a large mind does not feel the need for attention, while small minds crave nothing but. Television and its actors should be celebrated, they work extremely hard. I believe that it is time that we give credit where credit is due and focus on celebrating the brains of the world for their hard work as well.

For the Love and and Hate of Television

Personally, I don't watch a lot of TV. I used to, though. Netflix. All. The. Time. But ever since my summer, I haven't even watched a full episode of anything. This summer, I realized the value of time. And I realized that I don't want to waste my time watching TV or filling my mind with stupid pointless things that don't matter. I'm so behind on everything that might have to do with celebrities or politics or anything that's mainly on TV. And to me, that's okay. I would rather spend my time with people, experiencing things and makin good memories. Now don't get me wrong, I love a good movie occasionally, especially on a Friday night when I want to think about nothing. I usually end up falling asleep anyways. :)

I guess I really don't have much extra time either. Between school work and dance, I never have free time except during the weekends occasionally. And that time I do have? I would rather not spend at home watching episodes upon episodes of my favorite TV shows on Netflix. (which include Lost, Sherlock, the Office and a movie? The Italian Job).

TV is great. And there's such a wide variety of things to watch and things to occupy your time with. But, I don't even have cable. And that's okay. I'm perfectly fine without it. It's not a need in life.

I just like laying in my yard sometimes watching the clouds. I'd do that over television any day. Happy Sunday everyone:))))

Katie Demetriades Assignment 5: For the Love and Hate of Television

TV has slowly made less of a presence in my life. When I was younger, I was always glued to the television screen. My two favorite channels, of course, were Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. But that's not unique or revolutionary in any way. I'm sure at least one of you, if not all of you, loved Hannah Montana more than you loved yourself. My brother was the one that would introduce me to new shows. He was obsessed with anything on television, and since I didn't know how to be my own person, I followed in his foot steps and watched these shows with him. It went downhill from there. When he outgrew those shows, I was still watching and discovering my own shows to watch. That went on until I was about 11 or 12. Since then, television has died down in my life. For the most part, if I have the television on, it's just for background noise. I am rarely ever actually watching what's playing on the screen. Whenever I see previews for a show I may like, I tell myself I'll watch it every week, but it never pans out that way. By the third or fourth week, I've completely lost interest and stop watching. So, I always end up right back where I started: "watching" Full House reruns. I think my lack of interest in television comes from the other technological distractions that now exist that didn't when I was a kid. By that, I mean, I now have a smart phone that can do practically anything, things that television can't. Think about it: which would you rather have? A TV that can only entertain you for 30 minutes at a time (WITH ADS) or a phone that can entertain you for hours on end without a single ad?

Our interest in entertainment awards shows, such as the Emmys, or the VMAs or the Billboard Music Awards or the Oscars, shows where our interests lie. So many people obsess over their favorite TV show or their favorite musical artist that these award shows give them the chance to see even more of them. It shows that other people recognize their success and hard work, just as you do. We appreciate that. We like knowing our favorite is everyone else's favorite, too. When they beat the nominee you can't stand, your feeling of pride intensifies. The same can't be said for the Nobel Peace Price. As impressive as it is to win the Nobel Peace Price, nobody follows up and obsesses over who is going to win it. It's so much easier to learn about and access information on a TV show or a band than it is on an obscure scientist you've never heard of. Yes, these scientists work hard, even harder than your favorite actress, but their jobs and their lives are not nearly as glamorous. We aspire to have the same glam seen in Hollywood. So are instant attraction is towards movie stars and famous singers. It's not bad, it's not good, it's appropriate for our society. It's what has been expected for several decades. If you want society to think differently, stop giving Hollywood that kind of attention. But until that happens, don't expect to see that change.

For the Love and Hate of Television-Elle Ogden

Television is something that all kids from todays generation have grown up with. We all remember watching the "education" shows on PBS on a Saturday morning as little toddlers. Though I have fond memories of watching TV with my brother on the weekends, my parents did restrict TV time as a kid. I honestly can say my "TV time" now is even more limited, but not because of anything my parents have done.

With all the things going on right now, I simply just don't have time to watch TV. I'm pretty much never home and if I am, I'm either eating dinner or doing homework. I will say that one of my favorite times of year is the fall because I love watching college football. However, this year, I don't think I've been able to watch a full game.

This is probably a good thing that my TV time had diminished to almost nothing. With all the studies that are out now a days I think it's safe to say that watching TV all day isn't good for you. But in my opinion, todays teens have replaced TV with iPhones and laptops, which can't be any better for us.

Netflix has also altered the amount of TV that I watch. I can't really get into binge watching a show, nor do I have the time to, but if I'm bored at night or can't sleep, an episode or two of the office will do the trick. Netflix is convenient, its at your fingertips wherever you are. I can't watch a football game or TV show from my bed, but I can watch as many episodes of almost any TV series.

A World in Pictures- Grae Chambers

Sometimes important moments can be lost in history, until Hollywood uproots them again and turns them into a movie. However, these Hollywood stories are shrouded in fiction and its crucial that we remember the all to real and exciting history behind them. In 1979, 66 american hostages were taken from the US embassy in Iran. 6 people managed to escape and were hidden by Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor until a plan was made to bring them home. This story is depicted in the Oscar winning movie Argo, directed by and starring Ben Affleck. Although Affleck makes one hell of a movie hero, the true savior of the hostages was American CIA agent Antonio Mendez. He joined forces with movie make-up artist Jerome Calloway to create the perfect cover: a fake movie by the name of Argo. This movie was their ticket to Iran and their way to bring back the escapees. My mom remembers the yellow ribbons they tied around school to show their support for the hostages, but before seeing the  movie I was unaware of this story. I believe this story is a great example of using creativity to solve problems int he real world, because some things cannot be taught in school. When the unexpected happens, one must think outside of the box to find a solution. The Argo story teaches that lesson better than any other in my humble opinion.

Assignment 5: For the Love and Hate of Television

The Emmy Awards (aired recently) are kind of a big deal. Not a big deal in that life-altering-kind-of-way, but a big deal in the sense that a lot of celebrities dress up, that a lot of companies pay more money in advertisements, and a lot of people stop watching reruns.

The Emmys are not the only award extravaganza of the season though. During the first week of October, without the advertising, paparazzi, or celebrities, the Nobel Prizes are announced. But how many people are listening? With the Emmys comes television's fall lineup, but what does the common person get after the announcement of the Nobel Prize in physics?

So, what are your thoughts? Choose one or two or all of the following prompts:

Why do you watch TV? Why do you not? What shows do you love or hate?

Does TV provide a good form of entertainment? Is it just a convenient delivery system for advertisers to send their messages to the masses? Is it an inane use of time? Can it be all three?

What does it say about our society that the Emmy's have so much glitz and attention and the Nobel Prizes are quietly announced in the news? Is this bad? Good? Appropriate?

Check out these sites for more information:

Turn off your TV

Television and Health

Positive Benefits of TV on Toddlers and Children

Due Sunday September 27th at 11:59 pm 

A World in Pictures

On July 20, 1969 we Americans did something that was only dreamed about- we put a man on the moon. 

During the Cold War era tensions ran high with communist Russia and caused great competitiveness in the space race. America was quickly falling behind as the Russians were the first to put a satellite in orbit, put an animal in space, and the fist man made object to orbit the sun and one orbit the moon. Around every turn we were losing ground. But on July 20, 1969 we did the unthinkable and put a person on the moon. Americans at home felt a sense of pride and amazement that something so impossible was accomplished first by us. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin must have felt a sense of accomplishment as they were the first men to step on the moon and proudly place an American flag where they landed. 

A World in Pictures - Kyle W

The RMS Titanic was, at the time it was built, the world’s largest ship to sail the seas and was said to be unsinkable. The designer and builder of the Titanic was so confident in this statement that, not only claiming so before it had ever even set sail, but he also only put 20 lifeboats into the design of the vessel. Which is most definitely not enough for the 1400 or so people aboard the ship.  

The Titanic set sail on its maiden voyage on April 10^th, 1912 and not 4 days later the ship hit an iceberg and proved wrong those who believed it was unsinkable. The thought that the Titanic would ever sink was ridiculous because everyone was made to think that that was impossible. What the ships design had not accounted for was that because of the belief it would never sink the crew wouldn’t be as careful and vigilant as they should be and therefore it became a reality. On the night of April 4^th, 1912 the Titanic sank, causing the death of hundreds and shocking the world by doing the undoable.

"Not by the Color of their Skin..."

On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave one of the most memorable and significant speeches in American history, the legendary, "I Have a Dream" speech. The image aside represents a culmination of a long-awaited movement and describes one of the most iconic scenes from American history.
Dr. King is most notable for this legendary speech and it was on this day, this moment, that Dr. King solidified his place in American history. Waving to the crowd before his eminent address, the Dr. conveys the collective emotion and turmoil  African-Americans felt over hundreds of years. The calm look on his face as he overlooks the crowd shows the presence and respect Dr. King commands. Unknown at the time, Dr. King is about to give one of the most revered speeches at a time when the country couldn't need it more, while persevering through the eye of danger. Here, Martin Luther King shows why he is such a respected figure and why his prospective "I Have a Dream" speech sits as one of the most iconic moments in American history.

Assignment 4: I had a Dream

       The year is 1963. Discrimination, prejudice, and hatred were abundant while compassion was scarce. In the midst of a confused America, very few voices stood clear. One of the most prominent was that of Martin Luther King Jr's. In a call for peace and tolerance, he delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech to a crowd of over 250000 during a rally in Washington.

       In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation ended all slavery in the United States. 100 years later, African Americans were still subject to a unique form of slavery- separate but "equal" facilities had been declared unconstitutional less than a decade ago, and the principles were beginning to take effect. The Little Rock Nine were escorted to an all-white school by the National Guard in 1957, Ruby Bridges attended her new school in New Orleans in 1960. Protests for these actions were rampant, and King speaks on the hatred revolving around them.

     Hailed as one of the greatest speeches of the 20th Century and all time, "I Have a Dream" speaks out against the injustices of discrimination as well as a new American Dream, one where every person of every color would be able to call each other brothers, one where no child should have to feel outcasted for simply being human, and one where character is more important than anything you were born with. This speech, the 16th of 18 during the rally, would cause a mass uproar from the crowd. The audience's massive and obvious support helped push through the Kennedy Administration's civil right bill.

A World in Pictures: WW2

This picture was taken at the end of World War II. The man is an American sailor kissing his girlfriend when he arrived back home. It represents the homecoming of the troops and the celebration across America. 

If you ask anyone in America if they have seen the picture of a man kissing a woman in the middle of time square, they will probably say yes. It is such an iconic symbol and a "sigh of relief" to America. The troops were so excited to get home and America wanted to celebrate. This represents a new beginning in America.   This picture represented a sign of comfort for all of America. 

The couple in the picture are happy and so is everyone else around them. Everyone has a huge smile on their face. Nothing can bring down their amazing moods and patriotism towards America. This picture makes me feel happy for them. It brightens the mood. 

A World in Pictures--Lucy Whitman Sandmeyer

June 26, 2015 we made a history in a good way. After years of protests, pride parades, and slowly disappearing prejudice, the Supreme Court of the United States made a 5-4 decision to make any laws banning gay marriage officially unconstitutional on the basis of the 14th amendment. A victory long awaited in LGBT communities and with supporters, the SCOTUS decision overturned the gay marriage ban in 13 states (Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Nebraska) and paved the way for a less homophobic future in the US. 

The celebrations were both adorable and inspiring. The San Francisco annual parade was a festival of epic proportions and, as shown above, the white house lit up as the Rainbow Flag, right under the American flag. The significance of this day cannot be understated and this photo demonstrates the support the LGBT community got even on Capitol Hill as millions of supporters across the country came out to applaud those that have come out. 

Still, the issue doesn't end with a brightly lit government building. Instead of deeming their cause done, proponents of LGBT rights continue to fight discrimination in laws as well as everyday life. They face Kim Davis-types citing religion and personal discomfort to personally attack their lifestyles. Yet, the support of the LGBT rights is slowly rising and the prejudices haven't extended to many young people who are largely accepting of people despite their race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. The celebration of the rights of a huge group of people is amazing to see and exciting to experience. Look, the picture just makes you happy. 

A World In Pictures- Anya Slepyan

Photography, like writing, is a multi-faceted field. Used for entertainment as well as artistic purposes, photographs and literature can delight and inspire wide audiences. But photography has an advantage over writing in that even the most amateur photographer can deliver shocking truth at the click of a button, while an author must labor over her words, struggling to turn her thoughts into coherent prose that might arrest a readers’ attention and at the same time provide a flash of insight to some idea or hidden truth. Writing may be a more personal method of communication, but a photograph can display an unmistakable and unforgettable message to millions of people in an instant. This unique power is best exemplified in the field of photojournalism, which allows people who are far removed from conflicts and issues such as poverty, famine, and disease to better understand the suffering and dire situations of others.

Some examples of the persuasive power of photographs are violent and disturbing images captured during the Vietnam War, which lead to mass protest in the United States and eventually the end of the war. These photographs are representative of a subgenre of photojournalism, known as combat photography. In fact, combat photography was created before the broader use of photojournalism, as it was pioneered during the American Civil War. Because of the limited technology of the day (photographs required between ten seconds and several minutes of exposure), there were no pictures taken during the actual fighting. However, civil war photographers such as Matthew Brady, Timothy O’Sullivan, and Andrew Gardner captured the moments before battles and after them.

 This image shows dead Union and Confederate soldiers after the Battle of Gettysburg

The result was hundreds of shocking images, displaying the carnage and violence of the war. Photo after photo showing dead bodies strewn across battlefields made their way into the eyes of the public, facilitated by exhibits such as Brady’s “The Dead of Antietam” in New York City. Although the Civil War was the bloodiest ever fought on American soil, the truth was that most people, especially in the northern states, had no idea of the realities of the war. However, the graphic combat photographs left little to the imagination, allowing for a much deeper understanding of the physical and emotional toll of the war. This had a lasting impact on American society. Previous images of handsome heroes on horseback were replaced by graphic illustrations of mutilated bodies, somewhat dampening American zeal for armed conflict. Combat photographers forced Americans to come to terms with the brutal realities of war; a feat that would have been impossible using any other medium than photography.

A World in a Picture: The Boston Massacre

Remember that time when 11 people got shot and killed or injured for throwing snowballs at soldiers? I do.

The Boston Massacre took place on March 5, 1770. Tension had been evident since the soldiers appeared in October of 1768, and the colonists were enraged about the many laws put in place by the British, the Townsend Acts. It began with the throwing of snowballs and stones at the soldiers and ended with the death of 5 colonists. Although it wasn't a actual battle, really fired up the colonists. The thought of British soldiers firing at an unarmed crowd of citizens made them angry. I agree with them; of course the colonists shouldn't have been provoking the soldiers but did they deserve to be shot at?

 

News of this event spread throughout the colonies along with this image. My first impression of it was something like, "This looks like it could be a legit representation of how it actually happened." But when I looked at it more closely I realized it was a bit off. Where is the snow that the colonists were throwing? Why does it look like the British are being instructed to fire? Why is it not dark? Everything that Paul Revere drew in this engraving was meant to shine light on the event, in order to get the colonists to fight for their independence.

A World in Pictures

Pictured in this photograph, Ruby Bridges, a confident, unashamed six year-old, marches into her first day of school in an all white setting. She is escorted by policemen. Ruby Bridges was the first ever African American child to attend a school created for whites. November 14, 1960 marks the start of integrated schools in the United States.  I believe that this day should be treasured, and that Bridges should be looked at as an American heroine.

"She showed a lot of courage. She never cried. She didn't whimper. She just marched along like a little soldier, and we're all very very proud of her," noted the former United States Deputy Marshal, Charles Burks. This little girl changed our country. Ruby Bridges had more confidence than a first grader could ever bear. Her family, especially her father, was at first reluctant and nervous to hand her into an all white school. He knew that she would be persecuted and treated unfairly by students and teachers, but he thought that it was time to make a change in society, and that it would be a better education for her.

A change in society, that it was.  Mobs formed outside of the school, screaming and throwing things, angry because they didn't appreciate a black child being in the same school. Parents pulled their children from the school, teachers except for one, refused to teach Ruby. Chaos.

It's incredibly hard to believe that people would be so judgmental of African Americans. How can you say that your race is superior to another? It makes absolutely no sense.  All people are created equal, so that's how they should be treated. The fact that blacks and whites had to be separately educated at one point boggles my mind. Thank you, Ruby Bridges for smashing that barrier down. If this picture doesn't inspire you, then I don't know what will. This girl has more strength than I can imagine, and we ought to let her be an example of what courage looks like.

A World In Pictures

  This is a very famous picture of starving children. We don't realize how awful and widespread that hunger is in the world today. Seeing things like this makes me think about how much I take for granted. We don't even realize how much food we throw away on a daily bases. We talked about world hunger in our church service today and it kind of gave me a new perspective.

  The statistics are appalling. About 1/6 of the population are hungry and a child dies every 5 seconds. These are actual people and reading these makes me want to take action and make a change. These poor children don't have the same resources and access to food that we have and we don't take the time to sit and think about all the luxuries that each of us get. They didn't choose to live like this. What people don't realize is that there is a solution to this. People know that hunger is a thing, they just think it can be solved by itself. There is no way to stop it if people don't start coming together and doing something about it. Make it your problem because it could be you one day.

    This photo makes me want to blame other people. They don't have the ability to get the access to food and we need to help them. Anything to help these poor people will help just do something.

a world in pictures -catherine van tatenhove

If a single frozen moment can force someone to shield their eyes, make fists of their hands, or gape in utter enchantment then it has changed the life of not only the people who personally resonate with the image but also, each person that happens upon it no matter how far away they seem.

The Warsaw Uprising took place during World War II and was an effort of The Polish Resistant Home Army to get Warsaw, Poland’s capital, out of Nazi control. These six men refused to condone the sick behavior of the Nazis in their city, so they stand united in resistance. Roughly two seconds after this photo was taken they were all shot. 

Dehumanization is the first thought I have seeing this image but not because these men were dehumanized by the Nazis, they were, but in some strange way I feel like I am dehumanizing them. I am looking at the last seconds of their life, something that is usually a personal affair made completely public. Their public imminent death doesn’t need to be explain, it can be seen. Each man is looking death right in the face with a surprising array of emotions: anguish, acceptance, grief, and some we can’t possibly comprehend. 

There is no question in my mind that these men died too soon at the hands of despicable people, but here we all are thinking, learning, and empathizing because of these unfortunate men. So, it gives us hope that these men didn’t meet the end in vain, and sometimes that’s all you can do. Hope for the future while you look at the past.

The World in Pictures - Evan Hays

On January 30th, 1968, Vietcong and North Vietnamese SGU's blew a whole in the protective wall of the US embassy to Saigon. After 3 days of close quarters bloodshed, in which multiple floors of the embassy had to be filled with riot gas, and the US ambassador himself had to kill 3 VC soldiers, it was announced that the embassy "was free and secure of Victor Charlie". Taken on the 3rd day, this photo shows South Vietnamese General, Nguyen Ngoc Loan, executing a Vietcong prisoner on the streets of Saigon. The prisoner was executed due to the wars culture in itself. with the first phase of the Tet offensive in full swing, there simply was no time for this prisoner to be tried and found guilty, guilt is attached on sight in war. Though this photograph shows the American brutality of the war, with the seemingly "good guys" executing unarmed prisoners in the streets, outside the frame the true viciousness of the war is swinging into place. In the north, a seventy day long siege is erupting at Khe Sahn, where whole brigades of American marines will be wiped out. In Retaliation, Operation Niagra II is authorized, allotting for the one of the most large scale bombings in world history to occure, with tremendous casualties both civilian and enemy. In Hue, North Vietnamese soldiers will execute civilians in the street if they worked for the South Vietnamese government.

This photo symbolizes the turning point of the Vietnam war and American war culture in general. The soldiers depicted are tired, sweaty, and beaten after a 3 day siege that is nowhere near its conclusion. Their apathy formulates itself into a brutal efficiency to conclude the war, and is manifested in executions of prisoners all across the country in 68' and 69'. The North Vietnamese soldier is ironically dressed in civilian clothing, and as such the American people begin to empathize with the civilians of Vietnam, and less with the soldiers in country. It paints a bleak, terrifying, and grim portrait of a war that could have been won, but fell victim to peace. A brutal war, that needed brutality, which was fought with the goals and weapons of a nation that had never truly been invaded. It speaks to any empathy a man may have.

A World in Pictures-Matthew Telfer

Pictured above is Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston in their second fight against one another. Some call it the 'Phantom Punch" title bout due to the controversy about Ali actually punching Liston. The fight took place at St. Dominic's Hall in 1965 and lasted a little less than three minutes. Yet this picture means much more than a knockout victory for Ali. 

Many people thought that Liston was connected with the Mafia before the fight, and the knockout proved their point even further.  It was rumored that Liston was payed over one million dollars yet only got to keep 13,000 of it due to the mob taking it from him. Ali had recently converted to Islam and the "Black Muslims" with whom he sided, were after Liston. 

Ali was around 10 years younger than Liston and slowly climbing up the ranks of boxing. Therefore, I interpret the picture as the birth of a sports icon and the death of an old one. The picture does a fantastic job of capturing Ali's ego which was overflowing with arrogance and excitement.

A World In Pictures - Elle Ogden

This picture is showing a concentration camp during the holocaust. A place where thousands of Jewish people were tortured and killed, simply for being Jewish. 

I think what makes it so shocking is that the justification that was used when it was happening, isn't really justification. How can any human being justify mass murder because of someone's ethnicity and religion? Why can't a country be diverse? Diversity is one of the best qualities of America. No matter where you go, you can find someone with a different story than your own. So why would someone ever want to get rid of the amazing stories of different people?

In a way this picture makes me feel lucky and thankful that I am alive in a time where we accept people no matter where they come from. It doesn't matter what country you originate from, everyone in America has equal rights as citizens. We are diverse; everyone has their own story that they can tell which is different from the person next to them. 

Yes, the holocaust was a horrible event in history, but we can't change the past. All we can do is learn from it, and move forward making better decisions. Though I can't deny the fact that discrimination still exists in America, I hope that at some point, discrimination won't even be a topic of discussion. 

Photography has only existed for a minute fraction of humanity's time on Earth. In that time, however, we have managed to capture integral moments in the change and development of the human race.

This photo was taken on April 15, 2015. At first glance, this photo looks like an amateur photo of the sunset on a mountain. What is remarkable about this photo, however, is that it was taken on Mars, by NASA's rover Curiosity. This photo is helping scientists understand what Mars' environment is really like; even the most minute details like the color of the sunset are important observations.

For just a moment, you think, Mars doesn't look so bad. It looks peaceful; boundless. When it hits you, though, that the photo was taken by a robot on a planet 140 million miles away, where the average temperature is -67 F and where life hasn't existed for 15 million years, you become confused. Obviously, the planet isn't inhabitable as we think of it. Humans would need special suits and liquid everything to survive even for just a few years.

The natural next thought that comes to your mind is this: one day, will some far-distant alien race send their own rover to Earth? Will they be captivated by our vibrant sunsets and diverse ecosystems? Will they see everything that we have created in just six or eight thousand years, or just... fossils? Will their robots take pictures of desolate landscapes that couldn't possibly be easily hospitable? Will they be able to fathom what we did with our time here by the photos that we took, the evidence that we left behind for ourselves to remember?

And how long do we have before our planet is just some rusted, uninhabitable, shell that the next great species will have to don special suits to visit?

Alexis Kirkland: A World In Pictures

"This place looks very colorful tonight [referring to rainbow flags], and for a lot of you, I know why. And it's great."

"I want you to jump around and wave any flags you might have in here... Do whatever makes you happiest in the world."

"Love is something that should be celebrated with open arms. Love is love."

-Harry Styles

Not a soul missed out on the Supreme Court ruling this summer that made history. On June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court ruled gay marriage legal across all 50 states. This photo was spread across the nation the instant the news became official. The rainbow flag is a symbol of the LGBT+ community, and behind it is the Supreme Court building. The sun shining through the flag as it flies over the building represents how on that day, love won, and millions of people were a voice in this country.

This photo gives me a little more pride and hope for the United States. Knowing that people close to me can feel more accepted and less alienated makes me happy. Knowing that this is a step closer to a more equal nation, a more perfect union, makes me proud. Knowing that this could signal more social rights, like trans protection rights and rights in the workforce for the gay community, makes me elated.

We keep moving forward, little by little. Every day we get further away from our personas rooted in hate, and closer to a more loving world for everyone. We still have a long way to go to ensure equality for everyone, but even as we speak, we are making progress. And it's great.

A World in Pictures

This photo represents segregation in America. I hate it. The ignorance of whites in this time period was awful. AWFUL. Segregation allowed for whites to discriminate against the colored. Blacks were separated from whites by law and by private action in transportation, public accommodations, recreational facilities, prisons, armed forces, and schools in Northern and Southern states. This picture, I believe, shocked many people. Before segregation began, slavery had just been abolished, and had allowed many blacks to have hope for their lives again. Once segregation started, their hope was lost, once again. This picture is from a restaurant that only served whites. Imagine seeing this sign now-a-days. They were probably furious. What is the reasoning behind all these actions? I don't understand why people would do this. It's wrong. Later, the United States put an amendment into action that stated everyone was equal, which once again gave them true freedom back.

This picture makes me disgusted with humanity almost. I don't get it. Everyone was created by the same person and every should be allowed the same opportunities, but obviously some people felt different. It makes me so sad for people. But I am also extremely glad that that movement ended. No justice, no peace.

Katie Demetriades Assignment 4: A World in Pictures

 

 

This famous photograph comes from the Great Depression, a time of misery, desperation, and fear. Taken by Dorothea Lange, the photo is titled Migrant Mother. The woman sitting in the middle is Florence Owens Thompson, age 32, and the mother of seven children. She and her husband worked as agricultural laborers in California. The story behind this picture, and its title, involved Thompson and her family traveling along the highway to find work. They stayed on farmer camps when they were not roaming, and that's when Lange got this shot. Lange claims Thompson told her that they had been surviving on "frozen vegetables and birds the kids killed." They supposedly sold their tires just to have money for food.

 

Clearly, this photo brings about strong emotions when we look at in this day and age. As my mom has always said, no person in a nation that is as developed as America should go to bed hungry, especially a child. But during the Great Depression, almost everyone in this country experienced at least some suffering. To think millions of people had to go through these conditions for several years is just God awful. And yet, people managed to get through each day the best they could without giving up hope for a better tomorrow. There's no image out there that represents this idea better than this one. You have a hungry, tired, and stressed mother that is still willing to do anything she can to keep her kids alive. They're terrified about what the future holds for themselves and their family, but their mother is still there to embrace and support them. However, this image shows the weaknesses of Americans at this time, as well. The depressed look on Thompson's face depicts that. The children burying their faces in their mother's neck depicts that. But as I said, most Americans were able to see the end of the Great Depression after almost a decade of suffering, including Thompson and her family. It shows that no matter how bad things may seem in this country, it could always be worse. Americans have managed to get through good times and bad, which is a good characteristic to have. In times of need, we unite and fight for a better tomorrow.

Assignment 4: A World in Pictures

On Monday morning, you could have stood on the top level and witnessed the beautiful eccentrics of New York city. On Tuesday morning, you would have run in horror.The two tallest buildings in New York City fell on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 and because of the consequential pain and destruction, America would forever be changed.

On September 11, the majority of the nation watched in horrific silence as they saw the pictures of chaos.

This picture from New York Magazine marked the start of a new era for America.

Pictures show us what we cannot know first-hand. They can make a statement or argument. They can educate on the reality of the world. They can change how a person thinks about an idea or event. This week, find a picture that shocked, comforted, or changed a nation or community of people (falling of Berlin wall, JFK assassination, etc.)

Include your picture, a description of it, and what it provokes you to think about in your blog.

If you're facing writer's block, consider the following:
What happened just before the photograph was taken?
How do the people in the photograph feel?
What is happening outside the frame of this photograph?

Due Sunday, September 20th at 11:59 pm.

Come to the Dark Side, Luke

I definitely believe that there is no set good or evil in the world because everyone has a different perspective on things. You might think it is horrible to walk by a homeless person without even acknowledging them, but to someone else that might be the normal because they are around so many homeless that they can't afford all the time to help out. But just because of a different attitude does not mean that the person with a social unacceptable view was born evil. My favorite book series the Mortal Instruments touches this topic through out the entire series. The main character, Clary, even states: "People aren't born good or bad. Maybe they're born with tendencies either way, but it's the way you live your life that matters. And the people you know."

If the only people you know believe that it is alright to be rude and insensitive then you are inherently going to act like similarly and believe it is the good thing to do. This causes a lot of grey area when talking about the black and white of good and evil in today's society. The public does try to set boundaries stating when bad turns to evil, but there will always be different opinions so there may never be a set good and evil.

Good vs Evil

If everything was set in stone, black and white, the world would be a much much much simpler place. Sadly, that is not the case. Most of the guidlines and regulations in today's society are gray, and apply to some people less than others, or can be bent or changed a little bit. That is just the standard for today's modern society. 

i believe that there is good and i believe that there is evil. However, i also believe that my perception of what is evil is different than your perception of what is evil. Everyone's views and beliefs are different and that's why there are always disagreements to some degree.

However, i do not believe that the gray area has always been the same. I am a firm believer in christ and a faithful christian. In the bible, God created the earth, and it was good. And he filled the earth with animals of all types and shapes and sizes, and it was good. Finally, God created man, and it was very good. The fallen angel, Lucifer (satan), is present throughout the bible, and tempts others to sin, and that is evil. All sin is evil and punishable by death. However, that is much different from todays adapted modern society. I believe it is very hard to define good and evil for everyone, seeing as everyone is different.

Good vs. Evil

As a strong  believer in Christianity, I definitely believe there is absolute good and absolute evil. These two things being God and sin (which comes from Satan, the ultimate evil in this world). In the very beginning, when God created man and woman, we were created PERFECT, without flaw and without sin, in the image of God. Satan impacted the lives of Adam and Eve, causing them to sin against God, the ultimate good in the world. Because of this, man would forever be sinful, going against the will of God. Because we were created in the image of God, every single human being on this earth has the opportunity to be "good" and live a life that reflects God's. This can be done by believing the in the Gospel and inviting Christ into your life. Once this happens in one's life, one is allowed to live a life that reflects the good and perfect love of God.
This being said, every person is born into this world a sinner. And because of this, well, we sin. It's human nature. We screw up, we make mistakes, we say and do things we shouldn't. But that doesn't mean that God, the ultimate good, wont't forgive you for these things. Because he will. Without a doubt. Man chose to sin against God, and this was what created evil in the world.

There is definitely war between good & evil. God hates sin. That's the key right there. God hates the sin. But NOT the person. God loves everyone and He died for our sins. That is good. Christ died for us. Just like when we look at people who give up their own lives to save others. We look at them as heroes and being the good in the world. Same with Jesus Christ. HE died for US. Every. Single. Person. So that we could have eternal life with Him when we die. That is something good. Something beautiful. God doesn't want sin. God hates Satan. And Satan fights against God. He wants nothing more than to turn people away from the goodness that God has to offer. People can choose to sin. And just the same, people can choose to be good. Good is watching someone help out someone in need. Good is watching people love. Abundantly. Like God loves us. Evil is the people who kill without any justification. Evil is Satan, evil is sin.

There's not really a grey area. People choose for themselves to notice the good and evil. They intertwine in all together and make people seem 'just right.' People will always sin. But that doesn't mean they're evil. We have an opportunity to make the decision to be the "good" in the world. It's not till people understand that and make that decision for themselves that they will genuinely understand the ultimate good and evil in this world.

Good vs. Evil

Good and evil are considered by me to be the basis of so called "morals" within society. If someone were to commit a crime, are they considered evil? Or possibly they killed a person who had hurt someone they love, does that make them good? This is where I believe that good and evil can be mixed up in a sort, where one's intentions are justified as either in good reason, or an evil one.

Religion, of course par takes a major part in good and evil. According to the Bible and the religion itself, people sin and thus commit evil, but can change by repenting and devoting themselves to God. Satan is the root of evil, and God the root of all good. Whether or not one chooses to be good is up to them, and can be judged accordingly.

Nonetheless, we have all read stories where the good guy always comes out triumphant, seemingly defeating an evil being with impossible odds. Yet still the good guy always comes out on top, no matter what he does to get there. This is where I believe the line between good and evil can be drawn. Judging a person's intentions justifies their actions. Of course, people will always make mistakes in their lives, but people who purposefully commit crimes are not to be reckoned as "good" in society's terms, but instead as selfish scoundrels. Yet the grey line will always exist, say a person steals bread to feed his starving family. Is he evil, or good? By the world's standards, he is evil, but to some he is good. This I believe is where the gray line exists between good and evil.

Assignment 3: Good v Evil

There is no good and evil in your actions, only the reasoning behind it.

Say a waitress goes out of her way to serve a customer, provides exceptional service, acts hospitably, and pays for the customer's meal. Many would cite that as an exemplary act that should occur with almost every dining experience. However, if the waitress was aware that the customer was a relative of the restaurant owner and did so only to make herself look good for a promotion opportunity, the act would be considered selfish and evil.

The same could be considered with ISIS, Nazi, or other supporters of stereotyped despicable groups. While many of the leaders may be inherently evil, the supporters could be acting in a way as to portect what they love- family, freedom, and their country- from those they view as oppressors (Americans or otherwise).

People may be good, evil, or a gray area in between- however, that doesn't mean their actions will be good or bad, solely their intentions.

Good vs. Evil Morgan Lakofka

                There is a quote by Shakespeare that addresses my opinion on good vs. evil. It is, "Nothing is good or bad, only thinking makes it so." Nobody can look at something and automatically think "This is evil", they have to have some common knowledge behind that something to make it seem so.  I believe there is no such thing as clear cut evil because everyone has the chance to be good, and what makes something good or bad anyways? I think evil and good should be graded on scales of 1-10, good being a one and evil being a 10. This is how I feel it applies in the real world; there is an in-between or gray area.  This gray area is the good people who occasionally do bad things and the bad people who sometimes do good things but there are people who go to extremes, the 1’s and 10’s.  It’s hard to go through your entire life and not do anything even remotely bad. People have good and bad days, they shouldn’t be considered evil for that one bad day, which is why I don’t believe in good vs. evil. 

Good vs Evil

Whenever I think of a good vs evil situation, tiny figures on a person's shoulders come to mind. One is wearing white clothing and perches on the person while instructing them to do the right thing. On the other shoulder, the figure is wearing a red suit with a black tie and are attempting to peer pressure the person into what appears to be wrong. I don't believe that there is an ongoing battle between good and evil, I have always understood this as people make certain decisions based on specific situations. The reason that people are displayed in the news as inherently bad usually means they committed one harmful act. It doesn't have to mean they did bad things their entire life. The same ting goes for people who are displayed in the media as inherently good. the could have done many bad things in their past.
The answer is choice. Every person makes a choice before they are faced with a situation that requires a definitive solution. Yes it is true that some may be more hardcore situations than others, but nevertheless, the media can very easily cast a positive or negative light on a person and make them appear radical on either end of the moral spectrum.
one reason why I feel negatives are commonly portrayed in the news is because believe it or not, it receives more attention and that is a sad truth. People have a much more emotional reaction to shockingly bad situations that they are drawn in and want to investigate further. its not a battle of good vs evil , but instead a matter of choices based on specific factors.