Real or Fluff?

With the ABC news video that we watched, I think that the news report about the 85 year old man that was kidnapped while in North Korea site seeing is “fluff” because he was the second guy to be kidnapped.  I feel like that there are more American people that visit North Korea, so why did they not get kidnapped?  I mean, I could be wrong about how many American’s visit North Korea but there was barley any information about the situation.  The ABC News did not show any other interviews shown.  The news cast did not seem too concerned about this story and had little information.

The story that was being covered by ABC News I thought that was real news was when they were talking about how hospital bills are out of control and that the reason they are is because the people who cannot pay for them are picked up from other people who can.  I feel like this is a huge story and has a lot of truth behind it because it seems to be affecting a lot of people’s lives.  It said that hospitals are charging people fifteen dollars for a pill that they bought for only three cents.  That is outrageous!  They also had people come forward with their own personal issues with the bills they receive from hospitals.  Yeah, insurance helps but it can only help so much and yet it still leaves people having to pay huge amounts of money that will take years to pay off.  This story seems to be a very important issue that most people can relate to and I feel like the ABC News cast is concerned and willing to keep up on it because they say that they will and ask for people to send in their story about the issue.

Generation

When I think about what film can define a generation, I think about the recently released movie Bad Grandpa because it seems to grab the attention of young adults.  It also relates to the Millennial generation because if you Youtube funny videos, most of them would show young adults participating in them.  When young adults see the Jackass movies, most of them can say that they have tried at least one of the things shown in the movie just because it can be dangerous and fun. I think that young adults tend to be attracted to more dangerous things and that is way they love the Jackass cast and movies.  It also can show that even when being an adult, you do not always grow up and for me, it seems that not many young adults want to grow up. 

I have a couple of friends from high school that after we watched the first Jackass movie, they wanted to try and attempt some of the stunts that were in the movie because it was fun, dangerous, and a story to tell.  To me, I feel that most young adults tend to use Jackass to get ideas to make things more interesting and fun but they tend to be attracted to dangerous things as well.  Many young adults will do anything to impress friends or girls and so they do crazy stunts like the ones on Jackass to impress and individual because if you accomplish the dangerous stunt, then everyone is amazed and thinks that your awesome.  This could also go into fitting in with the crowd when some young adults have a hard time doing this, then they tend to do certain things just to fit in whether it could harm them or not. 

Reality TV

When Klosterman says that people are starting to act like the archetypes they see on TV he means that a lot of people are using reality TV people as their role models.  I can agree with this because when Jersey Shore was playing, that Halloween everyone was Snooki and obsessed with the people.  I can even say that I was obsessed with the show and at one point wished that I could be part of it because it seemed so cool and fun.  Having reality TV shows, connects people together by their personality, so if someone is watching the Real World and sees that they have the same personality as someone on the show and then they tend to connect with that person and start doing the same things.  Quite a few people I know get a lot of their ideas or styles from reality TV shows because they are attracted to it.  Also, another big part where I think that Reality TV connects with people is by what is going on.  They seem to be having the time of their lives on the show and nothing to worry about and so then people wish that that was them so they do not have to worry about their real world. 

I can say that I think Klosterman's idea of how people act like archetypes on TV is very strong because for some people that may be a dream of theirs to just have nothing to worry about and go out and have fun every night.  But with digital editing being used constantly, I do not think people realize that scenes are being made into an entirely different situation then it originally was.  This may cause issues because people  are not aware of this and think that everything is how it is on the show.  I know that I did not really think about digital editing being done on reality TV shows until it was brought up in class because when I hear about a reality TV show, I just assume that that is how everything happened. I think that whether Klosterman's idea is strong or not just depends on the person because everyone has their own opinion on things.

Accidental Racist

I am not quite sure how I feel about this song.  It has a good meaning but everyone has their own opinion and I think that that is why there has been issues with the song.  A lot of people are really sensitive about the past and think that it should not be forgotten, they assume that the song means that they should forget about the past and worry about now.  I do not think that the song is telling us to forget about the past but it is telling us to not let the past affect us today.

With have both white and black race being a part of the song, it is showing people that even the past cannot stop two people from coming together and trying to make a point.  I can understand why some people take offense to this song but it also has more deep meaning then they realize I think. 

Dear Mr. White Man, I wish you understood
What the world is really like when you’re livin’ in the hood
Just because my pants are saggin’ doesn’t mean I’m up to no good
You should try to get to know me, I really wish you would
Now my chains are gold but I’m still misunderstood
I wasn’t there when Sherman’s March turned the south into firewood
I want you to get paid but be a slave I never could
Feel like a new fangled Django, dodgin’ invisible white hoods
So when I see that white cowboy hat, I’m thinkin’ it’s not all good
I guess we’re both guilty of judgin’ the cover not the book
I’d love to buy you a beer, conversate and clear the air
But I see that red flag and I think you wish I wasn’t here

This is probably my favorite part of the song because since there has been a lot of racial issues with African American's.  By this one part it kind of gives a back round to many African American's but then tat the end it shoes that he can forgive all the race issues and get to know a white man.