Month: September 2013
COMM 460 – Lady Gaga
Hello!
I hope this post finds you in good spirits and that this week has gone smoothly for you. Good news, it’s Wednesday and the week is half-way over! Always look on the bright side, people.
Today I am excited to talk about my favorite musical artist and performer, the one and only, Lady Gaga. Now I know everyone has their own opinions about her controversial songs and questionable outfits, but she’s amazing, I promise! Because she has a reputation of being so strange and bizarre, many people have always asked me why I look up to her so much. Well, the fact is that I wasn’t a fan of hers until I went to her concert “The Monster Ball” when she came to the Yum! Center in 2011. After an amazing performance, I was instantly obsessed with her and her message and music. She is devoted to making young people feel free and empowered to do whatever they wish in life. In collaboration with her mother, Cynthia Germanotta and Harvard University, she created her own charity, the Born This Way Foundation, to help spread acceptance, bravery, and love to young people everywhere.
Whats funny to me is that the general public does not realize how intelligent she actually is. Known to the public as Lady Gaga, Stefani Germanotta was accepted and studied briefly at NYU’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts, before deciding to withdraw and study music on her own. Germanotta then moved down to NYC’s Lower East Side where she worked on her craft, when she descibes as the most difficult yet rewarding time of her career. Germanotta got her first big break when she was signed by Def Jam records, but then unfortunately dropped after only 3 months.
Fortunately for Gaga, she was later signed to Interscope Records, and that is when her career shot off overnight. As soon as her hit single “Just Dance” released in 2008, it became one of the best selling singles of all time.
I could literally rant on and on about this woman, but for your sake I’ll cut myself off now. Thanks for reading and I hope you learned a little something about this wonderful artist. If you haven’t already heard it, Lady Gaga’s hit new single “Applause” is now available for purchase on iTunes. I’ll post a link below so you can check it out!
Tell me: What is your favorite Lady Gaga song? Who is your favorite musical artist?
Born This Way Foundation: http://bornthiswayfoundation.org
“Applause” by Lady Gaga:
COMM 303 – The Future of TV
All technologies have a future version. The radio has evolved over the years, iPods have been invented and improved, telephones have drastically changed…but what about TV? For this post, I chose to associate the future of TV with the social learning theory. I chose this theory because I believe it it one that greatly impacts our life; we always want something that our peers have that we don’t. Social learning theory can help us be influenced by what we don’t have, and what we want. For example, say that one of your buddies just got a brand new HD 3D TV and wants you to come over and watch the Cards football game. Once you get over and put on those 3D glasses, your mind is blown. It’s like you’re actually at the game! After the game, you go home back to your regular old TV. After seeing your friends’ awesome new purchase, you are burning with jealousy and decide that you must have a HD 3D TV as well.
This is where social learning theory comes in. Once we notice a new technology that someone else has and we don’t, you’ll want it. Every time a new version of a TV is created, someone is going to buy it and show it to all their friends. Its an endless cycle. Our technology is constantly advancing, and I believe that there will always be a new version for someone to buy.
COMM 460 – To Blog or Not to Blog
Hey there!
I hope y’all are doing great and are hanging in there by this time of the week. Good news though, today is Friday!
Anyways, today I would like to discuss a topic that is pretty foreign to me right now and that is…? You guessed it, blogging! As I stated in one of my first posts, I am a brand new baby blogger and getting used to this way of communicating with the internet world is a little confusing. Don’t get me wrong, I love using Twitter and sharing my thoughts that way, but theres something about blogging that is a bit different. I know this unfamiliar feeling will soon go away. When I first started Twitter, it felt so odd to be posting several Facebook-like “status updates” through out the course of the day.
…….I thought “Really, who cares about my random thoughts?”
As I progressed with Twitter, I learned that it was just a new fun way to communicate with people, and that friends and others were interested in my random “status updates” (Tweets). I know the same will happen with blogging, and that some people have already begun to take notice.
So far through out my blogging experience, I have learned the many importances of blogging and having an internet presence, especially for a student as a communications major. I mean hello, its my job to know how to communicate using various communication technologies! Many brands use blogs to market their products, and so employers expect new graduates to be knowledgeable of how to blog. If a student is already aware of the ins and outs of blogging, you will be much more marketable to an employer.
What are some reasons to blog? Blogging is a great way to document your everyday life, or to blog about a passion and hopefully meet others that share your passion. I have been following several New Yorker’s running blogs for over a year now, and several times the blogger has mentioned that they met some of their running friends via blogging. Blogging brings people together! Blogging is not only an essential professional tool, but can be a hobby as well. You’ll be amazed at how many bloggers share the same interests as you!
Here are a few of my favorite NYC running blogs as mentioned above:
Ali On The Run http://www.aliontherunblog.com
Healthy Happier Bear http://www.healthyhappierbear.com
Thank you for reading, I hope this post inspired you to begin your own blog!
COMM 303 Technology In Education
Technology has been a part of my education for as long as I remember. I can remember as a young child begging my parents to help me type up book reports when I was in fourth grade and did not have a clue how to use a computer, except to check my e-mail and instant message my friends on AOL IM. Ah how times of changed. Throughout time and experience of taking computer classes in school, my need of using a computer for school work has increased greatly over time. Throughout high school, the internet was vital for me to do work on research papers, and also to check my grades because we used the program, Edline. Throughout my college career, I can not imagine how much different my experience would have been without technology in my education. All of my assignments and grades are posted through the website, Blackboard. I even have an app on my iPhone that notifies me whenever there has been an update on Blackboard. Many of my papers and projects have also required technology to be submitted online. Throughout college, I have probably spent the same amount of time a week on the computer for school, as I have in the classroom.
I think technology has helped improve my education, rather than limit it. For example, if I am struggling with a math concept, usually I can find a website or YouTube video that is dedicated to helping students. For research papers, the internet has made the task so much simpler to find articles. I do not believe that the internet has made education too easy for me completely, but it has definitely helped.
I was shocked to read that some people believe that 50% of colleges will be bankrupt in 15 years. However, that is a very understandable fact. College is expensive for most people. Many students take out loans and then are forever paying back debt after graduation. Some people work night shift and go to class during the day, while some students are fortunate and their parents pay for their schooling. Thats one of the cool things about college, everyone is so diverse. Yes getting out of bed early for your 8 A.M. is a struggle, but for me, being in a classroom with people from all over the country has been such an eye opener for me and I have enjoyed it. I have never taken an online class before, but I understand the concept of it. Students have more flexibility with their schedule and they just work for some people. My opinion on MOOCs and e-books is skeptical. For me, college has been about being on campus and learning with other people, instead of through a streaming video lecture on a computer screen. MOOCs seem like a more economical decision, but I do not think I would enjoy the experience. As for e- books, I am not a fan. I have a Kindle and hardly ever use it, just because I like the feel of reading a book so much more. Technology may play a huge role in my life, but sometimes it is best to stick to the basics.
COMM 460 Disney Magic
I have a confession to make.
I am a 22 year old college student and I am obsessed with all things Disney. Any and everything. Really, I love the movies, music, history, all of it. However, my most favorite thing about Disney is the magical place known as Walt Disney World. I blame my parents for my obsession. My first trip to Disney World occurred before I could even walk, and since then I have been 13 times total. I know its a tad excessive, but I can’t help it.
My first trip to Disney (I’m on the left)
Located in Orlando, Florida, Walt Disney World covers over 30,000 acres of land. This property is jam packed with various resorts and theme parks. Within Disney World, there are 4 “land” theme parks and 2 water parks. The four theme parks are Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Magic Kingdom is my favorite park by far. It could be because I have the most memories of this park, whether it be standing in 90 minute lines for Splash Mountain in the scorching summer heat, or racing off Space Mountain just so I could get back in line to ride it once more before the park closed. I am a total girly girl so of course I loved all of the Disney Princesses (especially Ariel) that walked around doing meet and greets.
Why do I love Disney so much? This is a question I have pondered before. One reason could be that much of my childhood revolved around Disney and includes some of my fondest memories as a child. Another reason could be because I love Disneys’ message and everything they stand for. Disney is magic and innovative. Their goal is to create a space where anyone can be young at heart, whether it be through viewing one of their animated films or riding rides in a theme park. One of my favorite quotes from the late Walt Disney is, “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” Disney employees (not only at Disney World) constantly go out of their way and strive every day to keep Walt’s dream alive. To me, that is magic in itself.
Here are some links for more information about Disney in case you are interested!
Walt Disney World Website – https://disneyworld.disney.go.com
Official Disney Website – http://disney.com
COMM 303 Music and Technology
Music and technology go hand in hand with each other. As technology advances, we are often given new opportunities to listen to music. Personally, I listen to music the most on my iPod, radio, or on my computer. I listen to music all the time, I like to listen to music in the morning while getting ready because it pumps me up for my day. I also listen to music in the car while driving, or on my iPod while walking to class. I use radio and music in general for entertainment, which is one of the music purposes we learned in class. Radio usage has come a long way since the Great Depression when families listened to the radio mostly on Sunday, when every week a story was broadcasted to the people a chance to escape the awful poverty just for a minute. What I love most about the advancement in technology related to music, is that I can take my music anywhere. When I get a chance to listen to my favorite artists, it puts me on a better mood.
maggiemayfield 