Big Paper

When people ask themselves what is really the true meaning of life, they usually don't always have an answer. Everyone has a different opinion on how to live a good and meaningful life, and those who have no idea, turn to the people and the society around them for answers. People in today's world are so blinded by corporate messages that they can't even realize the true meaning of they're own lives.
The most common thing people turn toward is happiness. If there's no happiness then life isn't really meaningful. Many would say living a good life is being able to enjoy it in whatever way makes one happy. These thoughts are influenced by both folk and corpoate culture. They both control people in a way that people tend to lose the idea of what life is really about and leaves them uncertain of what the real meaning truly is. This uncertainty has people wondering and it can all be blamed on corporate messages.

Dominant Messages:
The dominant corporate culture is created by people working for companies that always fill poeple's heads with things they would "like" to hear in order to bring forth happiness, fit in, and be accepted by society. Over time, being exposed to more and more of these corporate messages brainwashes people's real views on how to live a good and meaningful life. These people begin to relay on these messages so much that it shapes and dominates they're lives into living there lives based on what corporate companies say you should. Media as always had a big impact on people. Media always makes if sound like they have an asnwer for everyting, that they have a resoulation to any problem one may have.
The companies create advertisements everywhere. If its online, they appear in every corner of the screen, and if they're not on the page, they're popping up in your face. Almsot every website attemps to tell people how to live a good and meaningful life. The internet isn't not the only way the media tries to take control of peoples heads. There's t.v shoes,commercials, newspaper ads/articles, magazines,flyers that people hand out in the street, posters you see on the train, streets, buses etc. Where ever one will go there will always be something or someone telling them how to live a good life, and what they need to do to make that happen. People see these celebrities on television driving hot new cars, flaunting their diamonds, giving tours of their cribs etc. and it puts a idea in their head that that's whats cool. Living in a big mansions with being rich, going on multi million dollar shopping sprees is what many people would say is a good life. They think having all that will bring happiness because they wouldn't have any problems. The dominant corporate perspective on living a good meaningful life are basically trying to teach people how to upgrade themselves and to be better in some way. For example being good looking even though you mayb already be beautiful but they will always find a way to make you think otherwise and find the smallest flaws just to make you change the way you are. In school children learn "always be yourself" "don't change who you are" but as these kids grow older they are having all this media that they can now understand and be influenced by thrown at them.

Support #1
There are so many contradictory messages. People saying money and fame doesn't always bring happiness, but by listening to songs by world known artists such as Kanye West and Rihanna, that's not quite the message. In Kanye's song "The Good Life" he mentions:
"So I roll through good
Y'all pop the trunk, I pop the hood, Ferrari
And if they hate then let 'em hate...and watch the money pile up, the good life"..."having' money's the everything that having' it is I was splurging' on trizz
But when I get my card back activated I'm back to Vegas cause I always had a passion for flashing' before I had it I close my eyes and imagine, the good life".
What Kanye is telling us here is that in order to have a good life, it is necessary to have materialistic things,being rich, having a expensive car, having a credit card with tons of money on it to go to Vegas and spend it. At the end when he says " before I had it i close my eyes and imagine, the good life." So basically he didn't have what he has now, tons of fans, and being loaded with money and he is telling us that the good life is to be famous, and hes livin' the life. Another artist that people adore, Rihanna. Her top of the charts single: "Live Your Life" Rihanna says:
"You're gonna be a shining star, and fancy cars, fancy car-ars and then you'll see, you're gonna go far cause everyone knows, who you are-are"..."Cause I'm a paper chaser. Just living my life."..."Come walk in my shoes and see the way I'm living if you really want to got my mind on my money"...'So keep on getting your paper and keep on climbing look in the mirror and keep on shining." Rihanna is basically saying being famous is a good thing and then when you have money and extravagent cars and you go after the money and look good are the same time is what a good life is.

Support #2
Another way that corpoarte messages brainwash people into thinking that what they say and do for you can make you a happier person, is by adversiting. You go to the local store and pick up the most recent magazine. People enjoy reading these magazines because they give people the advice they want to hear. For example, of someone has acne, there will always be something in the magazine or something on televsion what is promoting Proactive. It's not ordinary people advertising this product. It is always a celebrity, for some reason the media thinks that people will buy the product because Jessica Simpson is talking about how the cream made her face all better and how amazing her life is now and how happy she is to have beautiful skin. What is stupid about that is that she a actress. She has professional make up artists that take care of her skin for her. But everyone is supposed to buy the product because Jessica Simpson is pretty female that everyone wants to look like. All those television commercials about losing weight how it will make you look more attractive by taking a certain diet pill or getting lypo suction, will make you happy. They say it in a way that pulls you into wanting it, if one knows he or she is over weight the commercial gives them hope and motivation "how that women went from a size 14 to a size 8 it really works".

MLK

For Martin Luther King Day I didn't really hear anything about the holiday. I don't recall the t.v even being on that day. Watching things comemorating him is a bit repetative to me. We already know what happend to him and we know about his famous "I have a dream speech". I feel like if the media found different ways of celebrating the life if MlK then they should be a bit more creative then to just run shows and biographical movies about him because people have already seen it several time and they just aren't as interested in it. I feel like it's a important holiday in America since it's they day celebrating the life of a African American that put an end to segregation and fought for equality amoung blacks and whites so I think it's a positive thing that his Birthday was made into a holiday.

In class what had grabbed my attention is when Andy talked about how people don't really know MLK for what he really was, a socialist and the fact that he had assosiations with prostitutes. I felt like that was an interesting point that maybe people are covering parts of his life up to make him a good figure for people. MLK is acknowledged as "postage stamp saint" he today is treated like a saint to all people that he put in end to racial inequality and that he risked his life for black ansd whites to be able to drink from the same water fountains, but really he is just an ordinary man who just did a good deed for what he believed him he fought for what he wanted to change, basically just going after his dream. There are many people like that in the world today who try to make changes, some are successful some aren't but people tend to over do it a little bit. People know MLK for all the good things that he has done for people, but if someone were to take a survey, more than half of the people wouldn't really know the true events of MLK's life. If those who didn't know found out, they would deny it because everything is made so that these people are presented as such good images that they couldn't possibly have done anyting bad in they're lives. No one really knows who to believe anymore and whether or not something is true because everything in America has frosting

Inaguration Day

Having watched the inaguration in school gave me a different feel about the whole event. I think that if i had watched it at home by myself, it wouldn't have been as exciting. Seeing everyone's anxcious faces made everything more significant. There was a sense of unity and happiness between everybody,people throwing they're hands up in the air and clapping brought forward the emotional part of the occasion. I felt that Obama's speech was alright. He had thanked Bush for his time serving the country, and then he basically told everyone the deal, where America is at right now and what we will have to do to bring change to get America back on it's feet. He sounded very confident, and caught many people's attention. The stands where packed with people, although it was freezing fans in the crowds were bundled up. The ceremony was very nice, flags all around;big and small, everything color cordinated red white and blue. It was a specfically historic moment for African Amercians because it shows how far they have come to finally have a Black President. This day had shown the message that in order to live a good and meaningful life everyone must unite, respect each other. It shows how being intelligent and successful will get you anywhere in life as long as you give it your best. It seems like a lot of people are counting on the new president to make this change. In the other hand, Obama gives people hope, another chance to be better, to improve things, make people feel safe, and have higher expectations. All about changing. Thus, everybody have a good meaningful life, mostly-happiness.
As for what Obama planning what to do as the 44th president of the United States is good, but I think it makes a lot of people to have high expectations on him. Obama promised changed and gave people hope to count on him that he can make everything better and overcome this crisis that's taking place in America. Whether or not he will be successful enough to fix everything is doubted but but whatever he can do is good enough. Personally, I don really think him being president will change much. He is only human, that gives us things we want to hear, therefore we think highly of him because we believe in what he says. I don't think that he will be able to change America significantly, there are just too many problems going on at once.

The Holidays

I feel like most if the holidays that Americans celebrate include Christmas,Birthdays, Halloween, Easter etc. The Holiday that has the most participants would have to be Easter. Before Easter many people do Spring cleaning, so that before Easter the house is clean and refreshed. Then the decorating of the homes begin, from new table cloths to to little Easter bunnies around the room. Typically the whole family gathers together, eating the dinner recalling the good memories, and they're plans on what they want to do next in life.The different varieties of food, course after course, you eat until you can't breathe anymore. Rule is, you can't eat anything that day until you go to church that morning for the mass with your Easter basket. The night before Easter, people decorate they're eggs in many different ways. I don't really understand why that is done, if your going to spend all that time and effort making the egg look good when your just going to have to destroy the shell to eat the egg. Not only the eggs, but the basket also contains the food that you will eat that morning after it is blessed. The Mass is a very short one lasting to about 30 minutes. Everybody then goes home, to a clean house dressed all nice and begin the Easter breakfast. Where I come from, there is a tradition called sharing of the egg. It is quite the same as what is done during Christmas, with the sharing of the bread, but this time an egg is used, since it is a symbol of Easter. After all of that is done the whole family sits down at the table and eats the blessed food. Everybody is responsible for being on they're best behavior and give a good impression of themselves and they're family. Parents urge kids not to fight or argue because it a holy day and nothing negative is supposed to happen. Unlike many Americans, Europeans do acknowledge the fact that Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians believe that Jesus came back to life, or was raised from the dead, three days after his death on the cross. As part of the Easter season, the death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion, is commemorated on Good Friday, always the Friday just before Easter. Through his death, burial and resurrection, Jesus paid the penalty for sin, thus purchasing for all who believe in him, eternal life in Christ Jesus.

Dominant Corporate Messages

The dominant messages that we see today in either movies, pictures, music videos, magazines etc.) are telling us that in order to live a good and meaningful life you can't really be yourself. To live a good and meaningful like one must make a lot of money, have a good job, look good, etc. These are the messages that are attempting to mold us, and we follow them not knowing what else to do. No one really questions these messages, because people try to be better than each other and fit in. Everyone is following the same route. We all have the same requirements. We're all living in one big cycle. After a while we get sucked into this cycle and not many of us think about it anymore; we just go along with it. The reason we go along with it, is because all of us are trying to fill an emptiness; we're trying to make something of our lives, even if our lives are already perfect, it just never seems enough. In class when we discussed this topic we had said that people do this because we are all trying to distract ourselves from our misery. There are many people who are just unhappy. Those with money, distract themselves with buying hiuge houses all over th world, planes cars, jewlery etc, to distract themselves from pain. All these corporate companies and people are trying to sell all of us more distractions, or convincing us that we'll be happy if and only if we do/ buy the things they want us to.

Election Reflection

I really didn't know what to think of the election. I wasn't sure if I was for Obama or McCain. In my opinion I the only reason Obama won is because he became somewhat of a celebrity figure, at least to the general public. Obama caught peoples attention because he was different. The wat he looks, and the things he is interested in doing to changing the country. There are Obama books, shirts, stickers, buttons, yard signs, bags. It's less like a presidential campaign, and more like an ad. The thing that had me thinking was that people that were voting for Obama didn't really even know why they were voting for him, besides that fact that he is Afican American. Walking down 42nd street a news reporter approached a group of young adults and asked for the for who they were voting for and why. They simply yelled out "cuz he's black,hes on of us" They had no idea about Obama's policies and regulations. Ehen watching the news throughout th elections for some reason the reporters seemed to be inferring. Also this shows how although Obama is for "change" he is still the typical American. I feel like during the campaigns many people pretty much treated Obama as God. Guessing they thought he would fix American and make everything all better again. Unfortunatly, I don't think Obama will be able to do much with the state the country is in right now. I don't have anything against Obama, as for right now I am for him more than McCain. He seems like the best person for the job at hand, although most people would disagree I don't think he will be able to bring much change anytime soon. Everyone is so hyped about about him being president, but when I come to think of it, won't be be known as a bad president because he wasn't able to get America back on it's feet? Even though it's a significant event in history, that we have a black man as President I am just interested in seeing how it all works out.

Christmas Break

The two major holidays that I had celebrated this break were Christmas and New Years. My break hasn't been anything special but it was still enjoyablei guess. In the morning on Christmas Eve my family and I had driven up to my country house where we were going to be celebrating the holiday. I spent the day wrapping gifts and getting things ready for later on that night, basically helping my mother cook and clean. Later on that night the family came, so it was a full house. My parents had agreed that Christmas Eve was going to be celebrated with her side of the family and my fathers side on Christmas Day. It wasn't really a nice day, it rained everyone hoped that it wold snow to kind of bring the Christmas spirit. We spent the night eating and talking and laughing and unwrapping presents. On Christmas day we woke up ealry went to church for the Christmas mass and then went to Narrowsburg NY to meet with my fathers side. This year Christmas wasnt as exciting to me for some reason, I just wasnt feeling all the joy your supposed to feel. New years eve was VERY eventful. Went to a party with people my age, and I had run into friends from middle school so it was a good feeling. New years day I spent home with my sister since my parents went to they're own new years party. We figured they would be hung over and in a bad mood so we figured we would clean the house. Doing certain things on Christmas and for new years are every meaninful to many people. I guess you can call it the " cliche" things to do on Christmas. Everything i do for Christmas, is what every other Polish Catholics do. To us, Christmas Eve is more important then Christmas day in a way. That night is very meaningful because it's when Jesus was born. My family tends to celebrate Christmas in a mixed way between Polish and American. I would say the tradition of Christmas is getting a Christmas tree and decorating it with your family one day. Decorating the house, with lighting, holly, etc. Putting out milk and cookies for " Santa" one Christmas eve and waking up 6 in the morning and running to your parents to open gifts. Being a consumer and buying things is very meaningful to people, everything seems to revolve around the corporate messages. You need to have buy things if the holiday is Christmas or valentines day or a birthday us Americans have based holidays such as Christmas on buying things for each other, sort of taking away the real meaning of it. Little kids wake up on Christmas morning and instead of thinking about how we are celebrating the birth of Jesus, and the whole concept of Christmas they hurry to open presents. It just goes to show how meanings can be overlooked by material objects.

Trampled Wal-Mart Worker

When i first heard about theperson trampled at Wal-mart was shocked. I didn't think people would be that crazy as to kill a man, just to get things for a cheaper price. The Wal-Mart worker died after anxious shoppers ambushed the store and trampled him. The people anxiously rushed into the store taking the door off of the hinges, and the customers had grabbed numerous things. Not being at all concerned about the safety of each other or even of themselves, at the end the innocent worker; Jdimytai Damour was pronounced dead and four other shoppers were said to only have been injured. I feel discusted by this occurence. For people to become that feend over products so much to not even have the decency to respect other people. Taking a persons life cant be replaced, unlike a item. This just comes to show the priorities of many Americans. Putting replaceable things ahead of lives should never take place, no matter the situation. From all of the hype that this day receives, it probably gave the idea to people that they are suppose to be vicious on this particular day, because that’s all its known for. If people continue to act like this the world will turn into a nasty place. Getting what you want and doing whatever needs to be done juat for you to have something you want or need. These workers being up in the morning serving the consumers, and that's how they get replayed. All i get from all of this is that people are just selfish and cruel. All they care about is themselves and what they need to do to have it good. They dont care about the process, but about the final outcome. The idea of whether or not someone will get hurt doesnt pertain to them. I would understand if the man got knocked over but someone tried to help him up, but when they just leave him there on the ground with hundreds of people stepping all over him, is a whole different argument. Wal-Mart is known for having very low prices, compared to all the other stores. Maybe if they had more workers at the door or on duty in general the man wouldn't have died. Right after Christmas all you hear on the news and radio is talk about black friday. Notifying and pursuading people to go out and shop. This made people pay attention to this day even more, and inspired them to go out themselves to try getting the best bargains. What comes out from all of this is that people would rather sacrifice the life of a man, then to miss an event where they get to save money.