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Kimmy, Jessica, and the women from Grey’s Anatomy

Television has consistently changed throughout the years and on the daily basis, especially today in 2016. This trimester in my Television Studies course, we discussed and explored in how television changed throughout the years has progressed. For homework, were assigned to watch a few modern television series that were only available on Netflix. Those shows were The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Jessica Jones. Both shows demonstrated different forms of trauma in two women’s lives who’s lifestyles were totally opposite. 

I’m not going to lie, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt was such a hard show for me to actually get into. At first I thought, “What the hell is my professor making me watch?”. After getting through a few episodes I started to get really interested and I was stuck on this show. It may seem really stupid at first but it is worth the watch. Throughout the first few episodes, it is obvious that Kimmy is having a hard time trying to fit in and get the grasp of living and acting like an adult in New York City. “For such a deliberately cartoonish show, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt has a remarkable grasp on its central character’s buried traumas and the ever-widening gulf between New York City’s moneyed class and the victims of their wave of gentrification.” (Sims, 2016). Though Kimmy has been through a lot because of her past of being trapped in the bunker, she is a very independent woman and is determined to get back the life she lost and to continue to grow as a woman. “The show doesn’t address sexual violence head on; it’s possible to watch without dwelling on the details. But Kimmy’s ugly history comes through, in inference and in sly, unsettling jokes about trauma, jagged bits that puncture what is a colorful fish-out-of-water comedy.” (Nussbaum 2015) Again, Kimmy has been through a lot and some of the things that she goes through on her own in New York City remind her of what her life was like before she was rescued from the bunker. Some of the things that she goes through make her remember what it was like being in the bunker and it scares her. Many of those moments that make her remember, you can say they are her PTSD moments. 

Jessica Jones, another great show that is on Netflix and one of the shows I had to watch for my Television Studies class. When I first saw this show, I saw that is was made by Marvel, so I immediately thought about superheroes. Superheroes with capes and tights. But with this show, that is not the case, it is the complete opposite. To me, Jessica Jones is a very dark show that is not afraid to actually show what happened. It was hard for me to continue watching this whole series, I even had nightmares because the show is so dark. But don’t get me wrong, Jessica Jones is a really great show and it shows another way in how women can be independent and that they do not need a man to take care of them or do anything else for them. One of the things that I noticed about this show and that somewhat bothered me and I guess my classmates too was that Jessica Jones always wore the same damn outfit in every single episode. Even though she wore the same thing, she sure did kick some ass and showed that women are also strong as men. Just by watching the credits of the show for the intro, you can automatically notice that this show also shows some sort of trauma that Jessica went through before she got to where she is today. 

Just like Kimmy, Jessica also seems to suffer from several PTSD moments while she’s going on with her day. After being captive by Killgrave and being able to escape, she tends to hear his voice in her head as she is either walking through New York City or helping on one of her cases. “something a little bit different, something more edgy and not just a rehash of the gritty opener, and Jessica Jones fit the bill in the way perhaps no other comic book hero could.” (Goss, 2015). Jessica Jones is such a unique hero. But just like all the others, she also has a life to live and a job that helps pay for the bills. Even though Jessica Jones has been through a lot, it does not stop her from wanting to help others and but the bad people where they belong. This show shows another way in how women can be strong and independent on their own. 

So how does this all tie down or compare to Grey’s Anatomy? “ABC's Grey's Anatomy has always put its spotlight on strong and driven women...” (Goldberg, 2015) Just like Kimmy and Jessica, the women from Grey’s Anatomy also have their own story and somewhat suffer from their memories of what they’ve been through. “The women of Grey's never shy away from challenging situations - in fact it's what fuels their passion. They aren't just good at what they do, but they are fiercely ambitious and never let anything or anyone jeopardize their climb to the top.” (Goldberg, 2015) These shows help show that women can also go through a lot yet they still have their life together and also be able to help others. It amazes me that shows today are slowly showing how strong a woman can be and be able to take the lead and lead others. As days go by, women are proving the statistics of being fragile and weak, are wrong and that they too can be as strong as a man. 

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Then vs. Now

No matter how much time has passed, in the television industry, everything will always be about how many views something gets. Everyone in the television industry revolves around how many views they can get from people around the world. For those who watched the movie “Network”, they will be able to notice that it is very similar to how news television is today. Every news network wants something that will keep their audience watching their TV station, that is the only way that they will stay in business and the only way that they will continue to make money. 

In the movie Network, one of the main characters, Howard Beale, is a news anchor who has been working for UBC for a very long time. Howard has been through a lot the past years his wife passed away and he began began to pick up drinking. One day he goes into work as if everything is normal and no one suspects a thing. As he makes his way to his post on set, things still seem very normal. There are 10 seconds before things go live on air, once Howard notices that he is live, he says something completely off topic from his script. He tells everyone who is watching the news segment that he is going to kill himself next Tuesday on air. To be exact, he said that he was going to blow his brain out in front of everyone on TV. As soon as Howard said those lines on national television, they immediately went to commercial. Crew members went to Howard on set and tried taking him off, but he wouldn’t budge. They put his hands on him and that caused a huge dramatic scene and it went on air in front of everyone. After that segment was aired in front of everyone, other news reporters took advantage and created new segments for their news stations. Leaders of UBC were livid after the whole commotion that Howard Beale caused on TV in front of many people. He was fired that night and his best friend who worked for UBC was in charge of finding someone or something that could replace Howard in his time slot. The next morning it was brought to everyone’s attention that after Howard’s scene that he did, caused UBC to receive more views than ever and caused them to be covered in famous newspapers and magazines such as The Times. 

Just like how television news was back then, it still is the same today. Everyone will do anything to keep their audience watching and wanting more. In the movie Network, the only reason why they kept Howard on television was because he brought more viewers to their station. Howard said things on national television that people were afraid to say and many people liked that. Howard was their voice. 

Now, if you were to look around today, you would maybe consider trying to relate that to how Donald Trump is right now. Ever wonder why many news stations cover Donald a lot more than the other presidential candidates? Well for one thing for sure, Donald Trump says a lot of things that many Americans thought they were not allowed to say in front of everyone. Donald Trump is the voice for those Americans who support him (sadly). The other thing that Donald Trump does is, he brings viewers. In in article by SALON, it was said, “Trump brings ratings and ratings rise advertising revenue.” To get the full effect and to read more just click here: http://www.salon.com/2015/12/19/howard_beale_would_be_mad_as_hell_donald_trump_les_moonves_and_the_sale_of_american_democracy_partner/

Another thing that seems to catch a lot of people’s attention is reality television. Reality television used to be known as “unscripted television”, this is because this is made up of real lives and everything that happens in those people’s lives. Many people who watch reality television watch it because it is full of drama and they feel like they can relate to them. Many people may like reality television because they think it is cool to see that others also go through the same things that they do and the only difference is that those people are on national television. People who are afraid to show others how their lives actually are hide behind those reality television shows. 

http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2011/08/31/140082930/ethical-reality-a-proposed-code-for-producers-to-live-by?ft=1&f=1008

One of the most famous reality television shows is Keeping Up With The Kardashians. The Kardashians are so popular and well known around the world. They are said to be on top of everyone in the pop culture. One of the main reasons why they got to reach to fame is because of Kim Kardashian, Kim Kardashian had released a sex tape in 2007. After that, her family came into the picture and they were put on E! for a reality television show. When people think of the Kardashians, Kim has to be the first person that comes to their mind. It has also been said on Rolling Stone that Kim Kardashian has to be one of the most famous woman on this planet. To read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/25-incredible-reinventions-in-pop-culture#kim-kardashian

No matter who you are, watching the Kardashians is everyone’s guilty pleasure. The Kardashians ratings for their reality television show is out of this world. Many people from the ages of 18 to 49 watch their show. The Kardashians are now going into their 12th season. Within the first few days they reached an average over 3.19 million views. As the Kardashians continue to renew for more seasons on E!, the more their percentage of views they get.

As mentioned in the first section on this post, everything that has to deal with the television/entertainment industry is revolved around views/ratings. That is the only way how things on TV will stay alive. 

References: 

Kissel, Rick. May 6, 2016. 3 Day Ratings: “Survivor”, “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” Still Going Strong. Variety. http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/3-day-ratings-survivor-keeping-up-with-the-kardashians-1201768322/

Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/25-incredible-reinventions-in-pop-culture#kim-kardashian

Holmes, Linda. August 31, 2011.  Ethical 'Reality': A Proposed Code For Producers To Live By. npr. 

http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2011/08/31/140082930/ethical-reality-a-proposed-code-for-producers-to-live-by?ft=1&f=1008

Moyers, Bill. December 19, 2015.  Howard Beale would be mad as hell: Donald Trump, Les Moonves and the sale of American democracy. SALON. http://www.salon.com/2015/12/19/howard_beale_would_be_mad_as_hell_donald_trump_les_moonves_and_the_sale_of_american_democracy_partner/

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The Next “Revolution”

Social media takes a big part in our lives today whether we believe in it or not. Social media is what society is and what it is revolved around of. When the internet came around for the first time, people were not very fond of it. Nowadays, the internet is such a ginormous trend and everyone is doing it. No matter what age group a person is in, they are some way and somehow involved with social media. 

Now that many years have gone by, social media is just changing and getting bigger and better. There are so many different social media sites around the world that is just about made for anyone. What will happen next? I believe that social media will continue to grow more bigger and better. Soon enough, social media will be the only thing that people on earth will have. It will continue to grow and the world will continue to revolve around it. 

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Media Effects

Today, the media has effected everyone in the world in many ways. Without the media, people would not know what i happening around in their neighborhood or around the world. Though lately, the media has been quite negative. Nowadays the only “news” that the media brings to people are negative things that are happening around the world, for example, the terrorist attack that recently happened in Brussels, Belgium. The world now has become a very sensitive place to be on. No one knows who is good or who is bad. Without the media, no one would have known what happened in Brussels. Though the media brings negative news, the media helps everyone in a positive way to keep up with what is going on. 

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Si Una Vez

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What is Television?

Television plays a big role today in many people’s lives. When I think of the world “Television” I think about someone taking the time to sit down and actually enjoy watching a TV show or movie on their TV screen, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. No matter how long the content is or how it is being seen, it’s television. Television is also something that people watch for entertainment, it’s a distraction that we all use for ourselves to take us away from the real world. Though if someone were to ask me what television was 6 years ago, I would have said that it’s whatever you watch on the TV screen. My thoughts about television have changed over time but I now believe it is what it is, that it’s whatever you watch on a screen to entertain yourself and others. 

Throughout the years, television has changed so much. Actual TV screens and etc, have become smaller, skinnier, and portable. The world went from silent black and white films to 3D effects to where it makes people feel like they are there in the TV show or movie that they are watching. Not only has television changed but so have the people. The photo above shows a perfect example in how TVs have gotten slimmer/smaller and people have gotten bigger. When most people watch television, they are sitting on the couch eating or not doing anything. There aren’t many options to do when you are trying to enjoy watching whatever is on your screen. Television has also gone from being free to where people have to pay for their television TV shows. Many people pay for subscription TV that way they would not have to deal with commercials and they can watch their show in peace. I myself pay for subscription TV due to the fact that I do not have actual TV stations to watch because I live in a dorm and subscription TV  has become a big trend for people in my generation. Today, not only does satellite TV cover many different TV channels and movies, it also covers people’s wifi and telephone line services if they still have a landline for a home phone. 

Now that I am a college student, I catch myself being on Netflix way more now then the way I used to be when I was living at home. Even though I may have a lot of homework to do, I always make time for Netflix, Netflix has to be one of my major addictions today. There is always something to watch on Netflix, whether you are in the mood to watch a movie or want to catch up on a TV show that you never got to watch on television when it first came out. Not only do I watch my television on Netflix but I also go to certain TV sites on the internet to watch shows that are on today on TV. Many TV channels like MTV and A&E allow people to watch their TV shows on their site since it is not on Netflix. Though some TV websites do require a TV provider like DirectTV, Dish Network, Time Warner Cable and etc, the only way I can watch TV on those websites is because back home, my family pays for satellite TV and it allows me to log in with our information with our satellite company. Many people would say that it is hard for them to watch TV and that they would not be able to figure it out but it is really easy and it is right at your fingertips. 

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Officer arrested in fatal shooting of Latino teen Jose Cruz

Ken Johnson, an officer with the Farmers Branch police force in Dallas County, has been arrested on charges of murder and aggravated assault in the fatal weekend shooting of Jose Cruz.

Cruz, a 16-year-old Latino, was chased in a car by Johnson on Sunday. The officer was off-duty and suspected Cruz and another another boy named Edgar Rodriguez had attempted to break into a vehicle. Johnson then opened fire, fatally wounding Cruz and seriously wounding Rodriguez, who has since been hospitalized. Both Cruz and Rodriguez were unarmed.

The case is one of several recent officer-involved shootings that has grabbed headlines, but is unique because of Johnson’s race.

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A BRONX TALE 

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!!!!!!DONT LET THIS GO UNNOTICED!!!!!!

All Three Major News Networks Ignored Bernie Sanders’ Speech Tuesday Night, To Show Empty Trump Podium

As Bernie Sanders took the stage on Tuesday night, the cable networks continued doing what they do best – talking.

Fox News, CNN and MSNBC all declined to carry Sanders’ speech, instead offering jokes about the evening while showing live coverage of Trumps empty podium while promising that we were all, “AWAITING TRUMP” and “STANDING BY FOR TRUMP.“ 

In Fact: EVERY OTHER CANDIDATE HAD AIR TIME EXCEPT FOR SANDERS

As if these stations couldn’t get any more corrupt, The Huffington Post’s Michael Calderone reported that the media have collectively given Trump some $2 billion worth of free air time.

Don’t be fooled by the media ya’ll. You can watch his incredible speech here & remember You ARE his media

Source

#StayWoke #FeelTheBern

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I'm genuinely trying to figure out

How some people want authentic Mexican food but not authentic Mexicans.

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via

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10 Illustrations That’ll Speak Straight To Your Food-Loving Heart

(Source: Landysh)

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Netflix’s Narcos Glamorizes the Troubles Colombians Went Through

Submitted by @katiemichelleeee:

Ever since the release of Narcos, I’ve been so agitated by uneducated individuals who assume they know more about my own culture than I do. It’s ridiculous. There’s an underlying ignorance to it that just angers me. If you don’t already know, the show is centered around Pablo Escobar from the perspective of the DEA. It’s an inaccurate historical approach to his rise as a notorious drug lord and the people it affected in the process. 

Let’s just begin by the very minuscule things that bother me about the show….the evident fact that the actor, Wagner Moura, who plays Pablo Escobar, is Brazilian and does a mediocre job of mimicking the Paisa accent, which is a significant trait of Pablo Escobar. Unless you are Colombian and are aware of the different regional accents of our country, you will find this cringeworthy and obnoxious. I’ve heard numerous responses coming from non Colombian Latinos saying “oh all my friends are Colombian so like I know what they sound like and the actors do a pretty good job.” Lmao essentially spoon feeding me lies and ignorance I don’t have time for! 

In spite of this, the series was created by Chris Brancato (American) who also produces the show and is directed by a Jose Padilha (Brazilian). The professionals involved in producing the show and piecing it together to form this “brilliant historical biographical series” failed to do their homework and find Colombian actors/actresses to not only boost authenticity but also listen to their stories and experiences during Escobar’s reign. Yes, they film it in Colombia but what good does that do if the majority of the cast is Mexican, Brazilian, Chilean, or American. 

The ratings and it’s Golden Globe nomination can be attributed to the mass audience of non Spanish speaking Americans or international youth succumbing to the glamorization of drug and crime. So obviously they don’t give a rat’s ass about authenticity or historical accuracy. I feel like this is a topic that needs to be addressed because society is becoming more and more immune to this desensitizing politically incorrect Hollywood vomit that’s being produced. 

As a young Colombian and American who has seen this not just in my culture, but in the entire Latino community, I feel like it’s necessary to stress the importance of what our culture actually stands for and not be tainted or overshadowed by stereotypes perpetuated by Hollywood. Nonetheless, the show has beautiful cinematography and an enchanting soundtrack. Too bad Netflix ran out of ideas for storyline. 

Just to conclude and wrap up here, it’s our story to tell. Not through a sugar coated and Americanized Hollywood lens, but one that reminds us of the troubles we went through, people’s pain, the corruption of the drug cartels, and how we have been and will be able to overcome these adversities. One love.

(Also here are some articles that explain what I was trying to convey better:)

“Netflix’s Narcos Cheapens Colombia and its History” - Fusion.net

“Esther Cepeda: Drug War Is In Need of Truth, Not Celebrities” - HeraldTribune.com

“The Key Thing Missing From Narcos: Colombians” - TheAtlantic.com

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Dear Donald Trump, I’m Proud That My Parents Are Immigrants

(Video by EmergingUS)

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Watch: The most powerful moment at tonight’s Democratic debate didn’t come from the candidates.

In related news, here’s everything else you missed from the debate, including Clinton’s sharp takedown of Donald Trump.

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9 Portraits That Prove Feminism Really Is For Everyone