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beingsarahmorales-blog · 8 years ago

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Catfishing: A Twist On Cyberbullying - New Work

Bullying is something that has been around for as far as history goes back, a bigger predator picking on a smaller foe, however, in the 21st century, you don’t have to be big or intimidating at all in order to bully others, all you need is a computer. With the rise of the internet, people gained the ability to meet others all around the world while remaining hidden by the anonymity of blogs, chat rooms, and any other form of social media, thus “catfishing” was born.

The term catfishing arose from a documentary film entitled “Catfish” directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman that stars Schulman’s brother, Nev, as he forms a relationship with a young woman named “Megan” over Facebook. Nev is a young photographer who lives in New York City. The story begins when Abby Pierce, an supposed 8-year-old child prodigy artist in Ishpeming, Michigan sends Nev a painting of one of his photos. They become Facebook friends and later Nev also becomes Facebook Friends with Abby's family; her mother, Angela Wesselman, Angela's husband Vince, and Abby's attractive older half-sister Megan. Eventually Nev forms a romantic relationship with Megan over the platform. To make a long story short, events unfold that prompt Nev to believe that he is not being told the full truth from Megan, nor her family, as certain facts do not add up. As a result of this, Nev and his filmmaking companions make the decision to venture to Michigan to confront Megan and the rest of the Pierce family directly. After a web of more lies, Nev is finally met with the truth and learns that the true person behind all of the family’s social media accounts is in fact Angela, the 40 year old mother, and she has been the one talking to Nev the entire time. Megan does not even exist. Abby doesn’t paint, the artwork is in fact Angela’s. Angela made these accounts out of loneliness (and stress due to the fact that she is at home all day with her husband’s two severely mentally disabled children) and tricked Nev into believing he was in a relationship with an imaginary women.

The name of catfishing itself comes from a story told by Angela’s husband to Nev in which Vince “relays a story of how when live cod were shipped to Asia from North America, the fish's inactivity in their tanks resulted in only mushy flesh reaching the destination. However, fishermen found that putting catfish in the tanks with the cod kept them active, and thus ensured the quality of the fish. Vince made an analogy of how there are people in everyone's lives who keep each other active, always on their toes and always thinking, suggesting that people should always be alert while socializing through the internet.” People who engage in this online charade of fake relationship building have since been referred to as catfish.

Nev’s story allowed insight into why people may go about partaking in such deceitful behaviors, however, whereas his story was wrapped up in a rather positive way as he and Angela were able to talk things out and end up on good terms, the same can’t be said for many others who find themselves in the same situation. In fact, after the documentary in 2010, Nev and his companions went on to create “Catfish: The TV Show” in 2012 which has for six seasons told the stories of individuals who are seeking truth in their online relationships. “Each episode is an investigation into whether or not the other participant in the virtual relationship is legitimate or if they are, in fact, a "catfish". Some couples have been communicating for a few months—others, for years,” says a description of the show.

Even though Nev has an entire show dedicated to the stories of people in online relationships, he says that the online world has gotten in the way of genuine human communication. In an article he wrote for Glamour Magazine he says the following: “Now, back in the days before social media, I'd have to decide within minutes of meeting a girl whether to ask her out on a date. I'd have to say something like, "You're cute—can I take you out sometime?" and get her number on the spot. In fact, a guy used to have to muster the [courage] to sidle up to a cute girl, make her laugh, or start an interesting conversation, all in order to get her number. There had to be a human connection and shared attraction in order to agree to go out in the first place. As a result, you cared more, so you invested more time and energy into the date—and the success rate of a first date turning into a second, then a third, and so on, was higher. These days, any jerk with a Facebook page can get a Tinder account, swipe right, and get a date. That's why you have to go on so many first dates. In 2015, a date is a disposable, dime-a-dozen thing that anybody can easily access. Consequently, the value of the date has depreciated.” I’d go as far to save that the value of a human has depreciated. Those who choose to catfish do not care as much as they should for those on the other side of the screen. They do not see them as people, they see them as pawns.

An article by Scientific American dives into some causes as to why human honesty and compassion doesn’t always translate into the online realm. “The reasons are complex, but may be rooted in the "online disinhibition effect," where the potential for anonymity in online spaces reduces people's responsiveness to social and moral codes. There is a certain pleasure in deception—in knowing that you’ve managed to fool someone in some way. Online spaces mean that user don’t always have to face the people they fool, so feelings like stress, tension, guilt and shame can be avoided as they explore who they might want to be or how far they can press a storyline. Catfish lean heavily on avoiding offline meetings. They paint a picture of busy-ness or tragedy that keeps them away even while they continue to emotionally feed the relationship with another.” By these means, they avoid facing the reality of the situation and in turn the person they are interacting with doesn’t feel one hundred percent like a real person either. They don’t treat them the same way they would a person who was standing right in front of them. This is a large part as to why some of the people confronted on “Catfish: The TV Show” can come across as so cold when made to face the reality of the situation. Glamour Magazine published an article recounts some of the craziest stories of those who have appeared on “Catfish: The TV Show” and show the complete disregard for true human compassion. Here are a few excerpts from the article:

Jasmine & Mike

What She Thought: Jasmine had been chatting with Mike for two years, and they bonded over their children.

The Truth: "Mike" is really Jasmine's ex-friend Mhissy, who created Mike to keep Jasmine away from her current boyfriend (and Jasmine's ex) Triggs.

Ramon & Paola

What He Thought: Ramon met Paola on Facebook, and after talking for eight months, he was in love enough to give her a couple of thousand dollars—and his bank account information.

The Truth: Turns out Paola is actually Loyda, and Ramon KNEW it—Loyda had Skyped with him and showed him her license, but Ramon "didn't want to believe it." And then, Loyda revealed she used the money Ramon sent her to buy herself an engagement ring and told everyone Ramon had proposed. What the what?!

Joe & Kari Ann

What He Thought: Joe thought he was dating a former Miss Teen USA (eye roll).

The Truth: Max and Nev discover that Joe and Kari Ann share a mutual friend, Rose, who tells them that Kari Ann is real. So imagine Joe and the Catfish team's surprise when they go to meet Kari Ann—and Rose pops out. Turns out Rose has an addiction to fake profiles and a heart as cold as ice.

Mike & Caroline

What He Thought: Mike met Caroline on a dating site, and they bonded over the fact that she was suffering from colon cancer—the same cancer his mom had.

The Truth: Caroline is actually Heather, she does not have cancer, and she has catfished Mike before! When he caught her the first time, she made up Caroline, and then made up the cancer when she thought he was going to leave again.

Artis & Jess

What He Thought: Artis was under the impression he was dating Jess and was ready to ditch his current girlfriend—and mother of his three children—for her.

The Truth: Jess is actually a man who creates fake online dating profiles to teach people a lesson about cheating. He was so creepy even Nev and Max were afraid of him.

Jennifer & Skylar

What She Thought: This shy, bullied 18-year-old fell for a teen named Skylar in San Francisco who, of course, was a model.

The Truth: Not only was Skylar an older-than-advertised guy named Bryan, but he used catfishing to work on his game (talk about creepy). And Bryan was such a cold-hearted jerk that Nev and Max ordered him never to contact Jennifer again (a Catfish first).

These are some of the more dramatic cases of catfishing that the show has showcased, but apart from the revenge plots or those who are demented enough to do this to people for “fun,” what is something that can be seen as an underlying cause as to why people may enter into such a deceptive relationship? An article by Vulture gives a possible answer, “The cases depicted on Catfish, as well as both participants in these somewhat fraudulent relationships, reflect some of the most damaging messages of American culture: Don't be fat. Don't be poor. Don't be lonely. And if you are, for God's sake, don't tell anyone about it.” So is catfishing the result of the unrealistically high standards that society sets upon itself? The article seems to think so as it goes on to say, “Nearly all of the catfishees, when confronted with the information that their catfishers were overweight, changed their tune about how in love they were.”

However, weight is not the only thing that causes people to be deceitful. “Weight is certainly not the only lie on Catfish, though. People lie about how many children they have and with how many partners. A few have lied about their criminal records. (Like the dude who was arrested with a sawed-off shotgun and charged with possession of a WMD.) People lie about their gender, their sexual orientation, their jobs. One of the under-acknowledged facets of Catfish is how frequently poverty plays a role in one or both people's lives. Homelessness and the threat of homelessness have come up on multiple episodes.” For these people, it comes across that they are not comfortable in their own skin, and in many cases their whole lives entirely. They feel trapped in never ending loneliness as a result of the cards they have been dealt. Imagine for a moment that you feel this way. Perhaps you feel you are ugly or not capable of being loved or desired for the person that you are. Wouldn’t hopelessness set in? But then you get an idea. Online you can be anyone you want to be and no one would ever have to know your true identity unless you chose to disclose it. The power is now back in your hands and you can control the person that you are. You can be an amazing athlete or an uber attractive up-and-coming Hollywood Star with the means, however virtual, to make someone fall in love with you. To finally have a confidant who appears to truly care about you. Would you take that opportunity?

For many, as showcased on “Catfish: The TV Show” the promises of what online anonymity allows is too great of a temptation to deny. In choosing to fulfill their own desires, whether that is to feel like they fit in, that they’re loved or popular, or simply for some twisted form or entertainment or revenge, they completely disregard the impact that they will have on the person on the other side of the screen. The people who make the conscious decision to catfish someone are not thinking hard enough, and in some cases not thinking at all, to the point that it doesn’t even cross their mind the harmful long-term effects that their deception can have on someone. Regardless of the intent of the one doing the catfishing, significant negative results can occur.

For some, the results can be as simple of having to work through some serious trust issues, while for others the effects can be much more permanent. An article written by cyberbullying.org tells the story of 13 year old Megan Meier who fell victim to catfishing. In 2006 Megan began a relationship with a boy she knew as Josh Evans over MySpace. The article chronicles the events as follows: “For almost a month, Megan corresponded with this boy exclusively online because he said he didn’t have a phone and was homeschooled. One day in October of that year, Megan received a message from Josh on her MySpace profile saying “I don’t know if I want to be friends with you any longer because I hear you’re not nice to your friends.” This was followed by bulletins being posted through MySpace calling Megan “fat” and a “slut.” After seeing the messages, Megan became distraught and ran up into her room. A few minutes later, Megan’s mother Tina found her daughter hanging in her bedroom closet. Though she rushed her daughter to the hospital, Megan died the next day. Six weeks after their daughter’s death, the Meier family learned that the boy with whom Megan had been corresponding never existed. Josh Evans (and his online profile) was created by Lori Drew, a neighbor and the mother of one of Megan’s friends. She created the profile as a way to spy on what Megan was saying about her daughter.” In this instance the act of catfishing had devastating consequences. Megan never knew that she was being catfished. She believed this boy to have turned on her and suddenly, in the eyes of a teenager, her life was over.

People, regardless of their intent when they create fake profiles, can never predict the impact they will have on those they are catfishing and whether they want to admit it or not, it’s a form of bullying. Deceit and manipulating trust under any circumstances is never okay, even if you feel like you won’t be accepted if you present yourself as yourself. No matter what, the end does not justify the means. If only people went online in the same way that they went around in public, not able to hide behind a screen or false pretences, then the internet would be a safer place. Perhaps those who feel the need to catfish need to be reminded of something we were all taught as children; treat others the way you wish to be treated yourself, and if they did that then catfishing as a phenomenon would cease to exist in the future.

As far as the future of “Catfish: The TV Show”, Wired.com has some thoughts, “So, how much longer can a show about hiding yourself on the Internet last? What will happen when it becomes too hard to hide, or when new legal issues over assuming false personhood arises, or when our real-life selves are forcibly made to align with our Internet identities?” Nev’s co-star on the show, Max Joseph, who was interviewed for that article with Wired answered the following: “I think it’s harder to be a catfish,” says Joseph. “It’s harder and harder for us to make the show, which is interesting. There will be a moment in time where we’ll look back at this Internet period and say, ‘I can’t believe that was legal then, there was this show called Catfish that explored the weird gray area of Internet fraud.'” Hopefully as the years go by, laws will be put in place to protect people like Megan Meier and the Catfishees on “Catfish: The TV Show” and society will become more aware that cyberbullying comes in many forms and will actively work to put an end to it.

SOURCES:

1.)"Catfish (film)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Apr. 2017. Web. 10 May 2017.

2.)"Catfish (2010)." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 10 May 2017.

3.)"Catfish: The TV Show (TV Series 2012– )." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 10 May 2017.

4.)"Catfish: The TV Show." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 09 May 2017. Web. 10 May 2017.

5.)Eidell, Lynsey. "The 11 Craziest, Most Unbelievable Catfish Reveals of All Time." Glamour. Glamour Magazine, 16 Nov. 2016. Web. 10 May 2017.

6.)Schulman, Nev. "Why Technology Has Killed Dating—and How to Fix It." Glamour. Glamour Magazine, 13 Jan. 2016. Web. 10 May 2017. 7.)Denise Martin Follow @denisemartin. "Here's How MTV's Catfish Actually Works." Vulture. N.p., 21 May 2014. Web. 10 May 2017.

8.)Margaret Lyons Follow @margeincharge. "MTV's Catfish Is the Embodiment of American Shame." Vulture. N.p., 16 Oct. 2013. Web. 10 May 2017.

9.)McHugh, Molly. "The Life of an Internet Catfish Is Rough These Days." Wired. Conde Nast, 07 July 2015. Web. 10 May 2017.

10.)"Catfishing as a Form of Cyberbullying." Cyberbullying Research Center. N.p., 26 Nov. 2015. Web. 10 May 2017.

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beingsarahmorales-blog · 8 years ago

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Participatory Culture: What Does It Mean? - New Work

As humans, most of us have something that we “geek out” about. This could be celebrities, sports, movies, interior decorating and anything else that someone has a passion for. In today’s day people have more opportunities to get involved in these passions from the comfort of their own home thanks to the internet. The world shrinks in time and space when they can log on and share their thoughts on whatever they want with anyone around the world. This is a way of participating in their passion, something that is a part of the greater idea of participatory culture.

So, what exactly does it mean to take part in participatory culture? Well, depending on who you ask it could mean a plethora of things. Jay Rosen explains what participatory culture is in his article “The People Formerly Known as the Audience”. He states; “The people formerly known as the audience are those who were on the receiving end of a media system that ran one way, in a broadcasting pattern, with high entry fees and a few firms competing to speak very loudly while the rest of the population listened in isolation from one another—and who today are not in a situation like that at all.” Essentially, this means that no longer do people have to be spoon fed the media. They can choose which of it they want to take in and which they want to contribute to. For myself, participatory culture is something I take part in nearly every single day. I’m someone who likes to truly engage with the media that I am viewing. As a child, it manifested in playing pretend with my siblings based on the books that were read to us. My father would read The Chronicles of Narnia series of books to my brothers and I and then we would pretend to be the characters going on adventures of our own creation. It was like our own childhood form of fanfiction.

The Henry Jenkins article “Quentin Tarantino's Star Wars?: Digital Cinema, Media Convergence, and Participatory Culture” related to me as my brothers and I used to film each other having lightsaber battles with plastic lightsabers our mother had bought for us at Toys R Us. I have specific memories of my brothers jumping around their room, climbing over furniture, pretending that they were Anakin and Obi-Wan fighting each other, while I filmed it on my mom’s digital camera. On page 15, the article by Jenkins states: “As one fan critic explained, “Odds are if you were a kid in the seventies, you probably fought in schoolyards over who would play Han, lost a Wookie action figure in your backyard and dreamed of firing that last shot on the Death Star. And probably your daydreams and conversations weren’t about William Wallace, Robin Hood or Odysseus, but, instead, lightsaber battles, frozen men and forgotten fathers.” As for my brothers and I, we were kids when the prequels were coming out in theaters. While playing pretend we could be the characters and give their story whatever ending we so chose, including changing the villains into good guys.

However, with the help of social media and the internet, participatory culture has taken on a whole new meaning since when I was a child. Now that I’m older, I watch fan videos of my favorite shows made by fans who are just invested in the storylines and characters as I am, I’ve made it a habit to listen to podcasts that discuss shows after they air, and I comment on fan pages and start discussions with others fans on whatever the topic may be. This allows me to dive deeper into the media to search for a meaning more complex than what can be seen on the surface, as well as get perspectives from others that I might not have thought of on my own. I’m not just simply viewing, I’m an active audience member.

Participatory culture, however, branches out much farther than interacting with traditional media. A large part of it in our culture today surrounds new media that is created without the backing of large networks. For an example of this I go to Youtube. Youtube is a video sharing platform on the internet that first went online in 2005. Since then people began creating their own content and have been posting it on the site for friends and strangers alike to see. Over time, it became a space for communities to form around certain content creators who had the special charisma to garner them a large following. These people, or “Youtubers” as they have come to be called, interact with their followers on a daily basis, getting feedback and ideas and making friends they otherwise wouldn’t be able to in their immediate vicinity.

One such Youtuber who has found great success on the platform is Grace Helbig. Helbig began uploading videos in 2007 to her channel called GracieHinABox, but really got consistent with content creating in 2008 when she was asked to create a video blog web series on a website called “My Damn Channel”. This web series became know as “DailyGrace” and was later switched over to being exclusively on Youtube in 2010 on a channel of it’s own name. On December 27, 2013, Helbig brought “DailyGrace” to an end with the decision to not renew her multi-year contract with “My Damn Channel”. Thus, she couldn’t use any of her formatting that she had used for “DailyGrace” and she had to find a way to start completely fresh.

Throughout her six years on Youtube at the time, Helbig had amassed over 2.4 million subscribers. She had created a community of people who thoroughly enjoyed her zany form of comedy in which she would make funny observations about daily life or poke fun at things she found weird. Although her style of humor may not be for everyone, it certainly worked for all of those who clicked on her videos every single day. Along with the subscribers, Helbig was adored by many other of Youtube’s top content creators. When it came down to deciding what to do after her departure from “My Damn Channel”, Helbig found herself completely supported by fans and fellow Youtubers alike. That is what allowed her to have such an easy adjustment when creating her own channel separate from a network entitled “it’sGrace” (a rebranded version of GracieHinABox). As of February 2017, the “it'sGrace” YouTube channel has over 3 million subscribers and over 250 million video views. Not bad for a girl who just started out by making funny videos in her apartment.

The key to Helbig’s success is her use of the platform, as well as other forms of social media, to connect with her fans. She’ll use various platforms to ask her followers what videos they would like to see her make and she makes them. She features their comments in videos and genuinely seems to care about what they have to say. She has tapped into something that traditional media doesn’t allow. While watching tv or going to a movie you can’t say something to the screen and garner a response from those acting, but with Youtube you can comment on one of Grace Helbig’s videos and see her feature it or respond to it in the next video she uploads. On Youtube, the “celebrity” doesn’t seem so far away. She’s relatable, she’ll respond to you, and she’s someone who seems like she could be your friend.

Participatory culture allows for a special spark to be brought to whatever media that is being interacted with, but having a lack of it can be quite obvious, and in some cases detrimental. This was evident in Helbig’s late-night talk show “The Grace Helbig Show” in that it lacked that immediate form of participation. The show ran for eight twenty two minute episodes on the E! cable tv network from April 3, 2015 to June 7, 2015 and wasn’t renewed for a second season. IMDB user Lilah Osbaldeston wrote a review of “The Grace Helbig Show” on imdb.com stating the following: “Grace Helbig is very funny; as demonstrated by her Youtube videos. She has a sense of humor based on awkwardness, timing, and unexpected puns. The problem with this first episode was having a dedicated flow the producers wanted to achieve. Grace is the least funny when given heavy direction as it takes away from the rawness of her humor style. A lot of the show seemed forced. Her awkwardness didn't lend itself to the beginning segments of the show and the whole thing seemed pretty unnatural. I hope they can get the flow of the show more streamlined and in line with Grace's humor. I really want to enjoy it, but when the show seems like a long Youtube video, I can't really see it lasting too long. Grace could be a great show host, but this doesn't really seem like a fitting style.” This sentiment was repeated by many of Helbig’s fans who, while being huge fans of her Youtube channel, didn’t believe that her comedy translated well to mainstream television.

So what was the problem here? For one, the episodes were shot in a way that immediate reaction from fans wouldn’t be able to be implemented in the next episodes. The fans weren’t able to shape the content, but all control rested in the hands of the network. Also, with it being on a mainstream channel, the network had to make sure the show could appeal to a casual fan, not just a diehard fan of Grace Helbig. Thus, the show was created with much broader strokes than Helbig’s videos which cater to someone who enjoys a specific type of humor. From watching it myself, I felt as if they were trying to take Grace’s humor but showcase it in a way that people are used to seeing on television and in my opinion it just didn’t work. Her videos are typically riddled with jump cuts that allow for a rush to the punchline, and with a talk show the stereotypical editing process doesn’t allow for that. It is plain to see that Helbig did not edit the show herself as it’s not done at all in her typical style. Thus, the viewer is seeing Helbig through the eyes of someone else, and not herself. Another factor in why the show seemed so unnatural is that unlike many other talk shows there was no in-studio live audience. So even in that aspect she was robbed of participatory culture. She didn’t have an audience to bounce off of nor her fan base to interact with so directly and thus it left out some of the magic that her Youtube channel is known for.

Luckily, Helbig decided to take a second chance at the interview/talk show type show, but in her own way, with the creation of her podcast “Not Too Deep With Grace Helbig” which was first released on September 1, 2014. She runs the podcast very similar to her Youtube videos in which a large portion of it includes questions sent in via various social media platforms from her followers. She then asks these questions to whatever guest is on the show that day, most of which are online content creators like herself. So not only is Helbig interacting with her fans, but she’s also connecting them to some of their other favorite creators and getting their questions answered. Through this, her zany silly comedy, as well as that of her followers, is able to shine through and that is what really makes the show so interesting to listen to. The conversations seem completely organic because you can’t script the questions that her fan base sends in. She has tapped into something truly unique as she comes alongside the Youtube community, who has essentially allowed her to have such a strong footing in the content creating realm, and together they make what the podcast is.

The concept of interacting on a personal level and embracing participatory culture with fans is something that mainstream celebrities could learn from online influencers. Online content creators know how to create relationships with their fans and take the time to show that they care. There is the annual convention “VidCon” that many of the top Youtube content creators attend in order to meet their fans in person, to get to talk to them, and thank them for watching their videos and being a part of the community. Not only are they taking advantage of all that the internet allows, but they are taking it a step further and branching out into face-to-face interaction as well.

Online content creators have become the new celebrity. In fact, an article published by Variety conducted a survey in 2014 where they “asked 1,500 respondents a battery of questions assessing how 20 well-known personalities stacked up in terms of approachability, authenticity and other criteria considered aspects of their overall influence. Half the 20 were drawn from the English-language personalities with the most subscribers and video views on YouTube, the other half were represented by the celebrities with the highest Q scores among U.S. teens aged 13-17”. The results of the survey showed that out of the 40 online personalities and traditional celebrities combined, the top five were all Youtubers. The article also states, “Looking at survey comments and feedback, teens enjoy an intimate and authentic experience with YouTube celebrities, who aren’t subject to image strategies carefully orchestrated by PR pros. Teens also say they appreciate YouTube stars’ more candid sense of humor, lack of filter and risk-taking spirit, behaviors often curbed by Hollywood handlers”. Jennifer Lawrence, a mainstream celebrity who was at the height of her Hunger Games fame at the time the survey was conducted only came in at number seven. You would think a star that appeared in one of the most popular movies of the year that made $121,897,634 at the box office opening weekend would be higher on the list, but no, the creators who are more accessible to their audience were those who came out on top.

Henry Jenkins explains the complexities of teenagers being involved in participatory culture similar to the involvement that Grace Helbig has with her fans. His article entitled “Confronting the Challenges of Participatory Culture: Media Education for the 21st Century states, “According to a recent study from the Pew Internet & American Life project (Lenhardt & Madden, 2005), more than one-half of all teens have created media content, and roughly one third of teens who use the Internet have shared content they produced. In many cases, these teens are actively involved in what we are calling participatory cultures. A participatory culture is a culture with relatively low barriers to artistic expression and civic engagement, strong support for creating and sharing one’s creations, and some type of informal mentorship whereby what is known by the most experienced is passed along to novices. A participatory culture is also one in which members believe their contributions matter, and feel some degree of social connection with one another (at the least they care what other people think about what they have created).” To these people, it’s all about the community they create. When they log on, they know they can find people with common interests who they can bounce ideas back and forth from. This is something that is particularly comforting to those who may find it hard to find people in the “real world” who share what they are passionate about. In the world of the internet it’s almost impossible not to find someone who shares the same passion.

Danah Boyd’s article, "Participating in the Always-On Lifestyle” comments on judgement that outsiders, or those who aren’t so intune with social media, might pass on those who can’t seem to get enough. The article states, “Social media skeptics often look at the output of those who are engaging with the newfangled services and shake their heads. “How can they be so public?” some ask. Others reject digital performances by asking, “Who wants to read what they want anyhow?” Publicness is one of the strange and yet powerful aspects of this new world. Many who blog and tweet are not writing for the world at large; they are writing for the small group who might find it relevant and meaningful. And, realistically, the world at large is not reading the details of their lives. Instead, they are taking advantage of the affordances of these technologies to connect with others in a way that they feel is appropriate.” For many, this is how they find “their people”. Yes, many have the fear of it being dangerous to put so much of oneself online, but in today’s day so much of professionalism comes along with having an online presence. It’s how people who don’t know someone get to know them and garner a first impression before ever meeting face to face. The article by Boyd continues with, “To an outsider, wanting to be always-on may seem pathological. All too often, it’s labeled an addiction. The assumption is that we’re addicted to the technology. The technology doesn’t matter. It’s all about the people and information. Humans are both curious and social critters. We want to understand and interact. Technology introduces new possibilities for doing so, and that’s where the passion comes in. We’re passionate about technology because we’re passionate about people and information, and they go hand in hand.” For digital natives this is something that is embraced a little more easily than others as they were raised with the tools to work with the technology efficiently rather than having to transition from a different way of doing things. The technology isn’t the truly fascinating thing, it’s merely the vessel that connects people to others and to information so that they can participate in the world around them on a greater scale than they could by simply interacting with those in their geographic vicinity. Participatory culture allows for the spread of ideas that may not reach certain areas of the world otherwise and personally, I think that’s a wonderful thing.

“The People Formerly Known as the Audience” by Rosen concludes with what I think is a very poignant thought. “The people formerly known as the audience are simply the public made realer, less fictional, more able, less predictable. You should welcome that, media people. But whether you do or not, we want you to know we’re here.” Furthermore, I think it should be stated that “we’re” not going away either. Now that people can interact with media in whichever creative way they please there is no going back. Participatory culture is only going to grow and evolve and the technology will do the same to accommodate for it.

Bibliography:

1.) Graciehinabox. "Grace Helbig." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2017.

2.) ""The Grace Helbig Show" Reviews & Ratings." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2017.

3.) Hamedy, Saba. "E!'s Grace Helbig Experiment: Does YouTube Stardom Equal Ratings?" Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2015. Web. 5 Mar. 2017.

4.) Dunn, Gaby. "After 5 Years, Grace Helbig Is Leaving My Damn Channel." The Daily Dot. N.p., 11 Dec. 2015. Web. 5 Mar. 2017.

5.) "Grace Helbig YouTube Channel Stats." YouTube Stats by VidStatsX.com (YouTube Statistics Website). N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2017.

6.)https://class.sjcny.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-1091863-dt-content-rid-2303748_1/courses/2017SP-LEC-JNM-370-SAS01/Rosen%20The%20People%20Formerly%20Known%20as%20the%20Audience.pdf

7.)https://class.sjcny.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-1091865-dt-content-rid-2303752_1/courses/2017SP-LEC-JNM-370-SAS01/JENKINS_WHITE_PAPER.PDF

8.)https://class.sjcny.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-1094127-dt-content-rid-2333234_1/courses/2017SP-LEC-JNM-370-SAS01/boyd%20Participating%20Always%20On.pdf

9.)https://class.sjcny.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-1091864-dt-content-rid-2303751_1/courses/2017SP-LEC-JNM-370-SAS01/Jenkins%2C%20Quentin%20Tarantino%27s%20Star%20Wars.pdf

10.) "Home." VidCon US. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2017.

11.) Ault, Susanne. "Survey: YouTube Stars More Popular Than Mainstream Celebs Among U.S. Teens." Variety. N.p., 5 Aug. 2014. Web. 5 Mar. 2017.

12.) "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014)." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2017.

#New work

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beingsarahmorales-blog · 8 years ago

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We Need A Foster Care Fix - Old Work

According to Kids Count Data Center, for the past decade in the state of Texas there has been approximately 29,000 children in foster care each year. Included in that number are about 13,000 children who are waiting and available to be adopted and out of that group, on average, only 4,500 actually get adopted into permanent homes.

12 year old *Steven* Morales is one of those children (Please note that name has been changed for privacy). In 2005 he was in the Texas foster care system. Child Protective Services or CPS was in charge of his placement and he was put into foster care as a small infant. It took him two years in the system before he was able to be free to be adopted. Seven families went to court hoping for the judge to choose them to be the appropriate family to adopt him. However, what they didn’t realize that an eighth family was about to be thrown in the mix.

Mark and Linda Morales, a couple living in Texas with two children of their own already, were going through the process to become certified foster parents (Please note that they are related to the reporter). Their plan was to provide respite care, or babysitting, for foster children when their respective foster families had to go on a trip. Eventually they hoped that through this respite care process that they would meet a child, fall in love with them, and ultimately adopt them. However, as with many things in life, their path did not go according to plan. They had been working with a private agency, but somehow (which still remains unknown to this day) their file ended up in the hands of Child Protective Services. CPS believed that they would be the right fit for the child and wanted to bring their file in front of the judge, but there was a catch. If they were chosen, they would never get to meet the child first. They would just have to say yes. Seeing it as an open door, Mark and Linda decided to move forward and become the eighth family to be fighting for Steven, a boy they had never met that the other seven families had. They had tremendous doubts about whether they would be picked to become his parents. To their surprise, they were.

Two weeks later they jumped in the car with their two children and drove to meet the beautiful little boy that would become their third child. Immediately they clicked and it was as if he had always been a part of their family.“It saddened me that there are so many kids that don’t have a permanent home, that there are so many children in the system. We got involved because we wanted to make a difference in the life of a child”, said Mark in hindsight. “The process of going through everything was very thorough and it was a huge commitment, but it was also one of the greatest things I’ve done.” Steven got the luxury of being one of the approximate 4,500 children to be adopted each year in Texas. But what happens to the other 11,500 children each year who are trapped in the system, the 13,000 that are free to be adopted and are just waiting for a willing family to come along, and why is the number of adoptions such a small fraction of the whole?

Krystale Bezio, Senior Vice President of Program Operations for the Texas foster care organization Upbring, gave answers to some of these questions. “Typically, there are more waiting children than available homes. This is the number one cause related to the issue of a substantial number of children who are waiting for their permanent home. The same is true of the foster care system. There are often more children placed in foster care than there are number of foster homes”, said Bezio. “There is also the Child Right's lawsuit that has impacted [Texas] since the ruling back in December of 2015. This temporarily blocked placement of children into group foster homes (those serving more than 6 children), and created a placement crisis, leaving many children staying overnight at the CPS office until a placement could be found.” Bezio also points out a simple fact, “The number of children available for adoption has steadily increased, while the number of adoptive homes has decreased.”

Unfortunately, many people don’t want to undergo the long and tedious process that one must venture through in order to become a certified foster care provider or an adoptive parent. Steven’s adoptive family became so inspired by their experience that in 2014 after they had returned to their home state of New York they founded non for profit New York 1.27, a branch of Project 1.27, that is an advocacy group for foster care. “A lot of people don’t want to get involved. It’s a sacrifice. To go through the whole process you are opening up your whole life, your home, to government. They come in and check your home out. For the length of time that you are fostering they are “in” your house. A lot of people don't want to go through that. People see that as an intrusion in their private lives, but it’s for the safety of the child. It’s a real hurdle for a lot of people to jump over”, says Mark, founder of the organization. Linda has become a mentor for foster children through Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York and has learned first hand how many children remain in foster care due to their biological parents being unwilling to terminate their rights despite what is best for the child. “You can fall in love with a child and maybe never get them. You can be told ‘it looks like the rights are going to be terminated’ but it could take years. So you pose a question to yourself; do I wait for this child or do I pursue a child that is already free? Biological parents can have a lot more involvement than people think. Just because their child is in foster care doesn’t mean they don’t have rights.” For many, just the thought of falling in love with a child but there be the possibility that they can be torn away is a deterrent.

Social psychologist, parenting expert, and best-selling author Susan Newman gave additional insight to current circumstances. “I believe one of the reasons relates to age; most families want to adopt very young children”, she says, explaining why older child often float through foster care for years on end. This could be the cause as to why so many children age out of the foster care system and have no family to call their own as they venture into adulthood. In fact, over the last decade the average of children in Texas foster care who age out is nine percent. While that may not seem like a large portion out of the whole, that is still approximately 1,381 children each year who never find permanency. Over the course of a decade that equates to nearly 14,000 children who have been failed by the system.

So what can be done to fix this problem? Mark Morales gives a possible solution, “It comes down to education. People need to be educated on what is really going on in the lives of foster care children in our country. So many people go to adopt overseas when they don’t even realize how many children in need there are right in our own backyard. People need to be informed on the reality of foster care and adoption rather than basing it off of dramatized stories that they see on tv. These children are just like any other child, regardless of their familial situation. They want love. They want to know that someone sees them, that they’re valued, and they deserve that just as much as anyone else.”

#old work

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beingsarahmorales-blog · 8 years ago

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Did You Miss Something? - Old Work

The fear of missing out, or FOMO, as it is more popularly known, is something that many people experience on a day to day basis. FOMO is defined as “anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on a social media website.”

Society, as a whole, is much more connected than ever before and we are constantly bombarded with what everyone else is doing. Whatever the social media platform, we can see what our friends, celebrities, and even strangers are up to. This perpetuates the fear that we are missing out on something that everyone will be talking about.

One of the greatest proprietors of FOMO is Instagram, the photo sharing social media app. With Instagram gaining more and more popularity there’s a phrase that has begun being thrown around, “pics or it didn’t happen”, which basically is “a phrase used on Internet forums to counter the vast range of unverifiable claims made by users. Often these claims involve personal brag-worthy accomplishments, extraordinary or rare sights/occurrences”. This makes social media users, especially those on Instagram, more likely to post about the interesting or unique experiences they take part in, more likely to brag about those experiences, and in turn they increase the level of FOMO that their followers feel. In this era, although people seem to hate dealing with FOMO themselves, it appears as if they would want others to encounter FOMO while looking at their posts. This could be a way of making themselves feel accomplished or superior to others, as if they are doing something that others would be jealous of.

FOMO can still be experienced without scrolling through social media, however. There’s an iconic episode of the sitcom “How I Met Your Mother” entitled “Blitzgiving” that portrays FOMO amongst a group of adult friends. In this episode Steve “The Blitz” Henry, portrayed by Lost’s Jorge Garcia, is an old college friend of the group. He supposedly possesses “The Curse of the Blitz” which “is a curse that results in the victim missing epic, and sometimes miraculous, occurrences. The effect is so strong that the victim's absence is sometimes thought to be the very cause of the epic events”. In the episode, each time Steve leaves the room, something amazing and unbelievable occurs. This later transfers to different members of the group as they each make the mistake of ending up apart from the others. Notably, in the time that the show’s token womanizer, Barney, is “The Blitz”, he misses out on the group being a part of the 2010 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, as well as seeing a coin landing perfectly balanced on it’s side after being tossed. While the group is celebrating, witnessing remarkable things, and creating new inside jokes, whoever is “The Blitz” is missing out.

While “How I Met Your Mother” portrays FOMO in an exaggerated way, it still cleverly comments on something that many people experience at least once in their life. Popular Youtuber, Ingrid Nilsen, posted a video regarding FOMO in February of 2015. She discusses an article from “Darling Magazine” and quotes it as saying “this fear can have a paralyzing effect on our lives, it can lead us to second guess the value of our jobs, our relationships, and even our own worth. When we let fear guide our decisions, we may say yes to things we don’t actually care about and no to things that we love, because we are afraid that we are missing out on what others value, even if it isn’t anything that we really desire”. This quote really says something about the human condition. Many people have the tendency to take part in something that they don’t really care about simply to say they were there and that they experienced it.

A High School student, who experiences FOMO often, told a story of a day in gym class in which she had the opportunity to go down a giant zipline. She is terrified of heights, but didn’t want to miss out on the shared experience that her classmates were taking part in. She didn’t want to be the one left out. Thus, she went down the zipline, only to be met with paralyzing fear when she was left dangling at the bottom until the teachers could bring over the ladder to let her down. She regretted her decision, but she didn’t miss out. However, did that make the experience really worth it? That situation was right in her face, she had the choice to be a part of it or not. Social media, doesn’t give us that option. We can’t jump through our screen and join in on the fun, perhaps that is why FOMO has become something that is now on the minds of people more than ever before. We can see what we are missing out on, but we can’t do anything to change in that immediate moment. If anything, social media makes FOMO so much worse.

Another High School student was observed at a family get-together. Despite having so many people around to talk to, she didn’t engage in conversation with them, but instead was glued to her phone. When asked what she was doing, she responded that she was on social media seeing what her friends were up to. Is there something wrong with that picture? By being afraid of missing out on what her friends were doing, she was missing out on what her family all around her was doing. Social media has a very expert way of making people feel so connected, yet so isolated all at once.

By giving in to FOMO, people are robbing themselves from enjoying the moment they are currently experiencing. Even if your friends are out partying and you are at home, hanging out with your family or just relaxing, that can still be a moment worthwhile, as those things are just as important, and in many cases if not more. So what would the easy solution be? To take pause and simply live in the current moment? To appreciate the experiences that we take part in first hand? To turn off any electronic devices and unplug? If only it was that simple. There is the constant pull to know what others are doing so at least when they bring it up, we aren’t completely out of the loop. Thus, we continue to scroll... and scroll... and scroll…

Have you experienced FOMO recently?

#old work

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beingsarahmorales-blog · 8 years ago

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Don’t Be A Spoil Sport - Old Work

Picture this; you’re scrolling through your social media feeds, catching up on what your friends were doing last night and checking out what the hottest celebrities are wearing to Coachella this year when all of a sudden, without any warning at all, a spoiler about your favorite television show is before you. Your well meaning friend is ranting about how your favorite character was killed off in last week’s episode, an episode that you haven’t gotten the chance to see yet. How do you proceed?

Now what exactly is a spoiler? A spoiler, or rather the act of spoiling, is defined as the moment “when someone reveals a previously unknown aspect of something which you likely would have rather learned on your own”, specifically of the film or television variety. Some people don’t mind spoilers, in fact, there are a substantial amount of people who enjoy them. Popular blogger, Reality Steve, has a website specifically dedicated to spoilers for the Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise. His website is for those people who don’t want to wait through an entire season to find out what jaw-dropping things are going to happen and what winner will be chosen at the end. Some people like knowing who the winner is in advance so that they can focus in on that person and follow their love story with the Bachelor/Bachelorette.

For many fans of fiction based television shows having access to spoilers is a wonderful and welcomed thing as it allows them to know what is going to happen in advance so that they can prepare themselves. Fans can become incredibly attached to the characters whose lives they follow week to week and it can be extremely hard to say goodbye when a character leaves the show or is killed off, regardless of the fact that that character isn’t a real person. Spoilers give them the much needed time to get themselves ready for what is about to happen. A show like “The Walking Dead” that kills off many of it’s characters, is a great example of this. Many fans like knowing who will die before they sit down to watch so that they know it is coming and it won’t be as hard to witness it unfold on the screen. Often times, people check spoilers to make sure the one who is going to die isn’t their favorite character. If that’s the case, they might abandon the show altogether.

Another internet person who discusses television and film spoilers is Andre Meadows of the Youtube Channel BlackNerdComedy. However, he has found a creative way to cater to fans who like spoilers and hate them alike. Very often on his channel he reviews a movie or show, specifically those that are deemed “nerdy”, and goes the extra step of making two separate versions on the same topic. He posts a spoiler free version and a version that goes more in depth, completely filled with spoilers. His choice to do this allows him to appeal to a greater audience of people. Fans who don’t like spoilers can watch the spoiler free version first to see whether the movie or show is something worth watching and then come back later to watch the spoiler filled version as a type of deeper discussion. On the opposite end, the fans who do like spoilers can skip right to the spoiler version if they wish to and know exactly what is going to happen before they step foot into a theater or turn on their tv.

The problem with spoilers isn’t the fact that they exist, but the fact that people aren’t careful about dispersing them correctly. BlackNerdComedy takes extra care to label his videos as spoiler free and spoiler filled, however, most people aren’t that thoughtful. While it is so easy to tag a post as being filled with spoilers, many people don’t even entertain the thought of doing so. They are so excited to talk about what they have just seen that they aren’t thinking about the people who want to wait and see it for themselves. Spoilers ruin the fun of being in the moment and watching something on screen happen as it happens. They lessen the gravity of the “OMG” moments that television and film writers are going for and does those writers a disservice as well. They spend so much time on their creative works and someone at any time can come along and post a spoiler that will so quickly ruin any element of surprise. Think of it like a Christmas present. Children so often sneak into their parents’ closets to get a glimpse of what they are getting prior to Christmas morning. While they are still going to get that gift, since they have already seen it, their reactions aren’t as strong as if they had waited. Not only are they short-handing themselves, but their parents as well, as they are robbed of the joy of seeing their children view the present for the first time. The same goes for spoilers, the audience viewing them, and the creators behind the creative work.

There are a set of fans, the “diehards”, who absolutely despise knowing anything in advance about the movies and shows that they are wholeheartedly invested in. These are the same people who would never dare seek out a Christmas present before it was time to open it. Spoilers are surprise ruiners, and they’re everywhere. These people are wise to avoid social media at all costs if they haven’t seen the most recent episode of their favorite show, for they know what they would be risking if they logged on. However, simply this isn’t enough to escape the clutches of the dreaded spoiler as even television commercials contain spoilers. Sure, they’re great for those who are excited for the next episode, but for those who haven’t seen the last one they can ruin the fun. The worst, for some of those fans however, is when they’re sitting at the table with their family, minding their own business, eating the delicious meal before them, when someone blurts out a spoiler over dinner conversation. They’re family! Shouldn’t they know better?! You would think so, but so often they don’t.

Beware spoilers. They’re everywhere and they will find you.

#old work

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beingsarahmorales-blog · 8 years ago

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So THIS Is Love - Old Work

Classic Disney princess films have portrayed love in the same nature since the Prince woke Snow White up with true love’s kiss. However, with feminist ideas becoming increasingly prevalent in today’s society, Disney has begun putting out films that mirror those ideals.

The 2015 live action adaptation of Cinderella steps out of the traditional Disney formula and shows love in an updated light for the modern era. While it still has elements of the classic film like Cinderella losing her glass slipper at the ball and the Prince finding her by having women all throughout the kingdom try it on, this version possesses much more depth. Cinderella, portrayed by Downton Abbey’s Lily James, and Prince Kit played by Richard Madden of Game of Thrones fame, breathe new life into characters who have been stereotyped for so long.

As far as the title character herself, James brings something special to Cinderella that other portrayals of her have lacked. Her Cinderella has true compassion and doesn’t whine about her situation, but faces it head on and continues to go through it with humility and grace. This version of the classic fairytale does a great job of giving much more of Cinderella’s backstory, which sets it far apart from the original. Her formidable years are shown, giving insight into why she is the type of person she is. She doesn’t lash out at the cruel people in her life and it is because of how her mother and father raised her. At the beginning of the film, her mother tells her, “I have to tell you a secret that will see you through all the trials that life can offer. Have courage and be kind.” This is the mantra that Cinderella lives by and is the basis for the entire film.

One of the greatest strengths of this film is that it doesn’t portray Cinderella as a damsel in distress. She and Kit, regardless of social status, are equals. He isn’t rescuing her and she isn’t arm candy. In the past, Disney has portrayed a type of love that can leave their young audience believing that this is the way love should be, not just one of many options. However, in this case, Disney does a great job of stepping out of the traditional love-at-first-sight, true-love’s-kiss, guy-sweeps-girl-off-her-feet type of romance, showing a type of love that seems much more natural and authentic. Their love happens in stages, with the foundation for their relationship being put in place well before the ball, only adding further to the more realistic feel.

If you were to show only one of the Cinderella adaptations to young girls, it should be this one. It promotes female strength, shows how a woman could be a well-rounded, multi-faceted individual while still having love in her life, and that wanting love doesn’t correlate to being weak. This mirrors the traits of other recent strong female leads like The Hunger Games’s Katniss Everdeen and Divergent’s Tris Prior, however, Cinderella would be a much more appropriate alternative to show young girls what strong women can look like as it is free of violence. This film shows how a woman doesn’t have to be one thing and one thing only. She can be both courageous and kind and one doesn’t have to cancel out the other.

The characters in this Cinderella update feel real, as if they are out there in the world somewhere living their lives. While it’s a fairytale, it isn’t as farfetched as the original cartoon and the message is completely different. It isn’t about a damsel in distress finding a prince to rescue her, but how with courage and kindness the damsel can rescue herself. The prince is just a nice bonus.

#old work

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beingsarahmorales-blog · 8 years ago

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The Secret of The Doctor - Old Work

Knock knock. Who’s there? Doctor. Doctor Who?

For fifty three years people have fallen in love with The Doctor, a time-traveling alien from the planet Gallifrey who traverses through time and space, saving the universe with the help of his “companions”.

The Doctor himself is a unique fellow, as he has the unusual gift of regeneration. When he dies, he regenerates in a new body with slightly different personality traits. Each time this occurs, he is portrayed by a new actor. Currently, there have been thirteen incarnations of him total.

Perhaps this is the secret to the show’s success. It is ingrained in the Fans, or “Whovians” as they are called, that there will always be a change. Their favorites will leave and new characters will take their place. It isn’t a shock, but a common trend, thus making it more acceptable when it occurs. It becomes exciting to see what a new actor will bring to the role and how they will continue on with The Doctor’s story. Since he is a time traveler, the stories could go on for all eternity. This gives the writers freedom, because they aren’t confined to time specific storylines as The Doctor is then and now all at once.

In fact, in one episode, “Vincent and the Doctor”, The Eleventh Doctor befriends Vincent Van Gogh and brings him to the Musée d'Orsay in Paris to show him how much his work will be adored in the future. While it helps Van Gogh in the moment, it ultimately doesn’t change his fate, as his suicide remains a fixed point in history.

In that moment, The Doctor tells his companion, Amy, “The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don't always soften the bad things, but vice-versa, the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things and make them unimportant.” This one phrase seems to encompass The Doctor’s life. Some days are devastating, his companions leave, sending him on a search for new ones to fill the void, but each day is a moment that he treasures in the great span of his infinite life. He takes the good and the bad and appreciates them for what they are; the memories of his life and the only thing that is his true constant.

Doctor Who returns in 2017 with actor Peter Capaldi continuing in his role as the Doctor. However, he will have a new companion as his last one, Clara Oswald, portrayed by Jenna Coleman, has moved on. It will be exciting to see who the creators bring in next to be by the Doctor’s side and where (and when) their adventures will take them. Whatever happens, it is sure to be a wild ride, and the Whovians can’t wait to jump back into it. As the Doctor says when he jumps into something new “GERONIMO!”

#old work

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beingsarahmorales-blog · 8 years ago

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Wild Success (Rachel Platten Album Review) - Old Work

Massachusetts native Rachel Platten earned worldwide success in 2015 with her singles “Fight Song” and “Stand By You”. This sudden rise in popularity caused a buzz surrounding the release of her album “Wildfire” on the first of the new year, and it did not disappoint.

The album, while credited as indie pop, seems to have a mirade of different influences. Some songs like “Better Place” have more of a singer-songwriter quality to them like Platten is known for, while her collaboration with fellow musician, Andy Grammer, on “Hey Hey Hallelujah” has something akin to a hip hop vibe. “Wildfire” shows the versatility that Platten possesses and her willingness to experiment with and appreciate different sounds. The different genres that she dabbles in show her strengths and weaknesses, but it’s refreshing to see an artist willing to go out of their comfort zone. It’s even more impressive to see an artist try something different than what they have had bountiful success in. Therein lies the secret to true artistry, the willingness to take risks. While each song is unique and very distinct from one another, they still stay true to who Platten is as an artist.

Platten’s strong suit is without a doubt the power ballad. Here, her vocals shine above all else. The stripped down songs on the album are the standouts that set her apart from other pop stars today. “Better Place” has a simple tone to it with Platten’s crystal clear voice accompanied by a piano and violin that give it an angelic quality and a haunting beauty. If anyone questions Platten’s ability and thinks that she just got lucky with singles that gained quick popularity, they should listen to this song.

Platten was a writer on every single song on the album, giving her more control over what she produces. She isn’t a cookie cutter popstar singing something a producer tosses at her. She’s singing about what she believes in and that can be heard in her voice. Her voice and heart shine through with each song. “Fight Song” was written with her personal experiences in mind. She wrote it about believing in herself even when it seemed impossible to make it in the music industry. It’s an anthem song that everyone can draw their own meaning from. Unlike many pop songs in recent years, this song doesn’t simply rely on a good beat, but has an inspiring message and grows towards a crescendo that makes the listener feel something. While it’s a song you can dance to, it’s more than that. It’s a song of empowerment.

“Wildfire”, like any album, has it’s highs and lows, but overall, Platten’s work is progressive in a time when pop songs are beginning to all sound the same. She is a breath of a fresh air and her versatility is exciting. Her daring, bold choices set her apart and definitely make her an artist worth listening to.

#old work

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beingsarahmorales-blog · 8 years ago

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Lord Of The Rings & Christianity - Old Work

The Lord of the Rings is a film trilogy that has Christ-like symbolism all throughout. The author of the trilogy, J.R.R Tolkien was a Christian himself, so it makes sense that references to Christianity could be seen once it was adapted for the big screen.

In my opinion there are many characters that can exemplify different aspects of the life of Christ. One such character would be Samwise Gamgee, the “side-kick” character who helps Frodo Baggins on his journey to destroy the “One Ring”. He is there for Frodo no matter what, through the good times and the bad, and is the person that helps Frodo to stay strong. He has one quote in which he says to Frodo “I can’t carry it for you but I can carry you” in reference to the ring. Samwise won’t carry the ring itself because he won’t put himself near the temptation, he resists and does not fall prey to it like so many other characters do. The ring represents Frodo’s burden that he has to bear, similar to the burdens we have to carry throughout life. This is similar to a Christian’s walk with God. God doesn’t always make our problems disappear and take them all upon himself to fix. Often times he is there to help us through. He “carries us” as we work through our problems.

Samwise also refuses to leave Frodo, despite Frodo’s attempts to go on without the gardener. He tries to leave on a boat but Sam will not have it and he chases after Frodo, regardless of the fact that he doesn’t know how to swim. This is similar to the verse in the Bible in Deuteronomy 31:6 that says, "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." God would never leave us, despite if we try to leave him, and the same goes for Sam with Frodo.

Sam seems to suffer alongside Frodo, he feels his pain and goes through it all with him. His heart breaks when Frodo’s does and he never allows Frodo to feel alone. This is similar to the idea of a suffering God. Christians believe that God feels our pain and sympathizes with us. When we grieve, he grieves. He is in tune with us and our emotions and wants the best for his people.

Gandalf portrays a specific aspect of Jesus’s persona as well. Throughout all of his journeys, he is gathering people to help in the fight for good. This is similar to how Jesus gathered his disciples to help spread the word of God. Gandalf also sacrifices himself for his friends when he battles the Balrog, putting himself between the beast and his comrades. He sacrifices himself so that the others can escape and continue on their task. Jesus’s crucifixion can be compared to this as they both laid down their life for others. In John 15:13 in the Bible it is said that “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend”. This can be seen in both Gandalf and Jesus as they sacrifice themselves so that others may live. Gandalf in the sense that his friends can continue on in their mission, and Jesus in the sense that we can now have eternal life in heaven because of his death on the cross.

However, similar to Jesus, Gandalf does not remain dead. No, he returns as Gandalf the White and continues on to help in the battle for good. This is reminiscent of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus returns and brings back hope to the world. Gandalf does the same for Middle Earth.

Another aspect of Christ is evident in the character of Aragorn. He is the true king, however, the first time we see him on screen he doesn’t look like the typical king we think of. He isn’t wearing a crown covered with jewels but a dark colored hood with an almost dirty appearance. In Jesus’s time, people doubted that he was the true king because of how he appeared. He arrived to the world as a baby and became a carpenter’s son. He didn’t come on a horse with an army. He wasn’t commanding or demanding. He was a simple, humble man who lived his life the way a good person should. However, none of this changed who he truly was, the son of God.

Appearance wise, Aragorn looks similar to typical depictions of Jesus. He has the beard and medium length dark hair that is absolutely reminiscent of the styles that is believed for men to have worn back during Jesus’s times. I do not know whether this was done on purpose or not, however, if so, it was a great choice for his character. It’s a subtle nod to Jesus that believers would be able to pick out.

Aragorn also goes out of his way to protect the Hobbits, just like God protects his children. The Hobbits as a whole represent a childlike faith. In Mark 10:13-16 it states “And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.” That being said, I think it is important to note that the person chosen with the job of carrying the ring (as well as three of his companions) was a childlike character. Hobbits are small like children, youthful looking, energetic and exuberant. Merry and Pippin even more so exemplify childlike behavior with their songs and dances and mischief that they get into. However, they are also characters that help turn pinnacle moments in the story, such as Merry in battle, or Pippin’s warning that Faramir was still alive when he was about to be burned. They may seem small but they can do mighty things. As Balin the dwarf says in The Hobbit film, “It never ceases to amaze me: the courage of Hobbits”. Personally, I believe that the same could be said for children. They are more resilient than people think and shouldn’t be underestimated.

Apart from Frodo, there is also a “company” who travels with him in order to complete the job of getting the room to Mount Doom. This group includes Frodo, of course, Samwise, Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, Boromir, Merry, and Pippin. They are from all different groups and classes, similar to how Jesus picked different types of people to be his disciples. They help out in the fight for good and aid Frodo in achieving his goal.

Uncharacteristically for his time, Jesus also included women in his teachings and his group of followers. He brought about the idea that men and women could be portrayed on equal footing. In The Lord of the Rings, Éowyn is an example of this. She shows how women are in fact equal to men by taking up her sword and charging into battle, killing an adversary that no man had been able to. In fact she said in response to “no man can kill me” by saying “I am no man”.

A blatant representation of the antithesis of the Jesus Christ way of life is the temptation that many characters go through as a result of coming close to the Ring. Some characters let the ring take full control over them, such as Gollum who at one point was a normal looking Hobbit-like creature, but became a decrepit shell of his former self. This symbolizes both how sin can eat away at you until you are virtually unrecognizable as the person you used to be and life without Christ. However, temptation can also be more subtle, such as the times Frodo uses the ring, despite being warned not to use it. He sees it as almost an easy way out of difficult and sometimes dangerous situations. It seems harmless at the time, and even helpful, however, he doesn’t realize the toll that using the ring will take on his psyche. This is similar to “little sins” or “white lies” that we go through in life, things that Christianity warns us of as the little things can pile up over time until they can snowball and we get stuck in a web that we can’t get out of.

Another example of the antithesis of Christ would come in the form of Saruman. He’s deceitful. He is what I refer to as “evil in a pretty package”. At first, he looks like he is doing good. He’s all dressed in white, putting off an air of purity when in fact he is anything but. Gandalf, who is supposed to be so incredibly wise, is even tricked by Saruman. In Matthew 24:24 it says “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” Gandalf was blinded by the fact that Saruman was supposed to be his friend that he couldn’t discern the evil that Saruman possessed.

Who is Jesus? To me, Jesus is a friend. While being divine, I also see him for who he was as a human as I find that side of him easiest to relate to as I am obviously a human myself. I can see how he lived and apply it to myself as a means of guidelines on how to live my own life. I feel like regardless of your perspective on religion, you can take his way of life and apply it to your own. Such as how he treated others, not being judgemental, being caring and going out of his way to help people, as well as many other positive traits. Jesus is someone I can look to as a positive example whose lifestyle can still apply in modern day. He’s a much better role model than those that people consider role models today and more people should look to him for how to live their lives.

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beingsarahmorales-blog · 8 years ago

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The Youtube Celebrity - Old Work

Have you ever dreamed of making thousands of dollars from home without having a demanding boss to answer to? Youtubers have discovered the secret to making this dream a reality.

What is a “Youtuber” exactly? Urban dictionary describes it as “Someone who uploads youtube videos, particularly someone who has some what of a fan base”. The “Youtuber” has become a form of internet celebrity that is slowly integrating itself into traditional forms of entertainment.

Youtubers have become authors, created make-up lines, clothing lines, as well as have competed on Dancing With The Stars. Youtube is no longer simply a site that hosts videos of cute cats and clumsy people falling, but has become a springboard for individuals to create a brand for themselves.

Bethany Mota, an 18 year old Californian, was the first Youtuber to appear on Dancing With The Stars. Her appearance on the show brought more light to the website to those outside of the “digital native” population. According to an article from Yahoo Finance it is estimated that Bethany’s Youtube Channel “Macbarbie07”, which revolves around beauty and fashion makes approximately $40,000 per month. Mota runs her channel herself, shooting, editing, and uploading the videos all on her own. She’s her own boss. The article goes on to quote Mota as saying “Every time I post a video I make sure to go to the comment section, and I reply to their comments,” she says. "I really utilize all of my social networking sites.” Mota recognizes the importance of her fanbase as they are the ones who make or break her career. She, as well as many Youtubers, go out of their way to make connections with their fans, creating a friendship that goes beyond the computer screen.

One of the most vital aspects to the success of Youtubers would be how avid they are about interacting with their viewers. From replying to tweets or mentioning subscribers in their videos, Youtubers understand the importance of making their viewers feel involved in their work. Many Youtubers take advantage of Youtube conventions such as VidCon, a convention started by popular Youtubers John and Hank Green where they can meet their fans face to face. Most Youtubers like to refer to their viewers as friends rather than fans as they themselves don’t feel like they are celebrities. Louise Pentland, a British Youtuber, made a video about this topic on May 6th of 2014. She comments that she believes that Youtubers are normal people and “shouldn’t be put on a pedestal”. However, the screams of those attending VidCon prove that Youtubers are put on a pedestal regardless. Kids are waiting in lines for hours at “meet-ups”, paying hundreds of dollars to do so, to meet their favorite content creators, even if all that waiting only results in a minute or two of actual interaction. Their viewers are dedicated, just like fans of any celebrity.

Apart from American Youtubers, UK Youtubers are taking the website by storm. 24 year old Zoe Sugg, or Zoella as she is known online, is a British Youtuber who has taken full advantage of the opportunities that Youtube offers. Sugg is a beauty vlogger (video blogger) with a following of 8.5 million subscribers, who started out making videos about makeup, hair, and fashion in her bedroom in Brighton. Now she has a two book deal with Penguin Books, a range of lotions, bath bombs, and perfumes, as well as won awards from the Kid’s Choice and Teen Choice Awards among many others. Sugg can be seen at nearly every Youtube Convention, thanking her fans for their support.

For Sugg, Youtube is no longer just a hobby, it’s a full time job. No Youtubers have come out and said their true “salary” however, from observing their videos, one can see that they live quite comfortably. Unlike mainstream celebrities, however, Youtubers who are incredibly famous aren’t typically household names unless teenagers live there. Zoe Sugg has gained the nickname the “most famous woman in Britain you’ve never heard of”, exemplifying how Youtubers have a very niche group of fans. Youtube allows for a branch of entertainment that is unheard of in the mainstream world. The current top Youtuber with the most subscribers, 32,850,330 to be exact, is Felix Kjellberg or PewDiePie, which is the name most of his fans, called “bros”, know him by. Kjellberg specializes in video game walkthroughs and commentary. Perhaps why he is doing so well, apart from his personality and comedy that he puts into each video, is that there is relatively no competition from mainstream media. According to an article by Business Insider it is estimated that Kjellberg’s yearly income is between $825,000 - $8.47 million.

So what’s the real secret to the success of Youtubers? The fans. Without a firm fanbase of dedicated subscribers, Youtubers would be nothing. With the help of everyday people, Youtubers are becoming successful, wealthy celebrities in their own right and if the success of Youtube continues, in the future they just might become some of the most notable people in the world, mainstream included. The best part? Anyone can become a Youtuber.

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