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Stereotypes are a big part of our society, whether we realize it or not. Often times media plays a big part in amplifying the stereotypes into everyday life by playing into jokes and extreme views. 

Finding the balance between comedy and rude is something that often gets crossed when exploring these sensitive subjects. Also, comedy is all subjective. What some may find funny, others may find offensive. All of our lived experiences play into our opinions and often contribute to the way our society views one another. 

Stereotypes are typically an exaggerated, rude, but funny play into how people or things act. They should not be taken seriously, but instead they should be a way to express humor in our day to day interactions with one another. When people take everything seriously, our lives become dull and superficial. It is important to brace one another and show love. 

However, when comedy crosses the line, which is sometimes fuzzy, it can be just plane harmful and ill tasteful. 

One example of this is blackface. What was once a way for white actors to play Black slaves later got picked up by actors and comics for humor. The costume / face paint is generally played into a negative light and does very little good for our society. Mainstream actors such as Robert Downey Jr. and Jimmy Fallon have both done blackface in their careers. At the time, it didn’t receive too much controversy, but years later when people decided that wasn’t ok, Fallon came out and apologized. 

Societal norms are constantly changing and it is up to us, the people, to decide when to stand up, when to laugh and when to make change. We all have the power to do something special in this world, whether it be making people laugh, showing love or performing a talent, we all need to do it with purpose and integrity. 

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To publish or to not publish

Ethics in journalism has been a topic of discussion since the origin of the printing press. As the field grows and expands the ideas of what should and should not be published in the news media has adapted with the norms of society. Today, people have a much different reasonable expectation of privacy than in years past. With this comes the ethics of journalism and deciding where the line is drawn between public and private. Furthermore, photojournalists and editors have had to debate over ethics for quite some time.

In the presentation, the group displayed a few famous images that have caused controversy in the world. One being the fallen man originally printed on the cover of Time magazine, and the other being the starving child next to a crow. Both of which show the grueling truth of the world.

Everyday people sometimes don’t want to see the ugly sides of humanity. People often try to visualize a utopian society, but journalists and especially photojournalists are here to show the most accurate side of life through their craft.

However, it is up to the editors choice to balance that thin line and provide the public with information that they should see.

The group did a great job showing the controversy and discussing the rights and wrongs of the images. They also brought up a good point that if they never published those images, would we still be talking about the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center without them? Would we still care about the families that lost their loved ones. The answer is probably, but I would argue that it would be very little.

Journalists have helped bring light to the situation. Sometimes it is ugly, but without journalists and photographers a lot of people would still be living in the dark about some of lifes most disgusting truths.

[magnificentgardengalaxy]

Qanon v. Antifa

Along with the rise of social media, extremist groups have been able to gain more attention as people are connecting with new ideas from people across the globe. The presentation last Thursday did a great job explaining the groups and what has allowed them to gain tracking recently. 

The differences between Qanon and Antifia are great in their ideas, but small in their execution. For some background, Qanon is a far-right political organization that is mainly rooted in spreading information online. A lot of their views are looked at as conspiracy theories due to the choice of information that they have to back up the claims. The group gained a lot of attention during former President Donald Trump’s time in office. He pushed a lot of their ideas to the forefront of the conversation.

Some blame the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol on the far-right group. A lot of the conspiracies of “stealing the election” and that Trump would remain in office gained nationwide attention during that time. 

And on the other hand the United States of America had Antifia gaining worldwide attention during the 2020 summer protests following the death of George Floyd. The group stands for Anti fascists and some believe that President Trump’s narratives were supportive of fascists and were threatening our democracy. 

The group is known for wearing all Black clothing and taking to the streets to protest and cause damage to public buildings. 

The rise in both groups points to the damaging results of social media. I would say that majority of people in the U.S. would have very similar political beliefs, but we have drawn apart based on what is seen on the face level of social media. 

The future of these groups is strange and unknown. All I would say is that we need to look for the common things amongst each other. We need to seek kindness and acceptance in order to grow together. 

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Walking the tightrope between Activism and Journalism

The balance between journalism and activism is something that journalists have been struggling for since the invention of the printing press in the 1400s. Whether telling a breaking news story or uncovering an unjust way of life, it is up to journalists and news organizations to make the call and balance the tightrope. 

As a journalist it is important to be neutral in your reporting, look at all sides of the story and tell the most accurate story possible. These guidelines and ethics have been pushed and twisted over the years, but they have remained intact for the most part. 

Many journalists have been able to tell both sides of the story while also shedding light on shocking situations. One example that I have studied and learned more about from the presentation is Lewis Hine. Hine was able to assist in putting an end to child labor in the United State with his documentary photographs. Hine used life's greatest measure — photographs — to show the troubling truths of the world. 

His passion for storytelling, shedding light on underrepresented voices and photography is one of the truest forms the mesh between activism and journalism.

In the end, we are all human, even the journalist. It is up to us (the journalists) to make the choice and know when to stand up for something and when to sit down. This shift was present during the protests last summer revolving around the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Many journalists and news organizations were using their platform to express how they felt, even though it wasn’t clear and cut down the middle.

All in all, it is a difficult situation to comprehend and the only one who knows the correct answer is you, the journalist. The consequences can be present, but the results and rewards can be plentiful and lifechanging.

[magnificentgardengalaxy]

Through my research I was thrilled to learn about the detailed relationship between Chief White House Photographer Pete Souza and former President Barack Obama. I was fascinated to see the intimate relationship that was born from their 8 years together. Pete Souza grew with the Obamas, watched the young girls grow up, and then showed the authenticity of the presidency. 

 Furthermore, Shealah Craighead, the Chief Official White House Photographer, under President Donald Trump did not have the same experience as Pete Souza. Craigheads images did not display the same intimate moments that Souza was able to show off. It is pretty clear that Craighead was not allowed the same access as Pete. It almost looks like she has the same access as the other white house pool photographers, which is probably true. 

 Some criticized Craighead for her images, saying she was not technically sound for the job. But there are just some many layers behind the scenes that we just don't know about. Some are, but not limited to: Did the press secretary go through all of the images and pick some out, did Trump talk down on her, was she able to have any one on one time with the president? All of these questions mean so much about the job as a photographer. 

 When a subject does not open up, it is very hard for a photographer to get those powerful images. Craighead struggled to get those, because of so many obstacles in the way. 

 Pete on the other hand, was able to go anywhere, stay as long as he wanted and capture images until he was pleased. Pete and Barack’s relationship grew over the years. Pete was there for everything. Whether it be a stressful moment, such as when Obama was watching the Osama bin Laden raid or when Barack was playing in the snow with his young daughters. 

 Everyone knew these presidents were near polar opposites, but the images conveyed during the two presidencies show off those differences. To add on, the majority of the images made of President Trump show him in a posed nature ready for the photo. The thing about photographs, and specifically candid photographs is that they allow the audience to feel like they know the person a little bit better. They can relate in some aspects when someone lets their guard down like Obama. The images of Trump leave him to look like his past — a reality star. 

 As Trump took office and began placing policy, Pete Souza openly opposed Trump and his views. Often taking to Twitter and Instagram to show how Obama handled similar situations, Pete was able to show that Trump was different, but in a bad way. 

 Some criticized Souza for this, saying he was a journalist and he should remain neutral. But to clear things up, he is retired, he doesn't work for anyone, and he has a look into such rare circumstances that he is realistically the only person to speak up about some situations. 

 Pete also discusses how Trump is lacking authenticity and openness with the public. This can be seen in Craigheads images, as Trump and his press secretary controlled the images, the access and what the public saw. 

 In an interview Pete talks about the comparison and how he is standing up for what’s right. 

 “I know what happens in the Oval Office, and that’s what scares me. I come at this from a very unique perspective. Not just having been a journalist, but also having worked for two different presidents,” Pete said. “Unlike his predecessor, Mr. Trump does not allow his staff photographer to capture photos of life and work in the White House. 

Life is what makes us humans all similar and different at the same time. When someone isn't allowed to show life, they seem lifeless, and that’s how Trump’s presidency felt to a lot of people. 

 His constant brigade against the press was exhausting and evident in the access that Craighead was offered. 

 Pete Souza now has a book titled “Shade : A tale of two presidencies” which talks about the comparison from his perspective using images, anecdotes and more. This medium will allow the reader to get a closer look at the differences. Also, humans and Americans adapt quickly. While we may not know it or think of it, a lot of people got used to Trump’s bizarre nature of handling situations. Pete Souza helped keep the American people grounded in their beliefs that the presidency is a serious and noble job.

 Sources:

https://www.theverge.com/2017/4/2/15140892/trump-white-house-photographer-shealah-craighead-vs-pete-souza-obama

https://www.instagram.com/petesouza/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L4ktHbelhc&t=34s&ab_channel=FocusFeatures

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgI65EeauJ8&ab_channel=CBSSundayMorning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYeocCCENeg&ab_channel=TheDailyShowwithTrevorNoah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bEBDBqBSbA&ab_channel=MSNBC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWKP9etf9lk&t=905s&ab_channel=VanityFair

[magnificentgardengalaxy]

Hard to see beyond the thin lines.

The mainstream media has often been ridiculed in the last 5- 10 years for their blantient misinformation, and lack of appealing to both sides without bias. This story of the Kentucky High school students is another example of that. 

The moment the video surfaced, it must have been a feeding frenzy in those newsrooms. A white boy wearing a MAGA hat mocking an older indigenous man. The type of story that fuels hatred and division in the world, that would often go overlooked before the cellphone age. While that isn't the point, it just adds onto the complexity of the changing digital media.

Furthermore, the mainstream news media on the left played into the hatred and division that Donald Trump brings to our country. They didn't think of to look for a “longer video” because that doesn’t usually happen. But they should have looked to find the whole story. Often times without even reaching out to the main source the mainstream news networks will open these stories up to the world and say things that are just blantily not true. 

And then on the right, we have Fox news saying that this is just a form of political activism and he didn't do anything wrong. While some of the students may be laughing, it is their right political right to laugh at whoever they want. 

Before the full video surfaced, I was a little confused. On one hand, I was thinking, “what an ass, just laughing at someone right in the eyes, most likely with highly opposing political views.” But then I started thinking of the whole situation and I knew I did not know the whole story. 

I couldn't go side with the left or the right, because I just didn't have the facts. On the surface I would have leaned to the left on this issue, but I soon realized that I am part of the problem that has been dividing the country apart. We are so eager to find the information so quickly and make decisions based on those loose facts. 

It just goes to show that we never know the whole story of a situation, no matter how clear it looks on the surface.

[magnificentgardengalaxy]

The Hollywood Walk of Fame. Often looked at as the heart of Los Angeles and more specifically Hollywood. The unique strip of the city is usually filled with tourists, sunshine and street performers, however, Al Seib’s image for the L.A. Times shows a different Hollywood Walk of Fame, one that is more accurate for the times of today. 

In the image we see someone dressed up as a Star Wars Stormtrooper. While this would be strange anywhere else in the world, it's fitting for the strip. Next my eyes go to the umbrella that the Stromtrooper is holding. The umbrella on the walk of fame is something somewhat unique. The sun hiding behind the dark winter clouds asks as a symbol for the unsettling future in the Country. 

Behind the Stormtrooper, we can see the iconic Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood boarded up with rainbow fists from the protests last summer. The reminiscence of the wall shows the long and challenging year we have faced in L.A. The empty sidewalks is just another sign of the changing times in L.A. 

And even the Stormtrooper themself. Going out to the wet sidewalks of Hollywood, just hoping some tourists will take photos with them, even though they are aware that the sidewalks will most likely be empty due to travel restrictions, rain and lack of business. It is uncertain what struggles that individual is going through, but it is evident that the times are changing. ---

The second image I chose also comes from the L.A. Times staff. The photograph is made by Kent Nishimura who was staying in Washington D.C. during the Capital Riots and through the Inauguration. The image shown is taken during former President Trump’s last night in office and has many different symbolic imagery present. For example, the small American flags dispersed throughout the Capitol grounds represent the many Americans who can not attend the inauguration in person due to the pandemic. Furthermore, they represent the unity (or maybe lack there of it) after the mob took over the United States Capitol just days before. 

The dark sky represents the darkness of our Country however, the bright Capitol and lights surrounding show signs of life, light and liberty. Almost as the light at the end of the tunnel the Capitol is the both in the center of the image and main eye grabber. 

The image represents the past, present and future all in one long-exposure image. The colors pop and the throw the eyes down the frame. The light vertical streaks of light on the outer edges seem to represent the lost lives of COVID acting as ghosts. While this is just my opinion, it has been both a dark and bright 2020. THe image serves as a landmark to the struggles we have faced as a country. 

The L.A. Times has always done an excellent job conveying imagery in the images they make, and this year was no exception. I am excited to follow along their coverage in the future as life goes on.

[magnificentgardengalaxy]

From an early age I have always had my camera out, driven to tell a story.

I grew up in the greater Sacramento area playing sports, swimming in the river — the traditional suburban life in California. While I had always appreciated my upbringing, I always knew I wanted to experience more. More people, more culture, more ethnicity and so on. As I approached the end of the high school years, I set my eyes on moving to L.A. to study journalism.

I moved to the San Fernando Valley in 2017 as I started my college “career” at California State University, Northridge. I had never been to the San Fernando Valley, until I was driving with my parents car packed full of my belongings. It was a shock, growing up in a town with a roughly 70% white population I lacked the diversity of the real world. I loved the change.

I started making photos every day. While I wasn’t sure exactly how to make a career out of photography, I knew I had to document my time here.

Going to the local skatepark for the first time I felt nerves that I haven’t felt before. The guys skating the park were the guys I watched on Thrasher. It was strange skating alongside the pros I looked up to in some way. I slowly started to bring my camera out and got into skate photography.

That lasted for until roughly two years, until I realized it was not a viable way to make a living. Also, I knew I wanted my photographs to mean more. While all photos are important, some have a larger cultural impact than others.

After taking a few photojournalism classes in 2018–2019 I knew it was my “calling”. Joining The Sundial in 2019 I found a place where I could grow as a person and a journalist.

Throughout the last couple of years I have been able to craft my skills and found my way up to Editor-in-Chief. It has been both stressful and rewarding at the same time.

In the next few years I hope to be working on documentaries focusing on everyday Americans.