Blog #9: Me Being All Unique and Stuff

Once upon a time, a girl named Rachael had a dilemma with her gr. 11 second semester schedule and had to make a few changes to it. In order to change her math class, she had to drop peer tutoring and choose a new class for second period. Options were gym, law and media. Law seemed like a lot of work, and she had already taken fitness last semester, so she chose media.

And here our story begins!

It was in this media class where she learned how to analyze media texts, decode the hidden messages in advertisements, and how to blog!

She really enjoyed this course. She had an entertaining class, a great teacher, and projects that were actually fun! Most of the projects were a group effort, and she enjoyed working with her friends Holly and Justine on almost all of them.

Thumbs up on a great year!

Test dates were announced a good time in advance, projects were given a fair amount of time to be completed, and the class field trip was fun. Like all other classes, there were parts of the class that Rachael didn't enjoy. For instance, the history of the newspaper, radio, TV, and internet. And the other parts of the class she did enjoy, was watching Grease and The Breakfast Club in class.

Overall, Rachael had a good experience in EMS3O. Her final grade is TBA, but she knows if she studies hard she will maintain her grade.

This is just the end of gr.11, but Rachael's story still continues.

And they all lived happily ever after.

Stay in school kids!

(P.S: Just thought I'd mention how totally weird it was writing about myself in third person!)

Blog #8: Music Video & MOD

Music Video
Well! Making that music video was both fun and a challenge. Choosing a song was more difficult than I found, after narrowing it down to about six songs, it was a close tie with "Hey Hey Girl" by The Virgins and "Girls Do What They Want" by The Maine. I finally decided on "Girls Do What They Want" the Maine, because I thought that the lyrics of the song would be easier to find pictures for. Turns out, the picture finding process wasn't as bad as I anticipated it to be. I just went through the song and found appropriate pictures for the lyrics, and decided which parts I would use live footage for. After that was done, I decided I would put all the pictures in and live footage in sync with the song on Windows MovieMaker, and add in transitions at the end.

That was my first mistake.

But I mean, if you're googling for pictures of these guys all day, it's not toooo bad.

I've never really used MovieMaker before, so I was unaware that adding in transitions would actually add time, I thought MovieMaker would be nice and NOT add extra time, it would mesh, sync whatever... the two pictures in between so there is no time gained or taken away. But no. That didn't work out. MovieMaker decided to be a pain in the ass and cut back the length of the slide which completely screwed up my live music. After Holly having to endure my frustrated phone call, I decided to delete what I had from the chorus on. I added the pictures in and then the transitions right after. It (fortunately) didn't take as long as I anticipated it would, but I was still frustrated that I had to redo more than half of it. But overall, I'm happy with the final product.

The finished product.

MOD
I was really excited to go to Much on Demand. I was excited at first because I was hoping that either an actor/actress, band, musician or artist would be there. Unfortunately, there wasn't supposed to be anyone there. Although, Tim Deegan and Jesse Giddings' good looks completely made up for that.
Anyways, (along with everyone else) I was stoked. When we first got there, I felt incredibly uncomfortable leaving my purse with everyone else's bags, and right out front of where a door was. The only thing that kept me relatively sane was that there was someone guarding the door
and someone guarding the bags. Next up, we had to chill in the stairwell, which we did not know would last an hour. Fortunately, cute guy with eyebrow piercing kept us entertained while he was giving us wristbands.
When we were FINALLY allowed to go inside, it was really cool to see how everything was set up. I had no clue that the bloggers, VJs and other people who work there were all in front of us on their laptops working and such. That was pretty cool. It was also cool to see Trevor Boris and Liz Trinnear working there.
When it was about time to start the show, it didn't really feel like a live show. When the camera started rolling and when everyone started applauding, it just didn't seem like it was live. Also, most of the segments they did you could tell were made up. For instance, they started talking about fears, and Jesse had the same fear as someone else in the audience? I seriously doubt that. He also asked people in the audience what their fears were, and chose the best one.
Overall, I thought it was a pretty cool experience. I would like to go one day in the summer when there is someone famous there. I probably won't bring a bag so I'm not completely freaking out over where my belongings are, but it was nice how we got to chose where we could sit and who we can sit with. I'd definitely return with a friend.

Blog #7: Calvin Klein Ads

There have been many issues with Calvin Klein’s ad campaigns, involving the picture advertisements and commercials. There are many people against these campaigns, because they believe the advertisements resemble pornography, and child pornography. And I agree with them.

The ad campaign in 1991 shows a series of commercials with teenage to about early 20’s girls and boys in a basement being filmed by a man. The man is never shown, but you hear his voice. It is extremely disturbing to watch/listen to. In some cases, when the model does not mention Calvin Klein jeans (what they are modeling), the viewer could easily mistaken that advertisement for a pornography film. The cameraman’s voice is very low, and he talks to the models suggestively. He would ask them about their body; what they like about it, if they could, what they would change about it.

I can see how many people would see this as pornography, and in a way, I think it is. It shows young people in hardly any clothes (sometimes jjst wearing the CK jeans), and the man behind the camera asking them about their body. It seems as if he is holding auditions for a pornography. It is very disturbing to watch, and understandable how it was pulled from television so soon.

Another risqué Calvin Klein campaign was in 1999 was when he was advertising his new children’s underwear line. The advertisement shows two boys in their underwear jumping on a couch, and two young girls in their bra and underwear jumping on the couch. These ads were pulled immediately after people claimed it was child pronography. The marketer’s defense was that they wanted to capture realistic images of what children were doing. Their opposition believed they were sexualized images of young children.

In one way, you could think of it as “how else would you advertise children’s underwear”? And maybe the idea of it did not seem too bad on paper, but once you see it in the picture, it looks racy, especially for children.

Overall, Calvin Klein advertisements have pushed the public’s limit. Calvin Klein has had many criticized advertisements (mostly on billboards) over the course of about 10 years. I think that they knew how risqué their ads were, and wanted the all the attention from the media, like Dr. Jen Berman mentioned in an interview with CBS news. So, did they publish these ads knowing there was going to be a huge public uproar, and that Calvin Klein jeans would be the topic of many conversations? Or did they run these campaigns thinking it was a clever was to advertise?

Blog #5: Dove Campaign For Beauty

I think our society is obsessed with image. I think that (women especially) see the women on billboards and think that is the ideal body. The point of the Dove Beauty Campaign is to encourage young girls to find themselves beautiful.

I think our notion of the "ideal" body is from the media. The people we see on T.V and the flawless women in magazines make women believe that the ideal body for a women is flawless: no stretch marks, perfectly toned, flat stomach, no marks, but really, who's body actually looks like that? No one's. Every single picture in a magazine of a woman has been photoshopped in some way; whether its to reduce unwanted wrinkles, lines, to cover up blemishes, to touch up make-up, to fix stray hairs, to whiten teeth and so much more.

It has such a heavy influence on us. Everywhere we look, there is a picture of some beautiful woman or man we think we could never look like. We see these flawless people, and feel that we have to attract the opposite sex by looking like that. In reality, no one really looks like that.

Recently, Jessica Simpson was on the cover of Marie Claire and did her photoshoot with no make-up on, and no touch ups (although, I feel I should add that although the photos of her are very natural, no eye make-up, that she still had touch-ups done on her skin). She mentions how she had recently shot a documentary for VH1, called The Price of Beauty. She travelled around the world to find out what beauty was in different places of the world. She discovered in many cultures that it is beautiful to be full and have curves, and that it is not considered beautiful to be skin and bones.

I think teenage boys and girls are both influenced heavily by what body images their exposed to. Boys see tan, buff and attractive guys, and think that they have to look like that to attract girls. Truth is, it can be pretty hard for some buys to look like that. Some guys aren't able to build muscle. And do guys who donèt work out or don't look toned or buff or whatever, feel that they're unnattractive? Do they feel like they have to look a certain way to attract someone? I can't speak on behalf of guys feeling that way, but I can speak on behalf of the girls, and say that we do.


Here is a video promoting Dove's Campaign for Beauty.

Blog #4: Documentaries

For our documentary, Justine, Holly and I chose to do the 80s. Definitely a very fun decade; the music, movies, TV shows, the fashion! We were all really eager to get started.
We filmed everything at Justine's house. It didn't take us too long to tape things, after the first 15 minutes and when everyone finally stopped laughing after every line, filming went smoothly. I would say our documentary was a good mixture of us acting things out, and pictures with music and/or narration.
This was one project I liked researching about. I find almost everything about the 80s fascinating. Especially finding pictures about fashion, and listening to the music from then.

Music from Michael Jackson, Madonna, Joan Jett, and Queen; many different genres of music, and all the foundation of what music is like today.
It was cool to look back and see how outrageous the styles were back then. Specifically for the girls; the leggings, the fishnets, lace gloves, high ponytails, the colours! Justine sure had a fun time putting her outfit together.
But overall, the project was a blast to put together and see the finished project.


It was also really cool to see what else the rest of the class did. The 80's (I find) is mostly a pop culture decade. A lot of movies, TV shows, and music. I was surprised to see other groups cover politics, world events and sports.

Blog #2: Children Beauty Pageants

Is it just me? Or do you think that child beauty pageant contestants look like some sort of middle aged drag queen? Alright, that's a little harsh, but kids aren't supposed to look like that!
I really wish I could have a conversation with the mother's of these girls. In one article I found, one woman was hiding the bills from her husband because she bought a dress for her daughter that was almost $1,000. Half of the time, these kids don't look happy either. I think its just too much. Child beauty pageants are from ages 0-18. AGE 0. That means babies. In a beauty pageant. When they're babies. They should be worrying about where their soother is, not how they're going to place in a beauty pageant.


We've all seen it. Whether it is on TLC, or in Little Miss Sunshine we've all had some kind of exposure to child beauty pageants. We've seen 5 year olds wearing more make up than a 16 year old would; we've seen more money being put into one's hair and appearance than something more important. Has it gone too far? Is it too early for little girls who should be in, like, gr. 1 to be wearing bikini's and have their hair teased and wear a faceful of make up? I think so.


Toddlers and Tiaras is a reality show on TLC that follows around child beauty pageant contestants and documents them and their families as they prepare for their pageant shows. The show goes without narration to avoid passing judgement. The viewers will do that all on their own.

Some of the contestants are two years old. TWO YEARS OLD. They shouldn't even be in school when they're two!

Half the time, I think the parents are doing this for themselves.

I don't believe in child beauty pageants. I think that it is unhealthy to promote such a thing like superficial beauty so early on in life. Basically, pageants introduce competition and dissapointment too early in life. One of my biggest issues with these pageants is the effects they have on the contestants and the girls watching them. Do you think they are being pressured into looking that good (*cough*fake*cough*) and think they should do that to make their parents proud of them? Will they feel ugly compared to the young girls in the pageants? Will they start to wear make-up at a younger age?

Pageants (of all ages) are basically a construction of the individual, either by her mother, or beauty coach. Although, everyone will interpret child beauty pageants in different ways. People may think that child beauty pageants are good, and that they could teach the young girls self-confidence. Or, as I mentioned before, others might believe that they are show young girls competition and disappointment too early in life.

Basically, my point is that I disagree with the idea of child beauty pageants. Sometimes, I think the parents are doing this for themselves rather than their daughter.

Blog #3: Avril Lavigne vs. The Rubinoos, Chantal Kreviazuk and more?

Avril Lavigne has been hitting headlines the past few years. From tomboy to punk princess, her troubled marriage, her interactions with the paparazzi and her fans, and apparently, her inability to write her own songs.

Avril has been a Canadian superstar since she was 16 years old. Avril got her start in the music industry when she won a competition to perform alongside Shania Twain. Although, she was discovered by her first manager when she was singing covers at a Chapters store in Kingston.

Her first two albums were incredibly successful. On Let Go and Under My Skin, she had many singles from both. She called herself a "tomboy" and a "rebel", which were shown through her baggy pants and her ties.

Her latest record The Best Damn Thing has been heavily criticized because many artists and songwriters claim that Avril had stolen their songs.

For her third studio album, she completely changed her image. Once she was a bad-ass tomboy, and now she is a pop princess. Her whole album was different from her original persona. Songs lacked meaning like her earlier ones, and were more about how she is “The Best Damn Thing”, and how a guy should ditch his girlfriend for her.
When her first single “Girlfriend” was released from her 2007 album The Best Damn Thing, she was accused of plagiarizing it from the 1970's song “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” by The Rubinos.

Lavigne's lyrics go:
"Hey, hey, you, you, I don't like your girlfriend; No way, no way, I think you need a new one; Hey, hey, you, you, I could be your girlfriend!"

Whereas The Rubinos I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend go:
"Hey, You, I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend".

Not only are the lyrics extremely similar, but the beat of both songs are almost the same.

Avril claims she has never heard that song in her life, and that just because a few lyrics are similar it doesn't mean she plagiarized it. She said she shouldn’t be blamed for plagiarizing it based on the same five words. She also claims she has been falsely accused.

Not only has Avril been accused of plagiarizing “I Wanna be Your Boyfriend”, but singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk claims she wrote the song “Contagious” with Avril, but Avril didn’t give her any credit for the song. Chantal says that Avril, “crossed the ethical line and no one says anything. That's why I'll never work with her again”. Avril says in her defence that Chantal did send her a song titled “Contagious” a few years ago, but it got pushed aside. A few years later, her and her friend Evan began to write songs for his album, and wrote a song called “Contagious”, but with different lyrics, meaning and melody.

So, who dunnit?

Did Avril really use the song Chantal sent her a few years back and didn’t credit her for it, or did Avril just have a song on her new record with the same title?

Not only is Chantal pointing fingers huge, but many of the songs on Avril's album sound uncannily alike. For example, the songs on her CD: "Girlfriend", "I Can Do Better", "Runaway", "The Best Damn Thing", "Hot", "I Don't Have To Try", "Contagious" and "Keep Holding On" all sound (in some way) similar to another previously release song- not done by Avril.

Now, for those who aren't Avril fans, those are 8 out of the 12 songs on her CD!

Well, I don't know if people would have thought much of Chantal's accusations because she doesn't have any proof. But I think people's opinions will change after they heard the similarities between the majority of the songs on her album and those other songs. I think the similarities between "Girlfriend" and "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" can't go unnoticed. I also think if everyone is aware of the similarities between songs on her album and other songs, people will view Avril diferently.

Blog #1: Paparazzi

Part A:

Like Lady Gaga sings, "I'm your biggest fan, I'll follow you until you love me, papa-paparazzi."
These lyrics are about celebrities trying to get the paparazzi to fall in love with them. If a celebrity feels as if they are fading from the spotlight, they will do something extraordinary and make sure the paparazzi are there to see it.

Paparazzi are photojournalists that follow around celebrities, athletes, politicians, and other prominent people trying to take that one embarrassing and/or candid picture that they could sell to the media, such as newspapers or magazines.
The term "paparazzi" derives from the Fellini film, La Dolce Vita, in which the main character, Paparazzo, rode around on a scooter taking photographs. Paparazzi have been active for a long time, but within the last decade, they have been pushing celebrities buttons. In 2005, Lindsay Lohan experienced some aggressive tactics from paparazzi. A man trying to get her picture ran his minivan into her Mercedes on a busy street. Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake also experienced some bizarre tactics proposed by the paparazzi. Once while walking with a friend and his dog, a photographer in a Toyota came up behind them and hit their friend to the ground. He got a picture of Diaz and Timberlake "[racing] to help a friend'.

The biggest paparazzi-celebrity incident would have to be Princess Diana's death. Her driver was drunk, and was trying to drive away from the paparazzi chasing them. After an eighteen month investigation, it was concluded that her cause of death was reckless driving by her driver and paparazzi photographers.

But, really, is the paparazzi this dangerous? That they're causing the unlawful death of people?

In some cases, yes. And others, no.

Some paparazzi, will do anything they can to get that sometimes embarrassing, million dollar shot. Like Sean Penn. There are too many examples of Sean Penn having bad encounters with the paparazzi. A long time ago, in 1986, he was in China filming a movie, and when he returned to his hotel room, he found a photographer inside waiting for him. Furious, Penn dragged the photographer to the balcony, and dangled him by his ankles from his ninth floor balcony. Penn was arrested, charged with attempted murder, but broke out and fled the country by jet.

I know.

Pity the next paparazzo who is stuck getting a shot of Sean Penn.

But, some actors (who have also encountered some brutal paparazzi), claim that some paparazzi are respectful. Actor Kellan Lutz (Twilight, New Moon) talks about how he and co-stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart escape the paparazzi (3:08). He also talks about how he has encountered respectful paparazzi (see 4:11). The respectful paparazzi are from Canada. Ironic, eh?

Sometimes, no matter how respectful/disrespectful paparazzi are, they can make or break your career.

For example, Britney Spears. After her breakdown (which some say was provoked by the paparazzi), Britney became famous all over again. She was on the cover of all celebrity gossip magazines imaginable. She became the poster girl for train wreck. So on one hand, the paparazzi made her career. On the other, they have been blamed for her breakdown, so you could say they have broken her professional career.


I think that celebrities have a love/hate relationship with the paparazzi. Do you ever notice that celebrities seem to not mind them when they're promoting an album, movie or whatever. But they are extremely bothered by it when they aren't? Which I guess is understandable; around the time you're promoting something you're, well, promoting it. It's expected that you go on talk shows, or do magazine spreads and be followed by paparazzi. But stars seem to be more upset if they aren't promoting anything and they're getting their pictures taken by the paparazzi.

Part B:

It helps to know people. Especially when I realized my dad's friend friend is Evangeline Lilly's dad. So when their family came to visit my dad's friend, (Evangeline was only about 20 at the time) we bonded. Although I was 7 at the time, she loved looking after my sister and I. She became a flight attendant, and we'd still write and she'd call whenever she came back to Canada. When we found out from her family that she was auditioning for a role in the upcoming T.V show, LOST, we were ecstatic for her. It wasn't until a few months after she'd been settled in Hawaii that we finally came in contact with her again. We'd email back and forth occasionally, but her schedule was way to hectic for us to normally communicate. So you can imagine my surprise when she came to physically visit us and suggest I come to Hawaii and audition as an extra on LOST.

After my parents gave the thumbs up and all the paperwork and everything was organized, Evangeline and I flew out to Hawaii to begin shooting the 5th season. When we arrived, the producers just asked me to say a few lines and I got the part! Although I was only an extra, that eventually developed into a few minutes of screen time each episode, then a few lines, then actual full-on conversations with the main characters!

As time went on, I grew closer with the rest of the cast, and we began going on outings. In certain parts of Hawaii, there are places where the paparazzi just wait for the LOST stars to make an appearance somewhere. I don't know if they were there waiting for the bigger names, but they seemed pretty excited when I was there as well. I know that the paparazzi have a bad rep with some people, but I don't seem to mind them. They keep their distance when we're off doing our own thing. The only one bad encounter I've had is when Evangeline and I went to the beach on a day off and they followed us around, and were literally hiding in the bushes. Kinda creepy. Especially when you're at the beach.

I feel they're nice to have around. As my screen time increases, my publicity will have to as well. Anyways, all publicity is good publicity, right? ;).