Week 9: Media Ethics/Laws

A Chicago apartment leasing and management company has filed a lawsuit against its former resident for her Twitter comment which the company believes that the comment was libelous.

I think that this is an act against the First Amendment; for the woman was only expressing how the bad her apartment and the bad service quality from the company were. Moreover, she only has 20 followers on her Twitter account that her comment could hardly defame the company. Therefore, I think that the lawsuit will not be successful. 

Week8: Propaganda in Advertising/PR

In this commercial, Audi used two obvious propaganda techniques. The first one is Ad hominem; which they attacked their rivals carmaker companies like BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes Benz, by stating that the “owners” of those cars were not satisfied for they were told that would have been a privilege to have one of those BMW, Lexus, or  Merc. The other technique they applied in the commercial was “Join the Crowd”; in the middle of the commercial, after the non-Audi owners complained about their cars; they were putting on their smiling faces when they saw an Audi passed by; which applied to consumers that driving Audi vehicles is a right thing to do; and more importantly, a easy and happy way to be better-off.   

Week 7: Internet

I got 197 as the total amount of social networking websites are listed on Wikipedia. I only know about 27 of them, and 24 of those 27 are known because I saw an ad about one of them while surfing the net.

Gaia Online is a social networking and forum-based website that was founded as Go-Gaia.com in 2003. It is a virtual world that has its own economy.

The way I use social networking websites is only "talk" to friends that I know. I do not add strangers as a friend ( many friends of mine will add random hot chicks for no reason.), I do not allow anyone I don not know to be on my friends' list. I use Facebook, Twitter, and Xanga.

I came to the States in 2002. After couple years, I only kept contact with couple friends in middle school that are really close to me. After I start using Facebook in 2006, I gradually found all my middle school friends that I know. Last time I had a trip back to Hong Kong, I used Facebook to let my friends in HK know that I was coming back home. And more importantly, setting up gatherings by using Facebook.

Week 6: Television

The Coon
Tags: SOUTH
PARKmore...

Length: 1:53
Description: Eric Cartman copycatted Batman's behaviour and tried to save South Park.
Chapter 6: Movies
Question: Which movie inspired a teenager in Los Angeles to kill his mother?
Answer: Scream (1996)