Mcom 70 Extra Credit Video Package

Hood Struggles

Born and raised in Compton, California, this gang-banging athlete has decided to make a change for the better. Choosing to remain anonymous for obvious reasons, he tells his story of growing up in “the hood” and the daily struggles that he encountered. His story is one worth listening to, somehow bringing light to the much negative view of being raised in such a hostile environment. 

      The first time this character shot someone was when he was 14 years old, and he’s currently enrolled at san jose state university. How does this match up? He says he worked hard to get where he is now in order to ensure a better life for him and his family. With football as his guidance and mother as his strength, this college kid is on his way to becoming everything that he’s aspired to be. He definitely had a rough start though, and it wasn’t an easy journey. Becoming a Crip requires initiation at a very young age- anonymous was went through the 7 rounds of getting beat up when he was just 10 years old. He didn’t really have a choice, it was more something you’re born into than decided to do. 

With all of this under his belt, it is comforting to know that although there are people who derive from the lowest areas of society and life, they can still have the opportunity to success and making a life they never even imagined. Fortunately, he was highly supported among the other members of his gang, even though it meant he’d be leaving them at home while attaining his education. He went for his dreams and was able to reach his goal of being the first one in his family to go to college. 

Since I couldn’t take any video of him in action or even talking, I instead made a slideshow of his tattoos and possessions that best symbolize him. His gang color is blue and most of the things he sports are this color. You can catch him cruising around campus on his bike or lounging outside, two of his favorite past times. He hopes to someday become a professional football player, but if that doesn’t work he wants to have a career in kinesiology. He story is inspirational, and if not a little scary, very motivating. If a person with an unfortunate background can rise above the obstacles and take the opportunity to better themselves, so can someone like me who has all the resources handed to them! 

Taylor Torregano

Mcom 70

Dona Nicholas

Favorite Superbowl Commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q33drZUXSzY

The M&M commercial was my favorite one because I liked the sex appeal of something that wouldn't usually have those characteristics. The M&Ms were cute and it was different from any other commercial that I saw. I also like that song and the way it stood out.

Extra Credit: New Bands, Old Influences

           Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band is a very popular rock band in todays music industry. With their new album "Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets" at number 2 on iTunes Top 10 they have remained the preferred choice for many rock lovers. When asked who main singer Seger's influences are, the artists he named all derived from 60's rock. Seger stated that "Little Richard was the first one that really got to [him]. Little Richard and, of course, Elvis Presley." He went on to tell that James Brown was also one of his favorites and the 1963 release of Live at the Apollo quickly became the choice of best album among him and his friends. Seger was also highly influenced by the music of The Beatles after they hit American shores in 1964. Growing up with soon to be musician Eagle Glen Frey, the boys fell in love with 1960s pop and rock radio and it's payola driven hits. Seger later recalled that he and Frey agreed at the time "you're nobody if you can't get on the radio."

         "Come Go With Me" by The Del Vikings was the first record that Seger purchased. He also stated artsits John Forgerty and Bruce Springsteen as main influences of his music. He later remarked, "There's a whole little clique of male vocalists. We're just sort of all connected." It is surprising to me that the most popular artists of our time have often been most influenced by those who were most popular in past generations. Although many artists today have their originality as well, it is the never forgotten legends such as Little Richard that will always have an influence on rock music- whether it be today in age, tomorrow or many years to come.

          Their new album has a good sound and overall beat. I enjoy their choice of instruments as well. The drum has a major influence in every one of their songs and even I, a new and unexperienced rock n roll listener, can pick up on the different attributes from sounds by The Beatles and other 60s bands. I wouldn't recommend the album to someone who doesn't like this genre, however it is a good choice for those who do. They put a new spin on an old sound, with originality in the lyrics.

The Soundtrack of My Life

               If my life was a movie, the 5 songs that would make up my soundtrack are Jesus Take The Wheel- Carrie Underwood http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lydBPm2KRaU&ob=av3n, Make it Through the Rain- Mariah Carey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8KsWiLPdCs, Angel's Cry- Mariah Carey and Neyo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyGNfbKkMVE&ob=av3e, Ambitious Girl- Wale http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcUIv8Y_eIM and The Graduation Song (Friends Forever)- Vitamin C http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDM3eYp4KQ. 
               'Jesus Take the Wheel' is a very inspirational song by Carrie Underwood about "letting go and letting God." She basically tells a story about how a woman and her daughter driving almost crash, but instead are salvaged by God. She realizes at that moment that she needs Him and is asking for Jesus to take control of her downhill spiraling life, something she cannot do on her own. Although it didn't take a near-death experience like this to lead me to request the same of Jesus, I have been in the same position as the woman in question and can relate my life to it in many ways. 
               'Make it Through the Rain' is a very inspirational song that I run to when times are hard. Mariah Carey has a way of wording her lyrics to make it feel as if she's gone through the same hardships and pains as her fans and can relate to them on the most personal levels. This song in a nutshell is saying that although times may get rough, be strong and you can always make it past them. 
               My third song is 'Angels Cry.' This song is about about how a couple that was perfect for each other split. From the first time I heard it, I was reminded of my parents and their divorce. This has had a huge affect on me so it would be a major contribution to my soundtrack. 
                'Ambitious Girl' is a song by Wale about a girl who would rather chase dreams than men. I like Wale's music because he is more of a poet than anything and this song in particular describes the ambition, determination and desire for success in my personality. 
                Lastly, 'The Graduation Song' is about moving on to bigger things after graduating. It's lyrics represent all of the amazing memories I've made with friends that are more like family now, and the good times that are still to come. 

Epilogue Summary

            I found the epilogue of All Shook Up to be most interesting because I enjoyed reading about Woodstock. I have heard about the festival prior to reading about it here and always had wondered what all of the commotion was about. Located first in August of 1969 at the little town of Bethel in New York, it turned out to be "chaotic, toiletless, muddy, and drug-filled." Much like many other rock n roll related events, parents highly discouraged their teenagers from attending, for the obvious reasons listed above. This didn't stop rebellions though, nothing would stand in their way of seeing performances of Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and the Jefferson Airplane.
             I also found it intriguing that Michael Lang was only 24 years old and the rock group manager that organized Woodstock. He opinion about the festival and the generation was that it wasn't solely about the music but a mixture of "everything involved in the new culture." My favorite quote of the chapter though, was when Janis Joplin contributed his thoughts on the uprising of rock n roll saying, "we used to think of ourselves as little clumps of weirdoes. But now we're a whole new minority group."
              Although a place where drugs and sex seemed much involved, Woodstock was a memorable event for all those in attendance. Something they would never forget and were lucky to say they experienced first hand. Many of the artists considered their music an art form. I like that despite the indecency that occurred while the music was performed, it was still a way to unite together and appreciate the beauty in something black, whites, and everything in between could appreciate.

Opinionator #2

             In the article that I read the issue was regarding a developing monitoring system that restricts some forms of radio content over the "public" airwaves. Family Research Council strongly advocated the public and their right to prohibit certain vulgar media from reaching the ears and young impressionable minds of the adolescent. The Federal Communications Commission was approved by Congress powers that enabled them to enforce regulations in order to determine appropriate levels of obscenity, indecency and profane programming.   

              Due to the federal courts' demand to keep control over everything, the FCC has found difficulty controlling the inappropriate content on broadcast and cable channels. It is now understood that the only substantial way of approach is to encourage cable customers to receive or block channels with their new right to do so. This includes all forms from limiting high cable bills to "limiting exposure to unwanted sexual or violent content. In order to persuade consumers to use this new form of self authority, the cable sellers made it free for their subscribers to block certain channels. The FCC knows this approach by the "cable choice" or "a la carte," and FRC believes "cable choice" would start a whole outlook and perseverance of the media and entertainment industry, resulting in a cheaper final product that is appropriate for all ages. 

               I believe this notion is a big step in the right direction. Although some satellite box's allow consumers the choice of parental control, not everyone provides this. In relation to the "Big Picture Theory" or also known as the "Hypothermic Needle Theory," raising awareness about the need to prevent our younger generations from exposure to ill-suited content may stop them from trying to portray what they see or hear. According to the article, "Family Research Council will monitor judicial, statutory, and regulatory developments in this area and influence national policy to make television, radio, and cable programming appropriate for the general public." 

Scholarly Journal Article

The title of my scholarly journal was "Resisting Exile and Asserting Musical Voice: the Dixie Chicks are 'Not Ready to Make Nice' written by Jada Watson and Lori Burns and published in "Popular Music" in the Martin Luther King Library but originally Cambridge University Press 2010. It was about the Dixie Chicks' first words after silence when Natalie Marines of the Dixie Chicks denounced President George W. Bush on a London concert stage. Little did she know, this small relay of opinion would lead to serious career consequences for the 'Chicks'. The girls waited three years and endured public criticism and radio boycotts until they finally released their single 'Not Ready to Make Nice'. After what seemed to be the end of their career, the journal relays how they
responded and regained their voice.

The girl group made a video accompanying their song that included images directly relating to the lyrics of their song. Through the lyrics and images of the video the girls "created a platform of resistance to the social and institutional oppression they experienced." The trio explain what they believe to be their own responsibilities of a judgmental and punitive public opinion and furthermore touch on and influence a movement that had nothing to do with their country music. In the song, there is a dialogue between the Dixie Chicks and those who criticized them for voicing their opinion. Some viewed the song as an angry comeback while others respected the girls for standing by their values.

Overall the girls will always be seen as "The Dixie Chicks" instead of those who spoke against our country's leader and although there was much controversy it is now, for the most part, looked over when mentioning the once so popular girl group.