Entertainment Industry And The Culture Of Violence

Is there a “culture of violence” that is plaguing the American public? It seems as though many adults, especially politicians believe this to be true and are using this reason to suggest change in this election year. But where does this stem from?  Is life more violent than it used to be, or are all the stories just out in the open rather than kept quiet? The entertainment industry holds one of the largest influences and puts these ideas in the open to the public so this is where I see this idea sprouting.

It Is The Simple Things

I have been trying to be aware of my thoughts as much as I can and it has led me to something that I think is overlooked. Its the simple, small things in life that often bring us the most joy. Who wouldn't like to get a message from a random person saying "You are beautiful/handsome" out of nowhere? I think that people who do small things for others like putting notes in library books help make life more bearable. I have been thinking about all the small things I take for granted everyday and it amazes me how great life can be. We should all try to think of one thing each day that made our lives a bit easier or more enjoyable.

Oh What We Can Learn

The internet can be an incredible wealth of information and can teach us new things through reading articles, listening to podcasts, or watching a YouTube clip. But the most important thing about all these ways to learn is that without immersing oneself or practicing these philosophies/tricks/subjects, there is no way to fully understand them. I have found myself spending a lot of time reading articles about various philosophies and say to myself "That is a great idea. I should live like this". But then I would simply go on to read another article without putting the new idea into practice. But now I have started to act and I am beginning to see results. I was skeptical at first thinking some things wouldn't actually work, yet the mind can be quite powerful. Thoughts become actions and things, both positive or negative all depending on how we think.

I'm Here, I'm There, I'm Everywhere...Or Am I?

Right now as you read this, count how many tabs are open on your browser, how many applications you are running, how many people you may be texting, and any other things you might be doing your multitasking adventure. I am at seven. Seven different distractions fighting for my attention as I write this post. I have music playing, e-mail open, and many websites available in different tabs. And who would have thought that as I wrote that last sentence I received a text, upping my total to eight. All in my attempt to stay connected. My attention is divided over eight different sources which makes it harder to focus on writing this post. It is interesting to think about all the distractions we face today in the hyper-connected world we live in.

Yes, No, Maybe So?

Decisions, decisions, decisions. Everything a person does requires some decision to be made. All these choices essentially boil down to a yes or no answer, unless you are in my generation. We (as a generation) have made the "maybe" answer the most popular. It seems as though nobody is willing to make a solid commitment regarding the big life choices. Even on simple choices such as which classes to take next semester, students often dwell on minuscule factors, such as whether any friends will be in a certain class, or what time it should be taken. This fear to make big decisions is one of many reasons this generation is stuck in limbo.

Metatext

Metatext

Over this past semester I have written about the various perspectives of literacy. I first wrote about my own experience in literacy as I figured out who I was as a writer and a person through my musical career.  Then I took an item I wear almost every week and broke it down into all of its components and explained the meaning behind it and showed why it is important to the culture. I never would have thought that the United States Men’s National Team kit had so much symbolism behind its inception. As I gained competency in media literacy, I choose to write about the identity of the “hero” as developed by the media after the 9/11 tragedies occurred. From that essay, I went on to research the politics and philosophies that lay behind popular films and video games. Overall, I think that my two papers about the concept of “heroes” were the most interesting and had the most to talk about. I am sure there is plenty more that I could go into with various philosophies and politics, but I think that what I have written about is able to get the message across. After this class, I plan to keep posting on my blog, providing my own personal account on various social, political, and pop-culture motifs so my voice in the open for people to hear. I think the most important thing that I have learned from this class is that I have something to say and although I am used to being in the dark, I want my ideas to be heard.

“I may not believe in what you say, but I will die for your right to do so”

            ~Voltaire

Assassin's Creed

            The Assassin’s Creed collection of video games created by Ubisoft is one of the most popular in the 21^st century. I think the most interesting things about the series of games aren’t the fun killing opponents or scaling buildings and free running. It’s the history, politics, and philosophies that go into the games and how the characters struggle with these concepts. Especially since a majority of these ideas are still relevant in today’s modern society. I choose this video because it gives a background to the first game in the Assassin’s Creed series and show the basic premise of the game. One of the big questions that the game poses is whether or not it is justifiable to use violence and assassinations in order to promote peace and stability. This appears to be counter-productive but I believe this is a viable option. Also it shows some history of a turbulent time in the Holy Lands, with the Crusades occurring and thus may inspire the game players to learn more about the time period. I think that this game does more than just provide some violent entertainment for people to enjoy. Rather it allows certain ideas to be presented to people who may never get the chance to think about these various concepts on their own. Acting as a vigilante, the gamer is able to fight his/her way through this political period of time and discover ideas that need to be acknowledged.

Politics, Morals, and Philosophies of Assassin’s Creed, The Dark Knight, and V for Vendetta

            I have already illustrated how the media has attempted to solidify the concept of the “hero” through film, television, and other ways. But how do these identities, especially the fictional ones become what they are. I have continued my pursuit of the “hero” idea and delved deep into the realm of philosophy, politics, and morality of three very different, fictional heroes. I used Batman from the hit film The Dark Knight, V from the film V for Vendetta, and finally Altaïr from the video game Assassin’s Creed. Beyond the great entertainment value of each of these titles, they also contain many political and philosophical motifs which sometimes are dilemmas which people face in their everyday lives. Is terrorism a legitimate way to fight against a government? After 9/11 most Americans would never agree to it, but V for Vendetta makes a strong case in favor of it. In Assassin’s Creed the player is faced with the idea whether violence is a viable way to create peace and stability in a region. And in The Dark Knight, Batman struggles with maintaining his moral ideals whilst fighting the constant crime in Gotham City. On another side, all of these titles contain political motifs which mirror reality. The fascist regime in V for Vendetta is similar to the Third Reich in Germany. The Dark Knight has many parallels to the Bush administration. And Assassin’s Creed the manhunt for Osama Bin Laden is imitated by Altaïr’s quests to end the lives of various political figures. Video games and films often contain much more than simple good versus evil plots. They explore complex philosophies and politics which have importance in reality.