Who's Un-American?

I. Last week’s question was how much do the celebrities get paid to say that they eat at Subway? Unfortunately I couldn't find the answer to that question. I did however find that Michael Phelps makes $5 million in endorsements. I don't think subway gives out information like how much they pay celebrities to endorse them.

N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct 2010. <http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_does_Michael_Phelps_make_in_endorsements

II. This week in class we were watching a documentary about Michael Moore coming to Utah to speak at a school. Utah is a very republican state. Michael Moore coming to Utah has made the state turn chaotic. Some of the people see Michael Moore as Anti-American and don't want him to come. Other people see it as un-American to take away freedom of speech and not let him talk. Debates have been held at the school so the students can express their opinion.
I can understand why the students wouldn't want Michael Moore to come, because I wouldn't want Michael Moore to come. I do think it's unfair to band someone from coming and talking though. If the student did want to hear him then they don't have to buy tickets to see him. The school wasn't requiring the students to listen so they don't really have a reason to be angry.
One thing that was mentioned in class was that the other speaker waved his fee, and Michael Moore didn't. I do think it would make more sense if they hired some on Michael Moore side that would also wave their fees also. That way the college isn't paying one side more money. However they are paying to bring the other speaker there and they didn't say how much his private jet was going to cost.

III. How many people went to see Michael Moore that day?

Web. 25 Oct 2010. <http://davegranlund.com/cartoons/wp-content/uploads/color-moore-capitalism-web.jpg>.
 N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct 2010. <http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_does_Michael_Phelps_make_in_endorsements

End of the election

I. Last week I said, because we have not finished the movie, we don't know who’s won the office yet. So my question for today is will they let Oliver North help run the country? Not my most thought provoking question. In class we learned at the end of the movie that Oliver North did not win, and Chuck Robb did get elected.

II. This week in class we finished the movie 'The Perfect Candidate", and learned the outcome of the election. We also talked about and did a worksheet on the principles of propaganda. We learned about using "Word games”, “False Connections”, “Special Appeals", and "Logical Fallacies". And discussed were these were used in daily life.
     Though I was happy with the outcome of the election, I was a little surprised. Because the movie was shot from what seemed to be Oliver North's side, I assumed it was because he had won the election. It was a pleasant surprise when it turned out that he hadn’t one. In the movie Oliver North's advisers were making comment that he had won the "Morality Vote". This statement made no sense to me. I couldn't understand why they thought that because Oliver North admitted to secretly selling arms to Iran he was a good man. He still did it! They were saying that Chuck Robb was a worse man because he cheated on is wife. While I never condone cheating on your spouse I don’t think you can compare that to what North did. Especially when his wife even stated it was a private matter and that she had forgiven him.
     Regarding the worksheet we did in class on the Principles of Political Propaganda, I've notice them a lot more in daily life. One thing that I’ve really noticed is the "Testimonials" Principle. One Example would be the Subway commercials using athletes to advertise for them.

Because athletes are advertising for them it gives the appearance that there food is good for you, otherwise these amazing athletes wouldn't eat it.

III. How much do the celebrities get paid to say that they eat at Subway?

Web. 17 Oct 2010. <http://www.televisioninternet.com/news/pictures/michael-phelps-subway.jpg>.

"The Perfect Candidate"

I. The question from last week was, did Mike Wilsons Movie have as much of an effect on people as Michael Moore's movie? In 2005 New York International Independent Film & Video Festival Nominated Mike Wilson's for Audience award in the category Best Documentary. Michael Moore Was Nominated for an Academy Award in 2002 for Bowling for Columbine and in 2007 for American Sicko. He won in 2002. He was Also Nominated and won in 2002 at the Cannes Film Festival for the 55th Anniversary Prize for his movie "Bowling for Columbine". In 2004 He was nominated for Best Documentary at the Directors Guild of America for his movie Fahrenheit 9/11. He was nominated at The writers Guild of America in the years 2002 and 2007, for his movies American Sicko and Bowling for Columbine. As you can see unfortunately Michael Moore made more of an impact.

"The Perfect Candidate"

II. This week in class we started by filling out a work sheet on the background of the movie "The Perfect Candidate". We learned about Oliver North and that he was involved in the Iran-Contra Scandal. The movie we are watching seems to be made by someone on his side while for running for office. The person running against him is Chuck Robb. I find the fact that the movie is called the "Perfect Candidate" extremely ironic. On worksheet for class there was a question, what qualities are most important in a political candidate? In my opinion secretly selling arms to Iran doesn't qualify a person as a good candidate. In the movie he implies because he has admitted to doing it everything's okay now. This applies in daily life. If someone steals from a store but admits to it they aren't going to let that person run the store. Oliver North doesn't seem like someone America wants in any office.

III. Because we have finished the movie, we don't know whose won the office yet. So my question for today is will they let Oliver North help run the country?




Michael moores awards & nominations. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800064216/awards
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/rjo0745l.jpg

Double standard?

I. Last week’s question asked How important are ethics in today's society? If I watch the news will I find extremely bias edited video or will it truly sate the facts? As I watched I saw many of examples we have been talking about in class. One of the main things I’ve noticed was the Phantom Question. There were a lot of interviews where it only showed the answer and not what the interviewer asked.

II. This week in class we started to watch the movie "Michael Moore Hates America" by Mike Wilson. I am really enjoying this movie because, it's pointing out all of fallacies in Michael Moore's movie. But I started to wonder if it is a double standard? If you watch carefully Mike Wilson uses a lot of the same techniques as Michael Moore. As I was watching it I was more excepting of the techniques because he would point out the fact he was using them but say he felt bad about doing it; and used the clips any way. An example would be when Mike Wilson had told a person from Michael Moore home town he was doing an interview about small towns, to get him to say Michael Moore was from there. Then told the camera he felt bad for lying, sent a letter to the person apologizing, and then used the footage. But because he said he was sorry it didn’t seem as bad. Also Mike Wilson used the Guerilla Interview technique. When he ask Michael Moore his question during his rally the fact that he was filming caught Michael Moore off guard, then he replayed the response many times throughout the movie. In class we did a work sheet that points out even more techniques that Mike Wilson copies. Not only does he use Guerilla interview and phantom question but we also noticed him editing sound bites. These Techniques can also be applied to News casts, or political video. Because of this class I’ve started to notice it more on TV.

III. Did Mike Wilsons Movie have as much of an effect on people as Michael Moore's movie?

(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nonprofituniversityblog.org/wp-content/uploads/double-standards.png