Friendship is Eternal
Imagine having the opportunity to possess limitless amounts of money and the ability to do whatever one desires. The TV series “Entourage” depicts a group of friends that move from New York to Los Angeles in order to become famous in the world of Hollywood. The show has become a massive HBO hit, with fans across the world wishing to have the same dreams become their reality. The actor, Vince, becomes a millionaire after producing a hit movie and allows three of his closest friends to live off of his earnings. The show allows me to dream up new thoughts of one day being able to live as their group lives. The series is an important part of media content in that it shows the lives of movie stars as well as depicting friendship at its finest.

The lives of movie stars are constantly depicted to the rest of society through numerous forms of media. Novels, videos, newspapers, magazines, and even TV shows attempt to portray this luxurious lifestyle. “Entourage” shows how one man becomes famous and has the financial means as a movie star to purchase a mansion and cars for the use of all of his friends. Vince is able to have any girl he sees walking the street which is constantly reminded to the viewer throughout each episode. This representation of an actor proves to me that not all actors or wealthy people in general are very uptight about money. Vince is so passionate about his movies that he even uses his life savings and house to help purchase a script that ends up becoming a complete failure. This simple motive has changed my whole mindset about life, making me care more about fulfilling my own personal dreams rather than simply seeking monetary gains. The show also attempts to detail the blood-thirsty business world of Hollywood where anyone will make crooked deals to gain movies and wealth. This discloses one negative aspect to viewers, showing that it is very difficult to live successfully as an actor.
The show gives an excellent description of true friendship values. I would argue in favor of this media text in that the show promotes the idea that a person should hold friendships and values higher than fancy cars. After watching the end of each season, I have learned a lot about how I would like to live the rest of my life. Most people go through life losing most friends and only dedicating life to the pursuit of wealth and promotion of their own ambitions. “Entourage” encourages people should keep friends so close that even in drastic situations everyone can live together.
The series “Entourage” yields a multitude of values that help identify the person that I am and desire to become. A form of media has influenced my opinions and has even gone so far as to impress my thoughts enough to desire similar characteristics. In all reality, the series was able to show me how to emulate a character I find to be very personable and respectful.

The Dark Knight-Superhero or Moral Failure?

One of the most influential and relevant movies that I believe is currently influencing our media and culture is The Dark Knight. Although just recently released, it has already shattered almost all box office records and has restored the superhero Batman to the respected and idolized comic book character he once was.

This movie is very important to me for many reasons. First, it shatters all preconceptions
one might have of the Batman legend. In the movie, Batman is conveyed as a person just like
you and me who faces tough moral decisions, and that these decisions have consequences and
that one does not always make the right one. Unlike other superheroes, Batman has no special powers, and this aspect is very apparent in the movie. Batman is often powerless towards the seemingly endless reach and power of the darkness and crime that rules his home, Gotham City.

This movie is also very important to me because it extends beyond the archetype of “just a superhero movie”. This movie is so realistic one cannot even call it a superhero movie. Strip
away the costumes and the capes, and The Dark Knight becomes an intricate, realistic, and
symbolic crime drama, exploring the inner workings of both good and evil men’s choices and the inevitable repercussions of their actions and these choices. I relate so well to the Batman
character portrayed in The Dark Knight because I am often faced with heavily weighted choices in which there seems to be no right answer, just like the ones Batman, his friends, and even his counterparts must face during the course of the movie.

In addition to being the most relatable and realistic of any Batman related media to ever
emerge in our culture, it also brings back the grandeur, mystery, and fear that comprise the
legend of Batman, The Dark Knight. Batman’s enemies are portrayed as merciless and reckless, having no regard for human life and destroying anyone in their path. Batman is often forced to delve into a morally grey area in order to preserve what he believes is the greater good of the people. This reminds me of America and its current situation with the War on Terror. Our country’s leaders often have to forgo the moral high ground in order to preserve the integrity of our nation and keep our citizens safe.

This new world of Batman presented in the Dark Knight is criticized by some as being too
dark and morally complex. However, this is the way the real world is. There are very rarely
happy endings, and every action and decision has a consequence. With this movie the Dark
Knight, the Batman has transcended the restrictions of being just a comic book character and has become an icon that people of all ages can appreciate and relate to. Batman is no longer a
superhero. Rather, he is now deemed a hero not because of his cape and costume and his crime fighting abilities, but rather because of the difficult moral decisions he is forced to confront and his ultimately selfless but unrecognized acts that, in the movie, make him loathed by some, but make this new symbol of Batman that the Dark Knight creates, loved by many who see the movie.

"Popular Science", a Family Tradition

The science magazine “Popular Science” plays an important role in my life. The magazine’s technological insights and articles on breakthroughs and discoveries in various scientific fields have captivated my imagination for years and channeled my efforts towards a life of science. From the article on the invisibility cloak being developed by Duke University, to the scientist who contracted cancer and in his quest for a cure created a machine that turns almost anything into oil; “Popular Science” taught me that an education in a field of science would open countless doors for me in my future. It was in that magazine where I first learned of polymers and their uses and is what inspired me to seek a Polymer, Textile, and Fiber degree at Georgia Tech.

I can relate to “Popular Science” so well because my family has had a subscription since my grandfather was a teenager. My dad became hooked on it as a result of my grandfather and I took up the habit because of my dad. This chain reaction that has spanned over so many years has created an intimacy with the magazine in my family that heightens its importance. This tradition holds true in other families as well, for instance my girlfriend’s. The magazine has such a special place in her family that the revocation of “Popular Science” privileges is often a punishment used for misbehavior.

“Popular Science” informs me of happenings in the science world before any other media source. It will expose me to new inventions and discoveries before CNN or Yahoo will give a report on them. I’ve known some things a full year before they were made public. I read and trust “Popular Science” because of the promptness that I find out things and that over the years I have seen the information provided to be confirmed over and over again. The consistency of reliable and accurate information gives “Popular Science” authority in the science media world. Also, all the articles contain interviews with professors and have online links which allow you to verify and learn more about the topic discussed.

My exposure to physics, chemistry, technology, and all sorts of scientific subjects through “Popular Science”, sparked my interest in science. The magazine’s combination of images and text mesmerizes your mind with mind blowing ideas. Other science magazines such as “Scientific America” and “Physics Today” contain large amounts of text and use terminology that you need a PhD to understand. “Popular Science” translates complex scientific concepts into everyday lingo that an “average Joe” can grasp and comprehend. This broadens the spectrum of people that “Popular Science” is able to connect with.

For me, “Popular Science” has become an essential link to current events in the science world. Its ability to provide articles that captivate your imagination and portray the newest and most accurate material before any other media, bestows the magazine with undeniable authority. The magazine has used all these components to bring me to my current study of Polymer and Fiber Engineering at Georgia Tech. “Popular Science” is unlike any other science media, and one day I will pass the tradition on to my children.

Changing the Tube Forever

Who knew that in the 90’s the biggest show would be one that constantly pushed the boundaries of television? Seinfeld made its debut on NBC in the summer of 1989, and with its debut kicked off a show that changed television forever. Shows have been built around the changes Seinfeld has made for years. My father and I would watch Seinfeld together almost every night.

Seinfeld has been influential since its premiere. It was immediately controversial with its content being out of the ordinary compared to the other shows at that time. Seinfeld came up with innovative ways to show the public that it is alright to address issues you feel uncomfortable about. Throughout the series, the audience was introduced to characters with major flaws such as George not being able to hold a job. The show was able to impact the audience in a larger way than other shows at the time, because the audience could relate to the characters in the sitcom. In one episode the characters got lost in a parking garage in the mall and I think everyone has been in that situation before. Seinfeld’s impact is seen even today in all the shows that it was able to pave the way for. It has also left a lasting legacy through some of the slang terms created through its shows. One of the most commonly repeated phases was, “not there is anything wrong with that.” Seinfeld was also able to capitalize off of its popularity through product placement in their episodes. PEZ and Junior Mints had large parts in episodes that drove the plot and sales of the products.

Although Seinfeld had a large impact on society in a positive way, it also brought some negative influence with it. It was often screened several times by the FCC so that they didn’t put anything on the television that would be harmful to a younger audience. Seinfeld also had several plot lines were characters where called by names based off of their flaws. This could have a strong negative influence on society by telling them that it is alright to judge people based on their character flaws, such as the close talker or high talker episodes. Some could say that Seinfeld also changed society in a negative way. It changed our nation into a more open society where we feel more freely to talk about issues and topics that were deemed as out of place.

Seinfeld ended in 1997 with an everlasting impression on the media of our country. It was able to set new boundaries for television and influence many other shows to follow in its footsteps. Seinfeld changed television and society by pushing the envelope the things that you could do and say on television. Although it did changed society positively in my opinion, it could be perceived as being a negative influence. Seinfeld, taking advantage of its popularity, was one of the most influential shows on television.

The Homepage for Success

In a fast-paced society, it is becoming ever more important for the youth of the world to be conscious of global events. Every day students receive their news from sources on the World Wide Web. The media conglomerate, BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation), has become one of the most trusted sources on the web. The BBC has a variety of mediums that they use to spread news worldwide such as television, newspaper, magazines, and radio. But in an age where people are so reliant on the Internet, none of their mediums are as effective in spreading global awareness as their webpage.

When I was in 8th grade I began participating in the Model United Nations. This program has provided me the opportunities to travel to various cities around the world, including the UN headquarters in New York City. It was through my experiences in the MUN that I began to take an interest in global awareness. Every day during the MUN class, we were required to read the BBC website to keep up with current events. We then got the opportunity to debate and discuss ongoing worldwide issues with other international students using the information we read on the BBC website. This has become a habit of mine and I find it is very important for young people to keep up with international affairs. Do you know the capital of Portugal? Do you know who the Prime Minister of Great Britain is? Probably not, which is a problem. The youth needs to address their lack of knowledge when it comes to this topic. Visiting a website like the BBC every other day can help the uneducated youth increase their global knowledge dramatically. It is essential that students throughout the world are well informed about global issues. We are the leaders of tomorrow, therefore we must know what challenges lie ahead of us.

The BBC’s world-renowned news webpage has been acknowledged for its ability to put together diverse and worldly news that is easy to navigate. When you access the webpage it even gives you the choice of customizing the website to accommodate your news preferences. In the past few years it has received nominations and awards that recognize their great website. Established in 1996 “The Webby Awards” began honoring websites that stand out among the millions on the web. Each year the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences hand out Webby’s on the best overall website and people’s choice in a given subject. In 2008 the BBC NEWS website received the Webby award for people’s choice of best news website. In 2006 and 2007 it won the Webby award for best overall news website on the Internet.

The British Broadcasting Corporation’s website is crucial for growing a strong, more informed society where the youth is updated on the most important current events. Their numerous awards and recognitions are evidence that they play a vital role in educating the next generation on world news. I have realized from my international experiences how useful global knowledge can be. As the world continues to get smaller, and commerce becomes more integrated between countries, global awareness is essential for a successful career.










Bibliography


"Webby Nominees." The Webby Awards. International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. 2 Sep 2008 .