Gossip Girl, the American drama television series released on the CW since September, 2007, revolves around the lives of privileged teenagers from elite class in New York City's Upper East Side. According to the U.S. Nielsen Ratings, though the ratings of this show are not attractive, Gossip Girl has held excellent attention among young audiences, especially for the female teenagers. The contents, characters and fashions showed in this series gave a huge impact for teenagers, and the influence still goes on. Today, I will analyze several sexual parts of the content showed on episode 10 season three (2009, Nov 16), apply the effects theory of desensitization given by Professor Tewksbury in his CMN277 lecture to predict possible effects to teenagers.
Desensitization
According to Professor Tewksbury’s lecture (Oct 27, 2009), the basic model of desensitization is three steps: the audiences received repeated exposure; then it reduced their emotional response to the exposure; in the end, they begin to be acceptable of depicted behavior. At the beginning of this episode, Dan, one of the main heroes, was walking along the street in the morning while thinking of the threesome sexual behavior happened between him and the other two girls last night. Then the scene switched to that night: the two girls were kissing each other on the bed while Dan was lying and staring at them with a very enjoyable expression. In this example, according to desensitization theory, audiences were exposed to the scene of threesome, and they feel shocked, strange and even disgusted in the first sight. However, after these kinds of sexual scenes exposed to the audiences again and again, they will be bothered less and less. In the long term, these cumulative exposures will bring the audiences’ affective changes on their value and attitudes towards sexual behaviors. In this case, the teenagers, especial female teenagers are more likely to be affected. They are staying at the age of sex exploration: shy, sensitive and conservative, but also easy to be seduced and deluded. Female teenagers may be cautious and object to unusual sexual excitements like threesome or premarital intercourse; however, after being showed these kinds of scenes repeatedly, they may turn to believe threesome is common and not that dirty as they think before, and gradually accept people do this behavior. For instance, if a girl watches series that depict the threesome again and again, she may soon change her perceptions about the frequency of the occurrence of threesome behavior in the real world. She may also reevaluate the amount of social and psychological harm this behavior causes. And she may even believe it will be possible for her to try it in the future.
As I showed before, the basic model of desensitization contains three steps; however, in my point of view, the effect may go further: from attitude change to the behavior change. It means people accept things which bothered them before, and the affective changes may lead to their personal behavior changes in their real lives. Some researchers believe there is a strong relationship between sex exposure and behavior change among teenagers. According to Rand Corporation (2008), “Exposure to sexual content on television predicted teen pregnancy, with adjustment for all covariates”(para.4). In my example before, the girl who watches threesome scenes, desensitizes to accept them, and changes her attitudes, then may also have the possibility to change her real personal sexual behaviors further, such as attempting more irregular sexual behaviors and so on.
Conclusion and Suggestion
Through these typical examples, we can see media exposure can desensitize our attitudes, and make changes for us in the long term. As media take such an important role in our lives, appropriate media message supervision and control are essential and meaningful. However, as I showed before, media can bring us both negative and positive effects, and the effects are not easy to measure and predict; therefore, media content control could be hard and controversial. The TV series Gossip Girl have received mixed reviews since it premiered to the public: opponents claim this show contains too much sexually explicit content which will give teenagers negative effects; supporters believe Gossip Girl is derived from society and reflects the reality. In my point of view, the best way of media control is not to restrict the exposure contents or teenagers’ right to access media message. On the country, we should encourage media be more neutral and show both of the sides of the society. Like in the show Gossip Girl, the content of threesome is derived from today’s young people’ real life, it is no need to avoid facing it. Instead, we can add more contents to show how the negative effects taking this sexual behavior could be. Teenagers will learn from both of the sides, compare, and balance their behaviors.
2009年11月30日星期一
2009年11月15日星期日
media exposure and effects
In my communication 277 class, we are talking something very interesting on media exposure and its effects to the audiences and society.The professor talked about 6 general effects theories, and today I will apply two of them to one of our daily medium exposure. I will show you how the media exposure can influence our thoughts and feelings based on the theories: one is exemplification, and the other is catharsis.
In my journal today, I will choose the scene showed on TV on the day that Chicago was announced losing the right to host the Olympic Games: on the TV show, audiences can see a lot of supporters cried and complained about the failure.Then, I will use the two theories to show you how this exposure can influence audiences.
To begin with, I will show you how the theory of exemplification explains this exposure's effect. Firstly, according to professor's lecture, exemplification theory indicates that media exposure examples in news, and then it will make audience recall the news in the future, which will be used in beliefs and judgment about issues; in many cases, these judgment and beliefs are extreme and incorrect.In this case, some people saw that these people cried and blamed to the President Obama's ego which led to the final failure. They watched it, and this exposure will influence the audiences impression and beliefs in the future. Next time when they are facing the decision whether to support Chicago again as the host city for the Olympic Games, they will think of this failure, and dare not to run the same candidates competition. Also, it maybe influence the impression of the President for the audience. They will recall of this exposure, the complaints' blame when they vote for the president's new policy. As you see, the exemplification effect could cause cognitive changes for audiences in the long term on different persons.
Another theory is catharsis, which means we audiences will feel better after we see people in the media exposure crying and suffering.It is obviously in this case, the opponents or some supporters for the other host cities will feel so happy and even be more proud when saw these people's frustrations exposed to the media; in the mean while, those who support Chicago to hold the Games will also feel their suffers are released a lot by watching there were also other people felt the same feeling as they did.So they will not feel so upset anymore. Therefore, Catharsis theory shows us the exposure may cause affective changes in short term for the audiences.
All in all, experts in communication field try to use and create different theories to explain how media influence our daily life and our perception of the society.These theories are both interesting and useful for us. After taking this class, I just become to think more when I am receiving media messages from the world.
In my journal today, I will choose the scene showed on TV on the day that Chicago was announced losing the right to host the Olympic Games: on the TV show, audiences can see a lot of supporters cried and complained about the failure.Then, I will use the two theories to show you how this exposure can influence audiences.
To begin with, I will show you how the theory of exemplification explains this exposure's effect. Firstly, according to professor's lecture, exemplification theory indicates that media exposure examples in news, and then it will make audience recall the news in the future, which will be used in beliefs and judgment about issues; in many cases, these judgment and beliefs are extreme and incorrect.In this case, some people saw that these people cried and blamed to the President Obama's ego which led to the final failure. They watched it, and this exposure will influence the audiences impression and beliefs in the future. Next time when they are facing the decision whether to support Chicago again as the host city for the Olympic Games, they will think of this failure, and dare not to run the same candidates competition. Also, it maybe influence the impression of the President for the audience. They will recall of this exposure, the complaints' blame when they vote for the president's new policy. As you see, the exemplification effect could cause cognitive changes for audiences in the long term on different persons.
Another theory is catharsis, which means we audiences will feel better after we see people in the media exposure crying and suffering.It is obviously in this case, the opponents or some supporters for the other host cities will feel so happy and even be more proud when saw these people's frustrations exposed to the media; in the mean while, those who support Chicago to hold the Games will also feel their suffers are released a lot by watching there were also other people felt the same feeling as they did.So they will not feel so upset anymore. Therefore, Catharsis theory shows us the exposure may cause affective changes in short term for the audiences.
All in all, experts in communication field try to use and create different theories to explain how media influence our daily life and our perception of the society.These theories are both interesting and useful for us. After taking this class, I just become to think more when I am receiving media messages from the world.
2009年11月13日星期五
Outline for research Paper
Thesis statement: Solving financial problems of public universites now turns to be a very controversial issue. In my point of view, enrollment expansion is the best solution.
1. Background for this topic
A. Background for financial probelms in Public universities now
B. history breif review of enrollment expasion in American public schools
2. some opponents belive it is not a wise choice for university to do so.
A.enrollment expasion of public universites impact education quality and universities' acceptance standard
B.there are also other ways for sovling problems
a. cutting expenses and its benefits
b. increasing tuitions and its benefits
3. The way of enrollment expansion has a lot of advantages
A. meet the increasing need of people for further education in financial crisis
a, more good students prefer public universities based on family situation
b, more people choose graduate schools since losing jobs
B. international students bring high quality and diversity
a, high competition bring high quality international studednts
b, diversity is valuabe for public universities
4. The other ways have potencial negetive effects
A. increasing tuitions may turn students away
a, increasing tuitions put family into worse situation
b, pull public universites into privatization
B. Cutting expenses may damage on campus students' benefits
a, cutting expenses may influence students' eduation quality
b, cutting expenses may lead to improper distribution
5. The potencial negetive effects enrollment expansion may bring can be avoid or not that worse
A. students education quality can be protect compared to cutting expenses
B. schools' acceptance principle can be adjusted based on society's change
1. Background for this topic
A. Background for financial probelms in Public universities now
B. history breif review of enrollment expasion in American public schools
2. some opponents belive it is not a wise choice for university to do so.
A.enrollment expasion of public universites impact education quality and universities' acceptance standard
B.there are also other ways for sovling problems
a. cutting expenses and its benefits
b. increasing tuitions and its benefits
3. The way of enrollment expansion has a lot of advantages
A. meet the increasing need of people for further education in financial crisis
a, more good students prefer public universities based on family situation
b, more people choose graduate schools since losing jobs
B. international students bring high quality and diversity
a, high competition bring high quality international studednts
b, diversity is valuabe for public universities
4. The other ways have potencial negetive effects
A. increasing tuitions may turn students away
a, increasing tuitions put family into worse situation
b, pull public universites into privatization
B. Cutting expenses may damage on campus students' benefits
a, cutting expenses may influence students' eduation quality
b, cutting expenses may lead to improper distribution
5. The potencial negetive effects enrollment expansion may bring can be avoid or not that worse
A. students education quality can be protect compared to cutting expenses
B. schools' acceptance principle can be adjusted based on society's change
2009年11月6日星期五
2009年10月16日星期五
What's love
This week, I want to challenge myself to write something special and interesting!I will talk about my understanding of love between boys and girls. I know this is a very sensitive topic, however, everyone must have or will have some experiences on it. So I am very eager to share some of my thoughts on this topic, and maybe what I convey can also help the other people.
Firstly, I will talk about the difference between "like" and "love",and also boys and girls' different perception of these two words; then I want to show you some different views of love among young adults between Chinese and American.
OK, let us start this exploration journal.
When mention about "like" and "love", most people believe both of them can show the affection but in different extent. Here is a very interesting survey I did among my friends. No matter boys and girls, they all conceded that in their first love experience it was very easy to say" I love you " to the other half.People always show very strong confidence in their first love: " I will marry you in the future!" "I love you forever!" They speak these words soulful because they believe it. However, when people experienced more love experiences, mature begins, and their perception of love changed. They began to be more cautious to say "love", instead, they speak" I like you". One reason to explain it, is: it is always easy for a person to like a person, "like" can be one moment feeling, can be disappear without too much penalty, and with less responsibility. On the contrary, if you say "love" to a person, which means you want to be with him or her in a long time and you want to share your life path with that person. So people with more experience will fall in love harder in most cases, and requiring them to speak "love" is even harder.
There is a very interesting phenomenon among boys and girls. It seems in many cases, it is easier for boys to speak out the word" I love you", and girls seem to be more shy to say these words. However, it is easier for girls to fall in love with the boys: it is hard for girls to approach to boys at first time if they just "like" somebody, however, girls are more sensitive and emotional, they will be gradually conquered by boys' "like", and sublimate the "like" to "love" out of control and always show more care in love than boys. Therefore, though the boy says " I love you "to the girl, the fact is that the girl loves the boy more in her mind.
When we talk about the view of love in western country and Asian country, it seems we can get one common image that Americans are more open and Asian people are more conservative due to the different culture and society. However, from another point of view, American college students are more independent, brave and less worried about the hurts and negative effects that failures in love may bring. They are less self-constraints, and more powerful in love. So, they always can separate the "like " and "love" very easily, and if two people get together, they are more focusing on the happiness at that moment than the responsibility or other things may happen in the future. However, when two Chinese people get together, they will think more, they are more willing to regard love as a promise, and even take marriages into consideration.
OK, today I talk about my understanding of like and love, and also the different perception of love between Chinese ans American students.
I found my exploration turns to be a failure because my poor English writing ability. I found I cannot handle such a difficult topic, so some of my feelings can not be described very well~~~However, the challenge can be good for me~~I really enjoy writing this journal~~
Firstly, I will talk about the difference between "like" and "love",and also boys and girls' different perception of these two words; then I want to show you some different views of love among young adults between Chinese and American.
OK, let us start this exploration journal.
When mention about "like" and "love", most people believe both of them can show the affection but in different extent. Here is a very interesting survey I did among my friends. No matter boys and girls, they all conceded that in their first love experience it was very easy to say" I love you " to the other half.People always show very strong confidence in their first love: " I will marry you in the future!" "I love you forever!" They speak these words soulful because they believe it. However, when people experienced more love experiences, mature begins, and their perception of love changed. They began to be more cautious to say "love", instead, they speak" I like you". One reason to explain it, is: it is always easy for a person to like a person, "like" can be one moment feeling, can be disappear without too much penalty, and with less responsibility. On the contrary, if you say "love" to a person, which means you want to be with him or her in a long time and you want to share your life path with that person. So people with more experience will fall in love harder in most cases, and requiring them to speak "love" is even harder.
There is a very interesting phenomenon among boys and girls. It seems in many cases, it is easier for boys to speak out the word" I love you", and girls seem to be more shy to say these words. However, it is easier for girls to fall in love with the boys: it is hard for girls to approach to boys at first time if they just "like" somebody, however, girls are more sensitive and emotional, they will be gradually conquered by boys' "like", and sublimate the "like" to "love" out of control and always show more care in love than boys. Therefore, though the boy says " I love you "to the girl, the fact is that the girl loves the boy more in her mind.
When we talk about the view of love in western country and Asian country, it seems we can get one common image that Americans are more open and Asian people are more conservative due to the different culture and society. However, from another point of view, American college students are more independent, brave and less worried about the hurts and negative effects that failures in love may bring. They are less self-constraints, and more powerful in love. So, they always can separate the "like " and "love" very easily, and if two people get together, they are more focusing on the happiness at that moment than the responsibility or other things may happen in the future. However, when two Chinese people get together, they will think more, they are more willing to regard love as a promise, and even take marriages into consideration.
OK, today I talk about my understanding of like and love, and also the different perception of love between Chinese ans American students.
I found my exploration turns to be a failure because my poor English writing ability. I found I cannot handle such a difficult topic, so some of my feelings can not be described very well~~~However, the challenge can be good for me~~I really enjoy writing this journal~~
2009年10月15日星期四
outline for ce
THESIS STATEMENT:
Holding 2008 Olympic Games brings benefits also problems for Beijing
Main points:
1. The success of holding Olympic Games brings Beijing more confidence, more environmental, and more opportunists in the future
a, Gain confidence: pride for the entire Chinese people, show identity and new image in the worldwide stage
Materials: From New York Times in Aug, 2008, 0.84 billion Chinese people watched the Olympic opening Ceremony, which is nearly70% of the whole Chinese population, the survey by Renmin Daily Newpaper indicates 90% Chinese people felt their happiness and race pride improved during this event. 75% Chinese people believe this event can show the new China，a more open, green , civilized China in the world stage
b, Improvement of the environment: people in Beijing gain more environmental concern, citizen civilization improvement, more trees, and petrol control
Materials: From Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau , From 1998， 180 Billion RMB is used to improve environment in Beijing, including facilities, planting trees, citizen education and so on.
My personal experience: I have been to Beijing in 2000 and 2008, compare the citizen’s action, cars, buildings, trees, and so on
c, more opportunities: leave culture relic, a lot of advanced gyms, stadium for citizens and athletes, for holding big social activities in the future
Materials: the Net Birds Stadium and the Water Cube has been the new placemark for Beijing.
Beijing has 1135 Hectare Olympic Village, which can serve for 100,000 people to join sports at one time.
2. Holding Olympic Games also brings Negative effect in economy:
a, gyms are left with no use, inefficient facilities usage
Materials: The net Birds which can hold 100,000 audiences hold less then 10 activities after Olympic to now. It also need huge amount money for maintenance.
b, high development before Olympic may bring inflation in the future.
Materials: Several Professors from Beijing University in March 2009 tried to explain the downturn in stock market after Olympic Game in China by using the reasons that it is the Olympic Game caused the Economy increased sharply which is out of the appropriate speed, which cause the Economy bubble and inflation. And it will lead to Economy depression in China in the next few years.
c, A lot of government debt need to pay back in the future, which make people worried about whether it will influence the other welfare for citizens.
Materials: A debate hold by New York Times, which invited several economists from Harvard University and Virginia University and so on, they reviewed the history, few cities who hold the Olympic Games can give back the debt in 10 years, and though China Government has a strong power to help Beijing pay back the debt, but it is still need a long time.
Conclusion:
The success of holding Olympic Games brings Beijing more confidence, more environmental, and more opportunists in the future. In the mean while, Holding Olympic Games also bring Negative effect and concerns in economy in the future.
Holding 2008 Olympic Games brings benefits also problems for Beijing
Main points:
1. The success of holding Olympic Games brings Beijing more confidence, more environmental, and more opportunists in the future
a, Gain confidence: pride for the entire Chinese people, show identity and new image in the worldwide stage
Materials: From New York Times in Aug, 2008, 0.84 billion Chinese people watched the Olympic opening Ceremony, which is nearly70% of the whole Chinese population, the survey by Renmin Daily Newpaper indicates 90% Chinese people felt their happiness and race pride improved during this event. 75% Chinese people believe this event can show the new China，a more open, green , civilized China in the world stage
b, Improvement of the environment: people in Beijing gain more environmental concern, citizen civilization improvement, more trees, and petrol control
Materials: From Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau , From 1998， 180 Billion RMB is used to improve environment in Beijing, including facilities, planting trees, citizen education and so on.
My personal experience: I have been to Beijing in 2000 and 2008, compare the citizen’s action, cars, buildings, trees, and so on
c, more opportunities: leave culture relic, a lot of advanced gyms, stadium for citizens and athletes, for holding big social activities in the future
Materials: the Net Birds Stadium and the Water Cube has been the new placemark for Beijing.
Beijing has 1135 Hectare Olympic Village, which can serve for 100,000 people to join sports at one time.
2. Holding Olympic Games also brings Negative effect in economy:
a, gyms are left with no use, inefficient facilities usage
Materials: The net Birds which can hold 100,000 audiences hold less then 10 activities after Olympic to now. It also need huge amount money for maintenance.
b, high development before Olympic may bring inflation in the future.
Materials: Several Professors from Beijing University in March 2009 tried to explain the downturn in stock market after Olympic Game in China by using the reasons that it is the Olympic Game caused the Economy increased sharply which is out of the appropriate speed, which cause the Economy bubble and inflation. And it will lead to Economy depression in China in the next few years.
c, A lot of government debt need to pay back in the future, which make people worried about whether it will influence the other welfare for citizens.
Materials: A debate hold by New York Times, which invited several economists from Harvard University and Virginia University and so on, they reviewed the history, few cities who hold the Olympic Games can give back the debt in 10 years, and though China Government has a strong power to help Beijing pay back the debt, but it is still need a long time.
Conclusion:
The success of holding Olympic Games brings Beijing more confidence, more environmental, and more opportunists in the future. In the mean while, Holding Olympic Games also bring Negative effect and concerns in economy in the future.
outline for cc
Outline:
Thesis Statement
College students have different coverage of examination in China and America
Topic Sentences:
A, Test preparation is different due to Schedule and Content difference
1, Schedule:
China: most courses only have midterm and final exams, some courses only have finals;
In my three years in the former University in China, I never know the exact test date until a week before the text
America: most courses will have two to three exams per semester and a lot of assignments and quiz;
Syllabus will be given at the beginning of the semester, you can know the schedule very well in order to prepare and organize your time
2, Content:
China: harder to prepare, cover more content one exam, less chances to have one to one teach help
America: lecture notes are very important; you have a lot of quiz and discussion class, which help you prepare your exam easier
B, during a test, students in America and China have different test time and format
1, Time difference:
America: some are 1 hour, even 10 minutes quiz;
China: often 2 hours, cover more contents
2, Ways difference:
China: paper exams
America: online quiz, some classes have special exam format (like my public speaking class, we will have 4 speech each 4-5minutes)
C, Test assessment in America and China are different in grading system and principles.
1, grading system:
China: do not have clearly value system in detail, you do not know how your grade will be very clearly, you can not handle your grades in the whole semester, just receive a score in the final;
America: you gain points; your grades will be based on your everyday’s work; you can have a general image about how many points you have earned already, and if you want to have an A, how much you need to improve or how many points you can lose
2, Principles:
China: you have more power to explain to your lecturer for making up grades; sometimes improving scores is possible
America: everything based on rules in detail (it has a very mature and detail assessment rules), more like a format. All you grades are based on the format, there is limited chances for you to explain your mistakes even your excuses sometimes are very reasonable. In most cases, the professor only say: “ I am so sorry.”
Conclusion：
College students have different coverage of examination in China and America. These differences are reflected in preparation, test, and evaluation periods.
Thesis Statement
College students have different coverage of examination in China and America
Topic Sentences:
A, Test preparation is different due to Schedule and Content difference
1, Schedule:
China: most courses only have midterm and final exams, some courses only have finals;
In my three years in the former University in China, I never know the exact test date until a week before the text
America: most courses will have two to three exams per semester and a lot of assignments and quiz;
Syllabus will be given at the beginning of the semester, you can know the schedule very well in order to prepare and organize your time
2, Content:
China: harder to prepare, cover more content one exam, less chances to have one to one teach help
America: lecture notes are very important; you have a lot of quiz and discussion class, which help you prepare your exam easier
B, during a test, students in America and China have different test time and format
1, Time difference:
America: some are 1 hour, even 10 minutes quiz;
China: often 2 hours, cover more contents
2, Ways difference:
China: paper exams
America: online quiz, some classes have special exam format (like my public speaking class, we will have 4 speech each 4-5minutes)
C, Test assessment in America and China are different in grading system and principles.
1, grading system:
China: do not have clearly value system in detail, you do not know how your grade will be very clearly, you can not handle your grades in the whole semester, just receive a score in the final;
America: you gain points; your grades will be based on your everyday’s work; you can have a general image about how many points you have earned already, and if you want to have an A, how much you need to improve or how many points you can lose
2, Principles:
China: you have more power to explain to your lecturer for making up grades; sometimes improving scores is possible
America: everything based on rules in detail (it has a very mature and detail assessment rules), more like a format. All you grades are based on the format, there is limited chances for you to explain your mistakes even your excuses sometimes are very reasonable. In most cases, the professor only say: “ I am so sorry.”
Conclusion：
College students have different coverage of examination in China and America. These differences are reflected in preparation, test, and evaluation periods.
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