True Power for Anonymous

After doing some research on Anonymous' attack on Scientology (which was well deserved), I came across an article where Scientology head, David Miscavige, declared the group losers.

Miscavige said, "Having run into the Church of Scientology, they [Anonymous] are no longer laughing out loud or otherwise. Nor are they any longer anonymous."

Now that's hilarious.

Apparently, Miscavige doesn't realize the power of exposure.  While much of the group is truly anonymous, those who have come forward have brought an even higher level of awareness to the group.    

And that's a win for any protest organization.

The Numbers Debate

According to The Washington Post, Romney and Obama mentioned "middle-class" a total of 29 times. 

I wish I had implemented a drinking game!

If I would have added Medicare to my game, I would have drunk 59 more shots.

But what we really need in this country is a strong leader.  Ironically, the two only mentioned "leadership" twice. 

So what does that say about these candidates?  That perhaps we should focus on Gary Johnson instead.  Drunk or sober.

Lady Gaga: Satire or One Hell of a Marketing Scheme?

At the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, Lady Gaga sported an entire outfit made from real meat (see below). This fashion choice created quite a stir among the public, but Gaga claimed to have had a message behind it. She stated that she was tired of the media treating celebrities like pieces of meat.

So one could argue that this stunt marks Gaga's satirical attempt at influencing a change in how the public views famous people. 

On the other hand, however, if she was really against Hollywood, she might have made a bolder statement by avoiding the award's show altogether.  A real protest against the standard that Hollywood set in place.

Nonetheless, this dress is now as famous as J. Lo's green Versace from the 2000 Grammy's.  And that dress's only claim to fame was a severe plunge that left little for the imagination.

Lady Gaga at the 2010 MTV VMA's.

Saturday Night Art Protests

Art comes in many forms today, both electronic and in print format.  Perhaps one of the most recognizable methods is television or the silver screen.

Each Saturday, I tune in to Saturday Night Live (SNL).  Although it has lost its comedic value over the years, I feel like it's my duty to appreciate the pop culture significance that it provides.

One of the major themes that SNL dives into is politics.  For the past season or so, they have done all in their power to exploit Romney's ignorance with the public.  They portray him as wishy-washy and out-of-touch.  Meanwhile, Obama shines with a smile.

As I think about artists like Banksy who use the power of art to get their point across, I can't help but include SNL in this category.  As long as I have been watching, I have witnessed the writers' partial behavior towards Democrats (much like a lot of Hollywood).

Whether you're into politics or not, anyone can see where SNL's loyalty lies.  Thanks to the power of art as protest.

Social Media Burn

We live in an era of instant gratification where people can access whatever information they seek within a few clicks.  They can get a meal within minutes at a fast food joint, and they can even lose up to 30 pounds in a month if they're willing to pop pills.

With so many possibilities, what does that mean for us?  The answer is impatience.

I think about how many times a teenager will shake his/her head at me because I remember looking up books in a card catalog.  Hell, I went to a library!  But more importantly, I recall the days before the Internet.  Days where I had to rely on gaining knowledge from a book or from an educated person.

When I tie this rational to social movements, I become a bit apprehensive.  Occupy has succeeded in generating dialogue that hasn't existed since the 1920's.  Yet, so many people consider them a failure because they have not changed government the way that the Tea Party has.  Perhaps we should consider the idea that good things come to those who wait.  Those who work hard for their cause and realize that things do not happen over night.  Blood, sweat, and tears are often involved.

In the state of our world today, we should measure success on how long something lasts, not how quickly the outcome arises. 

The Role of News

When I want to watch the news, I have a few options.  I can wait until broadcast airs the news during its scheduled time slots, or I can turn to a 24-hour cable station like CNN.  If I'm not near a TV, I can even surf the web for the latest headlines/videos.

Earlier, I went the conventional route and watched a program on CNN named Cruise to Disaster.  This special report focused on the Costa Concordia disaster that claimed 32 lives. 

We learned this week that the function of the news is to simply report what happened.  It shouldn't tell us how we should feel or how we should react. 

Within a few minutes, this program broke that rule.  It was apparent that CNN has its own view on the situation and wanted to inflict that slant onto viewers.  Specifically, a mixture of images and aggressive language from people who were interviewed aired over and over again.  I suppose that CNN wanted me to be angry with what had happened, but I admit that I almost felt numb.

As a person with her own beliefs and feelings, I should be able to make my own conclusions.  However, let's be real.  That will never happen as long as the media continues to influence what we see and hear.

The only way to make the news' original vision a reality is to have robots report the news.  Even in that instance, humans would be the ones to program them.  Keeping these ideas in mind, I'm not sure that there will ever be a day where news will be impartial. 

Arab Spring Uprisings

In today's age of technology, many views differ on its effectiveness.  Some people think these advancements help us evolve, and some believe they actually set us back.

In the case of "Arab Spring," social media outlets like Facebook played a key role.  Upon research, I found that some reporters tried to downplay its involvement even though statistics showed that protestors turned to Facebook for vital information during that time.  In fact, the number of users jumped by 30 percent, compared with 18 percent growth during the same period in 2010 (Huang).

While I recognize that protesting has been around for a very long time, I cannot deny the fact that technology can help streamline efforts, opening the door for better communication.  As Nathan Singer mentioned during class, much of Martin Luther King Jr.'s success derived from his ability to channel television for his cause.  He garnered support from all over the country utilizing that innovative (at the time) media.

The same can be said here.  Facebook is a newer media that can reach people throughout the world.

I stand with those who believe technology keeps us moving forward.  It enhances classic methods.  And in the case of "Arab Spring," this outlet allowed more people to get involved.

*Source:  Huang, Carol. "Facebook and Twitter Key to Arab Spring Uprisings: Report." The National. N.p., 06 June 2011. Web. 09 Sept. 2012. <http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/facebook-and-twitter-key-to-arab-spring-uprisings-report>.