Netflix Post: An Update

Just to refer back to my previous post that noted on Netflix...

I watched the entire season of Orange is the New Black (13 episodes) on Saturday. I think that's what they mean by binging. I think this is also what post-grad life looks like.

The Beast Comes to Life

It was just recently released that Disney has decided to bring the story of Beauty and the Beast to life. They will be creating a live-action film rendition of the classic 1991 animated film that received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture that year. They pegged Bill Condon to direct the film, who is known for directing The Twilight Saga's Breaking Dawn Part 2.

It's so interesting to see the utilization of different of different medias to tell this story in different ways, after it's release over twenty years ago. Since then there has been a Broadway show adaptation that started in 1994.

Personally, I have gotten to enjoy both the film and Broadway show of Beauty and the Beast and I am excited to see what they come up with for a live-action film. As far as the live-action film I think it could be really cool. However, as someone who is picky about directors in regards to cinematography styles I am not too keen on the Twilight director in regards to doing this film. I am not a big fan of Twilight and I think the style of that movie will be similar to what Beauty and the Beast may look like. I guess we can only wait and see.

Binge Media

The way that we consume media has changed so much even in my own lifetime. One of my favorite types of media is television series, and the tactics for this type of consumption has really evolved recently. This comes from the creation of services such as Hulu, HBO GO, and especially Netflix. 

I LOVE Netflix. I'm sure every college student does. Being able to watch endless amounts of T.V. instantly on any device at your fingertips has really revolutionized procrastination. I have found that I don't even like to follow T.V. shows live anymore. I am a follower of The Walking Dead, and I don't even watch it in real time anymore. I just wait for the whole season to be uploaded to Netflix and will watch a whole season in a few days. It is more fast paced, there are no commercials, and you don't have to wait a week in between episodes. There is an instant gratification to it that you can't get by waiting a week between episodes. 

Another reason I love Netflix, is the original material that they have recently started producing. Both House of Cards and Orange is the New Black are excellent shows that wouldn't have existed without Netflix. These are shows, that because of their limited availability on only Netflix, that you kind of just have to binge watch. It's like they are forcing the idea of bingeing to be the new norm on how we consume television shows. Even HBO's series', such as True Detective, are available on HBO GO where you can watch every episode in one sitting. 

Since so many of the shows that I enjoy are available in these mediums, I feel like my own consumption of the television media is evolving to a binge-only technique. 

Is There a Solution to Cyber Bullying?

First of all, in class we talked about the difference between cyber drama and cyber bullying. Cyber drama is more of what we see among teens and their peers in middle schools and high schools. This idea is where teens will start drama, call names, and communicate in an overall mean and dramatic way to each other through social media on the Internet. Cyber bullying on the other hand is a more consistent, reoccurring series of offenses made by someone who would be seen as more of an authority or older person to the victim via the Internet.

Specifically in terms of cyber bullying, however, there is a serious problem with the severity of the interactions and reactions. In many cases, such as Amanda Todd's, the difficulty in dealing with constant cyber bullying can cause incredible pain that may lead to extreme reactions.

So, my first reaction, knowing that teens have frequently become depressed and even taken their own lives because of cyber bullying I think that a no-tolerance policy in schools is a good idea. This would be my first reaction when thinking about the victim. However, when looking at Boyd's argument I think about it differently. She brings up the points that in the minds of the bully there is a much deeper problem going on that is causing them to act out this way. The no-tolerance, immediate expulsion, she believes, is very harsh on the bully and that more subtle steps should be taken as far as punishment goes.

I think because of Boyd's points I think that there shouldn't be a no-tolerence policy, but it also should't be taken lightly. Cyber bullying is a serious topic and can cause life changing and even tragic events. The bully should be punished, but should also be counseled to help elevate any problems they are having with themselves and so that they do not act out again in the future. Steps should also be taken to help give counseling the victims. Lastly, I think there needs to be more advocacy in schools about cyber bullying and how to avoid becoming a victim. 

Social Media Bill of Rights?

Personally, I think I agree somewhat with what Andrews is presenting. Although, I do not feel that many people are presenting a false persona of themselves on social media, I think it is unfair for future employers to judge someone completely on their social media profiles. I know at the place that I used to work at they would search for someone on Facebook upon receiving their application, even before meeting them in person. I think even if people are not trying to behave differently on social media, they still do. Using social media is all about putting on a presentation for friends/viewers. For example, I like to think that I am a lot funnier than I really am based on what I choose to post on social media. 

I also believe that looking at people's photos on Facebook is hard to judge people on because it is only part of their story. I know that for many people they don't have many photos taken on any normal day during their normal routine, it's mostly of special events or going out with friends, things like that. However, I can also see how in extreme cases, based on what people are posting, an employer may have good evidence to why they think hiring a certain employee would be a bad liability. 

So, although I believe in what Andrews is saying, in regards to having a "Bill of Rights" I think that is extreme and I am not sure if that would be a beneficial to anyone.

Thoughts of a Senior

Next Monday starts the Countdown to Commencement here at NCC, which means there are only a few weeks left of my time here. So, I am really making an effort to absorb every minute I have left of my college career and to reflect on all that I have accomplished.

Looking back on the time that I have had at NCC, and I see how much I have experienced and grown not only academically, but also personally. I've had some amazing opportunities, created memories, and have met people I can now call my friends forever.

As of right now I am striving to not take for granted any minute of these next six weeks! Go Cards!

Let me Google it!

Google definitely has power over our lives. I mean, does anyone go a whole day without "Googling" something, and no one says "Bing it" or any other search engine. Many search bars are even automatically set to search with Google. Whenever we need an answer, a link, anything, we use Google. It's a little like how people say Chapstick or Kleenex, which we sometimes don't remember are brand names. Google has become a household name that not only works as our number one search engine, but also what we use for maps, e-mail, and so much more. We count on all of Google's features every single day, which gives it an incredible amount of power. I'm not sure we can imagine not having Google in our lives. How would we live?!

I really cannot imagine going through the schooling system, especially college, without the help of Google. With every assignment I have in college it seems that I am always using my computer to complete it, and usually with the help of research done through my Google search engine. There are so many projects, research papers, etc. in college and it is stressed to us that we need to know how to research, and these days this research is very seldom done by reading hardcover books, encyclopedias, or magazines, but with the power of Google. 

Because of the constant use of Google and all it's entities, I believe that many of us may in fact be addicted to Google. Event this blog post is being published on a Google entity. I think that this addiction and constant usage may become an endangerment to our privacy and independence. I think out privacy is compromised every time we use a Google search engine. These searches are being watched and this information is sold to other sites to help target advertising. It is an invasion of privacy if I search for something online, and later see an advertisement for that product on my Facebook or Google home page. Google not only knows our searches, but where we travel, etc. We know they use this information to make themselves money, but it's up to the individual user to decide if they are being nosey or helpful. Our independence is also being compromised, as we rely SO heavily on Google to give us answers. Like I mentioned before, would we even be able to survive without Google answering our every request and need?

Blog About A Blogger

I read the interview of Megan Reardon, a blogger who maintains a personal blog on her crafting adventures. It includes her own crafts and tutorials as well as links to other crafts, projects, recipes, etc. that she finds elsewhere online. It started out as her own way to keep track of those sorts of projects so that she could reference them later. 

I found it interesting that she deleted the comments ability of her users. I think in some ways comments of readers could be helpful so that they could ask questions or let the blogger know what they'd like to see posted. However, I do see why she would take down the comments feature because I think more bad comes from comments than good. For instance, people may give negative backlash, post irrelevant comments, and in the end the blog can be whatever Megan wants it to be. 

It is interesting that she really takes to heart the mindset that it is her blog. She really isn't doing it for anyone else. She has people who follow her blog, but she doesn't feel pressure to find interesting new things to post. She is more interested in posting things that she values and wants to reference later. Because of all this it is interesting to see that she has about 4,000 visitors a day and maintains a steady popularity in the blogging world. 

It's interesting that she initially said she would not read her own blog based on the dated and simple format despite the interesting content. I think maybe after answering that question she would be more inclined to update her blog!

My First Post

This is my first post!