PETA

The activist project I want to focus on is PETA (people for the ethical treatment of animals). There are over 2 million members and supporters for PETA and it is also the largest animals right organization in the world. PETA focuses on four areas in which animals suffer the most which are: on factory farms, in laboratories, in the clothing trade and in the entertainment industry. The PETA organization works through different outlets like public education, cruelty investigations, research, animal rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement, and protest campaigns. I am a vegetarian because I am for animals and against animal cruelty. PETA’s motto is "Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment." I strongly believe that in this motto because it holds true. You do not see people going around eating other people so I do not understand why other people do the same. It is not just about the consumption of animals but also the way they are treated. Animals are used for makeup testing, entertainment purposes and are even killed for their fur, which I think is ridiculous. I think there should be more laws against the cruelty of animals, and there should be more organizations for helping these animals that are not being treated with some sort of respect. I understand the reasons for why a person eat meat and partake in such activities like purchasing fur coats, etc. but is it fair for those animals who are being mistreated just so you could wear a comfortable coast or have a tasty sub. Next time you indulge in a meat burger, decide to buy an expensive fur coat, or so forth just think about the animals that were killed for you to get that burger or coat.

Work Cited

Mission Statement. PETA, 2009. Web. 22 Nov. 2009. .

Buy Nothing Day

Buy nothing day started in North America during the 90’s. Now, over 90 countries celebrate this international day. This day was set up so that for 24 hours on this day people across the world would not purchase any products. Everything we purchase has an impact on the environment and this day is very significant in reducing the environmental damage caused by consuming products. In developed countries, 20% of the world’s country is consuming 80% of the world’s natural resources. This is causing environmental damage and an unfair distribution in wealth (Smith, year ). The creation of this international day is sort of like the creation of comics. The reason for why Buy nothing Day was created was to better understand the causes of what has been around for so long which is the environment and the how we impact on it. In the book Understanding Comics, it explores the definition and talks about the historic development of comics. They relate to one another because Understanding Comics is about the historic context of comics and why it is so important to understand the significance of comics. Same goes for Buy Nothing Day, it is a day where we understand the importance of the environment and the impact we have. Buy Nothing Day is celebrated on November 25th and hopefully it is a day where many people partake and do their share to help the environment by not purchasing anything.

Work Cited

To buy, or not to buy... Michael Smith, 2000. Web. 22 Nov. 2009. .

McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. New York, NY: Harper Paperbacks, 1994. Print.

Net Neutrality

Net neutrality is a network design paradigm that argues for broadband network providers to be completely detached from what information is sent over their networks. It argues that no bit of information should be prioritized over another. This principle implies that an information network such as the internet is most efficient and useful to the public when it is less focused on a particular audience and instead attentive to multiple users (biggovernment.com). The most important feature in new neutrality is that consumers of certain websites may not be able to access certain websites. It is important that Net Neutrality become a law because if not, it goes against the peoples’ freedom. We as people should have the freedom to access any type of information online without having to pay an access fee. By allowing the telcos (telephone companies) to tier the internet, consumers will be forced to pay multiple times for the same service. On top of that, tiring could result in telcos becoming an internet “gatekeeper” that could greatly influence what stays and goes on the internet (biggovernment). For instance, if consumers wanted to surf the net for certain information their computer may be extremely slow making it impossible to navigate to the site or, the site may not work entirely.

Work Cited


Net Netrality Fight Causing New Rifts On the Left. Big Government. Web. 20 Nov. 2009. .

Response to the Arguments Against Net Neutrality. NetWork Neutrailty. Web. 21 Nov. 2009. .

Participatory Culture

Social networking is a very important part of my culture. It is the way in which I communicate and meet new people. So, to say that social networking is when you meet people would be an understatement. Social networking: The use of a website to connect with people who share personal or professional interests, place of origin, education at a particular school, etc. (dictionary.com). A great example of social networking would have to be the wiki. Every single one of us that take mass communication is on that wiki constantly posting up comments, blogs, request, etc. In the start of the year we knew of no one in that class but now, a lot of us have known each other and have made great bonds with each other. In Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs, Klosterman writes about Big Brother. Big Brother was a game show were complete strangers would be picked to live together and while living there they would face each other to win a half a million dollars. This game show was a perfect example of social networking because these strangers would live together, and while on the show would be forced to get to know each other (without knowing each other you would not create alliances and therefore will probably not win therefore you will probably be the first voted out which would suck). A lot of times on these shows you find cast members hooking up, breaking up, fighting, forming friendships, and so much more. It is comparable to the Real World as well but the only difference is that there is no half a million dollars to compete over.

Another great example of social networking is the widely popular phenomenon called facebook. I myself am heavily involved with this form of social networking. It has given me the opportunity to make friends with people I was not really friends with in High school. For instance I have started talking to this girl that was in my grade 11 math class, we never really spoke then but just recently we started talking. This comes to show the powers of social networking and how it has truly become a popular culture that many people engage in. I have had facebook for years now and I have only increased my friends list. I think it is important to have an outlet where you get to meet or better understand a person. For instance, I have my co-op coordinator on facebook because I know in the future that could help me out when I ever need a letter or recommendation or even a reference.


Work Cited

Social networking. Dictionary.com. Web. 19 Nov. 2009. .


Klosterman, Chuck. Sex, drugs, and cocoa puffs a low culture manifesto. New York: Scribner, 2003. Print.

Cultural Jamming

Culture jamming is a tactic in which an activist attempts to disrupt or subvert mainstream cultural institutions or corporate advertising. (dictionary.com)
The ad I will be analyzing is the Absolute Vodka advertisement.
By looking at this picture you see a vodka bottle. The bottle is shrivelled and at the bottom you see the saying Absolute impotence. This impotent bottle represent what can happen to people but more so in men to be specific if they consume a lot of alcohol. An over consumption of alcohol in men results in 80% of men that drink heavily face sexual side effects, erectile dysfunction, sterility, or loss of sexual desire. This ad is targeted to those who may over consume alcohol and may not realise the effects it could have on your body. Also, showing you what the advertisement does not want you to know.

Cultural jamming is a great way to take big companies like absolute vodka, McDonalds, etc. and to really show the effects it can cause, or just show what they do not want people to know. Overall, cultural jamming is a great way to make others aware of what the companies or products are about, to make apparent the damages or to just get across the side effects. I think it is important that people become more aware of what they consume on the regular basis and become more advertisement savvy.


Work Cited

Culture Jamming. Cybertreehugs, 05 May 2009. Web. 17 Nov. 2009. .

Alcohol & Impotence. FirstMed. Web. 17 Nov. 2009. .

Media Hegemonies

There are many major media companies that own different types of media outlets such as radio, television, newspaper, print and online. One of the high brand companies I will be discussing about is Walt Disney. Walt Disney owns many different other companies like:
The ABC Television Network: ABC Entertainment, ABC Daytime, ABC News, ESPN on ABC, ABC Television, ABC Kids, and Touchstone Television.

Production & Distribution Companies: Walt Disney Television, Walt Disney Television Animation, BVS entertainment, ABC Studios, Walt Disney Television, Disney-ABC Domestic Television.

Cable Networks: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN PPV, ESPN Deportes, ESPNU, ESPNHD, ESPN2 HD, ESPNEWSHD and ESPNUHD, Disney Channel HD, Toon Disney, SOAPnet, ABC Family Channel, A&E Television Networks (37.5% equity; includes A&E, the History Channel, the Biography Channel, History en español, Military History Channel, Crime & Investigation Network, A&E HD, The History Channel HD), Lifetime Entertainment Services (50% equity; includes Lifetime Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women).

International Channels: ESPN International, ESPN Classic Sport Europe, ESPN Latin America, ESPN Asia, Jetix Europe, Jetix Latin America, Jetix Canada, Jetix Israel, International Disney Channels, History International, NASN Limited.

The ABC Television Network has 226 affiliated stations reaching 99 percent of all U.S. television households. The company owns and operates ten ABC television stations in the nation’s top markets.

Programming: Good Morning America, World News with Charles Gibson, World News Now, 20/20, Primetime, This Week With George Stephanopoulos, Sportscenter/Monday Night Football, ESPNplus, Playhouse Disney, Jetix, ABC Kids. ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes Radio, Radio Disney, Lifetime Radio for women (50% equity), ABC Music Radio, ABC Radio Networks: Imus in the Morning, The Mark Levin Show, Morning Joe, The Tom Joyner Show.
Magazines: Family Fun, ESPN the Magazine, Jetix Magazine, Wondertime Magazine, Bassmaster Magazine and Disney Adventures

Music: Disney Music Group distributes music and motion picture soundtracks under its four labels: Walt Disney Records, Hollywood Records, Buena Vista Records, Lyric Street Records, Disney Music Publishing Worldwide.

Books: Disney Publishing, a subsidiary of the Company, owns Hyperion Books, Hyperion Books for Children, Disney Press, Disney Editions, Disney Adventures, Disney Fairies, Disney Digital Books, Mirimax, ESPN books, ABC Daytime Press, Hyperion East, Hyperion Audiobooks, Volo, Jump at the Sun, Disney Libri (Italy), Disney Hachette JV (France).
With big companies like Disney owning many different types of companies, it only creates implications such as bias. For instance, the owners of Disney may believe in a certain perspective or view when a story hits. So, all the different type of newspapers, television programming, etc will share in the same bias because the same owners of Disney own those smaller newspapers, television broadcast news, etc. This gives the viewers and audiences a biased perspective.
“It is an approach that will preserve the plurality of editorial voices and the diversity of programming available to Canadians, both locally and nationally, while allowing for a strong and competitive industry," said CRTC chair Konrad von Finckenstein. I agree with this statement because if one company owns most of the smaller companies then it loses the diversity in this industry and only the powerful and wealthy people would have a say. It would be owned by the same people and only they would have a say in what goes on.
In the book Toxic Sludge is good for you it writes about the roles of public relations and how they are silent partners. We get the news and we think it’s accurate and correct but what we fail to see is that the news we hear goes through boardrooms of these public relations companies. These companies like Disney that owns smaller companies like ABC daytime, Good Morning America, etc. are biased information because they are owned by the same company and are given the same information to report on, that is the jobs of public relations. And that is an implication to cross-media ownership.


Work cited

CRTC imposes cross-media ownership restrictions. CBC, 15 Jan. 2008. Web. 28 Oct. 2009. .

Ownership Chart: The Big Six. Free Press. Web. 02 Nov. 2009. .