Weeds.

Season one of Showtime's hit series Weeds premiered in 2005. The pilot episode featured the development of the ethically questionable protagonist Nancy Botwin. Nancy Botwin is a house wife who was recently widowed, now faced with the sole provider for her upper middle class suburban family. The answer to Nancy's financial woes lies in selling Marijuana, her client base begins small mainly consisting of the parents in her luxurious town then escalates into a store fronted as a bakery used to distribute her product. Although Weeds is fronted as a parody of suburban life, filled with stereotypes of race, class and gender, they are all delivered in a ironic comical way. For this text I will examine the story arch of the first seasons of Weeds limiting the focus to Nancy Botwin's interactions with the ideologies of race, class and gender that are highlighted within the first season.

Masked by humor there is evidence that reinforces the symbolic annihilation that states if you are not male white and straight you are irrelevant to society. This can be taken lightly in a society where irony thrives, however the existence of such ideology represents the current existence that could be interpreted as something we are just laughing at or that we are so desensitized to seeing such an existence in various media texts we can easily find humor in it.

Although it seems as though my sense of humor is absent when really I find this show hilarious, however the overall claim I would like to make is that, however the fact that Weeds is funny could be passively be reinforcing the “norms” that can be both oppressive and insulting. The first scene I will examine within this ideological analysis is the introduction and theme song of the show, which depicts the conformity of a 9-5 suburban community, which will lead me to the topics of race, class, gender and the American Dream.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8StRAJCork
INTRO LINK

Gentrification PDX

Gentrification in Portland has become a reoccurring story using both mainstream local and new forms of media. In a story published on the Oregonian web page on April 30th 2011, a subjective point of view was taken from the perspective of a 31 year old woman noticing the changes her North Portland neighborhood has experienced over the years. This Portlander states that she has noticed that the upscale boutiques and shops in North Portland don't reach out to minorities. The rise of these shops has raised the rent in these neighborhoods that has pushed many who have lived there their whole lives. Oregonlive's coverage is great since it has a personal point of view on this change as well as the opportunity for readers of the story to comment on this.


Since the story of Portland's gentrification has been a running story throughout the past few years, I chose to look through the archives of Youtube for videos on Portlander's take on the gentrification. One stream of videos involved a group of people interviewing Portlander's on the gentrification of Portland and it's impact on those effected by the rising rent costs as well as the change in demographics for the shops and eateries around the North Portland area. This is considered a form of new media that has provided thorough coverage for it involves people to voice their opinions of gentrification much like how those reading Oregonlive.com readers can comment on stories.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH2SWZx16mA&feature=relmfu

Fantastic Four Vol 1!!!

For this assignment I chose to read my roommate's copy of Marvel Comics Ultimate Fantastic Four Volume 1. Before picking up this comic book I must say that I had no prior knowledge about the Fantastic Four (despite the movie hype) or really any knowledge about the possible topics for ideology in comic books due to the fact that I haven't read one since I was six. I was indeed surprised to find an example of gender ideology within the first few pages. Richard Reed (Mister Fantastico before he obtained his powers) and his relationship with his father.

The scene begins with Richard Reed and Ben Grimm, Reeds only friend who happens to act like a body guard for him against middle school bully's, walking into Reed's house. Reeds mother greets him with worry when she sees that he has been beat up. His Hulk of a father enters into the scene furious to see his wimpy son has been beat up again. Reed's father is disappointed in him for not sticking up for himself, he thanks Ben for sticking up for his son in away that is belittling to his son. His father begins to rave about Ben and how all of the other dads are amazed by his football talents, while Reed is standing below them.

As seen below the scene features Ben and Reed's father who have similar build as well as Reed who is smaller. The illustrator has added the perspective that gives the appearance to the drawing that both of Reed's parents as well as his sister, who appears to be younger than him, proportionately larger than Reed. This shows that Reed does not live up to the expectations his father had for him to be, athletic, built and tough like he is. Reed therefore considered himself a disappointment even though he is a very intelligent kid. This particular scene in this comic book relates to what we were talking about in class about symbolic annihilation, in that Reed's father views him as submissive, invisible and victimized because he does not fall into the ideology he holds for men. This image also depicts disappointment since Reed's back is turned and he is looking down while everyone else's faces are seen and they are looking down at Reed.

Breaking News: Portland Oregon

I live in a fairly residential neighborhood in North East Portland Surrounded by Portland Public Schools. Therefore my neighborhood has been plastered with yellow signs indicating that they will vote “yes” to the May 17^th election for the bond to renovate the Portland schools if left unattended to could pose a danger to the children attending them. This is breaking news in Portland for many voters claim that the bond of 543 million is too high and will leave Portlanders paying 290 dollars towards this project. The imposing side insists that, the poor structures of the schools on average built between the 1950s and 1960s will have serious repercussions to the children such as, pipes that leak asbestos and boilers that pose a fire softy hazard. I feel that this is the number one story around Portland since it effects Portland school children; they should have a safe environment to learn and grow. This is also a timely issue since the ballots have just come in the mail and the election will occur within the next couple weeks.

The second important story around Portland was the shooting of 14 year old Shiloh Hampton in Holladay Park near the Lloyd Center on April 18th 2011. It was a shock to me to hear that this had happened in my neighborhood. This has not been the only shooting that has occurred in my neighborhood, just last year another person had been shot just a few blocks away. This story has been a heartbreaking story that has caught the attention of many Portlanders and their desire for a crackdown on violence. I walk through Holladay park at least once a day, I see so many children, families, innocent people and kids I fear for their safety and I feel terrible that an innocent young man was killed.

All around Portland and the metro area, many had all night parties many hotels had rooms full of people staying up to watch the Royal Wedding. Unlike the billions of people around the world who were glued to the television on April 29^th in the early hours of the morning, I must say I did not watch the Royal Wedding. However despite my feelings of ridiculousness towards the Royal wedding, I had a flaming curiosity that I was almost embarrassed of the next day to take a look at what the Bride wore. After looking at photos of her gown, I wound up spending a good ten minutes checking out pictures of horse drawn carriages, the streets of England filled with thousands of people, “was this really a wedding or a parade? I asked myself. I believe that my curiosity as well as the hype this wedding has gotten is due to the ideology of marriage that a majority of us possess within us. This wedding happened to be a spectacle unattainable by the viewers. My mother, a seamstress and fashion fanatic has read that many wedding dress designers will be making replica of Kate Middleton's dress, thus further proving that this spectacle will be the expectation to live up to. I feel that this was an important story around Portland as well as the rest of the world since it was almost an escape from reality. Since the news is usually filled with depressing stories of disaster and death it's a nice distraction for a change.

PSA : Candies

I remember when I was a young teenager watching the “Candies Foundation”public service announcements on television leaving me with an unsettling feeling in my stomach. The Candies Foundation is an organization that aims to educate both female and male teenagers on the harsh reality of teenage pregnancy. The public service announcements have featured both male and female celebrities such as, Hillary Duff, Jenny Mccarthy, Usher and Teddy Geiger. The slogan for the Candies foundation is “pause before you play”; implying teenagers should pause in the heat of the moment to put on a condom and really think about the consequences of failing to practice safe sex.

One particular Candies Foundation public service announcement that stuck with me until this day was aired in 2008, features Teddy Geiger, a young male singer song writer as the celebrity spokesperson. The ad begins with a couple of teenagers making out in the drivers seat. The dance music playing in the background is very similar to techno club music. In the heat of the moment the teenage girl disappears. The wheels of the boys car then break off, he jumps out alarmed as he watches his hot little convertible break apart and fold into a baby carriage before his eyes. The haunting sound of a baby's cry and a slow distorted lullaby plays in the background. Teddy Geiger then walks onto the scene, and says, “ not how you imagined your first set of wheels, huh? Pause before you play.” Teddy Geiger then walks onto the scene, and says, “ not how you imagined your first set of wheels, huh? Pause before you play".

This Candies Foundation PSA is shot entirely in black and white with sharp shadows, much like in a film noir movie. I feel that the goal of the PSA to evoke the feeling of a being in a nightmare is carried through nicely by using film noir style. The lack of color in this PSA represents the loss of childhood and a future.

I particularly like this Candies Foundation PSA for it features a teenage male, when a majority of the ads are centered around the consequences teenage females will face. The use of the phrase , "not how you pictured your first set of wheels", makes the targeted audience of the announcement to be geared to both genders for the majority teenagers look forward to driving the most.

Here is the link to the video. It may take you to the main video page but it is video #4

http://www.candiesfoundation.org/videos.html

http://www.myspace.com/video/vid/4179784

200 Words With: Ian Donovan

200 Words With:
Ian Donovan

Ian, a 21 year old college student was dressed in red and black during our photo shoot (as you can see in the side photo) which I assumed was in support for the Blazers game that was happening later that day. After talking with Ian he disclosed that he is not only a Basketball fan, he also works at Rose Quarter during the Portland Trail Blazers games as a team attendant to the visiting team. Ian brings food and anything else the players may need during game time. Ian's job is not only important it also has allowed for him to meet some all star players such as, Lebron James and Kobe Bryant.

When Ian takes time out from meeting basketball stars along the court side, he's studying at Portland State University working on a degree in Communications Studies. When Ian has some free time he enjoys playing video games, being outdoors and traveling. Since Portland is frequently under a cloud of rain, the 21 year old loves to get out of town to go on vacations to places like the Bahamas, and Hawaii or anywhere he can Snowboard. Although Ian enjoys his vacation time and other leisure activities he loves nothing more than spending time with his family.