I've got some extra credit.

I was never really into blogging. Honestly, it just seemed like too much work to keep up with. Although, I did have a Tumblr which I mainly used to see Internet memes and other tidbits the Internet has to offer.

The blogs helped reinforce material we learned in class. I noticed they always related to one of the themes that was lectured on during the week. Although, it seemed that the last couple of blog assignments weren’t as focused as the earlier ones, but they still helped with clarifying the material.

Some difficulties I found with using the blog were more technical than conceptual. I had a hard time embedding a YouTube video into my blog post so I ended up just inserting the link.

The blogs that I found most interesting were centered on conceptual theories. Having to dissect theories and have rational applications helped me understand them more. For instance, our first assignment on hegemony helped me understand its application to media and its applications to our society.

I would recommend the use of blogs in future courses because I preferred it over turning in weekly writing assignments. It also may provide better interaction between students and TAs with the commenting feature.

To improve the blogging experience I would suggest more section interaction through commenting on each other’s blogs.

 Yes, you can use my blog in a paper or report.

Colorx may not be the world's most popular bleach.

Globalization is the homogenization of countries, culture, and people through the use of modern technology. When considering globalization before the 20th century, it would normally be associated through global trade networks which involved actual physical contact between people. Today, with advanced interdependent technological frameworks the process no longer involves physical interactions but relies on interaction through computers.

One of the concepts that seems to be flourishing more in present day is globalization. The introduction of technology to glocalization makes it easier for cultures to interact. It's as easy as googling 'El Clon' and watching the Brazilian-based telenovela on the Internet with english subtitles. The main contributor to glocalization is television. Many shows are becoming international successes and are spurring their own spin-offs in other countries. The cultural adoption process is important because it proves that globalization does contribute to homogenization.

An example of glocalization is the mass popularity of Japanese anime. The model worked in Japan and made a significant impact in America. So much so that weekly Japanese episodes of 'Bleach' (a Japanese anime) are translated and released with english subtitles within hours of its release in Japan. The hybridization aspect of glocalization is rooted in these television shows' massive demands which lead to a singular form of media. Even though it's not their native language, many animes have thousands of loyal followers that don't mind the language gap. Some even go as far as being the actual translators for the subtitles. 

Apples to Apples.

I consider myself a pretty witty person, so I'm naturally inclined to appreciate a good witty advertisement. My favorite thus far seems to be Apple's overly popular "Mac vs. PC" ads. Though they have since been canceled, the seemingly simple witty dialogue seemed to always poke fun at PCs in all of the right places. For instance, the ad I'll include at the bottom of this post highlights one of PCs major disappointments among consumers -- its operating system. Although Windows 7 has been released since the airing of this commercial, the overall consensus in the computing world is that Macs are more secure and reliable than PCs. By pointing out this majorly important flaw in PCs through humor, Apple effectively persuades users to purchase their products. This is mostly effective because humor is easily memorable and is highly persuasive when it is indeed a factual statement.

When considering this particular ad, the appeal that seems to be most prominent is security. Though it isn't security in the traditional sense, it does focus on the security of one's information that could be potentially stored in a computer. People are always concerned about their safety in most aspects of their lives. This may be because of the media constantly bombarding us with the latest crimes in our area. The media instills a sense of paranoia that advertisers exploit in order to sell their products. With regards to PCs, computer viruses and variations of spyware were extremely important topics in the computing world for at least five years. Even people who weren't necessarily computer savvy, always asked about security programs when considering purchasing a new computer. By exploiting this concern satirically, Apple was able to translate an important issue into something that the average American consumer could understand.

Mac vs. PC