Synergy Project

Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus

            Our poster has a Walt Disney logo on the top of the page because Disney owns basically everything to do with Hannah Montana. Under the logo is Hannah Montana’s first album, called Hannah Montana. Beside that is Hannah Montana the movie. This movie was her first major motion picture. Next is the Hannah Montana T.V. show on the Disney Channel. These are her top three productions that make the most money. These major productions branch off to her smaller products like some of her merchandise such as cameras, watches, and clothing. Next is a Nintendo DS video game, made by BVG. Beside the game is a Hannah Montana book and the Hannah Montana magazine which is made by the Disney Channel.

            Miley Cyrus is the person who plays the character Hannah Montana. Her motto is ‘best of both worlds’. She features in The Last Song which is based on a book by Nicholas Sparks and is produced by Touchstone Pictures. She also features in a number of magazines such as Elle, TeenVogue, Billboard, and People Magazine.

            Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus) attracts a demographic of young girls ages 6-16. People who watch her shows are coolhunting; they are looking to act and dress like her. Hannah Montana is a great example of the paradox of coolhunting. Once all these young girls started dressing and acting like her she turned more to Miley Cyrus and changed the way she lived. The Hannah Montana show is a good example of synergy because of all her merchandise that came after (clothing, books, etc.). Many young girls are now seen wearing her clothing as well as people playing her video games. This is an example of horizontal integration because Disney expanded her business into different products.

           

                                

                                         

Project Proposal

Project Title: Legalization of Marijuana

What I hope to learn/improve by completing this project:

I hope to learn and (or) improve my camera skills, filmmaking skills, interviewing skills and my creativity.

This is the support I need from my teacher:

I believe the support I need is mainly instructions from my teacher.

This is what my final project will consist of (as much detail as possible):

I hope to have a final project that will consist of many interviews. I want my documentary to be filled with humour, so it will keep the audience’s attention. I plan on filming adults for legalization of marijuana, and as well as teenagers.

This is how I would like to be evaluated:

I would like an outline to follow and check off the things I need. I think such things as creativity, filming skills, ECT would be reasonable to evaluate also.

Essay

“The media, the corporations, the politicians... have all done such a good job of scaring the American public, it's come to the point where they don't need to give any reason at all.”Daily television shows are slanted towards generating fear, the news broadcasts violent crimes rather than realistic problems, and the media sells fear to society. Michael Moore argues that the United States of America lives in a climate of fear due to the media.

Daily television shows watched by millions of Americans of any age are slanting towards generating fear. The show COPS, one of the longest-running television programs in the United States, follows police officers arresting mainly Black and Hispanic people committing violent crimes. Michael Moore argues that such television series like these creates fear in the society, especially towards Black and Hispanic people. Moore interviews the producer of COPS, who says his show sells because of the violence and if filmed non violent it would not. South Park, an American animated sitcom, has various skits in Bowling for Columbine. Michael Moore included South Park in his documentary, for the show is known for its crude, surreal, violent and dark humour. The television shows on T.V. are becoming more and more slanted towards fear, attracting many young adults and even children to watch, giving them the idea that such violence is normal in society and it is how people act.

The news does not film the realistic problems happening in society, but instead films on violence and supposed hazards. During Moore’s documentary, he follows a news reporter heading to a scene of a Black man carrying a rumoured gun. Moore attempted to interview him, enquiring why he chose the gun occurrence preferably over a drowning baby or the pollution covering the Hollywood sign. The news selects the generally more intense stories, instead of the ones that are realistic in everyday culture. The news also has an availability to scare the people, by the means of broadcasting unlikely potential hazards. Moore brought into play the killer bees that never came and the myth of razor blades in candy apples. Moore claims that the media, such as the news, produces a feeling of fear in America.

Fear sells, therefore scaring the society with the media profits businesses with higher guns and security systems products sold.  Moore interviewed a man who sets up home security systems, who informed Moore that his services go up as the fear in media progresses. On a different note, the media can also be incredibly influential of eliminating articles of fear such as hand gun ammunition. Moore and two victims from the school shooting in Columbine went to K-Mart to try and refund the bullets that were still lodged into their body. They had no luck, and proceeded to buy out all ammunition at the nearest K-Mart store and brought the media with them. A spokesperson then announced that they will change their policy and phase out the sale of handgun ammunition. Moore and the two victims going alone had no impact; however the appearance of the media made an immense impact. Media has total control of what they tell the people and can simply inform us with dreadful issues to pressurize the people the society to go out and buy protection. Media also has the power to eliminate things that cause fear, such as handgun ammunition.

The media has made the United States of America live in an environment of fear. Television shows such as Cops and South Park display and create fear, the news prefers to inform society on supposed hazards and horror rather than practical problems, and the media scares society into purchasing protection that is not necessary. Do you not think the media should be reassuring us rather than creating fear?

Article Summaries

P O V E R T Y

NaturalNews: Poverty now rampant: Half of U.S. kids on food stamps

Almost half of children living in the United States receive a food stamp before they are eighteen researchers have found. Food stamps were first introduced by USDA program, and are now overseen by state governments. Many families in the United States use food stamps to get through hard times such as job loss, professional transitions, or other financial problems. Many people believe poverty is more widespread in the United States, and that not in abject poverty still live without basic necessities. I believe the use of food stamps is a great idea, for children and families who need the extra. Though, I do think they are probably used by people who do not need the extra and are taking it away for those in need.

NaturalNews: The Lifelong Ravages of Poverty

Neuroscientists have recently discovered that children who grow up in poor families with a low social status are prone to experiencing unhealthy stress levels, which in turn may impair their neural development. This effects both language development and memory, and may predispose these children to lifelong poverty. America avoids the problem of poverty. Children who grow up in poverty are most likely to stay in poverty.This is sad, that your future greatly depends on how you are raised by your parents and your social status.

ProjectConcern: Haiti Update

It has been several months since the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that killed around 220, 500 people and displaced 2.5 million occurred. PCI is supporting rehabilitation. Many still have no access to health care and live in tents in a violent and unsafe area. Three of four schools are greatly damaged; the kids and women are all very vulnerable. Donate today to help rebuild and recover Haiti. I believe PCI is doing a great thing, updating the people and supporting those in Haiti.

TheGuardian: Child poverty: study shows fifth of UK youngsters severely affected

Five out of seven children in the UK live in severe poverty. Researchers interviewed 14,000 seven year olds, asking them each to place themselves into one of eighteen categories. They found this out: three out of four children, whose parents are Pakistani or Bangladeshi live in severe poverty, mothers who have birthed children under the age of nineteen have a higher poverty than those who have had children at thirty, and 51% of black children live in poverty. Researchers are very concerned with the high rate of poverty, for they know how a child is raised influences greatly on the rest of their lives. Again, it is sad to know that a innocent child’s future can be beholden in statistics.

TheStarPheonix: African ‘witches’ banished

About 3,000 women live in extreme poverty from being accused of witchcraft. Banished from their homes, they now reside in one of the six witch camps in Africa. Palmer, a freelance journalist, exposes the fascinating and disturbing plight of these exiles in her newly released book Spellbound: Inside West Africa's Witch Camps. Aid organizations have tried to help to little avail. I have never heard of actual witch camps before and I think it is quite interesting, though sad for I believe these women who are being accused are most likely innocent.

TheNewYorkTimes: Haiti overview

Haiti, one of the poorest countries, is struggling from near constant political upheaval, health crises, severe environmental degradation and an annual barrage of hurricanes. The worst earthquake in the region in 200 years hit Haiti, reducing much of its capital to rubble.  Estimated total cost of earthquake: between 7.2 and 13.2 million. Estimated death toll: 250,000 to 300,000. Six months later, only 28,000 of the 1.5 million have moved into new homes and the Port-au-Prince has remained a tableau of life in the ruins. I think Haiti is slowly recovering and needs all they prayers they can get.

NaturalNews: GMO soy bringing poverty, poor health to South America

Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) in hope of ending world hunger and reducing poverty, has been found to have an opposite effect. GMO soy is destroying the environment, increasing poverty, and harming human health. Stop supporting GMO by no longer purchasing products with non organic soy ingredients. I believe the use of GMO's is a money grabber, not a helpful thing for those in poverty.

NaturalNews: Poverty is not pious

There is nothing sacred, honourable, or even spiritual about being broke. You cannot accumulate good karma simply by living in poverty. If you could then the poor would not be poor. Those who are not in poverty, who earn and spend their money mindfully, are thought as to be compassionate and spiritual. Those who hoard money, or earn it unethically, are not spiritual at all. Truly pious people spend their money in ways to support and protect sustainable life on our planet. This article was very interesting to read, and opened my eyes. It made me realize that poverty is not pious and those who are in poverty do not have greater karma than the average Joe.