Bowling For Columbine - Review

 Moore's construction (and inaccuracies) of Canada

Moore attempts to contrast montage of the U.S. with the attitude prevailing in Canada, where he states that gun ownership is at similar levels to the U.S. He illustrates his thesis by visiting neighborhoods in Canada near the Canada-U.S. border, where he finds front doors unlocked and much less concern over crime and security. Moore travels across the U.S. with forays to our neighbour to the north, to try to get to the bottom of the burning question: Why does the United States have a murder rate of over 11000 per year when Canada, for example, has a higher rate of unemployment, seven million guns shared among ten million households, and has a kill ratio that is a small fraction of that in the U.S.? An animated history of America hilariously skewers America's national blood lust, while providing a neat segue to his most cogent exploration and contrast - that of fear in America and the vast difference between the United States and Canada, where seven million guns are present in ten million households but murder is practically nonexistent. Moore states that Canada is a place where people are unconcern of crimes, but this is very untrue. Canada does have high unemployment rates and owns more than seven million guns. However, the reason why Canada has a small fraction of kill ratio compared to the U.S. is because Canada does not have the "national blood lust," like in America. If you look at Canada's history, there was not any controversial events or incidents that built more fear of foreigners. Also Canada is a multicultural country, therefore, there is less anxiety of racial discrimination in comparison to the United States, where racial discrimination is a huge issue, just like in this film. 

Comparing Canadian and American Police Dramas

 

CHARACTERS

FLASHPOINT:

• Gregory "Greg" Parker: Caucasian, crisis negotiator, prefers situations to be resolved through dialogue instead of lethal force, caring, peaceful
• Ed Lane (Protagonist of the episode): Caucasian, tactical leader, best sniper, has emotions, struggles between lethal force and negotiating with words
• Julianna "Jules" Callaghan: Caucasian, intelligence gatherer, stereotypical "woman cop," trained sniper, and does not like back-stabbing
• Sam Braddock: Caucasian, believes lethal force is the solution instead of using dialogue, protectiveness
• Kevin "Wordy" Wordsworth: Caucasian, team's entry, CQB expert
• Michaelangelo "Spike" Scarletti: Caucasian, demolitions and tactical tech expert
• The enraged man (Antagonist of the episode): Foreigner, does not speak english, has bad temper and behaviour issues
• The hostage: typical woman worker, Caucasian

THE CHICAGO CODE:

• Jarek Wysocki (Protagonist): a tough Chicago Polish-American homicide detective, legendary figure in the department, macho, hates profanity, intimated with his family issues
• Teresa Covin (Protagonist): Caucasian female police superintendent, very tough and ambitious, unafraid to challenge, incompetent
• Caleb Evers: a young Caucasian homicide detective, Jarek's partner, good observational skills
• Vonda Wysocki: a rookie police officer, caring, kind, Jarek's niece
• Isaac Joiner: black, a young and ambitious officer, hot-shot, partner with Vonda Wysocki, caring
• Liam Hennessey: low-level thug, under-cover, Caucasian, mysterious
• Alderman Ronin Gibbons: a black Chicago alderman, most influential figure, kind, respectful, wise
• Criminals: all of them are either black or different nationalities. 

The significant differences between these shows are that in "The Chicago Code," characters are more racially diverse and stereotyped, such as the criminals. In "Flashpoint," most of main and important characters are Caucasians, however in "The Chicago Code," some important characters are black. These are the significant differences between these two shows. 

I would prefer to watch "The Chicago Code," because the racial diversity is more realistic compare to the real life, and also the characters have different characteristics and issues that can be related to people living in real-life. The "Flashpoint"do have some realistic parts to it, such as the emotions (ex. guilt) that Ed Lane felt after he shot the enraged man. However, the stereotypes in this show is too unrealistic, because not every characters who are good is Caucasians and bad characters are not always foreigners.

I believe that the "Flashpoint" has some parts that makes it distinctly Canadian, such as the setting of the show. The episode takes place in Canada, because in one scene, you can clearly see the CN Tower. This also applies to "The Chicago Code." The Chicago Code takes place in most likely in US, because of the feeling of Ghetto-ness in the episode. However, the general concept of the two shows are essentially same, because both of them deals with very strong stereotypes and somewhat diversity.

American audiences would enjoy watching the "Flashpoint," because the general story flow is essentially close to the US shows, and even though the settings of the show is in Canada, the general concept of the show is not that distinctly Canadian, therefore American audiences would be entertained watching the "Flashpoint."

Canadian Content Rules

PRIME TIME TV SCHEDULE

6:00 PM ~ 7:00 PM : CBC News

7:00 PM ~ 7:30 PM : Jacob Two-Two

7:30 PM ~ 8:00PM : Canadian Idol

8:00PM ~ 8:30PM : Entertainment Tonight

8:30PM ~ 9:00PM : CSI: New York

9:00 PM ~ 10:00 PM : CBC News

10:00 PM ~ 11:00 PM : Comedy Now

11:00PM ~ 11:30PM : The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 

11:30PM ~ 12:00AM : Conan

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I had a lot of trouble completing this assignment, because I had to research Canadian TV shows and had to find the right time period for TV shows I found. Also I had to manage the time of each TV shows, so that it does not defy with Canadian Content regulations(60% of TV shows aired during Prime Time has to be Canadian).

I ensured my schedule would be engaging for a Canadian audiences, because I have incorporated many different TV shows which would attract different groups, such as age groups. I included news in my schedule for older adults, Jacob Two-Two for kids, ET and Canadian Idol for teens and Comedy Now for families. Also I spaced out the news so it does not bore the audience. I also included some non-Canadian yet popular TV shows, such as ET to engage Canadian audience to keep watching.

I believe that CanCon regulations are necessary, because it promotes Canadian TV shows to Canadians, ensuring safety of Canadian culture. Furthermore, most of popular TV shows are from other countries, and if there was no CanCon regulations, Canadians would have been swallowed by US or other countries' culture. Also by airing Canadian Shows, the audience will understand more of Canadian Culture.

Teen representation on TV (FAMILY GUY)

1. The personality traits I have are: organized, funny, confident, enthusiastic, problem-solver, and adventurous. The two characters in the Family Guy, Maggie and Chris, have some similar and some different traits compare to mine. Both Maggie and Chris are funny and adventurous just like me, however, they are trouble-makers, and not so bright. 


2. My parents are very respectful, confident, cheerful, energetic, funny, and wise. However, in the Family Guy, Peter and Luise are not that respected, and sometimes act foolish. The only common my parents and Family Guy parents have in common, are that they are both funny and energetic. My older brother, Kenny, is very courageous and funny. He also demonstrates the trait of trustworthiness. In the TV show, Family Guy, siblings demonstrate the funny and foolishness by how they act and speak. Although most of times siblings in the Family Guy are funny and dumb, but sometimes they show great bond and trust in one another just like me and my brother.


3. My school is very well-organized and very enjoyable. However on Family Guy, school is demonstrated as unorganized place where there is no rule, no fun, and scary. The main difference between my school and Family Guy school is that YMCI is more energetic.


4. The Family Guy shows some good and bad friendship. The Family Guy shows friends who back-stab one another, betrayal, jealousness and many more bad friendships. However, compare to friendship that I have, this is totally different. Me and my friends have great times together, and we always back-up each other. We do sometimes quarrel, but we always apologize to each other and our friendship becomes more and more stronger.


5. The issues that I face and the issues that Family Guy teen faces are totally different. I have many and big issues in school, at work and within friends, and it affects me mentally a lot. However in the Family Guy, teens face issues that are such a small matter, that it makes me laugh when I watch it. They face issues at random stuffs, such as getting a toy that he or she really wants. My issues are usually solved by talking to someone I trust the most, because it help me understand that someone else knows my issues and helps me get over it. On the other hand, in the Family Guy, teens solve their issues by events that are very unrealistic to happen.


6. The major differences between my life and the life of TV teen are that there is not many stereotypical characters in my life and resolutions to the issues and problems I face are realistic, nothing like in the TV life. Also the characteristics of adults are totally different. In my life, all adults are wise and full of knowledge and experience, but in TV life, adults show and act less intelligent stuff.


7. TV teen portray many stereotypes such as nerd, jock, freak and many more. It is hardly believable in real life.


8. If I could live the life of TV teen, I would not live it, because I don't want to live in a place where everything is very unrealistic, and easy to live. I love challenges in my life, and most importantly, I love my life right now. Therefore, I would not exchange my life with the life of TV teen.

Earthquake in Japan

Two survivors found in quake-hit Japan city Ishinomaki

An 80-year-old woman and a 16-year-old boy have been plucked from the rubble of a house demolished by the enormous quake which hit Japan nine days ago.Continue reading the main story

Sumi Abe and Jin Abe - said to be her grandson - "were found under debris", said a police spokesman in Ishinomaki city, Miyagi prefecture, according to AFP news agency.

The pair survived on yoghurt and other food from the refrigerator

The two were in the kitchen when the quake hit on 11 March, a doctor said.

They survived as they were able to get yoghurt and other food from the fridge.

The grandson eventually managed to reach the roof of the house where he flagged down a rescue helicopter, reported Japan's NHK news service.

The two are now being treated in hospital in Ishinomaki.

"Their temperatures were quite low but they were conscious," the police spokesman said.

He said details of their condition were not immediately available, though a rescuer was quoted as saying the boy was found shivering and with no feeling in one leg.

Miyagi was the worst-hit in the double disaster of the quake and tsunami of 11 March, with police now saying they fear 15,000 lives could have been lost in that prefecture alone.

On Saturday the military announced a man had been found alive in rubble, but it later turned out that he had been in an evacuation centre and had tried to return to his home.

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1. Informations about the two survivors are given to readers of the text. How they survived, where they survived, and how they were rescued are in the text, however it does not talk about the details of their family, and about the two survivors.

2. I consider this article to be disaster pornography and sensationalism, because it contains images of two survivors from the disaster in Japan, and this media text provide readers with limited information on the event, such as how they got stuck in there, and focuses more in how they survived and rescued. Furthermore, the title of this media text is presented in a way that makes readers wonder what might be, and also makes the story seem more interesting than it actually is.

The Disposable Woman

Two reasons for why Charlie Sheen’s abuse of women does not receive the same criticism by the mainstream media that other abusers like Chris Brown, are that he's privilege as an wealthy white man has an apathy from public, and also not to mention the millions of viewers of "Two and a Half Men," which have consistently turned a blind eye toward Mr.Sheen's history of abusing women. The author believes the media constructs Charlie Sheen as a “bad boy” rather than a criminal, because Charlie Sheen's behaviour has been repeatedly and affectionately dismissed as the antics of a "bad boy," and also he's "wealthy white man" look has gave him apathy from the public. Not only racial issue, but also the author stated that the types of women that accuse Sheen are women with high unsympathetic types, such as pornography film stars, which aids the media to construct Sheen as not a criminal.


The reality TV portray men who behave badly as a funny, and hilarious. But on the other hand, if reality TV portray women who behave badly, people will humiliate them, insult them, look at them as stupid, "slut," and would not laugh with them, but laugh at them.


According to the author, the problem with the reality shows now, are that they make assault and abasement seem commonplace, acceptable behaviour, tolerated by women and encouraged in men. I believe the idea that reality show is a problem which help causes the assumptions about women, about powerful men and about bad behaviour, because the reality shows now are portraying many women as a backstabbing floozies, and the dreadful behaviour by males as an explanation of the side effect of unbridled passion.

Celebrities and Causes

Madonna Jetted into Malawi

By Sifelani Tsiko 
Harare,Zimbabwe (Oct 5 2006)

LEAVING aside the glamour and material world of music fame, American pop diva Madonna jetted into Malawi this week on a humanitarian mission to help Aids orphans and to adopt a child.

While in this central southern African country, Madonna is expected to travel to Mphandula, a village about 50km away from Lilongwe, the capital, where she plans to set up an education and feeding centre for HIV and Aids orphans.

Madonna and her 10-member delegation landed on a private plane quietly without prior announcement.
The 'Material Girl' first made public her plans to visit Malawi in an interview with the Time magazine in August.
In this interview, she said she hoped to raise US$3 million for programmes to support Aids orphans.  During her stay in Malawi, Madonna will launch six projects to help underprivileged children.

Malawi with a population of about 13 million people has an estimated 1 million children who have lost at least one parent largely due to the ravaging HIV and Aids pandemic.

 This central southern African country is among the poorest countries in the world and drought, the HIV/Aids pandemic and poverty have stalled development for years.

The traditional African extended family system is collapsing and in most villages, many orphaned children are being cared for either their slightly older siblings or grandparents. Food, clothing and shelter are a challenge to the carers.

Madonna has put Malawi on the spotlight adding to the humanitarian goodness flagged by singer Bono who held a concert to raise funds for a charitable cause in East Africa and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie who recently donated $300,000 to Namibia to help impoverished babies.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's whose child was born in Namibia early this year unveiled plans to donate US$1 million each to two humanitarian organisations active in Africa.

In another good cause, actor and director George Clooney is campaigning passionately for the Darfur victims of war in the Sudan complementing the former US president Bill Clinton's campaign to bring low cost drugs to Malawi's poor.

Most of the poor in Malawi have not heard much about Madonna, but this has not stopped the pop superstar from embarking on her humanitarian mission.

Poverty in many African countries is real and the world should applaud the stars for their tangible action to tackle poverty despite facing criticism.

Critics in the West say Madonna's visit to Malawi is 'little more than a publicity stunt by one of the world's best self-promoters.'

Others say the fact that orphans at the centre will be taught a curriculum based on 'Spirituality for Kids', linked to the Kabbalah school of mysticism to which Madonna is a follower, has added to the cynicism.

In Malawi, people say they don't 'eat criticism and all the cynicism' of people who are well off but welcomed the American pop star's visit saying it makes a difference to the lives of the orphans.

"Poverty in Malawi is real, there are no doubts about it," says Weston Kamupanji, of Blantyre, the commercial capital. "People welcome any help they can get as long as it can make a difference in the lives of our people."

"Let critics bark and after that ask them, what are you yourself doing to assist the poor.' You will be surprised that they don't have an answer to this. So let those who can assist the poor do so."

Whether or not Madonna, who was recently awarded a Guiness World Record for being the highest paid female singer (made US$50 million in 2004) is seeking to reinvent herself as humanitarian or is seeking to show her vague interest in humanitarian goodness, the visit to Malawi and her contribution to the lives of the orphans certainly reflects her humanitarian goodness and normality.

For a while, never mind all the controversies surrounding her stage image. Zero in on the good side which is transforming the lives of the underprivileged children in Malawi.

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Madonna is one of most famous celebrities, who has done and still does something to help improve the lives of others. This media text supports Madonna as a celebrity with humanitarian mind, which is explained through Madonna jetting into Malawi on a humanitarian mission to help Aids orphans and to adopt a child. 
The preferred reading of this media text is that Madonna is helping to improve the lives of orphans in Malawi, which shows her as philanthropist. 
The oppositional reading of this text is that Madonna is trying to erase her bad-girl reputation, by adopting a child and by helping with the Aids problem in Malawi. 
This article affect the image of Madonna as a respected celebrity for her philanthropic work, but on the other hand, the article affect her image as a self-promoter who uses humanitarian mission to increase her fame and popularity. 
I believe that Madonna is not a self-promoter, but a very respectful celebrity who truly likes to help improve the lives of others, even if she is doing the work also to overcome her bad-girl reputation. Like the article states, poverty is real, and whoever help and makes the difference is always respected. I agree with this statement, and that Madonna, either she is helping others because it's in her nature to do so or just to promote herself, is helping the world to become a better place for everyone much more than critics who just criticizes celebrities and does not do anything to assist the poor.  
Madonna's also been lauded by those in the humanitarian community for bringing the plight of AIDS orphans to the global stage and raising money to help them.