Pornography vs. Obscenity.

Here's an interesting concept--deciding what's the difference between porno and what is obscene. According to out textbook, if the answer is yes YES to ALL the following questions obscenity restrictions apply:

-Would a typical person applying local standards see the subject as appealing mainly for it's sexually arousing effect?
-Is the material without literary, political, or artistic, value?
-Is sexual activity depicted offensively (in a way that the state defines as such)?

This all seems a little relative seeing that not everyone would have the same thoughts on these matters. Plus, when it comes to "art", this makes it all even more relative. People have different ideas of what "art" can be. Some might even argue that porno could have artistic merit. This SHOULD make it hard to decide/enforce. Here is a link to what is "obscene" in state laws (Zoophilia! Personally, I CERTAINLY find THAT obscene!!! It's a Class I felony here in NC. See what it says about the other states!) :

http://www.lectlaw.com/files/sex13.htm

Allan Zane

End transmission.

Trash and Pot Holes on the Information Super Highway...

Now that my computer has been rendered useless due to a virus, I am writing this post on Matt Baker's computer. But he needs to update his virus protection as well. This being said, I'm NOT going to download any pictures or anything until he can get this done. It's just too risky...

That brings me to the subject of computers (well, PC's in this case) in general as a medium. Except for Mac's (from what I understand), computers are just too susceptable to these "outside influences". As if computers aren't expensive enough, we also have to worry about getting and keeping updates on Anti-Virus and Anti-Spy Ware software. WHEW!!! That can be a big expense every time we turn around and there is some new virus, etc. made by some asshole that has nothing better to do than wreck other people's computers. I mean, WHAT THE HELL?!?!?!?

I hear that now there are even viruses that one can get just simply by being online at all. Now it doesn't even matter if you have dubious file-sharing software or not--or even if you go to "unknown websites". I've heard that some websites (often "naughty ones" that I won't name) are renouned for having viruses lurking in there. So--it looks like to me that the "trash" on the Information Super Highway is often "septic" and can make your computer "sick". And to add insult to injury, just getting on this Highway at all might make you run the risk of infection. How does this apply to what we have learned in class?! Well, for one, it certainly "inhibits" the Uses and Gratification Model we learned about in class! I have a "paranoid theory" on the whole infection scenario, but I think I'm too "self-concious" to go into that for the time being...

Allan Zane

End transmission.

Subliminals (cont.)

Here's a strange little example of "subliminals" I found on You Tube...

Allan Zane

End transmission.

Subliminal Advertising

Here is a topic that we haven't talked about that much in class--subliminal advertising. And yes, I did a journal enrty on this as well. It is questioned exactly what (if any) REAL effects subliminals have on the psyche. Vicary's research obviously proved that there is something to subliminals in the "visual arena". I think the "jury is still out" when it comes to the "aural arena"...

Here's a couple of interesting links on the subject:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.classroomtools.com/subad11a.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.classroomtools.com/sublimad.htm&h=268&w=200&sz=10&tbnid=C0pP35wBJFf_wM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=84&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsubliminal%2Badvertising&start=2&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=2

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.subliminalworld.org/silk2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.subliminalworld.org/freud.htm&h=342&w=273&sz=15&tbnid=jlr6Vp_-rndGhM:&tbnh=120&tbnw=96&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsubliminal%2Badvertising&start=1&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=1

Allan Zane

End transmission.

Spiral Of Silence...

Here is one of the more DISTURBING theories that we have learned about in class--the spiral of silence. I have gone off on this one in one of my journal entries. Why don't they just call it the "Bully-on-the-Playground Theory"?! That's pretty much what it amounts to in my book. Besides, when has the "status quo/herd mentality" ever spawned anything of interest--let alone anything "revolutionary"?!?!?! NEVER!!! If you don't agree with "us", "we" will scare you into submission...

He's an informative link on the topic:

http://colostate.edu/Depts/Speech/rccs/theory09.htm

Allan Zane

End transmission.

'If I Did It' won't be done!!!

We're discussing it in class right this second--the whole O.J. Simpson 'If I Did It' book thang. I heard about all this mess this morning on Good Morning America. If nothing else, at least Murdoch has enough sense posthumously to realize what a daft idea the whole thing was!!! But the book is STILL on eBay for over $4000?! Good f&%#ing GOD!!! As if there wasn't enough publicity over that trial!!! Now he wants to make a profit over it?! Getting away with murder?!?!?! What a TWISTED, SICK f^$% he is!!! Such a $$$-grubbing, sociopathic, blah blah blah!!! Damn rich jocks. I heard that money has already exchanged hands over all this and O.J.'s attourney has told him to keep it. All this just makes me SICK...

Here are some links if you're interested in knowing more:

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2006/11/post_56.html

http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-lijoy214985110nov21,0,7306756.column?coll=ny-news-columnists

http://foxnews.com/story/0,2933,231034,00.html

Allan Zane

End transmission.

Isn't technology wonderful?!

In class yesterday I had written a WONDERFUL blog concerning the Elitist/Populist model--when the site went down. This REALLY pisses me off. So, I suppose, I can go off on computers and the internet in general as a medium. As with ALL media, there are inherent flaws. BUT GIVE ME A F%^*ING BREAK!!! Why is it that computers are capable of SO MUCH--YET they just screw up at the drop of a hat?!?!?!?! It's a media that I'm beginning to lose faith in. I will write an actual blog ASAP...

Allan Zane

End transmission.