Why our Privacy is so Important

 One TEDTalk that really stood out to me was by Catherine Crump. In her video she talks about how while we think we are safe and have a privacy even when we step outside, we truly don't. Police have cameras, license plate trackers, cellphone and Ip address trackers as well all around us, watching our every move. She mentions how one of her friends asked for all his information that his local police department had on him, they had pictures of his car and his kids, images of him going home or going to work. This is so frightening to hear. She also pointed out that it is not only police but our government as well. We all have a file some where in the government with all this information about us, what you look like, what kind of car do you have, where you live, where you work, pictures of your friends, places you have been in your town, just your normal day to day routine. They even have license plate trackers on police cars tracking people who is attending mosques. 

This is an image from the video of what the data looks like at the police department. 

I feel that this is such a violation of my privacy. Why do they need to know what my car looks like if I haven't run a red light, or robbed a bank? I haven't done anything wrong but they have this information just incase? Just incase is not an excuse to violate my privacy. I love that Crump not only informs her viewers of what is happening all over the world but also informs her viewers how we can make a difference. She says it all starts with your city council. From there they can pass on laws to the police department to wipe all unnecessary data on regular people. This is so much more comforting knowing that there is change that can be made to this. I like using a VPN in order to hide my IP address from websites selling my personal information and tracking me and my interests. It is little things like this that can lead to big change we just need to know what steps to take to keep our information secure and our personal lives private. 

Antiwar Websites. Why don't we hear about them?

Censorship in the United States is not something new for us. When you watch films or tv there are certain things that can and can't be said on national television. This also goes for the news as well. Mainstream news outlets have a biased opinion and censor a lot of their media coverage. In our First Amendment Rights it is stated that we are allowed free speech and free press, but even that has some limitations. We are not allowed to say anything that is obscene, threatens national security in a war time, threatens violence, if it is a government burden, and causes immediate and irreparable harm. In simple terms we can yell fire when there is no fire, you can not threaten to hurt people, and you have limits on what you can say about a war going on. I find this interesting because the basis the creation of our government started with a war, people should be able to speak their minds about an event that effects everyone. 

Some great examples of the media coverage being censored was the Vietnam war. While searching on Antiwar.com I found a great article by Martin Luther King titled "Why I Am Opposed to the War in Vietnam". In this article MLK preaches why he believes that this war is "unjust, evil, and futile," (King, 1967). Throughout his whole sermon he talks about how it is conflicts with his personal moral values and how the war is doing more damage than good to both nations involved. Many people tried to silence MLK because America has always been a very "patriotic country" and with that comes the military, the American flag, and the pride of being an American. However, with MLK voicing his opinions about how harmful this war is, it does not aid in the "Uncle Sam Needs You" narrative that the united states was trying to push in order to have more soldiers fight in this grueling war.

Relating all of this back to today I feel that media coverage that is considered "sensitive" like the war with Afghanistan for example is not talked about because the United States government knows many people would be opposed to what they are doing and would once again create a sense of "anti-patriotism" just because people do not like constantly being at war. I believe these websites are a good way to hear all sides of war coverage because so much is already kept from us. 

Sources:
https://original.antiwar.com/martin_luther_king/2017/01/15/why-i-am-opposed-to-the-war-in-vietnam/

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/29/learning/lesson-plans/teaching-the-vietnam-war-with-primary-sources-from-the-new-york-times.html

The Diffusion Theory- TikTok

   

The Diffusion Theory is so interesting to me because I had never heard of it before and after reading I wanted to look into popular apps and apply the theory. I looked into TikTok and its raging popularity and how it got to be this global phenomenon and the app to be on. 

In July of 2014 an app called Musically was created by Alex Zhu. His original conception for the app was meant to be an education platform called Cicada. It was meant to be used for learning new things like math, or coffee or other types of skills, much like a square space is today in my mind. Zhu and co founder Louis Yang raised $250,000 just for the app to flop. They were not attracting teens and kids that wanted to learn and grow, they weren't really attracting anybody. That is when they cut down their videos from 3 minutes to 15 seconds and made it an app where people can post funny videos, lip-syncs, or story times. It pretty much became the new vine when vine started to fizzle out. In 30 days over 500 people were joining a day, but with any company they were facing financial struggle, so they made some design changes and made the platform user friendly and easier to view, and around July 6 they became the #1 app and stayed pretty popular.

So how did Musically become into the app we all know and love today? Well in 2018 Musically actually merged with TikTok under the company ByteDance because the apps were so similar. All Musically users were now faced with a new app called TikTok and now had to navigate around a new look and even more people joining the platform. From the app just being middle and high schoolers to now people of all ages joining, it soon became an app full of collaboration, TikTok dances, and the helpful tips and tricks that we know the app to be today. I think a lot of early adopters of the apps were younger kids just looking to have fun making silly videos with their friends. I also think that many people want to feel in the know about whats happening on the app since it is so popular amongst all ages. Many people however are against the popular app because they don't see the appeal, don't want the distraction, or just aren't on social media at all. 

I do believe there are some downsides to this app like all social media platforms. It is incredibly addicting. I find myself scrolling for hours because I love all the videos that come up on my for you page because they are personalized to me and my likes. I also think that it can be an unsafe platform for little kids because there are so many people of all different ages on the app and that can open them up to inappropriate content and child predators. We need to monitor our children to make sure they are safe on the app and make sure no one is trying to contact them. I chose to download TikTok because I was an early user of Musically and like it when I was a kid. I like what my TikTok is now. I see a lot of content related to the tv shows and movies I like, as well as acting and career tips from industry professional that I probably would not see on other apps. I feel that the positives of the apps outweigh the negatives if you are above legal age. I do not think that children should be on the app without close parental supervision or even on the app at all because of the dangers it can bring. I am not sure how I would weigh the cost-benefit analysis with new communication technology. I would probably look at how many viewers there are over 18 because I feel that people 18 and up are the target audience and see how they are responding to the content they are receiving. I would also maybe send out a survey through the app where people can rate their experience on the app. 

Resources: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion_of_innovations#Characteristics_of_innovations

https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-musically-2016-5#:~:text=The%20team%20turned%20Zhu's%20new,importantly%2C%20they%20kept%20coming%20back.

https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/12/10/18129126/tiktok-app-musically-meme-cringe

EOTO #2 What I learned about Instagram

 

I learned about Instagram from one of my fellow classmates. I learned that Instagram was created to fill the void that was created by Facebook and Twitter because there was no mobile version of Facebook and Twitter was not an organized platform to share meaningful pictures. I also did not know that after only two years after launch, Instagram gained 50 million users and was sold to Facebook. The growth of this platform really shocked me but I also remember when it first launched. It was the perfect place for people to "scrapbook" their life in pictures and show off fun memories to a bunch of viewers. Soon however, it became a place full of fake or altered memories and edited and unrealistic proportions of peoples bodies that left many people feel less then. I was shocked to find out that 32% of teenage girls felt bad about themselves after being on the app and seeing all the edited images. I am glad to know that more companies are moving towards the #NoDigitalDistortionCampaign to help people see that social media is fake and that natural and real bodies are beautiful. 

EOTO #1 Walt Disney's MultiPlane Camera

 Walt Disney's MultiPlane Camera changed the game in the animation world of the 1930. Animators originally used 2D, hand drawn pictures and took pictures of each frame to make the animation come to life, but with the creation of the MultiPlane Camera animators were able to separate key features of their 2D pictures and and layer them on multiple planes to create more depth in their animated motion pictures. 

This picture above shows how the camera rig is suppose to work. Each element of a frame such as the moon, hills, road, and trees are all separate layers, painted on glass, in order to create individual movement and give a new depth to their cartoons. With this new technology the animators were also able to add a sense of realness to their cartoons because now everything stayed in preparation to real life. For example the moon no longer gets bigger when the characters walk towards it when on earth, just like in real life. This technique also allows much smoother movements between frame because now each individual plane was able to move side to side.   

This is what the actual MultiPlane camera looked like. The camera is on top and points downwards on the planes and takes a picture with the help of a camera operator. This is how they got every frame and even though it was a slow process it improved the quality of their productions greatly and led the way for future animation techniques. 

Ub Iwerks was the inventor of the revolutionary camera un 1933. He was a former animator at Walt Disney Studios and wanted to make their cartoons feel more realistic and interesting to the eyes. He created it out of old Chevrolet car parts.

Later on William Garity brought this technology to Walt Disney to be used for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and The Old Mill which both won Academy Awards for Animated Short Films. Disney would later use this technology up until The Little Mermaid which was the last movie to be filmed like this before the digital age. 

Today these iconic cameras can be found all over the world in places likes The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco, and on in the Art of Disney Animation Attraction in Disneyland Paris. There, people from all over the world can experience what gave Disney Animated Films their touch of magic.

Sources: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdHTlUGN1zw

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiplane_camera#:~:text=In%201933%2C%20former%20Walt%20Disney,from%20an%20old%20Chevrolet%20automobile.

https://beverlyboy.com/filmmaking/who-invented-the-multiplane-camera/#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20Multiplane%20Camera,to%20films%20of%20its%20time.

The Value of Free Expression: The Value of the 5 and 7

The image above is a man in Trafalgar Square, London, UK, supporting free speech

The fifth value of free expression is check on governmental power. This value allows us to hold our government officials accountable for their actions and change any abuse that may happen in our government through our voting system. The press is also able to report about any misconduct allowing the people to stay informed about what is happening in our country. This is called the checks and balance system. It is so important that the press is able to talk about discrepancies and abuse of power that may happen in our government so that the people stay informed and can raise awareness to certain issues. 

A great example of this is the Watergate Scandal. Also known as the Watergate Break-In, Watergate was complex buildings in Washington, D.C. While Nixon was in office and up for reelection, the building was broken into, robbed, and people were caught trying to wiretap the phones. However, it was later found out that this was apart of Nixons reelection campaign and the robbers were caught trying to tap the phones and steal documents. Nixons paid the robbers hush money and tried to cover up the crimes but reporters at the Washington Post Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein sought after the truth and eventually revealed Nixons involvement in the crime. This later let to Nixon resigning. This is a great example of the power of the press and free speech. Without the freedom of speech Nixon probably would have been able to sensor the news so no one would find out about Watergate. 

Social media platforms today like Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook are all ways that information can get out quickly to a mass group of people. While a lot of miss information can be spread, truthful information can also get around to the public much easier than how it use to be back then. News outlets can create platforms that allows the younger generation more accessible access to important news that they probably would not have gotten because many people today don't watch the news. 

The seventh value of free expression is also crucial for our society to fix all of the injustices in our world. It is to promote innovation. When free speech is something that is sacred and valued by our society we feel empowered to use our voices to call attention to things that just aren't right. This has been shown recently in social media with all the movements that have been happening. Now you see more celebrities and social media influencers supporting causes and voicing their political opinions in order to call attention to things they feel need to be changed in society. 

In this video actress and activist Blake Lively speaks about child sexual exploitation and how the Child Rescue Coalition is using new technology to track down people who download this sensitive material by flagging their IP addresses. She is an activist for "the victims without voices" she says in her speech and bring awareness to child trafficking so more people can help bring these children to safety. In 2019 the Coalition has helped get 9,000 offender arrest and saving over 2,000 kids from dangerous situations.

Video of Blake Lively Speaking up about Child Exploitation

Fight The New Drug Blake Lively Article

SCOTUS History

The Supreme Court of the United States of America is the most essential and necessary part of our Judicial Branch. This court has the power to interpret the meaning of a law, decide if it is constitutional, and decide how the law should be applied. I didn't know that every petition sent to the Supreme Court is looked at and voted on by all the justices. I believe that having someone of such high power personally look at your petition is extremely meaningful as the case could have passed it off to a secretary due to how many petitions they get a year. The Supreme Court is a powerful branch of our government and has the power to vote on and overturn laws that will significantly affect the public. They are there to provide equal justice for all and interpret the Constitution. I did not know that the supreme court is the most powerful judicial body on earth and is a model for other courts worldwide.

Another thing I found interesting is that the court has to wait for cases to be brought to them and can not just start fixing problems without a court case. Watching the video changed my perspective on the Supreme Court. I knew some basic information about it from government class in high school, but I liked that this video went in-depth on how their process worked, from determining what cases they would take to speaking in court. This video helped me understand how crucial our judicial system is and how much work goes into being a justice of the Supreme Court. 

My 5 Top News Sources

 

Having reliable and credible new sources are extremely important in todays society, especially with such easy access to fake news. It is imperative that when looking for the latest news you use credible sources. Five sources I use to check what is going on in our world are Backstage, Deadline, FoxNews, CNN, and MxM News. 

1. BACKSTAGE

https://www.backstage.com/magazine/

One news source I use most often is Backstage. Backstage is a news and casting website used by actors, models, directors, casting agents, etc. I love using this website because they often post recent news relating to the film, television, modeling, and influencer industries. They also have interviews and articles in their magazine with well known celebrities giving advice and sharing their experience working in Hollywood. They also have a place for all different people who want to get into a specific industry to search for casting calls and jobs so easily. Backstage is such a reliable source because it has been around since the 1960s and has been the #1 resource for performers to find work. They have over 100,000 members and have a team of people to review all casting calls before they are posted to ensure that they are safe and legitimate. I love to see what kind of films and shows are being casted and what stories people want to tell. I would recommend this website for anyone looking to get into acting, modeling, voice over work, and even crew member positions since these positions are posted on this website all the time which is so great. 

2. Deadline Hollywood

https://deadline.com/

Deadline Hollywood is another source I use as an actor to stay up to date on what is going on in Hollywood. It has been around since 2006 and grew in popularity in 2009. I like using Deadline because it not only has up to date information about the tv and film industry, but also houses information on politics, business, industry festivals, theater, awards, box office information, and even obituaries. This website is like a one stop shop for everything that is happening in the entertainment industry. The ability to see how movies are doing in the box office and to be able to read about the business side of the industry is incredibly helpful as an actor and a communications major. It keeps me informed about what Hollywood is interested in right now. Again, I would recommend this website to anyone looking to get into the industry or if you are just interested in keeping up to date with Hollywood. 

3. CNN

https://www.cnn.com/

CNN is one of the news outlets I use when wanting to listen to more mainstream news and learn about current events in our country. It has been around since 1980 and was founded by Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld. I like CNN because they report in favor to the left. I use it to compare information with FoxNews. Both of these platforms can be pretty biased to their political party so I like to pay attention to both of them to see how they are reporting the same news. This way I can get a better understanding of what is actually happening and how it can affect our future. 

4. FoxNews

https://www.foxnews.com/

The same thing goes for FoxNews. A lot of the time bias controls how our news is reported. People will have certain opinions that favor their political party. This can be very dangerous as the whole story might not be reported and this causes a huge divide in political parties. I like to watch FoxNews because they report in favor to the right. I can compare their information to CNN. By viewing both platforms, I am able to make better decisions and form more comprehensive opinions on what is happening in our world today. 

5. MxM News

https://mxmnews.com/

MxM News is an app I recently found out about. It was created by Donald Trump Jr. and it is an app where every news platform can be found. This allows for all different political standpoints to be easily accessible for people to views. Their whole message is to eliminate bias in mainstream media, but still have mainstream news, which I really like. I recommend people getting this app to better navigate through all the different news platforms.