6 posts tagged “book reveiw”
Can't vote, can't drink, and half can't even drive yet. Teenagers hover between "When I was little," and "When I grow up,". They're told what to do, and then told to take responsibility for their own actions. Kids may feel like they have little to no power in most aspects of their lives, but the truth is, there's one area where their preferences hold sway. Modern day consumer culture virtually revolves around their tastes, because kids have spending power.
This expose on the exploitation of kids and teens by the advertising business is the 2006/07 selection for Virginia Tech's Common Book Project. It explores every corner of teen advertising, from the obvious appeal of brand names, to the more subtle (some would say "sneaky") worlds of product placement in video games and movies, and the ways companies reach kids in public schools - such as the commercial laden Channel One news network.
Probably the most chilling section of the book was on "self-branding", and the lengths some teens will go to, just to fit themselves into a corporately processed image. Plastic surgeries performed on patients under eighteen, pro-anorexic on-line communities, harmful "performance enhancing supplements" to build muscles. Even the unhealthy obsession over SAT scores, to get into "brand name colleges". Advertisers are coming up with new ways to pander to adolescent insecurities, and the kids are buying in by the billions.
The final chapters were on "un-branding". The end of the book focused on the ways some teens are refusing advertisements, specifically in their schools. It covers protests against the "buying" of public schools by private companies in Philadelphia, unschooling and homeschooling, and the post-punk movement of DIY kids.
You may not realize how far reaching commercialism really is (I know I didn't), how single minded brand loyalty got to this point. You'll learn to spot shameless advertising tactics and "branded" kids walking down the street. Who knows, you may even start shopping at thrift stores!
peace.
This expose on the exploitation of kids and teens by the advertising business is the 2006/07 selection for Virginia Tech's Common Book Project. It explores every corner of teen advertising, from the obvious appeal of brand names, to the more subtle (some would say "sneaky") worlds of product placement in video games and movies, and the ways companies reach kids in public schools - such as the commercial laden Channel One news network.
Probably the most chilling section of the book was on "self-branding", and the lengths some teens will go to, just to fit themselves into a corporately processed image. Plastic surgeries performed on patients under eighteen, pro-anorexic on-line communities, harmful "performance enhancing supplements" to build muscles. Even the unhealthy obsession over SAT scores, to get into "brand name colleges". Advertisers are coming up with new ways to pander to adolescent insecurities, and the kids are buying in by the billions.
The final chapters were on "un-branding". The end of the book focused on the ways some teens are refusing advertisements, specifically in their schools. It covers protests against the "buying" of public schools by private companies in Philadelphia, unschooling and homeschooling, and the post-punk movement of DIY kids.
You may not realize how far reaching commercialism really is (I know I didn't), how single minded brand loyalty got to this point. You'll learn to spot shameless advertising tactics and "branded" kids walking down the street. Who knows, you may even start shopping at thrift stores!
peace.
I have a new one to add to the short list of books that made me cry.
It's not very long, and the story line is deceptively simple, but the end really caught me unawares. Teen pregnancy is a tough issue. I don't want to ruin it for you, so i won't tell you what it's all about.
I love the way the title ties in:
"But I figure if the world were really right, humans would live life backward and do the first part last. They'd be all knowing in the beginning and innocent in the end."
The award on the cover was what caught my eye and made me pick it up. The Coretta Scott King Award, to honor African-American authors and illustrators for outstanding work in books for children and young adults. The award was established in 1969 and named for Cortta Scott King, the wife of Martin Luther King Jr., to commemorate both their lives and their work for civil rights, peace, brotherhood, and nonviolent social change.
It's not very long, and the story line is deceptively simple, but the end really caught me unawares. Teen pregnancy is a tough issue. I don't want to ruin it for you, so i won't tell you what it's all about.
I love the way the title ties in:
"But I figure if the world were really right, humans would live life backward and do the first part last. They'd be all knowing in the beginning and innocent in the end."
The award on the cover was what caught my eye and made me pick it up. The Coretta Scott King Award, to honor African-American authors and illustrators for outstanding work in books for children and young adults. The award was established in 1969 and named for Cortta Scott King, the wife of Martin Luther King Jr., to commemorate both their lives and their work for civil rights, peace, brotherhood, and nonviolent social change.
peace.
The remarks I heard most frequently while reading this book were all something to the effect of: "Well, 1984 came and went..." "It wasn't the end of the world...", "I guess George Orwell was wrong..."
Orwell's most famous dystopian novel was not written as a prophesy, it was written as a warning. He wasn't setting a date and predicting the Year of Our Doom, he was writing about his own fears in regards to the potential atrocities of a totalitarian government. But of course, like Bradbury's Farenheit 451 and other literary sci-fi from the past, we can't help but measure the modern world against the fictional ones, to see what actually came true.
Orwell's most famous dystopian novel was not written as a prophesy, it was written as a warning. He wasn't setting a date and predicting the Year of Our Doom, he was writing about his own fears in regards to the potential atrocities of a totalitarian government. But of course, like Bradbury's Farenheit 451 and other literary sci-fi from the past, we can't help but measure the modern world against the fictional ones, to see what actually came true.
The name of the USA "Patriot" Act may seem a bit off, judging by its implications. That's because it's an acronym: Uniting and Strenghthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism. What a mouthful. The Act was passed in 2001, by a vote of 98 to 1 in the Senate and a vote of 357 to 66 in the House, after the terrorist attacks of September 11. It was then renewed in 2006, though it has created much controversy for its encroachment on citizens' privacy and other civil liberties. Under the Patriot Act, the government can conduct "Sneek-and-Peek" searches of property without notifying the owner beforehand. There is even a clause that allows the government to request phone records for a person, without ever notifying them. Probably the most controversial section of the Act, is Section 215, which allows federal investigators axcess to library records, and is argued to violate patrons' human rights. Creepy.
In 1984 (the book), the Party in power exclusively controlled the media. Blasts of governemtal propoganda and biased reports were the only news the citizens of Oceana ever got. Beyond that, the Party constantly changed the records behind its citizens' backs to tilt every story in its favor. The Party was right, the Party had always been right. By controlling the people's only source of information, the government can controll what they think. Thankfully, today we have numerous news networks to spin the stories from different angles, and we can decide what to believe on our own. But every channel is accused of its own political tilt, from FOX for conservatives to CNN for liberals, so there is no one place to get the whole story. Just because information is readily available, dosn't mean it's trustworthy.
No, I am not suffering under a case of Orwellian Paranoia. I can't say I enjoyed this book, but I'm glad I read it for the resources. It was severely depressing, with an un-gratifying ending, and Big Brother is still watching.
peace.
links: The Patriot Act
No, I am not suffering under a case of Orwellian Paranoia. I can't say I enjoyed this book, but I'm glad I read it for the resources. It was severely depressing, with an un-gratifying ending, and Big Brother is still watching.
peace.
links: The Patriot Act
I just finished this book (big surprise) on "vegan freakdom". It is an excellent guide to ethical veganism and the details pertaining to those principles, written in a very first hand, personal style by two ethical vegans, Jenna and Bob Torres. It is full of great resources and suggestions, and although I think it could have done without the profanity sprinkled throughout, the authors definitely make their point and defend it with solid arguments. There would be more vegans in the world if people were willing to investigate where their meat (and eggs and dairy) is coming from. Ignorance is bliss. After visiting a pleasant family farm on Sesame Street no one wants to see the processes in between happy cows in a pasture and happy burger with fries.
The same mindset goes for any commodity in the department store. How did it get there? Oh, from a factory I suppose. The consumer audience doesn't see the work going on backstage. All your toys and clothes and power-tools just appear on the store shelves, and wait until you come to buy them. Capitalism is the system at work in the US, private companies are owned by private individuals, they produce goods for private profits. Don't worry, I'm not going "corporate conspiracy" on you, capitalism is a free system for good reasons, but like every system, there are ways to take advantage of it. Monopolies are the magicians and just like in a magic show, "the hand is quicker than the eye". The only part of the trick we see is the result. Even the people involved in the process don't see the big picture. The factory worker, the delivery guy, are paid to do their jobs and go home.
Now I've gone way off track, sorry about that. All I have to say in closing is - think, question, and act. Don't take things for granted, or ignore the inconvenient facts. If you're already a vegan, or seriously considering becoming one,
I recommend this book. If you're merely curious, beware, this book will probably convert you!
peace.
The same mindset goes for any commodity in the department store. How did it get there? Oh, from a factory I suppose. The consumer audience doesn't see the work going on backstage. All your toys and clothes and power-tools just appear on the store shelves, and wait until you come to buy them. Capitalism is the system at work in the US, private companies are owned by private individuals, they produce goods for private profits. Don't worry, I'm not going "corporate conspiracy" on you, capitalism is a free system for good reasons, but like every system, there are ways to take advantage of it. Monopolies are the magicians and just like in a magic show, "the hand is quicker than the eye". The only part of the trick we see is the result. Even the people involved in the process don't see the big picture. The factory worker, the delivery guy, are paid to do their jobs and go home.
Now I've gone way off track, sorry about that. All I have to say in closing is - think, question, and act. Don't take things for granted, or ignore the inconvenient facts. If you're already a vegan, or seriously considering becoming one,
I recommend this book. If you're merely curious, beware, this book will probably convert you!
peace.
So. A few hours ago I went to see the most anticipated adventure movie of this holiday season at my neighborhood's nearest movie theater: Eragon.
I'm afraid I have probably ruined the rest of the book for myself, considering I'm only halfway through it, but along with my friends and family - i just couldn't wait. We managed to get seats for the only matinee the day after opening night. Yeah. I think about three (including myself) out of the thirteen people in our group have read any of the book, so comparisons were varied.
Everyone who saw the movie first now want to read the book, and we loyal literaryists (is that a word?) found much to critique. Granted, it's probably a daunting process to condense a volume like Eragon into a film with a reasonable running time. I'll give you that one. But a lot of the cinematic changes made had a distinct Hollywood flavor to them. I hate it when that happens. Sometimes I'd rather take the adaption without the predictability. Oh well. Ok, enough venting, I don't want to be too negative, this is a very good movie. It is also a good book (although it took a while to really pick up), I enjoy them both, separately. I especially like the slightly modern touch they gave to the theme of the movie, the costumes were cool and creative! It helped to distinguish this fantasy from the Lord of the Rings, a resemblance which proves challenging (at least for me) during the book.
To sum it up, I'd suggest reading the book first. Actually, that's my suggestion for any book-to-movie.
peace.
Ok, I should probably mention this book. I just finished reading it today for a book club I'm in, the "Utopia" book club, we're reading all kinds of fiction for different types of "perfect" societies (which turns out to be a pretty consistent subject for science fiction).
I have to admit, the 18th century language was a little hard to follow at first, but once you get past that the political satire is hilarious! Those who have not read the book are mostly familiar with the stories of the Lilliputans, the little people who tie Gullliver down, and maybe the giants, who adopt Gulliver as a source of amusement for their royalty. However there are two more civilizations after these, the floating island of Laputa where Jonathan Swift (the author) pokes fun at the lofty scholars of his day, and the island of the Houyhnhnms (don't bother trying to pronounce it) and the Yahoos. The Houyhnhnms are an advanced form of horses, capable of speech, and the dominant species of the island. The Yahoos are depicted as something like the penultimate link on the evolutionary chain, kin to humans, and the beasts of burden. When the perspective is completely flipped like this, get ready for a wicked reality shock.
When the exploited under-race is so closely related to humans, how can we help but sympathize (to a certain extent)? Swift meant this passage as a prod at all the disgusting, designing, dishonest aspects of humans by calling them Yahoos and comparing them to a simultaneously flawless society. But I also saw in it a glance at the plight of animals used for labor in those days, and today - for food. Animals confined for life and without consent to unfair treatment and abuse until the dominant beings can't get any more out of them, at which point they are disposed of. All because they don't speak for themselves, at least not in ways comprehendible to their oppressors, and are assumed to be un-feeling, or of an inferior understanding. Hello, we can all feel pain!
While I definitely appreciated Swift's intended parody, I was excited to find some food for thought of my own through the empathy he created by blatantly switching the points of view between "humans" and "animals".
Peace.
I have to admit, the 18th century language was a little hard to follow at first, but once you get past that the political satire is hilarious! Those who have not read the book are mostly familiar with the stories of the Lilliputans, the little people who tie Gullliver down, and maybe the giants, who adopt Gulliver as a source of amusement for their royalty. However there are two more civilizations after these, the floating island of Laputa where Jonathan Swift (the author) pokes fun at the lofty scholars of his day, and the island of the Houyhnhnms (don't bother trying to pronounce it) and the Yahoos. The Houyhnhnms are an advanced form of horses, capable of speech, and the dominant species of the island. The Yahoos are depicted as something like the penultimate link on the evolutionary chain, kin to humans, and the beasts of burden. When the perspective is completely flipped like this, get ready for a wicked reality shock.
When the exploited under-race is so closely related to humans, how can we help but sympathize (to a certain extent)? Swift meant this passage as a prod at all the disgusting, designing, dishonest aspects of humans by calling them Yahoos and comparing them to a simultaneously flawless society. But I also saw in it a glance at the plight of animals used for labor in those days, and today - for food. Animals confined for life and without consent to unfair treatment and abuse until the dominant beings can't get any more out of them, at which point they are disposed of. All because they don't speak for themselves, at least not in ways comprehendible to their oppressors, and are assumed to be un-feeling, or of an inferior understanding. Hello, we can all feel pain!
While I definitely appreciated Swift's intended parody, I was excited to find some food for thought of my own through the empathy he created by blatantly switching the points of view between "humans" and "animals".
Peace.
