26. For Who Could Learn to Love a Beast?

Classic Disney, where have you gone?

Where did the days go when people saw the Disney princesses and thought, "YEAH!" In different media outlets recently, I have seen a turn around on Disney princess and their lives. In an effort to become bra-burners, the ultra-feminists (or as I like to call them, anti-feminists), have decided that the princesses have to go. Being a girl myself and growing up with these icons, albeit significantly less present than they are these days, I would like to put in a defense for the princesses that are taking a bashing from princess haters.

I loved the princesses as a kid. Well, I did with the exception of Snow White (due to the fact that her voice was way to breathy for me... bleck). I dressed like a princess. I must have driven my mother mad at times with my little airs and graces. I had "tea," and of course I owned my own castle - even if it was a slightly raised garden of my mother's. However, I never waited until some Prince Charming came into my life. It was way too much fun to just be a princess. The pretty clothes, the fairies... way more tempting to my little mind then some hardly temporal prince that would save me from myself.

The princess fallacy states that little girls are taught to simply wait until some handsome prince comes around to live their lives. Well, do you give your daughters dolls to play with? Or worse, Barbies? Well, there is no going back now. Plastic surgery and anorexia are the only course of life that your daughter can now take. I hope you are happy with yourself!

Do we take these positions without giving them thought? Maybe the parents should concentrate more on what their reactions teach their daughters. A lot of information can be conveyed through the way you live your life, and if you don't invest the time, she might just take herself into a fantasy world where she will someday have somebody who really cares about her!

Now, I know that this is my personal opinion, but this is media that I have consumed. It was also my childhood. I like to think of myself as a competent adult now. I am not waiting for my prince to save me. I can save myself! As for waiting for life to begin with my prince, I would just like to say for the record that my life began the day I was born, and it can only get better from here! Happiness is where you find it, and if you attach too much influence on what the media says, those you can about will see... and act accordingly.

Interested in this Topic?
Princess Prophecy?
Cinderella Ate My Daughter
Disney's Princess Page

25. Angry Eyes and Happiness

Are you one of the people who when they feel a strong emotion has to turn to music? Do you have a song for every word people say? Do you occasionally wonder if you might go nuts if you didn't hear a song... and soon?

Well, join my happy throng of Angry Eyes and Happiness!

You might wonder what sparked this name. It is very simple. There I sat, in one of the most craptastic moods that I have ever experienced. My frustration was undiluted. I needed an outlet. So where does one turn? Me, I immediately turn to my angry music. It may seem trite, but there is something about people singing out all their anger that makes me relax when I am stressed. In fact, I have a mix that I never listen to unless I am super upset. With the ability to vent my emotions through the music, I can then move on to happiness. 

For me, music amplifies everything for me... unless in the case of anger, it dissipates the emotion. No matter what has happened, there has been a song for that, and I am the queen of finding that song. 

What do you turn to when you get upset? Are you willing to let the music wash over you, or do you turn to something else? Just curious.

(By the way, do you like the images? I like the title, but I am not sold on that smile. Let me know of other ideas for happiness!)

24. The Power of Mass Media

The power of mass media is undeniable. You may know what you are looking for, but those in the media have the power to turn your head with a simple word. As long as it is a word that has meaning to you, that practitioner may have you hooked. How do they use this power though? Are they creating nations of media zombies that only act on what is said in the media?

So what I guess I am trying to say is that if the media doesn't want it covered, you will be hard-pressed to locate the information you are searching for. The media sets the agenda.

It is present in society's today as Egypt tried to pull the plug on the internet because of the power found therein. It is seen in Ghadafi's efforts attempt to squish the voice of the common man. It was present in the propaganda/ media blackouts from war times. You can see the wash of media affect cultures such as those in the Middle East (we have discussed this, don't worry)!

But what about those places that do not fall under tyranny and autocrats? What about in our own dear United States of America where the eagle flies and the flag waves and the sun always shines? The media still sets the agenda. Is it newsworthy? Is it presented fairly? These are questions that should be asked, but let us be honest, how many times do we not see something because it is unpopular or does not have the same impact that might be had.

For a (very) brief case study, I would like to introduce fall of 2005. August of 2005, Louisianna was hit by Hurricane Katrina, resulting in the loss of about 3,000 lives. President George Bush was criticized for his tardy reaction. In a blow that nearly completely wiped out New Orleans, the USA was devastated. A mere two months after this tragedy, an earthquake of 7.6 magnitude brought Pakistan to its knees. With over 900 aftershocks in the next three weeks that often reached over 5.8 on the Richter scale and nearly 75,000 lives lost, Pakistan suffered horrendously. Where were the stories though? How many heard about this devastation? The press knew that the citizens wanted to know more about Katrina effects. So they fed the desire.

Who makes the news?

While disintermediation is allowing more people to have an effect on what is covered, the people who make news are the people who care.

“The media chooses the underdog and wants people to connect” Mosharraf Zaidi