There are many reasons why, even though everyone knows downloading music is illegal, some people (maybe even lots of people) do it anyway. For the most part none of the reasons that people give for justifying committing the act are right. However when considering some ethical principles created by pioneers in mass media ethics, it is easy to see how peoples’ reasoning for downloading illegal music are at fault.
John Rawls believed in the veil of ignorance which says that justice happens when we do not think about the status of people involved or where we personally fit within the social system. Considering this ethical principle it is safe to assume that anyone who has ever illegally downloaded music has come to the conclusion that everybody is the same and the odds of them downloading a song from their favorite artist and it personally affecting that artist in anyway is slim to none. Many people who download music illegally probably have this ethical principle as a mindset.
Aristotle believed that in order to make good ethical decisions you have to find the golden mean. The golden mean is the balance between the lesser of two evils, for example when you find the balance of courage. Some people should use this principle when they are considering downloading music illegally because simply put when people download music they are taking the easy way out. Instead of purchasing a CD or a song they decide to get it for free. Finding the golden mean for this situation would be shopping around online or in stores for the lowest possible price they can pay for whatever music they want.
Immanuel Kant believed in categorical imperative which asks people to think about what would happen if every person in the world decided to commit a certain action and what would be the consequences of this. For example, adults are famous for delivering this line to teenagers during their peer pressure years: “If all of your parents jumped off a bridge, would you jump off of a bridge too?” Considering this principle it would be easy for a fan of illegally downloading music to see how it is not a good idea. If everyone decided that they never wanted to buy music anymore and instead decided to illegally download music what would happen? It is safe to assume that there would not be a music industry to steal from in the first place.
Ethical principles learned in a study of mass media ethics can help to decide how people come to certain conclusions about how to decide on things in their everyday lives. In the situation of illegally downloading music it is safe to assume that ethical principles can be used for good and for bad.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
MWF 3-4:20pm Blog Post 4
By documenting all the advertisements I watched I noticed that my life is very predictable. I watch only two television channels Monday through Friday: The CW and NBC, I tend to listen to the same Taylor Swift station on my Pandora, and I only go to three buildings on campus: the Student Union Building, Old Main, and Golden Bear South (my apartment). I came to the conclusion that because my life has repetition so does the advertisements I am exposed to. I am so familiar with the advertisements that I do not mine seeing them over and over again. The advertisements have become a part of my daily routine.
While walking to work I will pass by the breezeway of my apartment building and see posters on the bulletin board advertising all kinds of activities that are happening this month on campus. I make a mental note to go see that free movie, or attend that workshop, or to join a club or organization but I never do. I just journey on to Old Main where I work.
While in Old Main I work at my desk in the parking office and listen to my Pandora. Every time a song shuffles I hit the thumbs up button to let the music genius’ who run the site know that I approve and in exchange on the side they show me an ad. The ads can be anything from small businesses to events in happening around the world to big companies like Virgin Mobile and Old Navy.
When I get back to my apartment at the end of my day I usually tune into The CW or NBC where I am exposed to the most advertisements. The ads all repeat themselves. They all revolve around electronics, shopping, cars, and hygiene. I imagine that for most people these are the things that make them happy; having a nice car, looking and smelling good, buying clothes and shoes that they may or may not be able to afford, and a nice cell phone that does absolutely everything except for make phone calls.
I was left wondering whether or not I control what I buy in my life or if the advertisements I see sneak into my conscious and controls it for me. I don’t drive but if I did I would love a Ford Focus because it’s my favorite car commercial. I buy Dove products because they care about real beauty. I use the Simple skin care line because nothing in American worked for me. I use Covergirl makeup products because I love Drew Barrymore, Taylor Swift, Ellen, and Sophia Vergara. Virgin Mobile is my cell phone carrier and my clothes are from Old Navy and Kohl’s. I guess the answer to the question for me would be that it’s hard not to be influenced by the advertisements I see when they are so much a part of my daily life.
While walking to work I will pass by the breezeway of my apartment building and see posters on the bulletin board advertising all kinds of activities that are happening this month on campus. I make a mental note to go see that free movie, or attend that workshop, or to join a club or organization but I never do. I just journey on to Old Main where I work.
While in Old Main I work at my desk in the parking office and listen to my Pandora. Every time a song shuffles I hit the thumbs up button to let the music genius’ who run the site know that I approve and in exchange on the side they show me an ad. The ads can be anything from small businesses to events in happening around the world to big companies like Virgin Mobile and Old Navy.
When I get back to my apartment at the end of my day I usually tune into The CW or NBC where I am exposed to the most advertisements. The ads all repeat themselves. They all revolve around electronics, shopping, cars, and hygiene. I imagine that for most people these are the things that make them happy; having a nice car, looking and smelling good, buying clothes and shoes that they may or may not be able to afford, and a nice cell phone that does absolutely everything except for make phone calls.
I was left wondering whether or not I control what I buy in my life or if the advertisements I see sneak into my conscious and controls it for me. I don’t drive but if I did I would love a Ford Focus because it’s my favorite car commercial. I buy Dove products because they care about real beauty. I use the Simple skin care line because nothing in American worked for me. I use Covergirl makeup products because I love Drew Barrymore, Taylor Swift, Ellen, and Sophia Vergara. Virgin Mobile is my cell phone carrier and my clothes are from Old Navy and Kohl’s. I guess the answer to the question for me would be that it’s hard not to be influenced by the advertisements I see when they are so much a part of my daily life.
Monday, February 27, 2012
MWF 3-4:20pm Blog Post 3
Science Illustrated magazine’s media kit explains that its demographic is “intellectually curious men and women with a passion for science and discovery.” As a magazine devoted to the world of science this magazine is effectively reaching this group of people with the nature of its articles, advertisements, and illustrations. There are articles that cover every aspect of science including medicine, space, nature, culture, and technology. Also, the magazine has a great deal of colorful and detailed photography that makes its readers feel that they are there with them exploring.
Small articles in Science Illustrated tend to focus on specialized discoveries and updated information on specialized topics concerning science. Some examples of smaller specialized articles were how the population of endangered rhinos is being controlled by shipping rhinos to different parts of South Africa, how the diving bell spider can live under water for 24 hours, and how towing icebergs to Africa could help give the people better drinking water. The Feature articles which can be seen on the front page of the magazine are about topics that are important to their demographic and are probably heavily researched and debated in the science community. The Feature articles found in the March/April issue included developments in Cancer research, an in-depth look on the evolvement of the cell phone, how the sun was formed, and a new development which could help plants grow in the dessert.
Advertisements in Science Illustrated include specials on lecture series on the topics of math and science and jewelry made of high quality minerals. Other advertisements were of telescope and microscope equipment, tools for the science lab, and social things like science camps and electronic wart removers. These advertisements would only be seen in a magazine of this nature because advertisers who are trying to reach this specific demographic know that they will reach the right people. Putting an advertisement for a popular telescope in People magazine or Cosmopolitan magazine may reach a group of people but those people may not be interested in it and most likely will not buy it.
Science Illustrated uses signaling in a very unique way to reach its intended demographic by including articles and advertisements that interest and intrigue people about the world of science.
Small articles in Science Illustrated tend to focus on specialized discoveries and updated information on specialized topics concerning science. Some examples of smaller specialized articles were how the population of endangered rhinos is being controlled by shipping rhinos to different parts of South Africa, how the diving bell spider can live under water for 24 hours, and how towing icebergs to Africa could help give the people better drinking water. The Feature articles which can be seen on the front page of the magazine are about topics that are important to their demographic and are probably heavily researched and debated in the science community. The Feature articles found in the March/April issue included developments in Cancer research, an in-depth look on the evolvement of the cell phone, how the sun was formed, and a new development which could help plants grow in the dessert.
Advertisements in Science Illustrated include specials on lecture series on the topics of math and science and jewelry made of high quality minerals. Other advertisements were of telescope and microscope equipment, tools for the science lab, and social things like science camps and electronic wart removers. These advertisements would only be seen in a magazine of this nature because advertisers who are trying to reach this specific demographic know that they will reach the right people. Putting an advertisement for a popular telescope in People magazine or Cosmopolitan magazine may reach a group of people but those people may not be interested in it and most likely will not buy it.
Science Illustrated uses signaling in a very unique way to reach its intended demographic by including articles and advertisements that interest and intrigue people about the world of science.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
MWF 3pm-4:20pm Blog Post 2
When comparing CNN and Aljazeera it seemed that there were not many differences between their ways of covering the news. I watched a video on the death of singer Whitney Houston.
I watched the video on Aljazeera’s website first. It was on the front page of their website. The tone of newscaster was somber and played video clips of her in concert, some of her music videos, and clips of her on the red carpet and at other events. The newscaster talked about where she found dead and then talked about her achievements and how her fans are reacting to her death.
I watched the same story on the CNN website. It was also on the front page. The tone of the newscaster was sad. He sounded more appreciative. It showed similar clips of her in concert, her music videos, and clips of her at certain events. The video was informative like the Aljazeera report and explained where she was found and the mystery surrounding her death.
There were one main difference between the Aljazeera video and the CNN video and that had to do with the tone of each video. Both videos went into details about Whitney Houston's life and career. It highlighted all of her achievements including her many awards, her number one hits, and her film career. It also talked about her struggles with drug and alcohol abuse and how it affected her career during the years but the CNN video had more emotion. The Aljazeera video seemed to treat the story as just news with a very somber monotone voice.
I believe that since Whitney Houston was an American superstar it made sense that CNN would have a more emotional connection when talking about her death. Aljazeera was not bias or unfair but I believe it did have a discernible point of view. It gave the right information on her death to be informative to people who may want to know about her but some of the information shared on the CNN report was sensitive to Americans and the American culture. Mentioning her achievements at the American Music Awards or the Grammys is not necessary since these things don’t pertain to Aljazeera’s audience or their culture.
With Globalization difference audiences from different parts of the world can access information about all kinds of things just because it is provided for them. Aljazeera has a way of presenting the news so that people are informed but makes it clear in a subtle way that this isn't really a big deal for "us" (their intended audience.)
I watched the video on Aljazeera’s website first. It was on the front page of their website. The tone of newscaster was somber and played video clips of her in concert, some of her music videos, and clips of her on the red carpet and at other events. The newscaster talked about where she found dead and then talked about her achievements and how her fans are reacting to her death.
I watched the same story on the CNN website. It was also on the front page. The tone of the newscaster was sad. He sounded more appreciative. It showed similar clips of her in concert, her music videos, and clips of her at certain events. The video was informative like the Aljazeera report and explained where she was found and the mystery surrounding her death.
There were one main difference between the Aljazeera video and the CNN video and that had to do with the tone of each video. Both videos went into details about Whitney Houston's life and career. It highlighted all of her achievements including her many awards, her number one hits, and her film career. It also talked about her struggles with drug and alcohol abuse and how it affected her career during the years but the CNN video had more emotion. The Aljazeera video seemed to treat the story as just news with a very somber monotone voice.
I believe that since Whitney Houston was an American superstar it made sense that CNN would have a more emotional connection when talking about her death. Aljazeera was not bias or unfair but I believe it did have a discernible point of view. It gave the right information on her death to be informative to people who may want to know about her but some of the information shared on the CNN report was sensitive to Americans and the American culture. Mentioning her achievements at the American Music Awards or the Grammys is not necessary since these things don’t pertain to Aljazeera’s audience or their culture.
With Globalization difference audiences from different parts of the world can access information about all kinds of things just because it is provided for them. Aljazeera has a way of presenting the news so that people are informed but makes it clear in a subtle way that this isn't really a big deal for "us" (their intended audience.)
Sunday, February 5, 2012
MWF 3-4:20pm Blog Post 1
Since I was 14 years old I have watched the teen drama One Tree Hill on the CW television channel. It is based on half-brothers Lucas and Nathan Scott who are 9 months apart, in high school, and living in the fictional town of Tree Hill, North Carolina. Their father Dan Scott went away to college leaving his high school sweetheart alone and pregnant while he went on to fulfill his dream of becoming a NBA Basketball star. During his freshman year of college he gets another woman pregnant and then returns to Tree Hill married to her. When the show starts, Dan has not been a part of Lucas' life or acknowledged him as his son and the two boys have grown up hating each other, resenting one another for the lives they could have had if the other did not exist.
Watching this show as a teenager there were many things that were real to me. First the plot of the television show seemed extremely plausible. In my personal experiences things like that happened all the time including in my own family. Since I had a half sibling I could relate to it. Second the high school the main characters attended was very much like my own. So every week I would tune into the show and see what I felt could very much be my life in some respects.
In January, One Tree Hill started its 9th and final season. I have most of the seasons on DVD and now that I am a lot older I have noticed things that are not as real as I once thought. First off every person on the show is extremely good looking, fashionable, and had parents who conveniently let them be on their own doing whatever they please with little to no consequences. Having a more experienced mind I realized that this was not realistic at all. Another thing I noticed was that no one seemed to ever have to go to the bathroom or take a shower or do their hair or makeup.
And finally in its fifth season the show was fast forwarded four years into the future and picked up the lives of the main characters after college and in their adult lives. Careers included a successful published writer, a multimillion dollar fashion designer, a passionate high school English teacher, a NBA star, and a music executive who opens its own record label in the town of Tree Hill. How likely would it be to have friends who are all extremely successful in once in a lifetime careers? Not likely at all. But in the world of television people can do anything and be anything and we as the audience buy into it because the lure of seeing such things pan out in front of our eyes will always be appealing.
Watching this show as a teenager there were many things that were real to me. First the plot of the television show seemed extremely plausible. In my personal experiences things like that happened all the time including in my own family. Since I had a half sibling I could relate to it. Second the high school the main characters attended was very much like my own. So every week I would tune into the show and see what I felt could very much be my life in some respects.
In January, One Tree Hill started its 9th and final season. I have most of the seasons on DVD and now that I am a lot older I have noticed things that are not as real as I once thought. First off every person on the show is extremely good looking, fashionable, and had parents who conveniently let them be on their own doing whatever they please with little to no consequences. Having a more experienced mind I realized that this was not realistic at all. Another thing I noticed was that no one seemed to ever have to go to the bathroom or take a shower or do their hair or makeup.
And finally in its fifth season the show was fast forwarded four years into the future and picked up the lives of the main characters after college and in their adult lives. Careers included a successful published writer, a multimillion dollar fashion designer, a passionate high school English teacher, a NBA star, and a music executive who opens its own record label in the town of Tree Hill. How likely would it be to have friends who are all extremely successful in once in a lifetime careers? Not likely at all. But in the world of television people can do anything and be anything and we as the audience buy into it because the lure of seeing such things pan out in front of our eyes will always be appealing.
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