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Showing posts with label Erin Lewis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Erin Lewis. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Mental Illness & Media Framing
Since learning about what media framing is and how it is used I would like to investigate how mental health is framed by the media. I believe that framing issues of mental health in the media can be very dangerous. I see tabloids everywhere about anorexic and bulimic people, even binge eaters now and they seem so misrepresented.
As a psychology major I get a bit furious when mental illness is portrayed in such a 'frame' that it is a choice. And I get completely floored when a psychology major that is about to graduate believes that eating disorder people choose this, gay people choose to be gay, and proclaim the world to be full of lollipops and free electricity. It's just not true. Hell, I haven't even seen a lollipop in a month!
But in all seriousness, the media portrays and even photoshop celebrities to be thinner than they actually are, especially when accusing them of having an eating disorder. This makes it seem like to be an anorexic you have to weigh less than 100 pounds, and that just isn't true. Seriously though, this goes for all mental illness. Media frames it in such a light that mental abuse or illness is not as relevant. You hear stories on the news about people being beaten, and raped, and degraded. But you never just see a story about how mentally abusive someone can be or the affects of mental abuse on someone.
I'm writing this blog post, because I overheard someone at work a few months ago say, "Oh.. she's missing work because of mental health.... so basically she just didn't come in because it was raining today." That really pisses me off, because everyone agreed and no one took her seriously. Mental health is just as important as physical health. That is my bottom line: Take mental health seriously.
As a psychology major I get a bit furious when mental illness is portrayed in such a 'frame' that it is a choice. And I get completely floored when a psychology major that is about to graduate believes that eating disorder people choose this, gay people choose to be gay, and proclaim the world to be full of lollipops and free electricity. It's just not true. Hell, I haven't even seen a lollipop in a month!
But in all seriousness, the media portrays and even photoshop celebrities to be thinner than they actually are, especially when accusing them of having an eating disorder. This makes it seem like to be an anorexic you have to weigh less than 100 pounds, and that just isn't true. Seriously though, this goes for all mental illness. Media frames it in such a light that mental abuse or illness is not as relevant. You hear stories on the news about people being beaten, and raped, and degraded. But you never just see a story about how mentally abusive someone can be or the affects of mental abuse on someone.
I'm writing this blog post, because I overheard someone at work a few months ago say, "Oh.. she's missing work because of mental health.... so basically she just didn't come in because it was raining today." That really pisses me off, because everyone agreed and no one took her seriously. Mental health is just as important as physical health. That is my bottom line: Take mental health seriously.
The Struggle is 6 Feet Under.
I may or may not have a problem binge watching shows. It actually does sometimes get in the way of my everyday life, so it is more an addiction. Right now, it is Six Feet Under. First of all okay, let me just vent my thoughts about this show: LOVE IT. So David is this in the closet, but now out of the closet gay guy who is also an undertaker. This family owns a funeral home. It's so creepy sometimes. Anyway, then Davids brother Nate is like hotter than Will Smith... well.. just kidding, that is an exaggeration. No one is hotter than Will Smith. But Nate is hot and sensitive right? He shows his emotions which is so rare for a guy to do on T.V., because men in the media are not seen as vulnerable creatures. Then there is a girl named Claire and she's just fantastic. She's a bit emo, but mainly normal for a teenaged girl. Their mom is a little 100% over the top about emotions and I seriously just can't get enough of this show. Especially since DAVID is DEXTER. YEAH! DEXTER! I can't see David as anything but Dexter, but in this it is like watching Dexter/David be in love with this hot black guy that's a cop. I know so steamy right?!
Sorry, I'm seriously really into this show. Someone tried to get me to watch Game of Thrones, and I did ... like.. 7 episodes and now I'm hooked. Having two binge shows is a pain in the a** though. Where is the room for sleep? Eating? Does it matter though, really, if I don't sleep and I watch a season a day? I'm not sure. This post was suppose to be about addictions to shows with the example that I'm addicted to Six Feet Under but honestly, like... I can't even focus on this topic anymore because now I'm thinking if Dexter is going to get back together with hot cop, or if Nate and Brenda are going to work out.
Needless to say, this is a real addiction. Luckily, I'm addicted to shows and not heroine. So there's that.
Sorry, I'm seriously really into this show. Someone tried to get me to watch Game of Thrones, and I did ... like.. 7 episodes and now I'm hooked. Having two binge shows is a pain in the a** though. Where is the room for sleep? Eating? Does it matter though, really, if I don't sleep and I watch a season a day? I'm not sure. This post was suppose to be about addictions to shows with the example that I'm addicted to Six Feet Under but honestly, like... I can't even focus on this topic anymore because now I'm thinking if Dexter is going to get back together with hot cop, or if Nate and Brenda are going to work out.
Needless to say, this is a real addiction. Luckily, I'm addicted to shows and not heroine. So there's that.
Honey Boo Economics Boo
Today in class we discussed talking about Honey Boo Boo and how the show poorly portrays the mid-class and lower class. We talked about the way Honey Boo Boo has made some viewers see the middle class or lower class as such a terribly ignorant economic status. However, I offer up a different view point.
We do not need Honey Boo Boo to look down upon the lower class levels, we do that in society anyways regardless of a show. Honey Boo Boo could have a genius IQ, dress great, speak intelligently, and still people would look down upon certain classes, because a stigma goes with each class rank. If you're rich then your a spoiled brat, if your poor you're tailor trash, and if you are the middle class you are boring and uninteresting. There are way more stigmas than that, but this has been happening since time happened, which as been forever. In history their was the working class, the bourgeoisie, and the nobles. Each pays a different tax so naturally no one is happy with what they are paying, this starts some attitude between classes that not just one person started, but how people felt. Emotions are not stable and forever changing, but sometimes when someone feels oppressed, even if they aren't being oppressed, they act like it.
So to me Honey Boo Boo is just crap that is put on the T.V. to space us out or to laugh at some bullcrap that isn't true, because why? It's cheap entertainment. We all need a break from our realities to watch something completely fake or 'reality t.v.' and just zone out.
We do not need Honey Boo Boo to look down upon the lower class levels, we do that in society anyways regardless of a show. Honey Boo Boo could have a genius IQ, dress great, speak intelligently, and still people would look down upon certain classes, because a stigma goes with each class rank. If you're rich then your a spoiled brat, if your poor you're tailor trash, and if you are the middle class you are boring and uninteresting. There are way more stigmas than that, but this has been happening since time happened, which as been forever. In history their was the working class, the bourgeoisie, and the nobles. Each pays a different tax so naturally no one is happy with what they are paying, this starts some attitude between classes that not just one person started, but how people felt. Emotions are not stable and forever changing, but sometimes when someone feels oppressed, even if they aren't being oppressed, they act like it.
So to me Honey Boo Boo is just crap that is put on the T.V. to space us out or to laugh at some bullcrap that isn't true, because why? It's cheap entertainment. We all need a break from our realities to watch something completely fake or 'reality t.v.' and just zone out.
Saturday, April 5, 2014
I never realized how much we can really learn from television until the Zombie talk we all had in class. This may seem weird, seeing as I haven't figured this out until now, and we are in a Popular Culture class, but I was just not getting the point. Zombies are not real, however if you compare them to actual life and politics and government one can learn a lot about humanity.
When I watch television I rarely think of how it applies to my life directly, which is unusual, however I analyze things in a psychological way. Why did they put the actors coming from the right instead of the left? Why did the script writers specifically choose that wording? Why are the actors looking raunchy when it should be classy? Why did the director pick that lighting? And so on.. I never really think about television, unless it is a documentary.
How zombies can relate so clearly with the hierarchy of society today, is incredible. I loved the zombie talk. I am going to start to look at shows in a different way, a more personable way and how it relates to me personally. I think this will be interesting, because I have never looked at things from this way. I'm actually excited to watch the next episode of Scandal, even though JAMES IS DEAD. Yeah... spoiler alert, James is dead, and the world ended a little bit.
When I watch television I rarely think of how it applies to my life directly, which is unusual, however I analyze things in a psychological way. Why did they put the actors coming from the right instead of the left? Why did the script writers specifically choose that wording? Why are the actors looking raunchy when it should be classy? Why did the director pick that lighting? And so on.. I never really think about television, unless it is a documentary.
How zombies can relate so clearly with the hierarchy of society today, is incredible. I loved the zombie talk. I am going to start to look at shows in a different way, a more personable way and how it relates to me personally. I think this will be interesting, because I have never looked at things from this way. I'm actually excited to watch the next episode of Scandal, even though JAMES IS DEAD. Yeah... spoiler alert, James is dead, and the world ended a little bit.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Food Inc. Seeing Antibiotic Chickens even in my sleep!
In class we covered the food industry and how the average person does not even look to where their food comes from, who makes their food, and if it is dangerous to consume or safe to consume. Since watching the Food Inc. documentary my life has been interrupted in a large way. I can not eat any meat product without thinking of a poor cow that doesn't even get to eat grass, or a chicken that has such large breasts it can't walk.
As many of you, I am a college student whom can not afford anything outside the realm of Ramen, pb&j, bread, and milk. That's my grocery shopping, with the exception on the occasional fish and purchase of Jimmy Johns, Sub Way, or McDonalds. Here is my problem. I look at anything with meat and I think of Tyson or Smithfield and it makes me sick. II don't eat much meat anyways, but damn I need some source of protein other than pb&j! Now, I don't have the money for the ethical meat, so I might as well not eat meat at all rather than feel guilty. As I have now announced to my friends, every time we eat, that this chicken or whatever meat (it just happens more with chicken, because I am sad about the chickens the most from the documentary) is more than likely probably unethical to the animal, and thus wrong to eat. I also mention in such a dramatic fashion that it will probably make us all grow 4 breasts and probably soon die from diabetes or food poisoning, so might as well call your mom and dad and tell them you've been called home.
I realize my thinking is dramatic and flippant with this, but that is honestly how I see it. Ever since that documentary I've been meat ruined. I've known this to happen with documentaries before, such as 'How hot dogs are made.', since I haven't eaten a hot dog in 5 years, I guess documentaries affect me decently strong. What really gets to me though is that people don't really care. My friends think it is horrible what is being done to the animals, but they don't change their eating habits, because they haven't seen it so it must not be that bad. This class has eye opened me to this food business that seems to be heartless and scary. I wish things would change and people would open their eyes and see this for what it is, but I mean... let's be honest, if gay people can't the proper rights they deserve, how are animals EVER going to get the proper treatment? That is a blog for a different time.
As many of you, I am a college student whom can not afford anything outside the realm of Ramen, pb&j, bread, and milk. That's my grocery shopping, with the exception on the occasional fish and purchase of Jimmy Johns, Sub Way, or McDonalds. Here is my problem. I look at anything with meat and I think of Tyson or Smithfield and it makes me sick. II don't eat much meat anyways, but damn I need some source of protein other than pb&j! Now, I don't have the money for the ethical meat, so I might as well not eat meat at all rather than feel guilty. As I have now announced to my friends, every time we eat, that this chicken or whatever meat (it just happens more with chicken, because I am sad about the chickens the most from the documentary) is more than likely probably unethical to the animal, and thus wrong to eat. I also mention in such a dramatic fashion that it will probably make us all grow 4 breasts and probably soon die from diabetes or food poisoning, so might as well call your mom and dad and tell them you've been called home.
I realize my thinking is dramatic and flippant with this, but that is honestly how I see it. Ever since that documentary I've been meat ruined. I've known this to happen with documentaries before, such as 'How hot dogs are made.', since I haven't eaten a hot dog in 5 years, I guess documentaries affect me decently strong. What really gets to me though is that people don't really care. My friends think it is horrible what is being done to the animals, but they don't change their eating habits, because they haven't seen it so it must not be that bad. This class has eye opened me to this food business that seems to be heartless and scary. I wish things would change and people would open their eyes and see this for what it is, but I mean... let's be honest, if gay people can't the proper rights they deserve, how are animals EVER going to get the proper treatment? That is a blog for a different time.
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