Perfect Number

Media Identity Formation

After viewing the the third episode of the television series Lost, I asked my wife a few questions about her experience. My wife does not usually get into television shows, so her connection with Lost is a rather rare occurence. After the interview, I believe I undertand her connection a little better. Viewing Lost creates a sort of pseudo-community for her (and me, I guess) by becoming a sort of ritual in our lives.
First, I observed my wife as she watched Lost. The first thing I noticed was that when more stressful events occured, she would pull closer to me. This tendency leads me to think that she feels a very real connection with these people, as though they were real people who are possibly friends or at least acquantances. I cannot imagine feeling that way without having some sort of relationship with the characters. The other tendency I noticed was that my wife sat still. This is actually a very rare occurence: she is usually running around, very energenic. She usually likes to be doing something else while watching TV, folding laundery or paper work, etc. But with Lost she is completely involved in the show.
These behaviors led me to think about what Lost has been for us the last couple of years. Lost became a ritual for us during her second year at graduate school. It was one time we set aside to with with us and not do anything else. It was one of those shows we both connected with, which is actually somewhat rare. I believe this tradition is a big part of her viewing experience, making it much more comforting and communal than other shows for her.
I asked my wife several questions about her experience watching Lost. What I gleaned from her answers led me to conclude that Lost is a ritualistic escape into a ready-made community. She said that it allowed her to relax and forget about the stresses of work for a while. I found this curious since Lost is not exactly a stress-free kind of show--people marooned on a desert island with enemies every. After I suggested the degree of tension in Lost didn't seem relaxing, my wife said that the stress in Lost was both very serious and yet completely fake. I think what she meant was that although the characters were trying to survive, they were just characters, which let my wife examine her own stresses (which become less important when faced with life and death choices in Lost) and yet feel completely safe and calm.
Another element of the experience my wife mentioned was the connection with the characters on Lost. She felt honest feelings for some of them, whether good or bad. She really liked some and wanted them to survive and flourish. Others she disliked or did not trust, adding to the complexity of her experience. I think her connection with the characters is a large part of her experience. They are not her friends by any means, but she does worry about them. I think that is simply a part of good storytelling. Any time one can create honest characters, whether in print or film, it is easy to feel connected with them. It may be a part of human nature to connect with the stories of others.
Through my observations and interview questions, I feel my wife derives a sense of community out of her Lost experience. The ritual-like viewing she and I share allows the show to become part of us. Her connection with the characters allows her to feel honest feelings. At the same time, however, Lost provides her with an escape from her life stresses. That may be what good stories are meant to do.

Elderly: Too Old to Do Stuff?

My search turned up several images that reflect the "typical" elderly person. Interestly, the elderly are almost always smiling pleasantly. The elderly in these pictures are typically enfeebled in some where, usually in a wheelchair. They are found just sitting around usually or being helped out by some young whippersnapper. There are few pictures of them working or partaking in any activity (though I did find one of water aeorobics). The images seem to reflect the idea that many think the elderly are weak, need our protection, and should just sit there and be good.

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Foucault and Semiotics: Political Ad

After viewing a political ad for Mike Hatch, I began to take note of certain elements within the ad that lend themselves to analysis. Political ads are typically filled with rhetoric and other tools of persuasion, and MikHatch's is no different. The subtely with which this ad speaks, however, is rather intriguing. By exploring this ad through both Foucaultian and semiotic lenses, I hope to shed some light on the ad's intentions.

First, by focusing on the images present, some of the subtle aspects of the begin to come to light. The ad begins by showing Mr. Hatch in a field, decked out in full hunting gear. The meaning of this image begins simply: Mike Hatch is a hunter. But what does that mean in the context of a political ad about wanting to become governor? Mike Hatch is politically liberal, and therefore by showing his hunting practices he can connect with hunters, a typically politically conservative group. The image of Hatch and his hunting dogs persists throughout the ad, ending with Hatch petting one of his dogs playfully. Immediately following this image is one of Hatch's military career in the merchant marines. The ad continually discusses Hatch's toughness, an interesting contrast with a man playing with dog. Words such as "defended," "exposed" and "cracked down" are used to hope to show that Hatch would be a strong leader. The ad is obviously playing to a tougher, and possibly more blue collar crowd. It is likely that the ad is meant to reach out to disenchanted conservatives and pull them to his side. Interestingly, this creates a discourse between the ad and the people at which is it aimed.

Through analyizing this discourse, I began to find elements of Foucault. Foucault says that power is not possessed but used as tool in discourse. Thus, this political ad begins a discourse with its audience. Foucaultian analysis typically discusses larger, more abstract ideas, incorporating historical events and transitions. This ad shows the need to show a strong leader in response to earlier attack ads against other candiates showing either weakness or inconsistency. This ad becomes one more part of the greater discourse occuring throughout the country. The idea is that in a time of war, a strong and courageous leader is necessary. Those wanting to remain in control the government then create a war with seemingly no end in sight and connect the opposing party with weakness and indecision. Mr. Hatch's ad is a response to this change in discourse. Mr. Hatch reaches out to the other party's typical characteristics and tries to embody those while maintaining a "Minnesota nice" to maintain his liberal base.

These two lenses begin to show some of the messages hidden in the subtext of Hatch's political ad and examine the influence the larger discourse has had on the ad's creation. A more through analysis would likely bring even more curious ideas to light.

"First Ad" Mike Hatch for Governor 2006 TV Ad

"First TV Ad" :30 09/06/06 Mike Hatch for Governor