Disney Family Gets Bigger!

Above is the promotional video for Disney's newest country member to air Disney's home channel!

Yes, just recently on 3 October 2009, Disney shows and culture could be seen for the first time on television screens across the Nethelands. This country joins many others in broadcasting Disney media products. Disney is a global media company with the competitive interest of acquiring larger shares of profits available in the international market. This probably explains Disney's presence in so many countries, and how Disney continues to expand its presence, or rather, market share with the introduction of its channel in the Netherlands.

(Disney Channel is currently showing in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Latin America and the Carribean)

So how did Disney make itself a global phenomenon? Before they could make it big, it was important that they establish strong domestic roots. And U.S. based Disney has done that through classic Mickey Mouse Cartoons screened in America in the past.

They also needed a solid international development strategy. In approaching globalisation, Disney has adopted two main modes of expansion - the horizontal expansion and the vertical expansion. Disney has expanded horizontally because it sells the exact same product in different countries all over the world. For instance, I can watch 'Wizards of Waverly Place' in Singapore and in Hong Kong. It has also expanded vertically because Disney is engaged in successive stages of the production chain, and some of these stages are located in other countries outside the U.S. For example, Disney owns studios in America, while some of their distribution centres are overseas.

The same product sold to different countries, however might need slight modifications to suit audience's needs. As seen in the clip above, Disney was trying to reach out to media consumers in the Nethelands. As citizens in the Nethelands do not use English but Dutch as their native language, Disney had to dubb the entire commercial in Dutch. This is one of the strategies Disney employs to appeal to a mass of people who speak a different language. Language is after all essential in mass media. If people do not understand what is going on or said because of language, this barrier of communication will deter people from consuming the particular media product. If not, they would have to rely alot on non verbal communication to understand the commercial.

Due to Disney's dominance on the global stage, cultural imperialism has been occuring. People are or have definitely been influenced by Disney media products - the ideal happy ending is almost a familiar fantasy to everybody who consumes Disney.

Power of the Mass Media

As much as I know that watching the news is our most fundamental and basic way of keeping updated with local and international current affairs, the news channel is not the first button on the television remote control I press. However, I am forced to watch it or at least listen to it whenever my parents decide to tune in to our local news every night at 9.30pm. This is an example of media being forced unto me. However I still have a choice on whether I want to resist such information, by simply walking away from the television set.

The agenda setting function of our news as a mass media is indeed amazing! I have never considered how it influenced and defined what I saw as important. On some level I feel almost controlled. I always thought it was the media that had the responsibility to shape the messages according to what the public wants or finds interesting instead.

Recently, the news has been reporting quite a bit on the sale of houses, telling the public about their prices as indicated in the news clip above and exhibiting the surveillance and correlation function of the media. This certainly got people thinking about housing. And as if the news coverage regarding homes is not big enough, they publish it in yet another mass media – the newspaper: http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_443462.html?vgnmr=1

The more frequent the topic is brought up (volume of news coverage on the issue), the greater the ability of the media to set its agenda, which in this case is to raise the significance of purchasing houses in the public's mind.

The other big feature in the news clip shows China's 60th anniversary celebrations. To the China citizens, this definitely drives home the point of patriotism. Here embedded within the context of a parade are elements of culture that reflect China's environment, and we as viewers are educated through this cultural transmission. The chinese people themselves are reassured when they are shown the big missiles that exist to protect them from physical threat as well.

This is the power of the mass media.

Wacky Group Overcomes Threat Together

Forget ice age, this is a new movie detailing the events of yet another wacky group! This unlikely team comprises of the Fox’s family, the Mole’s family, the Badger’s family, and the Rabbit’s family. So how did this group with such a united variety of animal species emerge in the first place? Well, first they do have similar behavioral standards. All four families happen to be diggers; they dig out their houses and live in holes. Secondly, they have a collective identity shared between them because they are neighbors residing in the same hill. Last but not least, (and the factor that perhaps forced them to work together), the 3 families face a common enemy – three farmers’ intent on their destruction. And this sets the platform for their unity against these humans. They hence become interdependent on each other for survival. As seen in the clip above, Mr. Fox asks for their various strengths so that the group may depend on them -

Mole: “I can see in the dark.”
Rabbit: “I’m fast!”
Badger: “Demolitions Expert.”
And Mr. Fox, as the title of the film suggests, is full of wit.

It is through identifying such strengths that tasks may be assigned to each animal, and members can assume their given roles more effectively.

It may seem strange that the rabbits are willing to cooperate with the foxes, even on the grounds of protecting their home, but it is important to consider what the rabbit gains from teaming up with its natural predator. In the movie, the group digs deep underground and creates tunnels leading to each of the farmer's cellar. There they steal food, enough to keep the fox's stomach preoccupied, and enough to keep every animal satisfied and well fed. Hence both the individual's needs and the group's needs are fitted quite nicely and there is no conflict. The rewards gained from being part of the group is having a share of the spoils, with no casualties. At the same time every member with their unique talents helps in the getting of the food, showing their allegiance and commitment to the group.

As with all tight allegiances, groupthink may occur. This unusual team may very well, in future, possess the illusion that they are unstoppable, and that they can always get away with their thefts. A sense of collective rationalisation may also grow amongst them, with the code of survival the primary reason why they continue to steal. The remedy for groupthink however, is near at hand. Although external to the group, the 3 devious farmers serve as devil's advocates, as their presence will continue to ensure the animal group does not get too cocky with themselves. One careless arrogant mistake and the farmers will kill them.

Speaking of which, we should not forget the farmers, who could use some empathy. As it is, they are up against 4 animal families (if we add every single family member there'd be an army, so we are just looking at family type which fits into the optimum group number). If you had a choice, would you join the farmers in their expedition to rid the hill of the 'pests' ? They do need 2 more people to form a group and you could be their next new member!

We all have a little of Summer in us.

(500) Days of Summer

This is a story of boy meets girl. The boy, Tom Hanson, grew up believing that he’d never truly be happy, until the day he met ‘the One’. The girl, Summer Finn, did not share this belief. You should know up front, this is not a love story.

Summer’s Diary, Day (27):
Tonight our office had a party at a bar. It was really fun. I got to know my colleagues a little better. Tom, one of my better guy friends from work, told me he actually believes in love! His ideas about relationships were so weird and medieval, but I was still fascinated by him. I found out from his drunk friend later that Tom actually liked me. Tom denied it at first, but I think his drunk friend might be right. That comment suddenly made me notice Tom more. Come to think of it, Tom is quite cute, and we can click in our conversations. Plus we share so many similarities in our tastes in music. Oh dear I hope this is not counterfeit liking. I should talk with Tom about it tomorrow.

Summer’s Diary, Day (28):
I kissed Tom in the photocopy room! I just had the urge to. I think we naturally assumed the role of dating after that by going to Ikeas together, but I had to tell Tom that I was not looking for anything serious. I like Tom, but I just want our relationship to be casual. Surprisingly he was fine with that. I thought most men would not agree to a relationship that was not really heading anywhere. Now that I’ve honestly stated my expectations of our relationship, I’m sure Tom and I will be very relaxed and happy around one another.

Summer’s Diary, Day (110):
Tom came over to my place last night. And we just talked and talked into the waking dawn. I told him my dreams; hopes and fears that I’ve never told anyone before. He seemed to like the fact that I was drawing him closer into my life. I was grateful too, to have someone I was comfortable with to share my deepest thoughts and feelings. I could just feel this wall around me come down. Sometimes it even seems like he can see through me. The portion of my johari window that is known to me but hidden from others appears to be opening up for him.

Summer’s Diary, Day (260):
Tom and I had a fight yesterday. He acted like my boyfriend at a bar. I hate labels. I just wanted things to be casual. He even said he wanted us to be a couple. Our expectations of each other are too dissimilar. I am starting to get tired of our relationship. I wonder if I should end this.

Summer’s Diary, Day (456-476):
I am married! I just woke up one day and knew that my husband was the one I wanted to be with, something I was never sure of with Tom. Proximities really play a part in love. I was sitting in a deli reading when I met my husband. So what if I had gone somewhere else for lunch, or if I’d gotten there ten minutes later? I would have never gotten the chance to interact with my husband. Love does exist, it was just not with Tom.

The Unspoken Language

Non Verbal Communication happens all the time. We read it everyday, and display it ourselves as often as we actually communicate verbally. Advertisements and Campaigns almost always weave this silent language into their commercials as people can relate easily to them. Take this Korean commercial for example:

For most of the clip the boxer does not even have to say anything to illustrate his emotions- the first being pain, and the latter relief. He is demonstrating what rhetoricans call 'Kinesics' - body language. Kinesics is able to transcend nationalities or any form of verbal language barriers. I might not know Korean but I can read meanings behind the boxer's facial expressions or body movements simply because I use them myself. The aim of this commercial goes a step further though. Instead of merely communicating to viewers what the boxer is going through, advertisers want viewers to purchase their product. Hence the powerful cause and effect display of "pasting plasters equals one being able to smile as widely as the boxer". Furthermore, the commercial uses a protagonist people would look up too. A fighter who is strong and undaunted. This is applying the concept of "Objectics or Artifacts" - using personal identity to influence the mass. This is possible because people tend to follow those held in higher regard. Hence there is a high chance the public will want to imitate the boxer's use of medicated plasters if they ever had a back ache.

Lets look at another example that utilises body language to aid its campaign:

This example is a little more idiot proof in the sense that it informs viewers directly what types of non verbal communication to look out for in a Terrorist:

Shifty eyes.

Agitated behavior.

A big black bag supposedly carrying a bomb.

Honestly, why can't the producers show something a little less predictable? Perhaps a pink 'Dora the Explora' bag for the bomb carrier, and a sweet innocent young boy with bambi eyes as the terrorist? Anyone can be a terrorist. And I do not think someone serious about this job will go about it that obviously. Anyhow, this video represents most accurately an example of a stereotyped threat. And we can see how the passengers' suspicions are raised based on the would be terrorist's non verbal messeges. His shifty eyes that alert the public demonstrate the use of Oculesics - study of non verbal meaning associated with the eyes. They dart around amplifying insecure behavior which rubs off on the observant lady. Kinesics also come into play again when the terrorist tries desperately to go unnoticed but this in turn backfires. Finally there is the big black bag, an environmental object that has association with terror and misfortune.

Non verbal communication is an important tool used by campaigners and advertisers because we as viewers are familiar users of it. However they tend to portray a slanted view of the unspoken language and we must be vigilant to that. Not every professional fighter might make the right decisions, and most certainly not every terrorist will be male and wear a cap.

So we have seen body languages of the painful, the joyful, and the suspicious. Now lets hear about body languages of the attractive, by Jesse McCartney feat. T Pain.

UH OH....

Well, the video does not include the discussion as promised by Rick (the CNN presenter), so I will fill in with my own thoughts.

The reason why this video grabbed public attention, was simply because we all have this common perception of an ideal President, and Barack Obama defied that perception in less than 10 seconds. Some people felt it was refreshing that finally a President has a backbone, but some might feel Obama’s comment was sloppy and improper coming from a leader. I stand with the latter group. Let us decipher exactly our cognitive processors that enabled us to be stunned by Obama’s insult.

In society we all have shared social understandings, and embedded in us is a cognitive schemata, or mental framework of how Presidents or Leaders should behave. This is known as Person Prototypes, idealized representations of certain kind of people. We might even subconsciously possess templates for how a President should speak, with scripts excluding the word “jackass” from any politician’s vocabulary. We form this knowledge due to past experiences of great leaders and how they conducted themselves.

However, such prototypes often generalize, and we may end up forming stereotyped views of Obama, criticizing him for lacking an image we have created. We also fail to realize that in the past, media excess was not as advanced as compared to modern times, and as such perhaps inappropriate behavior by past leaders were not publicized. Currently, anything can be recorded, and in a push of a button distributed to the whole world. That is the power of our media now. Obama had used the media to his advantage during campaigns, but its efficiency can backfire as seen in this video example.

Thank goodness though, that it was Obama, a black man, who aimed his insult at another black person. I can imagine if a white President had condemned Kayne, there would be media uproar on concerns regarding racism. Whether or not race is an issue, people tend to judge and interpret information based on appearances.

Another explanation why Obama’s criticism of Kayne sparked our interest was because of emotional proximity. We find ourselves identifying with celebrities or entertainers like Kayne more even if we have absolutely nada association with them. There are always so many citizens involved in debate over celebrity matters as they would normally contribute insight on country reforms.

My basis for thinking Obama’s comment was unprofessional and inappropriate, is because Presidents are role models and they have a lot of influence over people. After his remark, impressionable children might think insulting others is okay now. While we are all free to express our opinions, I think that damaging comments should still be discouraged. Obama thought this way as well, which explains why he requested for this clip to be cut (unfortunately his demand was ignored).

Watching this video, we must remember to apply mindful processing in evaluating information we get. We must be aware of how our perceptions might influence our sense of things and people. Obama probably meant his 'insult' as a casual response in an informal context and we should be wary not to jump to conclusions.

Here is a seperate clip showing how perception shapes our view of the world around us, and how that view might not be what it seems.

Naked Cowboy Drops Mayor Bid - I am not surprised

We know the Americans are famous for embracing the spirit of pioneering. And an underwear clad cowboy running for Mayor is yet another example of an American pushing boundary lines. Although near nakedness is Robert Burck's busker identity, I am still shocked at his lack of dressing while campaigning to be Mayor of New York. Running for Mayor seems to be too significant an event for so little clothes. Also, the fashion for political runners leans towards the conventional suit and tie.

Unfortunately, while his campaign lasted this poor cowboy did not realize he had to dress smartly. Robert Burck in all his naked glory does not give a convincing enough statement that he is serious about becoming Mayor of New York. I am guessing that even if he continues in his campaign, the public will not vote for him, maybe except cowboy lovers. So why do politicians need to look prim and proper? Dressing is a form of non verbal communication after all, and the image one creates does have a lot of impact on ethos. Looking at Robert Burck’s contending outfit alone, I cannot say I trust him to run a city. I sure do not want any leader of mine governing me in briefs.

Robert Burck’s dressing does some more harm to his campaign. Unknown to him his brilliantly white underwear steals most of the attention away from his stands on campaign ideals and policy. It definitely contributes to the ‘noise’ that prevents the public from hearing him out.

Nevertheless, we should at least give him some merit for being so bold and different. Some positive pointers from his campaign:
1) By using the guitar for campaigns he was seeking common ground with the masses. Music is considered a universal language and Robert Burck might have been setting the stage for better interaction with the public.
2) His dressing supports his slogan “Nobody has done more with less”, or rather the slogan supports his getup.
3) Nowadays Western youths are very open minded and Robert Burck might be trying to appeal to that.

It would be difficult though if Robert Burck wanted to campaign for Mayor again and succeed. While I’m glad he has realized the importance of dressing seriously, any effort to create a new image might be futile, with such a wild past image embedded in the minds of the people. Once a message has been sent, it cannot be erased, and people will probably remember him as the naked cowboy who sang through his campaigns.

Of course, this would only be a problem if Robert Burck’s ambition is to become a Mayor. He could have other motives and campaigning might just be a tool to promote himself and gain publicity.

I am not surprised that Robert Burck has pulled the plug on his Mayor bid. Since classical times rhetoric was the major influence in politics and Robert Burck's dressing alone already does not seem to be persuading the public to support and vote him for mayor. If I had one piece of advice for Cowboy, it would be to bear in mind his campaign is completely receiver oriented. Before he does, says, or wears anything at all, he should think of how the people will interpret and judge his actions.

News Link:
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/World/Story/STIStory_426170.html

Candidate’s Website:
http://www.nakedcowboy.com/