Celebrity Influence Extended

Endorsement. One big word worth a lot of money. Celebrity has been the driving force behind product since ... ever. They use this shampoo, and like this band, and tweet pics of their favourite resorts around the pacific - all of which is a globalising move. Celebrity is the largest broadcasting base to date, even more so with the electronic age. Magazines, tele, podcasts, vblogs, blogs, tweets and statuses is the tidal wave that is globalisation. We like their films, their music, their comedy, their human nature. They are the people we think are our friends even though you've never met and they give you goose bumps when you do meet them. They are nothing special, they brush their teeth and sleep just like we do ...

William Gruber has commented on the most recent occurrence of popularity and the rise the fame and title of celebrity, through celeb endorsement you could say. The internet video hit from Youtube, "Gangnam Style". The popularity occurred from the 30th of July 2012 and has since "racked up more than 47 million views on Psy's official YouTube channel" (Gruber, 2012 p.1). Tweets from "T-Pain, Josh Groban and eventually Justin Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun" (Gruber, 2012 p.1) helped push this video into the phenomena that it has become. This 'star treatment' or recognition even earned the singer Psy a place at the 2012 VMA's. How about that sort of power? A Korean singer one hit wonder over night then making it to the prestigious American Video Music Awards.

Celebrity influence can bring fame but can also lead to the “classic celebrity narrative of the ‘fall’” (Marshall, P.D 2008 p.500). Endorsement for a story is what the magazines, columns and news media outlets need to pull viewers. To get the story, or the photo, is usually an expensive cost. This feeding frenzy towards the ‘story’ or gossip or scandal is a reinforcing force globally, condoning or condemning the actions of a person or persons involved in acts that are known as good or bad in society.

Interestingly enough, in today’s day and age, the social online media connection that the famous … or infamous use, have allowed them to defend their words, ideas or propositions expressed in any format. Celebrities, well anyone, are now “constructing online public personas” (Marshall, P.D 2008 p.498). This idea of persona affects globalization in an affirmative action but can and does contain its consequences. Persona allows a brand to be attached to it, as everyone has more than one persona. Persona changes around friends, to family, to colleagues and to the general public and many more. Personas change “the way people engage with contemporary culture” (Marshall, P.D 2008 p. 498). Nicole Kidman’s Chanel fragrance advertisement persona appeals to people who like Nicole’s acting, family, sexual desire – the appeal can be limitless – makes people want to purchase the product as “we are becoming more conscious of how we present ourselves” (Marshall, P.D 2008 p.498) in society and online. Michelle Bridge’s Fitness Professional persona endorses Safcol Tuna, all of her follower’s would go to then purchase that product, the increase in followers allows the product to have more potential of being recognized and purchased. These celebrities joining together to endorse or doing it alone pushes the minorities and majorities to be like minded and globally push to purchase certain products over competition, establishing a “celebrity economy” (Marshall, P.D 2008 p. 497). The associative loss with this idea of the celebrity economy is the accountability of the celebrity, which is why scandal is so juicy in the media and people, because celebrities can do the wrong thing. For example Alan Jones’s most recent shock jock event of accusing the Prime Minister’s father died of shame. Very rapidly he and his broadcasting station started losing endorsements because the companies needed to distance and disassociate themselves to save their brand name.

Social networking sites, games and online persona are how we create who we want to be. Our Facebook profiles have our pictures that we control through personal selection and availability to view, our interests and ‘likes’, even our favourite quotes. Twitter lets us comment and follow friends, family and celebrities using ‘#’ (hashtags) to find and mark specific topics or keywords. Representing the self on an online forum is totally up to the user, whether a persona or avatar, we pick and chose what others see and know about us. Globalisation plays a major role in discerning persona and avatar. How many people have a profile picture of their dream car or favourite actor, pet or global products that they are associated with rather than themselves? Who we chose as friends influences our persona, do you add your boss or mother in-law, who do you want to see what you have to say? It’s an intimidating prospect, and that is the most intriguing factor. The money factor, it is enticing but indeed a rather hefty commitment.

The endorsement of any product is dangerous, and limits you as a person and especially yourself. It’s almost a preventative, in the way of consumption in regards to global consumerism. A celebrity is signing a clause that prevents them from consuming other products. Britney Spears represented Pepsi, and was photographed drinking a Coke, this image was published and she was taken to court and sued for a ridiculous amount of money for any average Joe. Celebrity then appears to require the value of consistence and watching your tongue … or hiring someone to do it for you.

Money does then make the world go round. It is the greatest influence on the face of the planet. It influences what we purchase, it influences the person promoting the product and it influences superiority to inferiority, expensive to cheap for effectively the same product in a different package. Technology has made the business of endorsement into a sole trading format. Any single person or celebrity can endorse a product. Online communication has radically changed the agenda of selling and or promoting products. Day or night, images or video, people are bombarded on TV, Facebook, Twitter and any other social networking site. Celebrity is a major player in the global force that's converting the world to the same page, and we are happy to accept that – because I want to be just like you.

Over and Out.

References

Gruber, W 2012. "Famous fans: the popularity of two videos can be credited to celebrity-driven social media attention." Billboard 1 Sept. 2012: p.39. retrieved 14 Sep,  Academic OneFile.

Document URL

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA301647828&v=2.1&u=deakin&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w

Marshall, P.D 2008, The Specular Economy, Society. Vol. 47, Issue 6, pp. 498-502.

PSY - GANGNAM STYLE (강남스타일) M/V 2012, YouTube, officalpsy, 15 July, retrieved 5 October 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0

Alan Jones image - URL http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=alan+jones&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=2036&bih=1266&tbm=isch&tbnid=k8VimCXxdpWjOM:&imgrefurl=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hack/stories/s3601366.htm&docid=bkWp3Oy3__7V0M&imgurl=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hack/img/blog/ALAN_JONES_BANNER.jpg.jpg&w=500&h=314&ei=nG5uUNL3FfG4iAf91oDADA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=403&sig=118208024849098525542&page=1&tbnh=102&tbnw=163&start=0&ndsp=71&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0,i:119&tx=83&ty=29

Celebrity Influence

Endorsement. One big word worth a lot of money. Celebrity has been the driving force behind product since ... ever. They use this shampoo, and like this band, and tweet pics of their favourite resorts around the pacific - all of which is a globalising move. Celebrity is the largest broadcasting base to date, even more so with the electronic age. Magazines, tele, podcasts, vblogs, blogs, tweets and statuses is the tidal wave that is globalisation. We like their films, their music, their comedy, their human nature. They are the people we think are our friends even though you've never met and they give you goose bumps when you do meet them. They are nothing special, they brush their teeth and sleep just like we do ...

William Gruber has commented on the most recent occurrence of popularity and the rise the fame and title of celebrity, through celeb endorsement you could say. The internet video hit from Youtube, "Gangnam Style". The popularity occurred from the 30th of July 2012 and has since "racked up more than 47 million views on Psy's official YouTube channel" (Gruber, 2012 p.1). Tweets from "T-Pain, Josh Groban and eventually Justin Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun" (Gruber, 2012 p.1) helped push this video into the phenomena that it has become. This 'star treatment' or recognition even earned the singer Psy a place at the 2012 VMA's. How about that sort of power? A Korean singer one hit wonder over night then making it to the prestigious American Video Music Awards.

Celebrity is a major player in the global force that's converting the world to the same page, and we are happy to accept that.

Over and Out.

References

Gruber, W 2012. "Famous fans: the popularity of two videos can be credited to celebrity-driven social media attention." Billboard 1 Sept. 2012: p.39. retrieved 14 Sep,  Academic OneFile.
Document URL
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA301647828&v=2.1&u=deakin&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w

Diaspora - in Media?

What did you just call me? "Diaspora" ... what?

Turning to a dictionary ... seems to suggest that its the dispersion of anyone from their origin or homeland.

So Diasporic media ... media for people dispersed from the homeland! Maybe?

In perspective then, diasporic media has been around for ages. Or does it suggest that its for a minority of people that have been exiled or forbidden to come back to their home country? From a broader vantage point, any information or media driven dribble posted upon the internet is a form of diasporic media. Like a long distance conversational tool, that allows travellers to learn, hear and read information concerning their homeland from abroad.

Broadcasting. Narrowcasting. Is diasporic media a definite type of 'casting' or is the concept malleable?
The concept would favour that of narrowcasting - aiming a program or programming to a specific, limited audience. But could be didactic towards a greater audience by disseminate something - values, ideas, movements etcetera. It appears that it is all determined by variables, so to label something as a specific category or such possibly contains no purpose.

Diasporic Media is very much directed to the Middle East. Or places of conflict. What creates a means for this type of media could be said to be war or the variance of civil war - where a regime is 'forcing' (using this word lightly) people to leave. Al Jazeera in the US is a good example to alleviate the cloudiness surrounding the concept of diaspora in media. It communicates/broadcasts relevant information to their people that are abroad.

Over and Out.

BLOGOSPHERE!!! I beg your pardon?

I'm going to define it as too ideas then mash them together. The word: 'blog' omit the 'o' and then 'sphere' gives a clear and precise identity to the concept. A blog is what you are reading right now, i'd suggest a form of social commentary and interaction. A sphere, in relation to the concept of a 'blogosphere' is a collective group - a sphere of people, their perceptions and discourse of relevant topics defined by the collective. Mashing them together creates the product of 'blogosphere' - an online collective group that is vast and expansive in terms of genre and popularity, also significant in terms of defining types of social media/commentary and a portion that is the vortex of globalisation.

Oddly enough under circumstances, the concept of the blogosphere has been forced onto this specific project. This blog wouldn't have been written otherwise and I, as the writer, would have never made an account to blog or known what to speak about or to who ... in fact i only have superficial numerical data that suggests that 'bloggers' of the 'blogosphere' have actually read what i've posted ... slightly more believable when comments have been left though.

It appears that the blogosphere is a very niche target market that is derived from majority tech savvy users ... which is where the globalisation concept falls into place. Sure i could and can still read a paper or watch the news on the tele for sourcing information but another area to find such information is the internet. Integration or fading out old fashions of communication though wont happen for a very long time.

Over and Out.

Making Culture - how can you?

You could simply exist, that should about do it. Everything that you do is a contribution to making culture in a global sense. The music you listen to, the social networks you use, the clothes design you wear and the food you chose to eat, and where you live are indicators and decisions that make culture.

In a global sense there is what i'll call "The Option", being the variations of the mass products around in the world. The purchasing of a specific option will benefit that option and promote its longevity within culture. its longevity in culture that makes it culture.

Fashion, fast food, family, demographic, social status, everything - in that magnitude, suggests that culture is an ideal that is fostered or doctored by a majority. For example, to use the brand of clothing of BONDS, the more this product is bought by a majority, the longer it will last and the longer it will effect culture. the same goes for music - if people dont like it enough it doesnt make it to commercial radio or if enough people dont buy the music of the band or artist then they dont make music anymore.

It's your choice as an individual that makes a mark on culture. What you support or 'like' on facebook impacts on what makes culture. What get support by a majority survives and what lacks then dies. Simply existing, whether you like it or not, is participating - there is no way around it. Welcome to the culture making you.

Over and Out.

The Olympics ... a globalising force and global event?

It would appear that a concept, which Jane Singer has suggested, is out there in the world. This concept is what Singer calls "participatory journalists".

What i am doing right now, is in fact the concept that she is trying to communicate ... "an explosion of self-expression" to be precise. Where in the 21st century there has been a collective mass to hit the web and document or even journalise events occurring throughout the world.

The Olympics is the perfect example, its been the talk of the town for the past/coming up to two weeks - hopefully this blog is worth more than a silver, or should i be just as excited as NZ to grab a bronze! 

Dave Sifry from the blog search engine Technorati "reports that the blogosphere is doubling in size every 200 days, with about 175,000 new blogs being created everyday", now this comment was from 2006, and we are now in 2012, so this number must be sky rocketing!

So do events of mass proportion, like the olympics, create a globalising force? I believe so. The olympics defines the borders of countries, but also recedes them. This global event gets everyone involved, gets everyone talking, especially because thats all that the media spurts out.

Events like these, the olympics, famous bands/musicians doing world tours and the like, create "participatory journalists" and people are out there reading them. 

... Just like you are right now, reading my blog.

Over and Out!  

References

Sifry, D, "State of the Blogosphere, August 2006," Alerts blog, August 7, 2006, www.sifry.com/alerts/archives/000436.html#summary.

Singer, JB 2007, 'Bloggers and other "participatory journalists", in C Friend & JB Singer (ads), Online journalism ethics: traditions and transitions, M.E. Sharpe, Armonk, N.Y., pp. 115-50.

Global Media Empire - It ain't no church group!

What should a Global Media Empire look like? ... domineering? perhaps! or maybe split it up, make it opinionated, make it pure hell! Riots everywhere and Grandmas' with shotguns ... i'm kidding.

But here's what I've seen ...

There will always division in media, economic or political. There is so much option around that the term 'mass media' really cannot communicate what we are dealing with anymore.

News for example in Australia - five major networks really: ABC, SBS, Seven, Nine, and Ten. Papers are dominated by the two: Age or the Herald Sun. Where you have grown up influences what media you are subjected to and even objective to.

There is no longer a "homogenous audience that will receive, consume, be affected by, or use" the media the way it use to be, for example my childhood. The media is forever changing. the receding geographical constraints are what make these changes. In other terms, multiculturalism, more people in new regions means that the media outlets have got to hammer what they want to say (or maybe paid to say) in regards to the economic climate and political client.

It will no longer be no church group by any means (one giant mass on Sunday to make sure everyone's on the same page). Diversity still has majorities in terms of population but it allows there to be many more minorities too, and who's to say that you can't be apart of both or either a majority or minority group.  

Over and Out!

Steven, P 2003, ‘Political economy: the howling, brawling, global market place’, The no-nonsense guide to the global media, New Internationalist, Oxford, pp. 37–59.