Last Blog

I think my favorite topics were about the disturbing murders and how the media focuses on them the most.  I have never really thought about why the media chooses certain murder cases, but this class has helped me realize that the media is basically one big enterntainment industry.  The want the sick and twisted, because thats generally what the public want.  I also liked reading about the satanic cults and the copycat killers.  The anti-drug commercials were also hilarious! The topic that I enjoyed the least was probably how the media effecting serial killers, or influencing people to commit suicide.  I feel like if someone is going to commit suicide or kill others, the media will not have too much of an effect on them, they're going to do it anyway.  I would like to learn more about specific serial killers, like go more in depth witih Manson or Jim Jones or other killers like that.  If I were to teach a course on media and justice, I would try to have a little more media clips, as opposed to so many readings.  It was overall a very fun course that I enjoyed taking!

Pulp Fiction

One of my favorite Tarantine movies is Pulp Fiction, which is about what a couple of mobsters go through in their life dealing with murder, drugs, coverups, hits, and everything a typical mobster would encounter.  It also has a side story about a boxer who rips off the mob boss.  Pretty much everything in this movie is illegal, and I really like how mostly everything they show is probably very accurate to a real mafia-like gang or family. The justice-related topics in this movie are obvious, which are many illegal things mobsters go through, and also kind of how they work.  The main focuses are about murders and some drug-related justice issues about heroin/cocaine. This is a great movie with even greater actors in it; if you haven't seen this movie then I highly recommend watching it!

Under The Bridge- Red Hot Chili Peppers

Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner
Sometimes I feel like my only friend
Is the city I live in, the city of angels
Lonely as I am, together we cry

I drive on her streets 'cause she's my companion
I walk through her hills cause she knows who I am
She sees my good deeds and she kisses me windy
I never worried, now that is a lie

I don't ever wanna feel like I did that day
Take me to the place I love, take me all the way
I don't ever wanna feel like I did that day
Take me to the place I love, take me all the way

It's hard to believe that there's nobody out there
It's hard to believe that I'm all alone
At least I have her love, the city she loves me
Lonely as I am, together we cry

I don't ever wanna feel like I did that day
Take me to the place I love, take me all the way
I don't ever wanna feel like I did that day
Take me to the place I love, take me all the way

Under the bridge downtown
Is where I drew some blood
Under the bridge downtown
I could not get enough
Under the bridge downtown
Forgot about my love
Under the bridge downtown
I gave my life away

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwlogyj7nFE&ob=av2n

First off, I just want to say how awesome this blog assignment is because i'm obsessed with music. Second, the song I chose was Under The Bridge by The Chili Peppers.  RHCP is my all-time favorite band in the world, and a lot of the time people don't understand the deeper meaning behind their songs.  This song in particular has to deal with Anthony Kiedis' (the lead singer) serious drug problem.  This song is about heroin and the feeling that he gets when he's doing it.  When he talks about "under the bridge, is where I drew some blood, under the bridge downtown, I could not get enough, Under the bridge downtown, forgot about my love, under the bridge downtown, I gave my life away", this is the climax of the song.  If you realize that he is talking about heroin, then you can make the clear connections.  The drug problem in America is a serious one, especially for people who have enough money to afford it.  That's why many artists have drug problems.  RHCP's songs are never too political, but usually do have a deeper meaning.  Many times that deeper meaning has to do with drugs or women. 

Suicide Presentation

The presentation was a very informative and actually interesting one.  It was interesting to hear the actual statistics of suicides per year.  The one statistic about how many people have thought about suicide is astonishing to me.  I don't know if I can fully believe that statistic.  Having taken statistics makes me realize how people can bias a statistic in their favor, so I'm not sure how much I believe this statistic.  It is still very high though even if it is incorrect.  The speaker was very nice and was eager to get the class involved, which I liked.  It really made me think about who actually is contimplating suicide. What if I don't know one of my friends who is contimplating it now?  It is a scary thought but it could be true.  I think people should never have to think about commiting suicide; it's sad that it is the last resort.  This has made me want to become more aware of what people are thinking and to always be there for my friends

Children Crimes on Halloween

http://www.suite101.com/content/children-crimes-on-halloween-a294718

This article talks about how there is actually no increase in child sex crimes with children 12 and under on Halloween night.  I was curious about this statistic, along with other crime statistics that are affiliated with Halloween itself.  I figured that the fact that everybody is dressed up as something else allows those who commit crimes to be able to cover themselves up.  I stumbled upon this article, and it said how the child sex crimes don't increase at all on this particular night, so as parents should always use precaution with trick or treating, but for the most part the crimes against children are not heightened at all on this night.

Anna Nicole Smith Conviction

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39895977/ns/today-entertainment/?gt1=43001

There is an article that is one of the top stories for msn's home news website about how they were charging Anna Nicole Smith's boyfriend-lawyer with conspiracy.  The only conviction against Smith's boyfriend-lawyer Howard K. Stern was for giving false names and acting by fraud to obtain prescriptions. He was acquitted of seven other charges. The fact that this is still one of the top stories in the media after she had died in 2007 is astonishing to me.  They are still cracking down on her boyfriend and convicting him of charges.  The media will not let go of the Anna Nicole Smith death, again relating to how we talked about a certain case being over-publicized.  At least they are telling the public how the case has turned out after 3 years, but it is still crazy how after 3 years it is still a top story.

DVD Response

I thought that dvd was very interesting.  The fact that certain people become so obsessed with a serial killer celebrity they mimic them is crazy to me. One case that was very interesting to me was the honeymoon serial killer couples (the ones that marry people, kill them, get their money, then live together off of it).  The copycat effect is a serious problem when it comes to mentally unstable people who want to be like their idols.  Natural Born Killers is a movie that I saw when I was younger and I've always liked that movie, so I can see how if somebody was obsessed with that movie then they would want to copy the killings in the movie.  The main killers are portrayed as notoriously famous and not completely looked down upon, so I can see how that could mess with somebody's head.  I think the copycat phenomenon is interesting but I honestly don't feel that it has an extreme effect on people.  If someone is going to kill somebody, then they are going to do it.  The fact that they copycat a movie or film is interesting, but the fact is they were still going to cause harm to other people regardless if they saw the movie or not.  The copycat effect could make the killings more gruesome though, but I don't think they are the cause of the murders.