• Discussion Questions for the Merchants of Cool
1. Give two reasons why corporate America has targeted teenagers.
Deposal income, they want to be cool
2. Why does Robert McChesney call teenagers “Africa”?
This range that is going to take over, they have all the money
3. What does Bob Bibb emphasize about teens and their parents?
Teens push their parents to give them money
4. How does Sharon Lee define “guilt money”?
Money that they give them is because parents don’t get to spend time with tem, pretty much guilt money
5. To what extent is a typical American teenager exposed to advertisements? Give examples.
TV, build boards, 3000 a day
6. What does “cool hunting” mean? Why is it important for corporate America?
To find out what is cool to advertise it, so that they know what to put in the store.
7. How do cool hunters work? What techniques do they use?
They find the 20% of the teens that set the trends. They find them and picture and interview them.
8. According to Douglas Rushkoff, “the paradox of “cool hunting” is that it kills what it finds.” Why?
Because it comes out and then everyone has it , which then make it uncool. So then they go out and find something new that is made cool.
9. Marketers know that kids do not like them. What strategy do they use to approach kids?
They use stuff like parties and they make fun of the way people market to you.
10. What is the reason for Sprite’s success with teenagers?
Because they were selling a life style, they have celebrates.
11. What does “under-the-radar” marketing mean?
They paid teens to comment like a fan, they are marketing to you without you knowing it
12. Discuss the following statements: “Youth culture is not something that is just being sold to us. It is something that comes from us. It is an act of expression, not just an act of consumption.”
They look at what we do and put it on TV, find out what we like.
13. Who are defined as the true merchants of cool?
Teens
14. According to Robert McChesney, what weapons do the merchants of cool use?
They have all the technology
15. What does Robert McChesney draw our attention to about MTV?
It sells merchants, it has commercial shows what you should get or wear
16. What conclusion did MTV draw when their ratings slipped?
They had to release that the teens run cool
17. What is special about MTV’s TRL show?
Because the tees chose what they want to see
18. MTV market researchers are involved in an “ethnography study”. What is it? What is the use of it?
When you actually go to the teens to see what we like and what we would buy
19. What does MTV research indicate about teenagers as a result of their ethnographic study?
20. Comment on the following quote by Douglas Rushkoff : “They [MTV market researchers] don’t call it “human” research or “people” research, they call it “market” research.”
That they are not really studying people their studying what would be best to sell or what is cool
21. According to Mark Crispin Miller, why is the MTV machine not interested in listening to the young?
Doesn’t listen to the young to make them happy
22. Why do commercial culture providers like MTV not represent characters in depth for their audiences?
Because people dont care about their life, they want to have sex on the screen.
23. What does “professional wrestling” mean to today’s teenagers?
Because it has a pop! They don’t know what is going to happen next
24. Why is Mark Crispin Miller quite concerned about gigantic transnational corporations and their TV shows?
Mook and midriff
25. What does “midriff” mean? Who is the midriff archetype? How might a midriff affect girls?
They represnt girls and how they should be
26. What does the image of Britney Spears signify? That she is a sex icon
27. What might a mook and a midriff have in common?
Represnt
28. How is “family” represented in the TV series “7th Heaven”? What formula is used in this program?
So that a family can sit down and watch tv
29. How are TV series such as “Beverly Hills 90210” and “Dawson’s Creek” kept “cool”?
Because it was teen sexual contact
30. How do the makers of teen TV defend their programs?
Because trash sells
31. Does the media really reflect the world of teens? How realistic is teen TV?
Media is just a mirror their showing you are really doing in your life
32. What is a “feedback loop”?
Find out what you like and sell it
33. What could be the reason for the popularity of rage rock in the States? What do rage rock fans protest against?
They were racist, and rebels rage
34. How did a group like Limp Bizkitt become superstars? As a rage rock band, how authentic would you accept them?
They find a small band that is growing big and get them ready for the big world
35. Discuss the following: Who creates youth cultures: the youth themselves or corporate America?
The youth themself
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
chocolate war 21-30
The Chocolate War DQ’s Chapters 20-30 Infante 2009-10
1. Why is it cool to be in the Vigils?
Because is the group to be in its what every one wants to be. Every one fears them but yet ivies them
2. Obie obviously does not like Archie or being in the Vigils. Why does he stay?
He wants to feel as though he has power and if he leaves then he will not have that power
3. Brother Leon says sales are down because of apathy. Is that true?
Yes
4. Is trying to get the students to sell chocolates just a game? Why or why not?
Yes they are going to see who sells the most and making it seem like who ever is wins
5. Did Jerry become a symbol to other students?
Yes
6. Who or what gives the Vigils such power?
The students being so afraid of them gives them power.
7. Who or what in your life gives you the courage to stand up for yourself? Who do you wish encouraged you? Why?
My family and friend give me courage to stand up for my self. I don’t really wish for anyone to encourage me because I have everybody I need to encourage me.
8. Carter punches Rollo when he talks back to Archie. Why does he do this?
To prove that students should still be afraid of the vigils
9. Is the quote, “All schools have animals” true?
Yes
10. How would the dynamics at Trinity change if it was a co-ed school?
There wouldn’t be many bad people at the school
11. Why do people get caught up in a herd mentality?
Because everyone ether wants to be like the person that is in more power then them or because they just wanted to see what happened
12. “Funny – someone does violence to you but you’re the one who has to hide, as if you’re the criminal.” Explain this quote. Is this true in real life? Give examples.
That you have to hide some one like as if you were hiding from the cops you have to hide and run while the other people are hunting you
13. What is the difference between a spirit of brotherhood and what the boys at Trinity have?
The boys all together want power and will pretty much will take out anyone to get there power
14. Did Jerry have to go to the field to fight?
No he didn’t but his choice to because he wanted revenge
15. What would you have done in Jerry’s situation?
I probably wouldn’t have gone so that way when all those people show they feel like fools. There is no reason the have a fight over chocolate, either that or I would have come to speak my peace about how stupid it is
16. To what lengths would you go to stand up for something?
I would stand up for someone till the end but if it was a one on one fight I would not jump in cause that is something they need to deal with their self unless they were getting hurt badly
17. Silence = consent. What does that mean?
That standing by and doing nothing makes you guilty
18. How does the ending feel to you?
I think it somewhat shows how life is that stories don’t always end with a happy ending and that stuff can get out of control and the best thing to do is not to give up and keep trying
19. Does this story leave the reader with any hope at all? Explain.
Yes it leaves with hopes that jerry is okay and that people have leaned that you don’t have to follow others
20. If you had to predict what happened next (after the ending of the story), what would you say happens?
That people started to side with jerry and most likely stopped selling the chocolates the next year and no one feared the vigils anymore
1. Why is it cool to be in the Vigils?
Because is the group to be in its what every one wants to be. Every one fears them but yet ivies them
2. Obie obviously does not like Archie or being in the Vigils. Why does he stay?
He wants to feel as though he has power and if he leaves then he will not have that power
3. Brother Leon says sales are down because of apathy. Is that true?
Yes
4. Is trying to get the students to sell chocolates just a game? Why or why not?
Yes they are going to see who sells the most and making it seem like who ever is wins
5. Did Jerry become a symbol to other students?
Yes
6. Who or what gives the Vigils such power?
The students being so afraid of them gives them power.
7. Who or what in your life gives you the courage to stand up for yourself? Who do you wish encouraged you? Why?
My family and friend give me courage to stand up for my self. I don’t really wish for anyone to encourage me because I have everybody I need to encourage me.
8. Carter punches Rollo when he talks back to Archie. Why does he do this?
To prove that students should still be afraid of the vigils
9. Is the quote, “All schools have animals” true?
Yes
10. How would the dynamics at Trinity change if it was a co-ed school?
There wouldn’t be many bad people at the school
11. Why do people get caught up in a herd mentality?
Because everyone ether wants to be like the person that is in more power then them or because they just wanted to see what happened
12. “Funny – someone does violence to you but you’re the one who has to hide, as if you’re the criminal.” Explain this quote. Is this true in real life? Give examples.
That you have to hide some one like as if you were hiding from the cops you have to hide and run while the other people are hunting you
13. What is the difference between a spirit of brotherhood and what the boys at Trinity have?
The boys all together want power and will pretty much will take out anyone to get there power
14. Did Jerry have to go to the field to fight?
No he didn’t but his choice to because he wanted revenge
15. What would you have done in Jerry’s situation?
I probably wouldn’t have gone so that way when all those people show they feel like fools. There is no reason the have a fight over chocolate, either that or I would have come to speak my peace about how stupid it is
16. To what lengths would you go to stand up for something?
I would stand up for someone till the end but if it was a one on one fight I would not jump in cause that is something they need to deal with their self unless they were getting hurt badly
17. Silence = consent. What does that mean?
That standing by and doing nothing makes you guilty
18. How does the ending feel to you?
I think it somewhat shows how life is that stories don’t always end with a happy ending and that stuff can get out of control and the best thing to do is not to give up and keep trying
19. Does this story leave the reader with any hope at all? Explain.
Yes it leaves with hopes that jerry is okay and that people have leaned that you don’t have to follow others
20. If you had to predict what happened next (after the ending of the story), what would you say happens?
That people started to side with jerry and most likely stopped selling the chocolates the next year and no one feared the vigils anymore
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Chocolate War Ch 10-20
1. In your opinion, should Jerry have said no to selling the chocolates?
yes
2. Where does school spirit begin and end? Where do you draw the line? Think about the kinds of things that happen between BHS and GA during football season.
I think you should support your team but you shouldn’t have to vandalize the other teams stuff
3. Should you make sacrifices for your school? Talk about an experience you have had with fundraising at school. What was it like?
Yes should but a large amount because you do have a life outside of school that you have to make sacrifices for , yes school is very is important but so is you life. We have had fun raisers at school but none so serious as in the chocolate war, you had to go to people in your neighborhood and ask if they would like to buy candles, or get your mom to take it to work. The person that got the most got a prize of some sort. Once in like 3rd grade i was one of the people that raised the highest amount of money but I just got some little toys ad a shirt.
4. What makes Brother Leon a bully? Give examples. Where does he cross the line?
Brother Leon becomes a bully because of the way he handles Jerry not selling chocolates like in roll call when he just gives him the death eye, he crosses the line when he tries to black mail his friend into making Jerry sell the chocolates.
5. Do you think the world is made up of either “victims or victimizers?” Explain.
I think they are made up of both become you can be the victim in a situation like the kid that got blacked mailed of the victimizer like Brother Leon
6. How does Brother Leon bribe David Caroni? Would someone else be able to bribe you with a grade?
He tells him that if he gets Jerry to sell chocolates that he would over look his paper and regrade it. He gave him a F the first time and would regarde it fairly this time. No because I would put up a fight and tell them I would not get involved in it, probably go see someone and tell them.
7. Why does Jerry refuse to sell the chocolates after the assignment is over?
To prove that he can stand up for himself and prove that he is not scared
8. Jerry feels sick every morning because he has to face Leon. What physical symptoms of stress have you experienced in stressful situations?
When I got in a fight with my friends and I feel sick having to deal with them being upset , and not evening knowing why they were mad
9. Should the other Brothers do something about the Vigils? If the Vigils existed here at GA, would you want teachers to do something about it? Explain.
I think they should let it be for the moment because getting involved with it would only get worse, I don’t think I would gangs usually tend to stay to their self and own people, just don’t get on their bad side
10. Does bully happen at GA? Is anything done about it? Why or why not?
It does happen and it is because the way our generation looks upon it, that you are not able to except that you lost and you get downgraded for going to get help
yes
2. Where does school spirit begin and end? Where do you draw the line? Think about the kinds of things that happen between BHS and GA during football season.
I think you should support your team but you shouldn’t have to vandalize the other teams stuff
3. Should you make sacrifices for your school? Talk about an experience you have had with fundraising at school. What was it like?
Yes should but a large amount because you do have a life outside of school that you have to make sacrifices for , yes school is very is important but so is you life. We have had fun raisers at school but none so serious as in the chocolate war, you had to go to people in your neighborhood and ask if they would like to buy candles, or get your mom to take it to work. The person that got the most got a prize of some sort. Once in like 3rd grade i was one of the people that raised the highest amount of money but I just got some little toys ad a shirt.
4. What makes Brother Leon a bully? Give examples. Where does he cross the line?
Brother Leon becomes a bully because of the way he handles Jerry not selling chocolates like in roll call when he just gives him the death eye, he crosses the line when he tries to black mail his friend into making Jerry sell the chocolates.
5. Do you think the world is made up of either “victims or victimizers?” Explain.
I think they are made up of both become you can be the victim in a situation like the kid that got blacked mailed of the victimizer like Brother Leon
6. How does Brother Leon bribe David Caroni? Would someone else be able to bribe you with a grade?
He tells him that if he gets Jerry to sell chocolates that he would over look his paper and regrade it. He gave him a F the first time and would regarde it fairly this time. No because I would put up a fight and tell them I would not get involved in it, probably go see someone and tell them.
7. Why does Jerry refuse to sell the chocolates after the assignment is over?
To prove that he can stand up for himself and prove that he is not scared
8. Jerry feels sick every morning because he has to face Leon. What physical symptoms of stress have you experienced in stressful situations?
When I got in a fight with my friends and I feel sick having to deal with them being upset , and not evening knowing why they were mad
9. Should the other Brothers do something about the Vigils? If the Vigils existed here at GA, would you want teachers to do something about it? Explain.
I think they should let it be for the moment because getting involved with it would only get worse, I don’t think I would gangs usually tend to stay to their self and own people, just don’t get on their bad side
10. Does bully happen at GA? Is anything done about it? Why or why not?
It does happen and it is because the way our generation looks upon it, that you are not able to except that you lost and you get downgraded for going to get help
Friday, February 19, 2010
200 word blog respones
“Dare I disturb the Universe” means a lot in this book, there is a lot of disturbing of the peace and even the way the school works. When Jerry refuses to sell chocolates he is disturbing the way the school works. The chocolate sell is something they do every year it is expected of the students to sell chocolates and help the school raise money. Jerry doesn’t sell the chocolates at first because he was given the assignment to not sell chocolates for ten days by the vigils. Brother Leon give upset and bulls him in secret way of roll call, Jerry states that he can see it in his eyes the angry. This doesn't not make jerry back down he makes a difference he shows that he will not do what every one else does , that he is not a sheep he doesn’t fallow the herd he is the wolf. He knows he is going to get bulled and have people look down upon him but he sees the light in this. He is disturbing the peace in the school the cycle of the school or disturbing the universe. Some of his friends even get blacked mailed in to trying to make him sell chocolates.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The Chocolate War DQ’s Chapters 1-10
The Chocolate War DQ’s Chapters 1-10 Infante 2009-10
1. What affect did the first sentence have on you? Why did the author use it? (ask this question again after reading the whole book)
(They murdered him) At first I thought someone as you read you find out it’s about football. To say this guy was not very good at football.
2. Do you feel you have to stay on the good side of anyone if your life? Why?
Yes my step dad he is really sensitive and I would not want to hurt his feelings and have him not talk to me.
3. What would you do? AND How would you feel if you found out someone was keeping private information about you (like Obie’s notebook)
I would probably get really mad and say this is my personal business not yours and rip out the pages in the book
4. Why is the man at the bus stop contemptuous of Jerry? What does he mean when he tells him he’s “missing a lot in the world?”
They hate him because he has a life beyond theirs
5. Who is Brother Leon? Have you ever seen a teacher pick on a student? Have you ever been picked on by a teacher? What did the rest of the class do?
A teacher / vise principle
6. Why does everyone in the school ignore the Vigils?
Because there not suppose to talk about them there a secret
7. Why does Goober have to comply with the assignment? What would you do?
Because he wants to be apart of the vigils, I wouldn’t have done it
8. What kind of teacher is Brother Leon? Have you ever seen a teacher pick on a student? Have you ever been picked on by a teacher? What did the rest of the class do?
Brother Leon is a different kind of teacher, strange. Yes I have, the class just laughed then said we are all doing the same thing
9. Do you know anyone with any of Emile’s characteristics?
No
10. Why do they choose to pick on Brother Eugene?
The weak one and easy going one
11. Jerry feels like he can’t talk to his father. How could he remedy that situation? Do you ever feel that way? How could you remedy the situation?
Because he is unviable, they don’t have a relationship. I would try to talk to him anyways
12. What have you had to sell for school fundraisers? Have you felt any pressure to sell?
I have had to sell candles, and no because there are so many people that even if every one sold one that would be a lot
1. What affect did the first sentence have on you? Why did the author use it? (ask this question again after reading the whole book)
(They murdered him) At first I thought someone as you read you find out it’s about football. To say this guy was not very good at football.
2. Do you feel you have to stay on the good side of anyone if your life? Why?
Yes my step dad he is really sensitive and I would not want to hurt his feelings and have him not talk to me.
3. What would you do? AND How would you feel if you found out someone was keeping private information about you (like Obie’s notebook)
I would probably get really mad and say this is my personal business not yours and rip out the pages in the book
4. Why is the man at the bus stop contemptuous of Jerry? What does he mean when he tells him he’s “missing a lot in the world?”
They hate him because he has a life beyond theirs
5. Who is Brother Leon? Have you ever seen a teacher pick on a student? Have you ever been picked on by a teacher? What did the rest of the class do?
A teacher / vise principle
6. Why does everyone in the school ignore the Vigils?
Because there not suppose to talk about them there a secret
7. Why does Goober have to comply with the assignment? What would you do?
Because he wants to be apart of the vigils, I wouldn’t have done it
8. What kind of teacher is Brother Leon? Have you ever seen a teacher pick on a student? Have you ever been picked on by a teacher? What did the rest of the class do?
Brother Leon is a different kind of teacher, strange. Yes I have, the class just laughed then said we are all doing the same thing
9. Do you know anyone with any of Emile’s characteristics?
No
10. Why do they choose to pick on Brother Eugene?
The weak one and easy going one
11. Jerry feels like he can’t talk to his father. How could he remedy that situation? Do you ever feel that way? How could you remedy the situation?
Because he is unviable, they don’t have a relationship. I would try to talk to him anyways
12. What have you had to sell for school fundraisers? Have you felt any pressure to sell?
I have had to sell candles, and no because there are so many people that even if every one sold one that would be a lot
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