Media Framing: Frank Ocean Coming Out

vimeo.com/53862095

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from the collaberative efforts of

Keagan Vaughn, Alex Kirchner, Maggie Carter,

Whitney Scott, Sarah Hudon, and Kirstin Gent

video produced by

Kirstin Gent

Food

I’m not sure if I was all that surprised after watching the Food Inc. video. I always knew that the food we buy at most supermarkets is mass produced and the animals aren’t taken care of very good. It’s disgusting to see how the animals are fed and kept inside all the time, all those dead chickens on one of the farms was repulsive. Feeding hormones to the animals to make them grow bigger faster was something I knew happened, but didn’t know the extent of. Watching a normal chicken grow and how long it takes is drastically different than the comparison they showed in the video. The corporations that run these mass farms have horrible standards that I don’t think I’ll ever understand. I know farmers do half the stuff they do just because they’re told to and are afraid to lose their job, which by the way doesn’t even seem like it’s worth it. To get their farms up and going seems way more expensive than what they get paid annually. If I had it my way and if it was easier and cheaper to eat organic foods all the time I would. Don’t get me wrong it’s so easy and convenient to just stop at some drive thru and get a quick meal, but in the long run I want my food to be real and be healthy. Families today are struggling to feed their families and if they can afford anything at all it’s the cheap, processed, unhealthy food. I wish there was a better way.

Social Media

Remember MySpace? Yeah, me either. During the transition from MySpace to Facebook I was so reluctant to get a Facebook account. I guess technically I could delete mine any day now but it’s too much a part of my life now. I wouldn’t say I’m addicted it just gives me something to do and a way to keep in touch with family and friends. In class we talked a lot about Facebook drama, and I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say that if you’re friends with any girls it’s almost unavoidable. I have a few friends in particular that I used to be fairly close with but seeing their status updates all time about how much they hate their life, or poor me this poor me that, it gets old after a while. I can only care so much and for so long before it starts to get irritating. Let’s talk about the “duck face” real quick while were mentioning irritating things. There’s so much out there now making fun of how stupid girls look and yet they continue taking pictures like this thinking they’re all cute and whatnot. Knock it off ladies you look foolish. I’m also skeptical about relationships that form on Facebook, only because people try to be someone they’re not and that’s not a good way to start any relationship. I understand that social media is a way to express yourself and be whatever you want to be but out of all these options why would people choose to be stupid?

No One Told Me Ellen Was Gay?

Ellen DeGeneres is a powerful voice for homosexuals. Her willingness to put herself out there and not be afraid of the critics is inspiring. Ellen has the personality to be who she is and still be admired by the public. Although her openness about her sexuality doesn’t mean homosexuality is generally accepted, it is liberating. One point mentioned in the article that we didn’t talk so much about in class was the visibility of gay sex on television. Now a day sex sells, it’s literally everywhere. I saw a commercial the other day for drain-o that was very sexual. Maybe clogged drains turn some people on but I thought that idea was a little extreme. Gay sex or even desire is absent on television, why? People get so uncomfortable and awkward watching PDA between two males or two females, but what I find ironic is that so many people ask the same question, “How do lesbians have sex?” Although I have a pretty good idea of how that process works I’m not here to answer that right now. Another thing that irks me is the fact that guys practically drool over the thought of two girls being together, yet they’re so judgmental when a man wants to lay with another man. Another point the article makes is that most people see homosexuality as deviant behavior…also not true. No one wants to go through the shame and guilt that comes with coming out, especially to family and friends. No one would do that just for attention. I know that for me and my family the love we all have for each other conquers any disappointment or resentment they may have.

I swear I don't have a problem

…okay so maybe I have a very small, irrelevant, not worth mentioning problem. Scratch that, I have a HUGE and noticeable obsession with my one true love PINK! This is more than just a celebrity crush, what we have is real and no one will ever understand or come between us. The music and lyrics of this phenomenal singer/songwriter came to me at a very crucial age and time in my life. The song that got me hooked was “Stupid Girls.” When I started discovering more of her songs, watching interviews and television specials about her life I was intrigued and infatuated. I had found someone that spoke the words I could never say. She has the morals and personality I want for myself. This woman is everywhere in my everyday life; she’s the wallpaper on my computer, the background to my phone, a collage of her pictures hang above my bed, not a day goes by where I don’t see that gorgeous face of hers and hear her fantastic voice. This obsession obviously cannot be contained, and I don’t try very hard to cover it up. My whole family knows that she is my favorite person on Earth and even old friends and lovers remember me as the girl with a sick PINK obsession. They’re all very supportive of my habits though. When PINK and her husband Carey Hart were having some marital problems I received phone calls and texts asking if I was okay too. A buddy of mine will text me every time he hears a PINK song on the radio “thinking of you” is the normal message. When people say they don’t like PINK a part of me gets deeply offended, I feel like she is one of the most underappreciated pop stars out there. Regardless of what anyone thinks I will love this woman till the day I die. I am also very excited to see her in March, she will be my very first concert and I couldn’t be happier. This will be when she falls in love with me taking this parasocial relationship to real, true love.

Princess By Day, Superhero By Night

The whole princess and superhero culture discussion got me thinking about me and my life. You see, I used to be in pageants when I was younger, nothing like you see now a day on television because my mom wasn't as crazy as those other mothers. Nonetheless, I still trotted around in frilly dresses and did cute little dance moves; I was in parades with other beauty queens and rehearsed for countless hours for different routines. From what we talked about in class it seems like I should have grown up still wearing dresses, consumed by material goods, and needing to be the center of attention. But in fact, I think I'm close to the opposite of all of that. I started out being somewhat of a princess but now, somewhere inside of me, I feel like a superhero. A superhero is essentially there to save the day, to rescue the damsel in distress and to be much more than the common folk. There should be no lines drawn between boys and girls and princesses and superheroes. Should boys not be able to feel beautiful? Should girls feel like they are unable to save the world? Well as for me and my life I’ve come just about full circle from princess to superhero with no desire to change the way I live my life. I know that if/when I have children they will be able to express themselves freely and won’t have to be subjected to certain things based on their gender.