Blog 15

Martin Daniels

            If we lived in a world where the technology allowed for my present day self to be placed next to myself from September, I think there would be a couple of subtle differences, some of them personality tweaks and some of the other changes would probably come from my critical thinking skills.  In September, I wasn’t a big fan of being in the same class all day with the same people I thought it was a little childish.   I guess that being in the same class with the same people has also been a positive because it was easier to get my assignments if I was absent.  I also think that the September version of me was very easy to judge things and people without making fair assessments of the situations.  The version of my-self today would probably be more accepting to new situations and people with a little more ease. 

            The September version of me was also a little more anxious to get school over and done with, but the version of me now actually likes school due to the fact that I’ve evolved more as a person and my reasoning skills have improved tremendously.  In September I think the person who I was very certain of him-self and thought that he knew everything.  The person who I’ve become now is someone with more of a humbled nature and attitude.  I also think the version of me today evolved from a one tracked minded person, to more of a person who seems to have his priorities in place.  (Even if it just looks like that way) The September version of my-self was pretty sure of the career path in which I wanted to follow, but now I’m definite in my choice of career due to some of the assignments I have done especially in Dr. Reuben’s Class.          

            Also the September version of my-self needed a lot of personal growth as far as responsibility goes.  The version of me now realizes that he has come a long way but, there is still room for a lot more personal growth.  The September version of my-self was very anti- social as far as the classroom setting went.  The person who I am today is more comfortable voicing his opinion and ideas about different subject matter and is also more comfortable with having a wrong answer; the September version of me had this notion that it was a horrible thing to be wrong.  Through experiences I think the version of me today is a better product of my September self.

English 103 Research Paper

The movie that I have chosen is Goodfellas, and I chose this movie because I thought it was one of the greatest acted and directed films ever made.  The plot correlates with one of the `time periods of New York that is most diverse in its evolution spanning three decades.  Goodfellas was set in the East New York section of Brooklyn, New York.  The changes that occurred economically, politically, and socially during the time period the film depicts are vast.  I will explore the actual evolution of the characteristics of the population in comparison to the film.

Social Demographic

According to the 1950 New York Census the urban areas of New York comprised 85.5% of the total population of the state.  In the beginning of the film where you first get introduced to Ray Liotta’s character, you see him coming out of what looked like a very low-budget family house and you also hear him speak about how he couldn’t see himself being poor and working hard like everyone else and riding the train like a regular person.  The realities of East New York hit home in the movie. 

In his book How East New York Became a Ghetto, Walter Thabit wrote about the change in the demographic make-up of East New York, Brooklyn.  Thabit wrote about how in the 1950s East New York was primarily made up of working class people of Italian and Jewish decent.  In the film Scorsese depicted this real life scenario through the relationships of Italian men and Jewish girls.  He showed how Italian men who were interested in Jewish women in the neighborhood had to hide their crucifixes when they went to pick them up on dates.

Scorsese also went further in demonstrating the actual ethnic change of East New York that Thabit wrote about in his book.  When the Henry Hill character returns home from jail after seven years in the seventies he commented on the change of ethnic make-up within the community.  He used derogatory language to describe the Puerto Rican insurgence in the community.  Thabit wrote about the rise of the Puerto Rican and African American population in East New York and how it changed the previous ethnic landscape. 

Economic Demographics

According to 1950’s website, the average income of the population was approximately $3,126, also the average price of owning of a home was $14,500, and the price of owning a Ford vehicle was approximately $1,339-$2,262.  Goodfellas makes those statistics look like a joke especially depicting Robert de Niro’s character buying two homes and also owning a vehicle. The extravagant lifestyles of the characters’ exemplify how powerful and lucrative organized crime was during that time.  Also the real life people in whom the character’s were portraying out-lived the average life expectancy of 69.7, and in reality Henry Hill is still living and the other members of the gang died in prison or were murdered. ("Internet Movie Database")

Most people in the City at this period were hard blue-collar workers noted Thabit.  Many people also started to work for the MTA, which was really starting to flourish at that time due to more people not living within the city area.  A lot of workers were coming from the Brooklyn and Bronx area of New York due to the income per family household.

Political Demographics

Under the topic of politics I considered the realities of the lifestyle of a mobster that Martin Scorsese tried to portray.  The main issue for the mobster was being detected by the police.  Part of the change in the political landscape of the time affected the way mobsters operated. In the movie there was police presence, but nothing to the extent of what was really going on in the actual world.  According to US History.com in 1970 Congress passed the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).  Also According to US History.com the President's Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice identified that organized crime's income was twice that of the combined income of all other kinds of criminal behavior. 

As in the film the murder rate in New York escalated toward the late seventies into the eighties as shown in the chart below.

Another politically charged event that occurred during the time in which the movie was depicted added to the realism of the film’s content as it relates to New York. In the movie there is one important scene that really stuck out to me due to the realism of the film, and the actual events in which it was portraying.  December 11, 1978 at the Lufthansa Air Cargo terminal in New York City, 72 fifteen-pound cartons filled with money were removed from a vault within the terminal station.  According to reports the men were considered to be mobsters.

The Movie Goodfellas

Goodfellas follows three Italian mobsters who are friends through a twenty-year span from the fifties through the seventies.  The movie elaborated on the life of one mobster in particular named Henry Hill and some of the realities of that lifestyle for him and his associates.  During that period of time in New York there were many people making money off the drugs and arms race that was taking place after the Vietnam War. 

For example in Harlem, New York there were many people making their living off the demise and destruction of others.  During that time mob presence in the city was highly prevalent due to the fact that most of the mobsters were coming from New Jersey.  The city provided a very busy environment that was an excellent cover in the daily business grinds of a gangster.  At that time in the city the cost of living was relatively low compared to the inflated prices we see now, and that aspect of living was a tad better than what we have now in my opinion. 

Ray Liotta’s character, Henry Hill, in the movie was the more laid back one in the group, which is a true account of his character in real life.  Robert de Niro’s character was true to the real life gangster, James “Jimmy” Conway, in which he was portraying in the film.  Joe Pesci’s character, Tommy DeVito, to the contrary, was a little off due to the fact that the real life character in which he was trying to personify, was not as violent as he was in the film.  The real life mobster tried to keep his name out of most occurrences that happened throughout the city even though nine out of ten times he did have something to with it. 

The difference between the movie and real life as far as logistics go would be people weren’t that easily killed and not spoken of after their disappearance.  Another difference at the time would be that people weren’t all driving nice Cadillacs and able to give their parents lavish gifts and luxury automobiles.  People also at that time were more concerned about the Vietnam War rather than what was actually happening on the streets of America.  This led to more people being enveloped in worldly problems, which made it easier for backyard crime. 

Prime example would be Henry Hill himself and his band of goons perpetrated in the movie Goodfellas.  Henry Hill was a modern day John Dillinger (for his time period) and damn near got away with more crimes then he did.  Henry Hill was very smart in realizing that he could make a hefty amount of money in the concept of organized crime and that it would actually work. 

According to www.u-s-history.com the definition of organized crime is criminal activity on the part of an organized and extensive group of people.  So this means that there was usually a large group, of mostly men, who have come together to engage in crime.  In the movie the organized group of men were called a mafia.  Throughout the city as in the 50’s and 60’s there were many different factions and cliques throughout the city searching for dominance.  For example in the early 60’s there were two men named Nicky Barnes and Frank Lucas.  These two men made millions of dollars in Harlem, New York selling cocaine and various other narcotics all throughout the city and some interstate moves as well.  They were eventually arrested and Frank Lucas has recently relinquished his story for a recent film American Gangster.

At the time Goodfellas was made, the movie mold of the mob genre consisted of The Godfather, the Untouchables, a Better Tomorrow, and Scarface.  These movies were highly revered and reviewed.  But Martin Scorsese broke the mold with his vision and character development.  Based on the book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi, which was based on a true story, Scorsese brought the pages and the real life characters to the screen in a way that has been talked about for decades. (www.imdb.com) The protagonist of the film had such a neutral feeling towards the killings and assassinations that he sees taking place.  This and the artistic direction and film production can be the reason why the movie is very similar in some ways to its mob film contemporaries and respectively different in other ways.  According to IMDb.com, Goodfellas has domestically grossed a little fewer than fifty million dollars to this day. During the period in which the movie was based some of the popular films that were doing well in the box office were Swiss Family Robinson (1960), Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Ben Hur (1959), and also Lady and the Tramp (1955).

In conclusion, Goodfellas was a film that represented not only the life of the mafia and its inner workings, but used New York as its backdrop in a way that connected the times to the actual events in the city.  While Scorsese did a great job at developing the characters of the film, he allowed the changing atmosphere of East New York speak through his characters.  Understanding that this film is not a documentary, but based on a book that originated from a true story, I think Scorsese realized the importance of letting historical events pertaining to the location ring as close to true as necessary to tell the story.

Bibliography

"Biography for Henry Hill." The Internet Movie Database. IMDb.com, Inc., 2010. Web. 2 Dec 2010. <http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1453737/bio>.

Brunsman, Howard R. United States. Census of Population: 1950 New York. Washington: United States Government Printing Office, 1952. Print.

Edge, Trader's. "1960's Flashback." 1960's Flashback. Internet Developing, 2001. Web. 17 Nov 2010. <http://www.1960sflashback.com/1960/economy.asp>.

Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States. Compiled by Robert B. Matchette et al. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1995.
3 volumes, 2428 pages

Jacobson, Marc. "Lords of Dopetown." New York Magazine. 81. (2007): Print.

"Murders In New York City." Wikipedia. Web. 2 Dec 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NYC_murders.PNG#file ("Murders In New York City")'

"Organized Crime." Us History.com. Online Highways, n.d. Web. 2 Dec 2010. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1596.html>.

Thabit, Walter. How East New York Became a Ghetto. 3rd Ed. New York: Library of Congress Cataloging, 2003. Print.

Blog 14

The movie that I have chosen is Goodfellas, and I chose this movie because I thought this movie was one of the greatest acted and directed films ever made. The plot correlates with one of the `time periods of New York that would be most accessible as far as information.  This movie was set in the East New York section of Brooklyn, in New York.  It follows three Italian mobsters who are friends through a twenty year span from the fifties through the seventies, and elaborated on the life of one mobster in particular named Henry Hill and some of the realities of that lifestyle of him and his associates.  During that period of time in New York there were many people making money off the drugs and arms race that was taking place at that time. 

For example in Harlem, New York there were many people making their livings off the demise and destruction of others.  During that time mob presence in the city was highly prevalent due to the fact that most of these mobsters were coming from New Jersey which is right over the bridge.  The city allowed for a very busy environment which provided a cover in the daily business grinds of a gangster.  At that time in the city the cost of living was relatively low compared to the enflamed prices we see now, and that aspect of living was a tad better than what we have now. 

According to 1950’s website, the average income of the population was approximately $ 3,126, also the average of price of owning of a home was $14,500, and the price of owning a Ford vehicle would come up to $1339-2262.  The Movie makes those statistics look like a joke. Especially  seeing Robert de Niro’s character buying two homes and also owning a vehicle, but then again we still must take into consideration that he was also involved in organized crime.  Also the real life people in which the character’s were portraying out lived the life expectancy of 69.7, and in reality Henry Hill is still living and the other members of the gang died in prison or were murdered.

Ray Liotta’s character in the movie was the more laid back one in the group, which is a true account of his character in real life.  Robert de Niro’s character was true to the real life gangster in which he was portraying.  Joe Pesci’s character, to the contrary, was a little off due to the fact that the real life character in which he was trying to personify, was not as violent as he was in the film and the real life mobster tried to keep his name out of most occurrences that happened in throughout the city even though nine out of ten times he did have something to with it. 

            The difference between the movie and real life as far as logistics go would be people weren’t that easily killed and not spoken of after their disappearance.  Another difference at the time would be that people weren’t all driving nice Cadillac’s and able to give their parents lavish gifts and luxury automobiles.  People also at that time were more concerned about the Vietnam War rather than what was actually happening on the streets of America.  This led to more people being enveloped in worldly problems which made it easier for backyard crime.  Prime example would be Henry Hill himself and his band of goons perpetrated in the movie Goodfellas.  Henry Hill was a modern day John Dillinger (for his time period) and damn near got away with more crimes then he did.  Henry Hill was very smart in realizing that he could make a hefty amount of money in the concept of organized crime and that it would actually work. 

            The definition of organized crime is criminal activity on the part of an organized and extensive group of people.  So this means that there was usually a large group of mostly men who have come together to engage in crime.  In the movie the organized group of men were called a mafia.  Throughout the city at in the 50’s and 60’s there were many different factions and cliques throughout the city searching for dominance.  For example in the early 60’s there were two men named Nicky Barnes and Frank Lucas.  These two men made millions of dollars in Harlem, New York selling cocaine and various other narcotics all throughout the city and some interstate moves as well.  They were eventually arrested.  Both men have recently relinquished their stories for a recent film American Gangster.

            Most people in the City at this period were hard blue collar workers.  Most people were in the city making their money off many things like driving cabs, or owning hair salons, there were also children peddling their service as shoe shine boys as they called them.  Many people also started to work for the MTA which was really starting to flourish at that time due to more people not living within the city area.  A lot of workers were coming from the Bronx area of New York and also Brooklyn due to the cheaper amount of living per family household. 

At the time Goodfellas was made, the mold of mob genre consisted of The Godfather, the Untouchables, a Better Tomorrow, and Scarface.  These movies were highly revered and reviewed.  But Martin Scorsese, broke the mold with his vision and character development and also the way he made the narrator which is

Bibliography

Edge, Trader's. "1960's Flashback." 1960's Flashback. Internet Developing , 2001. Web. 17 Nov 2010. <http://www.1960sflashback.com/1960/economy.asp>.

Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States. Compiled by Robert B. Matchette et al. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1995.
3 volumes, 2428 pages

Jacobson, Marc. "Lords of Dopetown." New York Magazine. 81. (2007): Print..

Also the protagonist of the film, have such a neutral feeling towards the killings and asasanations that he sees taking place.  This and much other artistic film work can be the reason why the movie is very similar in some ways and respectively different in others. According to Box Office Mojo Goodfellas has domestically grossed a little fewer than fifty million dollars until this day.  But at the time in which the movie was portraying the only movies that were really doing successful in the box office were Swiss Family Robinson (1960), Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Ben Hur (1959) and also Lady and the Tramp (1955).

Blog 13 & a half

Martin Daniels

Minority Report Response

            The Minority Report presents a future where concerns about crime and security have turned society to extremes, such as punishing criminals before the crime is even committed and privacy no longer exists. Luckily we don’t live in a society like that but to be honest I don’t think we are that far from a situation similar to this.  In the beginning of the movie there was a man who was arrested based on the premonition of what was known as the Precogs.  These Precogs could only see one version of the situation, which always showed the person committing the murder.  But as we know in that specific situation the person was more than likely going to kill his wife and the adulterer she was with.  I personally think the ethics behind such a system don’t exist seeing how the system was proved flawed by it’s own creator.

            I think we as a nation can find way more ethical ways to combat and beef up our security against dangerous crimes and other wrong doings.  For example in the United States someone is arrested every 39 seconds for a marijuana related charge.  Over time this has added up to 600 billion dollars worth of expenses, cop hours and valuable space in prisons that can be held by actual violent criminals who should be incarcerated.  I think the most ethical solution in that case would be to decriminalize marijuana, which would allow for more time to investigate more hardcore pressing issues in the everyday security of our nation.  Another ethical solution that we could derive at would be to educate criminals while they are in prison to better ensure the chances of rehabilitation when finally released.  I personally think that there should be programs set up for men and women upon there release from prison to help ease them back into society as to not feel the need to return to the prior life of crime which led them to prison in the first place.

            The movie Minority Report in my opinion was a movie that basically showed the need for humans to have to be helped from themselves but, the fashion in which the police in the movie carried out their job was unethical and proved to be flawed.  People should always be given the chance to change their mind, but however should we let it go before we should actually help the person from himself or herself.

Blog 13

Martin Daniels

            The narrative that was explained through the Museum of The Moving Image was one of the origins of the moving image in reference to films and games and other visually projected images.  The museum guide was explaining to us the origin of the moving images with the many instruments that were in the museum dating back to the earliest of days.  I perceived the narrative to be informative, because I didn’t know how many tools were actually in exisitence that projected moving images before what we see today.  Also I enjoyed seeing the many stages and evolutions of the cameras that captured motion image before the new technology we see today.  Also I enjoyed seeing the older arcade video games, and enjoyed seeing all the many pictures of famous actors and actresses that were on display.  The intricate design of the museum was a historical path through the moving image, that was capped off with an informative lesson on all of the exhibits.

Blog 11

Walt Disney’s Contributions to Mass Media

Martin Daniels

Mass Communications

Prof. L. Luca

October 31, 2010

            Mass Media is a broad field that encompasses many of our vast media forms and technological advances we see and use in our everyday lives.  When I was given the task of choosing a person, place, or event that has changed mass media to focus my paper on, I was at first a little anxious.  But then I realized how broad of a field it was and, and decided to base my paper on something that has personally affected me as well.  So, for some odd reason the first thing that popped into my head was Disney.  Well, it had a personal effect on me as a child, and it did change the history of mass media forever, since it was produced and created. 

When thinking about who to choose as an innovator I had to think about how this figure changed the way I look at mass media.  As early as I can remember, I watched Disney films.  From Aladdin to Beauty and the Beast I remember how my brother and I would watch those movies over and over again.  As I grew up those films no longer interested me, but Disney was still a part of my life, from family trips to Disney World to the newer innovations in film like joining forces with Pixar.  Disney was not just for kids it was for the family and what were considered typical Disney films evolved into multi-million dollar grossing films like Pirates of the Caribbean.  It astounds me how all of this came from one man, a mouse and his vision for entertainment.

            Walt Disney began creating animated film shorts in the 1920’s and later went on to create full length animated films (Johnson).  Walt Disney was not the first to make animated shorts, but the characters and the audience in which he was trying to reach was unique at that time.  Disney entered the television market with short animated cartoon segments, and then he went on to make full length movies for film, and also movies with actors.  Walt Disney is revered for creating some of the most remarkable characters throughout the history of cinema including Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Pluto etc.--the list is innumerable.  But, what really set him apart from the animators of his time was the quality of his films versus the competition. 

            Walt Disney’s first full feature animated film was Snow White which was released in 1937.  The film was slated to an earlier release with an initial budget of $250,000 but, was pushed back and the final production budget ballooned to $1.7 million (Johnson).  The movie was well received and helped to establish Walt Disney and the Disney Corporation’s credentials. Walt Disney then used television as the mass media vehicle to get his vision into the homes of everyone who wanted to see a Disney production.  Walt Disney originally did not want to be a part of the mainstream television circuit, but, due to the fact that Walt wanted to create theme parks that would actually make the visitor feel like they are in another world he decided to use television to fund his other goals.

Walt Disney’s Theme Parks contributed to mass communications and media by being the first of its kind.  The Parks and Resorts division was founded in 1971, and it was also where the blueprints for the original park was created.  Disney World as of 2009 hosted approximately 119.1 million guests, which has made them the most visited theme park in the world (Johnson). Walt Disney’s Parks are located all around the world for the convenience of everyone who has grown to love the brand. 

Throughout the entire time that Walt had a functional business and was able to make his art, he always wanted to make sure that he gave back to the people who made him so successful.  He established a system to allocate some his wealth to the needy people around the world.  In some cases Walt would give away tickets to his parks to children and under privileged families that normally would not have had the luxury of visiting the parks without his generosity.  In other cases Walt would give money to non-profit organizations that were federally approved.  Due to the fact that the Company is so popular now, the company can’t help everyone that comes to their door, but they do their best to help as many people as they possibly can (Disney Affairs).

Walt Disney also had an effect on mass media with his time-transcending characters that are known by children and adults worldwide. For example one of his most famous and renowned characters would be Mickey Mouse.  Mickey was created by an elite team of artists based off of a concept that Walt came up with on his own.  Mickey’s character gave way to a wave of new and even more exciting characters like Goofy, Donald Duck, Pluto, Minnie Mouse, and a series of other world known characters.  Walt was considered to be an innovator due to the fact that he was the first to be able to reach adult, children, and teens audiences and have the same positive reaction from all the different age groups. 

Walt had a knack for really understanding what everyone sort of wanted out of their cartoons.  He made them so that there were innuendos in which adults could enjoy, and the common character traits that would appeal to children. Many of our older people can still tell you that they know who Mickey Mouse is because it was there generation’s form of Saturday morning cartoons.  But, this is also a testament to the longevity of the brand and the quality of service in which the Disney Corporation still prides itself on--providing its customers and fellow patrons with quality entertainment for the whole family. 

In his book The Mouse Machine, J. P. Telotte wrote about two factors that set Walt Disney apart as an innovator in media.  Telotte considered Walt Disney to be a central figure in the advancement of technology in entertainment and how he changed the way technology was applied in a post World War II society.  Telotte examined the way Walt Disney and subsequently after his death the Disney Corporation innovated the way we experience media and technology.  From the way Disney used sound in his animation in the 1930s to the use of Technicolor were some of the ways he used technological advancements in his films.  Telotte also wrote about how while other filmmakers were only concerned with film Walt Disney embraced television as a new medium for getting his creations to a mass audience on a regular basis.

According to the Business & Company Resource Center the Walt Disney Company ranked number one most admired company in the world and in California, and fourth most admired company in the United States in 2009 (Fortune).  While the company and its contributions to the economy and media are lauded, it has not been without controversy.  Many people have written about the shortcomings of Walt Disney personally from claims of anti-Semitism to the imperialistic nature of Disney’s ability to dominate the media.  I have chosen to concentrate on the accomplishments of the man and how he has changed the way we view cartoons. 

Walt Disney has been recognized for many things and known for many contributions to the entertainment value of America.  Walt also made a major contribution during World War II by having ninety-four percent of his studios working on information and propaganda films for the government, and also having the studios working on safety films in case of a nationwide emergency. Some of these movies are still seen across the world today still informing people of certain dangers in a way that only Walt could display (Walt Disney Company).

Walt Disney also contributed with his words as well as his strong visual sense.  Some of the most revered quotes that have been used by celebrities and politicians alike have been quoted from Walt Disney.  For example one of the quotes I appreciate the most “"Somehow I can't believe there are any heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secret of making dreams come true.  This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four C's. They are Curiosity, Confidence, Courage, and Constancy and the greatest of these is Confidence. When you believe a thing, believe it all the way, implicitly and unquestionably." I personally appreciate this quote because it speaks to the testament of his will and character as a person, and it also lets me know how I can succeed in my endeavors. 

Walt Disney also impresses me in the way that he was innovative in capturing more than just a children’s audience.  Walt Disney kept the entire family in mind when creating his films and theme parks.  Not many people from a media perspective have been able to capture an audience that ranges in age from approximately three to fifty plus.  Through all the media mediums that the Disney Corporation explores there is a tangibility and understanding of going beyond just a segment of the market to involve the family. 

If you ever see advertisements for Disney theme parks they always involve the excitement of the family.  To the ingenious way they have been able to find ways to capture the attention of all family members.  A good example of that is the endorsement of Disney World when the winning team most valuable player says he’s going to Disney World after the super bowl.  The aspect of family and inclusiveness was witnessed in the evolution of Disney’s theme parks like Epcot that is geared to adult visitors. 

In my opinion Walt Disney was the first person to take the media experience and incorporate it into the reality of the consumer.  He saw a way to create characters and then made the experience of interacting with these characters possible.  That in and of itself was a media transformation that many people have duplicated such as Universal Studios.  With the advancement of 3-D technology and the capability of the internet I am sure that Disney Corporation will continue to innovate the media experience.

In summation, I have yet to find a single person who has transformed the way we look at animation and has permeated many aspects of our lives.  Walt Disney was not only a pioneer but also a student of the film industry that used his knowledge to forge a new path through how we see animated movies as well as the live action films he was apart of as well.  Walt Disney in my eyes is an icon of the entire film industry as well as the broad spectrum of the media world.  Walt is known around the world as the father to the animated world of film.  Although he was not the first to dabble in animated film, he was the best at his craft. 

Walt Disney knew how to play on the human emotions, not only in his films but in his theme parks as well.  He had an admirable talent of knowing what people would like and enjoy and how people would react to the new technologies he was displaying at his parks.  Walt gave what he could plus more to people he didn’t know or have ties to, but his generous nature would not allow him to not help someone in need of it.  Walt Disney probably couldn’t have imagined the impact he would have in the future we live in today but, he has directly and indirectly changed the lives of so many people and that’s why I chose him to write about in this paper.

Resources

"World's Most Admired Entertainment Companies, 2009." Fortune, World's Most Admired Companies (annual), March 22, 2010, p. 132. Business Rankings Annual 2011. Gale, 2011.
 Reproduced in Business and Company Resource Center.   Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale Group, June 2002.   http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BCRC

"Most Admired Companies in the United States, 2009." Fortune, World's Most Admired Companies (annual), http://www.fortune.com, March 22, 2010. Business Rankings Annual 2011. Gale, 2011.
 Reproduced in Business and Company Resource Center.   Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale Group, June 2002.   http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BCRC

"Most Admired Companies in California, 2009." Fortune, World's Most Admired Companies (annual), http://www.fortune.com, March 22, 2010. Business Rankings Annual 2011. Gale, 2011.
 Reproduced in Business and Company Resource Center.   Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale Group, June 2002.   http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BCRC

Johnson, Paul. "Walt Disney and His Influence on the Mass Media." Illinois Periodicals Online. N.p., December 3, 2003. Web. 31 Oct 2010. <http://www.lib.niu.edu/1993/ihy930354.html>.

Telotte, J. P. The Mouse Machine. 5th. Champaign: University of Illinois Press, 2008. 1-42. Print.

"Walt Disney: A Biography." The Walt Disney Company. N.p., 05/06/2008. Web. 31 Oct 2010. <http://disney.go.com/vault/read/walt/index.html>. 

Walt Disney’s Contributions to Mass Media

Martin Daniels

Mass Communications

Prof. L. Luca

October 31, 2010

            Mass Media is a broad field that encompasses many of our vast media forms and technological advances we see and use in our everyday lives.  When I was given the task of choosing a person, place, or event that has changed mass media to focus my paper on, I was at first a little anxious.  But then I realized how broad of a field it was and, and decided to base my paper on something that has personally affected me as well.  So, for some odd reason the first thing that popped into my head was Disney.  Well, it had a personal effect on me as a child, and it did change the history of mass media forever, since it was produced and created. 

When thinking about who to choose as an innovator I had to think about how this figure changed the way I look at mass media.  As early as I can remember, I watched Disney films.  From Aladdin to Beauty and the Beast I remember how my brother and I would watch those movies over and over again.  As I grew up those films no longer interested me, but Disney was still a part of my life, from family trips to Disney World to the newer innovations in film like joining forces with Pixar.  Disney was not just for kids it was for the family and what were considered typical Disney films evolved into multi-million dollar grossing films like Pirates of the Caribbean.  It astounds me how all of this came from one man, a mouse and his vision for entertainment.

            Walt Disney began creating animated film shorts in the 1920’s and later went on to create full length animated films (Johnson).  Walt Disney was not the first to make animated shorts, but the characters and the audience in which he was trying to reach was unique at that time.  Disney entered the television market with short animated cartoon segments, and then he went on to make full length movies for film, and also movies with actors.  Walt Disney is revered for creating some of the most remarkable characters throughout the history of cinema including Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Pluto etc.--the list is innumerable.  But, what really set him apart from the animators of his time was the quality of his films versus the competition. 

            Walt Disney’s first full feature animated film was Snow White which was released in 1937.  The film was slated to an earlier release with an initial budget of $250,000 but, was pushed back and the final production budget ballooned to $1.7 million (Johnson).  The movie was well received and helped to establish Walt Disney and the Disney Corporation’s credentials. Walt Disney then used television as the mass media vehicle to get his vision into the homes of everyone who wanted to see a Disney production.  Walt Disney originally did not want to be a part of the mainstream television circuit, but, due to the fact that Walt wanted to create theme parks that would actually make the visitor feel like they are in another world he decided to use television to fund his other goals.

Walt Disney’s Theme Parks contributed to mass communications and media by being the first of its kind.  The Parks and Resorts division was founded in 1971, and it was also where the blueprints for the original park was created.  Disney World as of 2009 hosted approximately 119.1 million guests, which has made them the most visited theme park in the world (Johnson). Walt Disney’s Parks are located all around the world for the convenience of everyone who has grown to love the brand. 

Throughout the entire time that Walt had a functional business and was able to make his art, he always wanted to make sure that he gave back to the people who made him so successful.  He established a system to allocate some his wealth to the needy people around the world.  In some cases Walt would give away tickets to his parks to children and under privileged families that normally would not have had the luxury of visiting the parks without his generosity.  In other cases Walt would give money to non-profit organizations that were federally approved.  Due to the fact that the Company is so popular now, the company can’t help everyone that comes to their door, but they do their best to help as many people as they possibly can (Disney Affairs).

Walt Disney also had an effect on mass media with his time-transcending characters that are known by children and adults worldwide. For example one of his most famous and renowned characters would be Mickey Mouse.  Mickey was created by an elite team of artists based off of a concept that Walt came up with on his own.  Mickey’s character gave way to a wave of new and even more exciting characters like Goofy, Donald Duck, Pluto, Minnie Mouse, and a series of other world known characters.  Walt was considered to be an innovator due to the fact that he was the first to be able to reach adult, children, and teens audiences and have the same positive reaction from all the different age groups. 

Walt had a knack for really understanding what everyone sort of wanted out of their cartoons.  He made them so that there were innuendos in which adults could enjoy, and the common character traits that would appeal to children. Many of our older people can still tell you that they know who Mickey Mouse is because it was there generation’s form of Saturday morning cartoons.  But, this is also a testament to the longevity of the brand and the quality of service in which the Disney Corporation still prides itself on--providing its customers and fellow patrons with quality entertainment for the whole family. 

In his book The Mouse Machine, J. P. Telotte wrote about two factors that set Walt Disney apart as an innovator in media.  Telotte considered Walt Disney to be a central figure in the advancement of technology in entertainment and how he changed the way technology was applied in a post World War II society.  Telotte examined the way Walt Disney and subsequently after his death the Disney Corporation innovated the way we experience media and technology.  From the way Disney used sound in his animation in the 1930s to the use of Technicolor were some of the ways he used technological advancements in his films.  Telotte also wrote about how while other filmmakers were only concerned with film Walt Disney embraced television as a new medium for getting his creations to a mass audience on a regular basis.

According to the Business & Company Resource Center the Walt Disney Company ranked number one most admired company in the world and in California, and fourth most admired company in the United States in 2009 (Fortune).  While the company and its contributions to the economy and media are lauded, it has not been without controversy.  Many people have written about the shortcomings of Walt Disney personally from claims of anti-Semitism to the imperialistic nature of Disney’s ability to dominate the media.  I have chosen to concentrate on the accomplishments of the man and how he has changed the way we view cartoons. 

Walt Disney has been recognized for many things and known for many contributions to the entertainment value of America.  Walt also made a major contribution during World War II by having ninety-four percent of his studios working on information and propaganda films for the government, and also having the studios working on safety films in case of a nationwide emergency. Some of these movies are still seen across the world today still informing people of certain dangers in a way that only Walt could display (Walt Disney Company).

Walt Disney also contributed with his words as well as his strong visual sense.  Some of the most revered quotes that have been used by celebrities and politicians alike have been quoted from Walt Disney.  For example one of the quotes I appreciate the most “"Somehow I can't believe there are any heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secret of making dreams come true.  This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four C's. They are Curiosity, Confidence, Courage, and Constancy and the greatest of these is Confidence. When you believe a thing, believe it all the way, implicitly and unquestionably." I personally appreciate this quote because it speaks to the testament of his will and character as a person, and it also lets me know how I can succeed in my endeavors. 

Walt Disney also impresses me in the way that he was innovative in capturing more than just a children’s audience.  Walt Disney kept the entire family in mind when creating his films and theme parks.  Not many people from a media perspective have been able to capture an audience that ranges in age from approximately three to fifty plus.  Through all the media mediums that the Disney Corporation explores there is a tangibility and understanding of going beyond just a segment of the market to involve the family. 

If you ever see advertisements for Disney theme parks they always involve the excitement of the family.  To the ingenious way they have been able to find ways to capture the attention of all family members.  A good example of that is the endorsement of Disney World when the winning team most valuable player says he’s going to Disney World after the super bowl.  The aspect of family and inclusiveness was witnessed in the evolution of Disney’s theme parks like Epcot that is geared to adult visitors. 

In my opinion Walt Disney was the first person to take the media experience and incorporate it into the reality of the consumer.  He saw a way to create characters and then made the experience of interacting with these characters possible.  That in and of itself was a media transformation that many people have duplicated such as Universal Studios.  With the advancement of 3-D technology and the capability of the internet I am sure that Disney Corporation will continue to innovate the media experience.

In summation, I have yet to find a single person who has transformed the way we look at animation and has permeated many aspects of our lives.  Walt Disney was not only a pioneer but also a student of the film industry that used his knowledge to forge a new path through how we see animated movies as well as the live action films he was apart of as well.  Walt Disney in my eyes is an icon of the entire film industry as well as the broad spectrum of the media world.  Walt is known around the world as the father to the animated world of film.  Although he was not the first to dabble in animated film, he was the best at his craft. 

Walt Disney knew how to play on the human emotions, not only in his films but in his theme parks as well.  He had an admirable talent of knowing what people would like and enjoy and how people would react to the new technologies he was displaying at his parks.  Walt gave what he could plus more to people he didn’t know or have ties to, but his generous nature would not allow him to not help someone in need of it.  Walt Disney probably couldn’t have imagined the impact he would have in the future we live in today but, he has directly and indirectly changed the lives of so many people and that’s why I chose him to write about in this paper.

Resources

"World's Most Admired Entertainment Companies, 2009." Fortune, World's Most Admired Companies (annual), March 22, 2010, p. 132. Business Rankings Annual 2011. Gale, 2011.
 Reproduced in Business and Company Resource Center.   Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale Group, June 2002.   http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BCRC

"Most Admired Companies in the United States, 2009." Fortune, World's Most Admired Companies (annual), http://www.fortune.com, March 22, 2010. Business Rankings Annual 2011. Gale, 2011.
 Reproduced in Business and Company Resource Center.   Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale Group, June 2002.   http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BCRC

"Most Admired Companies in California, 2009." Fortune, World's Most Admired Companies (annual), http://www.fortune.com, March 22, 2010. Business Rankings Annual 2011. Gale, 2011.
 Reproduced in Business and Company Resource Center.   Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale Group, June 2002.   http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BCRC

Johnson, Paul. "Walt Disney and His Influence on the Mass Media." Illinois Periodicals Online. N.p., December 3, 2003. Web. 31 Oct 2010. <http://www.lib.niu.edu/1993/ihy930354.html>.

Telotte, J. P. The Mouse Machine. 5th. Champaign: University of Illinois Press, 2008. 1-42. Print.

"Walt Disney: A Biography." The Walt Disney Company. N.p., 05/06/2008. Web. 31 Oct 2010. <http://disney.go.com/vault/read/walt/index.html>.

Blog 10

I personally believe that humans will not become subsidiary to a new race of genetically enhanced humans as seen in the movie "Gattaca" and also as we read in the excerpt from the book.  I believe that there will be a group considered to be the other, but i think that concept will be a vice a versa type of thing.  I say that because either group of people is of course going to consider the other group to be the opposition and each group will consider each other to be a negative when you really look at it,  the people who will be genetically enhanced would technically have a considerable advantage over anyone who wasn't made through a test tube.
          I personally don't have a problem if this were actually to become the casein the United States because I think there are so many opportunities that people would still be able to thrive and succeed in the economy.  I only think this would be a problem in the Sport's world.  I say that because there would be a huge argument between critics whether there should be genetically enhanced players in the arena of sports, like would it tarnish the records of former players who did it off pure skill and talents and not being made to play the game.