Grady at Oxford Class

Hello All,

I'm just writing in response to some class related concerns I've been hearing. I'm sorry we haven't been more upfront with you about what was going on with Dr. Reber's health, but I'm sure you will appreciate that we had to respect his privacy and wait for the doctors to give us some definitive answers. I can now confirm a few things: 1) Dr. Reber is being treated at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and is doing much better, but he won't be able to resume teaching your class just yet. 2) You will all absolutely receive credit for this course - we are making arrangements with the Grady college to have the teaching covered by other faculty members, including Dr. Barry Hollander who taught on this programme two years ago. 3) You will have class on Monday and we will begin with a viewing of the Frontline documentary that is on your syllabus.

I would like to get all Grady class-members together for a brief meeting at 7.00 p.m. tomorrow (Sunday night) after the barbeque supper to go over some logistics and give you some more information.

In the meantime if any of you has any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me or Jamie McClung via e-mail or mobile phone. We will do our best to answer your questions within the parameters stated above.

Once again, apologies for the uncertainty of the last few days, but there really wasn't too much information that we could have divulged immediately.

*Important Class Notice*

I just spoke with Dr. Hollander via Skype and he gave me a few class updates. We WILL be having class on Monday. We will watch a video for the first hour and then discuss it with him via web cam during the second hour. Dr. Hollander told me to tell everyone that we WILL get credit for this class even it means he has to "friggin fly over here".

I told him we did not know anything about what is going on and he said they will probably address us as a group on Monday. Dr. Hollander said we are going to try to stick with the syllabus as much as possible, but most things (such as the debates) will probably get pushed back.

That is all for now! I guess we will all find out the rest on Monday!

British 'Get a Mac' Campaign

I'm sure everyone here has seen the 'Get a Mac' campaign shots on TV in the US, but have you picked up on the UK version running here? Media Arts Lab began what seems to be a successful series for Apple as far back as 2006. The current ad has a simple standard template for each run. It has a minimalist all-white background. A man dressed in casual clothes introduces himself, "Hello, I'm a Mac." Then a fellow in a rather formal suit introduces himself as a non-Macintosh computer running Microsoft Windows or Vista, "Hello, I'm a PC." The pair then acts out a brief vignette in which the capabilities and attributes of a Mac and a PC are compared. (I'll let you guess which one comes out best!)

The original American ads starred Justin Long and John Hodgman. For the recent British campaign, these roles were recast with the popular British comedic duo of Robert Webb as Mac and David Mitchell as PC. Besides a change in actors, the British adverts are altered to appeal to their British market viewers. This advertising technique has been labeled "appealing to the target audience." With the cultural differences between two nations, the advertising company had to do extensive research in discovering what best appeals to their British audience. Various things I noticed in comparison to the American ads were: the obvious change in dialect (from American English to British English), some differences in words used (for example, PC describes a virus as being a "humdinger" instead of a "doozy"), and generally longer ad format running for 40 seconds rather than the American norm of 30 seconds. I also thought the character of Mac in the British adverts seemed a bit more self-centered. His facial expressions are not as warm like our American version.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4SKUXwpfp1k

I have linked some of my favorite British 'Get a Mac' campaign TV adverts for you to view. What else do you notice that is different? Does this version appeal to you? Apple Inc recently has aired some new commercials in Japan. How would you anticipate the campaign there would be modified to specially appeal to the viewing audience?

LAS

Hi, I'm Brian, and I've had LAS for two years.

As soon as college hit, the freedom brought out from inside me a level of laziness about which I'd only read of in mythology books. I'd get my work done, and well, but typically at the last minute. Something was always just a little more important at the moment.
Being here has been different in a lot of obvious ways, most of which have been covered by everyone else. But I feel like I need to stress the academic shock I've been trying to wriggle my way out of.
Before our first High Table, we met our tutors. A LOT of my anxiety was assuaged when I met Simon Baptist. Young, friendly, relate-able. The literal opposite of what I expected. Then he told the group that our first papers were due that Wednesday. Enter: anxiety again. Thing is, there are some times when you just have to get your donkey in gear and, really, just do it. And that's what I've been doing. Nose to the grindstone.
Our Grady lecture has been comparable. I've been forced to read nightly, and to derive some genuine understanding from the material.
Here's to finally learning how to study 2 years into college.

so gay ads

While riding the escalator in London's Underground, a series of posters flashed before me. In big, bold letters, posters read "Atlanta is so gay...South Carolina is so gay...Boston is so gay." I was immediately stunned and confused by this ad, and it was only after I had caught a glimpse of the company name, Amro Worldwide, a gay travel company, did I realize that this was an ad endorsing the ultimate travel experience provided for gay and lesbian travelers.

The process of viewing this ad reminded me of the Cognitive Response Theory that we discussed in class earlier that week. When initially seeing the posters, I thought to myself, "what did their message mean, and what were they advertising? Wouldn't others find this ad offensive due to the negative connotation associated with the expression?" Wouldn't a poster that read its company's logo, "Amro Worldwide- Gay Travel. Tried and Trusted." be just as effective? Probably not. The fact that it brought to mind my own thoughts and concerns about the message made the ad much more memorable, which according to the Cognitive Response Theory, is the most important element when developing a persuasive advertisement.

Tiny Magazine

I was passing through the magazine aisle in Sainsbury's the other day when something caught my eye.  It was the latest issue of Glamour magazine, only it was a smaller size.  Though I'm a girl, I'm not a magazine junkie (I actually don't subscribe to any magazines), but the cute size of Glamour really made me want to purchase it.  I had never seen anything like it.  It was even in a plastic bag, as if it were a special treasure.  When I noticed the price, and reminded myself that I am on a budget, I set it back on the shelf.  

From an advertising/marketing perspective, the mere change in size was enough to catch my eye so that I paused what I was doing, and took a closer look.  I may not care about the content of the magazine, or even who is on the cover, but I was strongly tempted to purchase it only because it was unusual and different.  I'd be interested to learn if such a change like this increases the magazine's sales.  

Where Can I Study?

In a city that is bursting with tourists and academicians, you'd think coffee shops would stay open later, past about 5/6.  Last night, for the first time in whole college career, I realized that I take the Student Learning Center for granted.  Jittery Joes, the 24-hour policy, and the Reading Room, together provide one convenient study spot.  Perhaps there is a coffee shop in Oxford that remains open late and I Just haven't discovered it yet, or maybe only pubs and bars serve the late night folk.

I wonder if the coffee crowd is not as large here as it is in the US.  Early risers and night owls supply the major revenue for coffee shops in the US.  With the numerous historic pubs in Oxford, I suppose the economy is doing just fine and will not adopt the US system of late night coffee shops.  Or perhaps the libraries are the only locations set aside for studying.

Agenda Setting: Media or Public?

Does the public or the media set the agenda? This question has been on my mind for several days now. Before discussing the topic in class I had never really thought about the fact that there could be a group setting the agenda that is not the media. To be honest, even though the public was an option for agenda setters, I still firmly believe that the media sets the agenda.

Take for example my overall experience here in Oxford so far. Of course I am not at liberty to speak for everyone else, but there has been a, sort of, huge realization for me when it comes to my contact with news and what is going on today. Because I am not capable of watching a television at will, or even have enough time to stop and look up news online, I am not very up to date. As a student in Public Relations, I would consider myself one of the publics that has many opportunities to set agendas for media and other publics, but I am not. This is only because of a lack of easily accessible media ports. What I am trying to say is that there are many people like me in this field, and others that are news related, that do not seek out the information too. Therefore I believe that it is the media that is setting our agenda, and we as a public just frame it as we see fit.

Persuasion Please

After our discussion about persuasion in class I couldn't help but notice the many persuasive messages that surrounded me.

I don't know how many of you have experienced this, but if you go out into Oxford in the later hours of the night there are quite a few people on the street handing out little cards or flyers trying to get you to go to their dance club. Last night after walking on High Street for maybe three minutes I had a total of four of these flyers in my pocket. Each had a persuasive message that tried to entice people to go to their club. For instance, Lava Ignite hosted Vibe-"Oxford's hottest R&B jam”. It was a flashy card that was very well made. The card had pictures of attractive people all over it, some were dancing, but all were having fun which could definitely persuade people to check it out. Also, it was promoted as being on Oxford's FM 107.9, perhaps a ways to prove credibility?

However for me the most effective persuasion was two young men on the street promoting Po Na Na. These guys had all of their persuasion techniques down. They were of course attractive and very likable. Since they were our age, they seemed more credible when they told us the Po Na Na was so much fun and everyone goes there (argument 1). He informed us it was free (argument 2). They had the best music (argument 3). Yet, I thought the most effective thing he did was to stop promoting and talk to us like he would if he wasn't working. By making himself accessible, friendly and fun, he turned into a trusted source.

This grassroots form of advertising/PR for places such as Po Na Na is definitely interesting. Sure, we've all been bombarded with flyers that try to get us to go here and there, but this is different. I wonder if they use this technique during the normal school year too? Is this just for summer because there are less people living here? I wonder how effective it is? Well all I know is that it worked on me…twice.

---

Beatlemania!

Three cities in two days is exhausting. The new experiences of train schedules, activities, inclementuyt weather, and hostels can take the energy right out of a person.

But you know all that you need? 'All you need is love!' Love for the Beatles, of course. Out of the three cities we visited, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Liverpool, and Manchester, Liverpool shines the brightest. Not only are the people friendly but it also provided me with great insight about media effects.

After a long Friday, our group really looked forward to a Beatles tour on Saturday. Unfortunately, we had no idea how many others shared our excitement; most of the tours were booked up until Saturday afternoon or even Sunday. Luckily, the lovely lady in the Liverpool tourism office saved us by suggesting a private, moderatley pricey taxi tour. As of yet, this is the best money I have spent. Our tour guide, Loll, took us to such places as Penny Lane, Strawberry Field, John Lennon and Paul McCartney's homes, and even the bar where Ringo Starr's mother used to tend.

Aside from the exciting tourist sites, Loll gave me great insight about the media effect of the Beatles on the economy of Liverpool. Prior to the Beatlemania, Liverpool's economy was seriously struggling due to the shutting down of large industry in the city. A lot of people were leaving the city, especially the richer residents, because of this drop in jobs. However, Beatlemania has transformed this formerly sleepy city into a booming metropolis for tourism and the arts. Not only do they boast being the Beatles's birthplace, Liverpool also won the "City of Culture: 2008" award with its Tate Gallery and performance art.

Who could have guessed four English boys with funny haircuts and a new sound would have such a huge impact?

Stonehenge

The day trip to Stonehenge was something I felt necessary to do while in England. It is only two hours away and the city of Salisbury is gorgeous. You really have to be knowledgeable with the British rail system because three different trains there and and three back are required to make it to this little town. Stonehenge itself is about 10 miles out of the city from where the train drops you off at. It is 100% worth paying for the tour bus to take you through the amazing rolling hills of the countryside to the monument. The weather in england is so difficult so of course it rained for some of the trip but only for a few minutes. After walking around the monument, listening to the free audio commentary, and taking multiple pictures from different angles we headed back into the little town of Salisbury. We did not know it until we got to the cathedral but inside the church was one of four remaining copies of the Magna Carta. I do not think I had ever been in the presence of anything that old and valuable so it was a great end to the day!

Dining in Oxford

I'm sure everyone has noticed how early places close around here. Even some of the restaurants will stop serving food by dinnertime and turn into bars. This makes eating late very difficult. Plus, everything here is so expensive. If you have my problem, you automatically double the price to think of it in US dollars. (Which I know isn't a good idea but I can't seem to make myself stop.)
Tonight, though, we went to a really awesome place to eat. It is called the Red Lion and I recommend it to anyone looking for a tasty meal without spending a fortune. Most of us ordered roast, a jacket (baked potato), salad, and a drink for less than 4 pounds! That is pretty amazing considering that everything here, with the exception of Morton's, is so expensive.
If you want to try it out, take a right out of Trinity and walk down Broad Street, crossing over Cornmarket. Broad Street will turn into George Street and keep walking down until you get to Jamie's and Old Orleans (both on the right). Take a right between those two restaurants and the Red Lion will be right in front of you.
It is perfect for those of us on a budget!

Amsterdam

Immerse yourself in a completely different culture. The world operates at a different pace here than it does anywhere else i've been. Bicyclists make their own lanes of traffic as the dominant vehicular transport devices. People stroll by. Korean here, Dutch there and there, English from around the corner, Spanish from behind. There is such a harmony from the mixing of cultures. Commercial intent is completely transparent; a feat major of proportions considering the city's relationship with tourism. Boats drive under bridges, taxiing friends from various rendezvous points. Cars zip by sparingly. Mopeds overtake you and are gone before you realize. The charm of this place is in its bustle. There is too much to do for one or even a few but there are seemingly just the right number of people to do it all. The city fits itself. There are niches for every character. I think I could find my niche here.

News in Briefs?!

Upon entering the UK, it did not take long to realize that UK is much more liberal than the United States. From their politics to their mass media, much of what is considered normal here would be unthinkable in the United States.

The other day, I went in search of a popular newspaper to see just how different their media was from ours. I asked a local which paper was most widely read. She said the Sun was the most popular paper in the UK. The Sun? A tabloid? I bought it and sat down to read it, eager to find out what it meant to be a popular paper in the UK.

I wasn't five pages in before I saw just how different our papers truly were. It was an add for "Today's Page 3 Pic," the daily cell phone wallpaper picture. There she was. A 22 year old Brit from Manchester named Sam. She was shamelessly topless, posing underneath a tree. In the top, right hand side of the 1/3 page ad was the "News in Briefs". It read, "Sam was delighted at the sporting victories for young Brits Lewis Hamilton and Laura Robson."

I had heard about Europe's openness to sexuality and heard it was common to see nude pictures on television and in print media. Nevertheless, I couldn't say I wasn't a bit surprised. What I didn't understand, though, was the purpose of quoting the woman. I have seen similar ads in the United States trying to sell cell phone wallpapers but never with personal information and never topless.

Was the quote a plug for Formula 1 racing or the recent Grand Prix at Silverstone? Or, was it simply a way to connect to the audience in order to sell more cell phone wallpapers? We have already discussed, in class, the effectiveness of advertising via appealing to emotion and sexual instincts. But what if you are "selling sex"? Is it still important to use other advertising methods to increase sales?

Furthermore, in the United States, I would think that a topless photo might make the ad more effective. However, if nudity is accepted and "normal", is there anything truly exceptional about this ad? Meaning, would a cute, little kitten with a bow around it's neck be just as likely to sell "The Daily Page 3 Photo" to cell phone users?

Despite my knowledge of mass media, my first experience with the UK's media has raised a lot of questions for me. Sure, I know that sex sells and an emotional appeal to a product is important. I also believe, that readers' ability to relate to Sam probably makes her more attractive. However, even though human nature it universal, I think different ad campaigns may be necessary to appeal to people in different countries who have different cultures. This experience definitely warrant more research on my part. I can hardly wait to turn on the television!

Katherine M.

Europe v. USA

Before coming to Oxford, I had never experienced what everyone else seems to have experienced already. Europe. My parents told me that my view of the world would be different as soon as I came over here. And it definitely has.  All of the differences between the States and Europe are eye-opening.  Some differences are good, some are bad.  Here's what I have found so far:

1.) Public transportation: I love all of the walking that goes on here.  Now don't get me wrong, I do miss my car back in the States.  I love seeing all of the different people on the streets, the hustle and bustle.  So much more personal interaction.  You just don't find that in the States, unless of course you live in New York City.  No other city that I know of has public transportation like Europe.  Not only good for the environment, but good for the soul. 

2.) Food:  I have found that everything is (or at least appears to be) fresher.  I love it.  It tastes better and is better for you.  I love not seeing the multitude of fast-food restaurants on every street corner.  I have not even been tempted to go McDonald's or Burger King.  Maybe it's somewhat relatable to Athens, with all of the fabulous local restaurants, but I am not missing any fast food.  Except maybe Qdoba.  But that's about it.

3.) Weather:  Not don't get me wrong, I love that it's not 100 degrees and steamy hot.  But I wish it were hotter and not as rainy.  That has been my really only complaint here.  It feels like fall back in Indiana (where I'm from), and that's one of the reasons I went to Georgia: warm weather.  So while I love the sunny days here, I definitely don't like the cold. 

4.) Shopping:  I have yet to find a store that I am completely in love with here.  I want all the chains there are in the states.  I miss them terribly.  I feel as though every store I walk into would be clothes my mother would wear.  And I was hoping to come back with all of these cool European clothes.  With the exception of Primark, looks like I won't be coming back with many clothes, especially with how the American dollar goes (or doesn't go).  

5.) Accent: For me, it's a win-win situation.  I am a big sucker for accents.  I have always loved Southern accents, and I definitely love British accents.  So whether it's in Oxford or back in Athens, I am in love with the voices around me.  

What are the big differences you have noticed here? As anything been life-changing in the way you notice life?  I know I am definitely coming back to the States a more worldly girl.  

Agenda Setting and Foreign Relations

Thanks to Dr. Reber's class, the topic of Agenda Setting has been on my mind for the last week. It is just so interesting to me to think about who is deciding what the public conersation is about? Its like being given an essay topic for your life!
A couple of nights ago, while emersing myself in the pub culture of Oxford, (it really is a national pasttime...) I met a young man and we got to talking politics. I know, that's one of the things one should probably avoid discussing with strangers, especially in a foreign country. But it happened nonetheless. Well, we got to discussing the upcoming American presidential election. Although I'm pretty sure I kept up my end of the conversation and at least appeared to be knowledgeable, the Brit seemed to be more informed than I was. It was truly shocking to witness someone other than a US native discuss our political climate in terms of minute details, as this guy did. This got me thinking. How does agenda setting of the media agenda differ in the United Kingdom from that of the United States? From this conversation, it seemed to me that the politcial climate and media agenda of the United States affected the public agenda over here. Is our media agenda affected by our country's foreign relationships? Or is it just because England and the US are so strongly linked that affects it? Do foreign relations affect some country's media agenda more than others? I would be interested in any sort of feedback!

I'm the loser who couldn't go to overnight camp.

Since birth, I have never been away from my parents for more than 3 weeks. Why let Oxford stop the trend? When my dad surprised me a few weeks before my trip to Oxford with the news that he and my mom would be coming to visit me, I literally screamed and jumped for joy. I know it has not yet been two weeks, but I miss them terribly and can not wait for them to get here! They will be arriving next Friday and staying for six days. I am currently trying to get a jump start on all of my work so that I can spend as much time with them as possible.

I can not wait to show them around Oxford and to introduce them to all of the wonderful people I have met here! If any of you are wondering how I turned out so bizarre, I recommend that you try to meet my parents sometime during their visit; it might answer a few questions for you.

Are any of you expecting a visit from your parents? Do any of you have any ideas of fun things I can do with my mom and dad while they are here? They have been to London a few times so I am looking for something original for us to do. Please let me know if you have any ideas!

O' the Places I'll Go

I can't believe I have been at Oxford for almost two weeks.  It seems just like yesterday I was sitting at the airport bored out of my mind for 14 HOURS.  I haven't really had the chance yet to explore Oxford, but I'm saving the last two weeks of my stay for that.  Before I came here I knew the classes were gonna be labor intensive, but my word.  I have never had to write so many college papers before.  However, I still have my fun on the weekends.  You have to get your work done during the week in order to enjoy the time you have here.  Personally, I love to travel.  I am taking full advantage of the close neighboring countries.  I have been to Athens, Greece.  I am leaving in the morning for Amsterdam and next week I am going to Dublin.  I wish I had more time to travel all over England, but I'm gonna try and see as much as possible with the time I have left.  Where is everyone else traveling to?  Any bad or good experiences?

On a different note, if you order a drink from Starbucks, make sure you tell them it's to go.  They will give you a real coffee cup.  

Also, does anyone else feel that buying the Britrail was maybe a mistake?  I'm not sure if I'm gonna get to use up all the days.

Cheers

Home Away From Home

Now that it's (thankfully) Thursday- signifying the start of a second weekend here at Oxford,
I can't help but laugh at the idea of how nervous I was before the trip.

Honestly, it didn’t seem real that I was going to England- even up until the point that I boarded the nonstop Delta flight. (Digression: You have to take into consideration that I've never really traveled outside of the country before. The last (and only) time I did so was when I was nine years old, and my parents took me to visit the Philippines.)

The week of the group flight, I constantly got questioned by friends and family about whether or not I was excited or ready for the trip. To be honest, the reality of me finally going abroad didn't sink in until the plane finally took off, and I watched the last of Georgia splayed in dotted cities lights beneath me. While the lights became increasingly smaller specks and eventually disappeared, I thought about all the people down below.

For a moment, I felt so small. Here I was- this shy Georgia-born-and-raised girl 'on her own.' Though I took the group flight, it was still a different experience traveling without the people I was used to being around all the time- like my family, and my closest friends. My stomach was in knots when the pilot announced we had arrived at the London-Heathrow airport. However, despite the initial feeling of being out of sorts when I first arrived, those unsettling feelings disappeared once I saw Oxford.

I never believed in love at first sight until now.

I think that Oxford is an absolutely amazing city. Rustic elegance seeped with history- anywhere you turn you can't help but be amazed at your surroundings. Most of the pictures I took when I first arrived were of the the buildings. The architecture is so impressive, but the best scene that I've experienced thus far is standing on top of St. Mary's church and seeing the city from up above. Talk about taking my breath away...


It's already been a week and a half since I've been at Oxford, and there's still so much to soak in. Ever since day one of arriving here, I've been challenged- intellectually and emotionally. The first couple of days were a little rough. Being jet-lagged and homesick are never a good combination, but after becoming acquainted with the campus and the people, I'm appreciating the experience a lot more.

It's amazing how much you can learn in such a short amount of time, but then again- I suppose if you're displaced out of your comfort zone, it forces you to figure out where you stand.

Cheers.

Because You Can't Substitute YouTube For A Paper...

While doing research for the paper this evening, I cam across a video for a new tech gadget. Though it's a phone and probably an MP3 player and all those things, it's mainly constructed to be flexible so you can read the news on this digital screen. The thing seems to only be the size of a cell phone and much easier to read from than a computer screen (you know you get headaches...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4tdtzyjFnY

It's called the Sony Full Color Flexible Paper Screen. And for some reason I couldn't upload the video to the site so hopefully the link works.

So, to reflect on class topics, do you think print media (the actual printing of ink on paper) is a thing of the past and "e-papers" are the way of the future? Do you think the advantages of this innovation outweigh the (presumably) high costs?

Policy Agenda Setting: Just in America?

During class today I started wondering if agenda setting, particularly policy agenda setting, plagues the rest of the world as much as I think it does America. From what I can tell, the American government has a fairly open form of government compared to the rest of the world. Does our form of democracy affect the ability for government policy to set our media's agenda? How about the public's agenda?

When I was visiting London last weekend, I met up with a friend from home. She had already been there for a day when I arrived. She began to recall all of the sights that she had seen, one of which was the Parliament. She told me that while sitting in on a session, she witnessed members pretty heatedly debating the wage war that's going on right now in London. I didn't think about it at the time, but today I started thinking about how the policy that will inevitably come out of those debates will affect the media's agenda as well as the public's agenda here in England. Would similar policy affect the media's agenda in the United States?

Sassy Sidewalks

Since we've been here there is always a hustle and bustle on the sidewalks. I have noticed huge groups of people obnoxiously standing in the right positions so it's nearly impossible to squeeze through. When you say "excuse me" or "I'm sorry" people look at you as though you've just cussed them out. If you don't say anything, they still look at you as though you've somehow insulted them. I've started going with the trend and also reply with a smirk... I'll admit that's probably not the best idea.

I ran into another situation today on the sidewalk while holding my umbrella. My first question is who goes up and who goes down? I'm surprised I didn't take anyone's eye out today. However, while walking on the right side, which I would assume is the correct side, people a) would walk straight for me trying to play chicken or b) would stumble in a random path till they have gotten around me. I suppose I should too be lucky I didn't lose one or both eyes in my trip to pizza hut --which on a side note cost $20 for a personal pan pizza, salad, and diet coke, AGH!!

I'm embarrassed to say I do not know what is proper sidewalk etiquette here.

So I'm wondering is it not appropriate to say excuse me and/or walk on the right hand side of the sidewalk? Are they confused since they drive on the wrong side of the road?

Shocking Surprise

Last Thursday, I was traveling on the train headed to Heathrow Airport.  The train ride is about an hour and half long, so you can imagine that I was bored with nothing to do.  Don't get me wrong, observing people and the scenery is a favorite past time of mine, but their was a lack of people.  Anyways, someone left what looked like a newspaper under their chair, so I grabbed it thinking I might be an informed Brit today.  The paper turned out to be a gossip magazine, which I thought was right up my ally.  I wondered who were the Brad Pitts and Britney Spears in the UK.  

So I'm flipping through reading about football and Amy Winehouse, when an ad for a cell phone jumps out at me with the picture of a top less female.  This was no small ad, it took up half a page. I immediately turned the page and was in shock.  This wasn't Playboy, where you are required to be of a certain age to buy the magazine.  This was your every day gossip magazine/ newspaper like US Weekly.  Back in the States, tons of the younger generations buy and read gossip magazines.  I know that Europe in general is more open about sex, but this ad was displayed in a media outlet that I personally feel was inappropriate.

The media is for our enjoyment, but when is crossing the line too far.  The whole Janet Jackson Super Bowl ordeal caused for major change for media outlets to have delays in live programming.  What do you think is appropriate as far as sexual content is concerned in the viewing of television, magazines, and newspapers that don't require a special subscription?    

 

Adopter Categories and Cultures

So I know in class we talked a lot about how different types of people adopt new innovations. Well since we are in a foreign country i started thinking about how not only groups of people adopt new innovations but also how cultures as a whole come to adopt innovations. The more time I spend in England the more I notice American influences here. A lot of our products and chains are very popular here. I think that the United States as a whole is a group of innovators. We are always trying new things and developing new trends. I always had the perception that Europe was always ahead of us in terms of fashion, but my time here in the U.K. has proved that to not be true. It seems as though we as Americans have created all of these trends and then the European countries follow suit. I would say that Europeans are early adopters, but a lot of the things that are popular here were popular in the U.S. several years ago, such as the music that they listen to. It is as though they are a little behind us in popular culture. I have a little theory, and correct me if this sounds completely crazy, but it seems to me that the more developed a nation is the quicker they are to adopt and try new things. I think that things just spread a lot more quickly in the U.S. and it takes longer for ideas and innovations to spread elsewhere. Trends seem to catch on so quickly in the United States, especially in terms of fashion. You see someone wearing a pair of boat shoes, and before you know it half of UGA is wearing them. I think that cultures try to maintain their own identities, but at the same time i think everyone wants to be like Americans too and have all of the things we have. Have you ever been to another country and not been able to find the McDonald's. American trends and innovations have become so global.

Fashion 411

In class, we are learning about Diffusion and the Adaption Process. I have never really thought of ideas, technology or other new things in this way before. However, when I first read about it, my mind went immediately to fashion. There are 5 different Adapter categories: innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards. At first I thought about trends in bridesmaid's dresses for weddings. About 5 years ago, the trend was brown. In the fashion magazines, brown dresses were considered chic and classy. A few years later, almost every wedding I went to involved the color brown. It has eventually fissled down to only one wedding this year, where the bride covered her entire wedding in pink and brown.
Going to school in Athens, I often like to look at the fashion trends around campus. Just sitting on North Campus or in the SLC, you can see the range of Adapters in the fashion world. There are those people who have seemingly unique outfits, only to find that a month later half the campus has caught on. You also see those who have just caught on to a trend started a few months ago. There are also the laggards, who most likely do not care to keep up with the latest trends.
I am reminded of the movie The Devil Wears Prada, where Meryl Streep's character, the cruel and demanding fashion magazine editor, explains to Anne Hathaway's character how her decisions in the fashion world of what to place in her magazine has a huge effect on everyone, even if you don't realize it. Being a magazine major, this makes me think about the influence all magazines have on their specialized field.

What a Tangled Web We Study!

In addition to the Grady Seminar class, I am taking a Law class here at Oxford. I chose that class simply for a new experience. As I was studying yesterday I came across a case with particularly interesting media consequences. It was the case of Knuller Publishing, Printing, and Promotions versus the Director of Public Prosecutions. Here's what went down. One of Knuller's magazines catered to the homosexual community, and the magazine was allowing individuals to place ads soliciting sex from other readers. It was basically like the single's section of any major newspaper, exept for the fact that it was explicitly for the purpose of sex. The magazine was accused of "conspiracy to corrupt public morals" which is a punishable offense in the UK. Obviously this means that the UK government believes in concepts such as cultivation and mainstreaming. How do you think this law affects media outlets in the UK?

P.S. The photo above has nothing to do with this blog, but I mentioned the train stop from Hairy Potter in class the other day, and I thought I would include the picture in my blog.

If it's on Facebook, it's official!

In case you haven't heard me talking about it, I'm obsessed with Google. Recently I set up an automatic search to email me any information having to do with the media sources we've been talking about in class such as the BBC or Facebook. I could not help cracking up at this article sent to me today via PerezHilton.com, citing Facebook as a reliant source for some celebrity trash. It states that the two celebrities involved are now "on again" due to their Facebook profiles saying they are in a relationship with one another. I just thought it was slightly humorous that something so mundane and ordinary to us, such as checking someone's profile, has now become a "credible" news source for celebrity information.

Here's the link if you want to check it out: http://perezhilton.com/2008-07-07-together-again-11

So what happens when celebrities, such as Ashton Kutcher, start playing pranks on the media using Facebook? I can see the shock and awe already when he states he is getting divorced and is "In an open relationship" with Tara Reid.

Will legitimate news sources start citing Facebook? Has it become necessarily credible yet? Before you shout "No!" at your computer, think about how media sources cite a musician's Myspace page for information such as tour dates and band news. I've even seen ABC quote from Miley Cyrus's Myspace page. Will Facebook be used the same way in the news and other media?

So Euro

That's so Euro.  -This is the phrase a few of us have adopted when are shocked, fascinated, disgusted or annoyed by the bold fashion statements that we see when strolling the streets of Oxford or in a pub.  Europe really is ahead of the US when it comes to fashion.  As I can't help but notice these pioneers of the fashion industry proudly display their unique styles, I think to myself, will America ever adopt this style?  When compared to Europe the US (or maybe just Georgia) is very conservative and, some Europeans may argue, uncreative with our fashion.  This goes for males as well as females.  Despite our cardigan sweaters and combed hair and (guys) loose-fitting pants, Europeans seem to accept us, which I do appreciate.  

On another note, I've been to Sainsbury three times and every time I enter there a very pungent aroma of body odor greets me.  Is it the store, the employees, or the customers?  I have yet to solve this mystery...

Living in a painting

In my first email to my parents after my [late] arrival in Oxford, I described being here as living in a painting. I've seen traditional English architecture plenty of times in photos and paintings, but being here doesn't quite seem real yet. It's too perfect. The sky (when applicable) is too blue, and the clouds are too white. The grass is too green, and seems altogether untouched by people or anything else.

The people, however, at least from my relatively limited interaction, seem to be a different story. Inside the gate, you first meet the porters- the single most helpful group of people I've met in recent memory. The tutors are just as amicable, to my surprise. Outside the walls of Trinity College, however, people seem decidedly unconcerned with their neighbors on the sidewalk. I suppose such an assessment has to have some experiential basis, and I guess if I had to identify that basis, it would be the first hour or so after my arrival at the Oxford bus station. To say the very least, the people were unhelpful to this obviously lost tourist. As I stood for several minutes outside what I now know to be the gate to Trinity college itself, I was told to bugger off at least twice (the third time was debatable-sometimes these people mumble a little), and was dismissed as a salesman.

I do have another five weeks, though, to let them prove me wrong--and I'm all too willing to do so.

The High Table Extravaganza

Traditionally, Mondays are the worst day of the week; they symbolize the re-start of the weekly grind and a whole five days until the weekend. In Oxford, however, Mondays sing a different tune.

As summer Oxford students, Mondays mean dressing in our Sunday best,coming together to enjoy cocktails and dinner, and revelling in the company of Oxford tutors and fellow dawgs at High Table dinners. However, as usual, there is a special twist; certain accomplished students are invited each week to dine at the head table with our Georgia professors, Oxford tutors and other special guests. The majority of the students do not know who has been picked until seeing all invited seated at the head table. Needless to say, the invitation is widely understood as an honor.

Now that seating arrangements are set, let me set the mood. The decor of the hall is divine with beautiful warm-wood paneling, paintings of prominent men of yore gracing the walls, and the Trinity coat of arms appearing on everything from placements to gravy bowls. One should imagine Harry Potter's dining hall, though without the flying candelabras or wizarding costumes.

For me, the menu proves to be the highlight of the evening. I openly acknowledge my status as a 'foodie' and Oxford has not let me down. Tonight's meal consisted of three courses, each being as delightful as the previous one. First, we dined on warm rolls and Caesar salad sprinkled with pepperoni, pine nuts and a creamy dressing. The second course consisted of steak paired with a thick dipping sauce and 'chips.' Finally, a Pavlova with fresh fruit and custard rounded out the meal.

For me, enjoying High Table dinners will not be the problem, just the expanding waistline.

Crank that what?!

So the other day Glen was telling me and a group of people about his experience in a club. He stated that the "Crank that Soulja Boy" song came on and the Brits that were at the club had no idea how to do the dance. If I recall correctly, he had to teach them how to do the dance we all seem to know so well.

This got me thinking... Why did this dance spread like wildfire for us Americans (even my mom knows it!) but not for the Europeans? I do not believe that the main difference is in the focus on music videos as a source of media, but more in interpersonal communications. I personally, and I hope some of you agree, learned about the amazing poetic movements of the one and only Soulja Boy from a friend. She informed me of the incredibly fun, yet repetitive dance while in a line to enter a bar/club type atmosphere. This initial mention is what peaked my curiosity to investigate. Naturally, I went to the most resourceful media source on the internet: YouTube. There I learned the amazing dance sensation and went on to spread the word to others, showing them my magnificent skills. You might be thinking: Wow! This sounds an awful lot like what we've been learning in class. In my opinion, you would be exactly right and interpersonal contacts led the way!

So the million dollar question is why did this stupendous sensation not catch on in the UK? My only hypothesis would be that England is more of a pub society than a club society, obviously hurting the dance scene. I guess you could also note that there seems to be a lower presence of what one could deem the "hip-hop community" here. This community would be the innovators and early adopters. However, since this community seems to be lacking or at least a lot less than in the US, the fad might have not caught on.

Is Soulja Boy just not big enough to catch the UK attention? Or does the 'problem' lie more in the absence of certain audiences?

Another thing to note is that the music video itself gives the impression that this is a nation-wide sensation that everyone is talking about. It shows the video on a number of different media. This video was made before this song made it big. Was it so successful because of these 'realistic' implications of popularity?

Here's the link if you've been living under a rock the last year or so: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5Q8Yw_2cY0 (it's the clean version)

Pleasantly Surprised at Pleasantness of English

I thought everybody in England was supposed to be extremely anti-American. Thankfully I was wrong.

Everybody here I have talked to has been pretty nice, certainly not rude. Everyone I have asked for directions or the time has actually helped me out. Just this Saturday, our group that travelled to London could have ended up on the other side of the country if not for the help of some English folks. Certainly these people knew we were American, given our accents and clothing.

In a frantic rush to catch the last train from London back to Oxford, our group apparently boarded the wrong train. Fortunately some people on the train notified us that the train was going to Dover (I think) and we were able to make the right train.

So just as how the British can be wrong in stereotyping all Americans as stupid and rude, I was wrong in stereotyping all British people as snobby and anti-American.

Sports Coverage in the UK

I'm blogging here about how the papers here handle sports writing, which hopefully counts as my class-related blog post. I've been reading The London Times coverage of Wimbledon almost everyday and have noticed a few things that seem to be blog-worthy (the coverage of Andy Murray's matches, to be specific). Murray, a Scottish tennis phenom, was the center of Wimbledon coverage until his exit in the quarterfinals. The coverage here was almost completely focused on Murray (maybe 75% or so). Furthermore, the writers had no problem with openly supporting Murray, congratulating him frequently, describing his matches as "epic," and how one of his matches was "one of the best of all-time."

This does not really happen in U.S. sports coverage. Perhaps this is a reflection on just how strong nationalist feelings are here in the U.K. when compared to those at home. I would argue this is an effect of society on media and not the other way around. Folks here get so caught up with how their countrymen are faring (and comparatively ignore any other sports news); obviously the press realizes this. Therefore they tailor their coverage to focus on the British players, leading to minimal coverage of everyone else.

This does not appear to me to be an example of media affecting society. The Brits seem to be a highly nationalistic people regardless. Though I do not doubt that sports coverage that focuses on fellow countrymen may help fuel/add to these feelings, they certainly are not the cause. It's kind of a chicken/egg deal.

For instance, fans in the U.S. are simply not as passionate and devoted to cheering on and watching their fellow countrymen in the sporting world. ESPN's Wimbledon coverage focused on the Nadal/Federer rivalry, not on American players such as Andy Roddick or James Blake. Again, media leaders in the U.S. realize that people do not want coverage saturated with American players and stories, so coverage remains diverse, focusing mostly on the best, high-profile players.

In this case, society has had an impact on media coverage. It appears that what kind of sports coverage occurs depends on the level of a nation's nationalist feelings and enthusiasm/support for fellow countrymen. Although I admit this can have an effect on media consumers. Media coverage in the U.S. does not focus on American players, which certainly does not help the lack of nationalistic pride in the American sports scene. On the other hand, the focus on British players in the U.K. probably contributes slightly to the already fervent enthusiasm for English players. Again, chicken/egg stuff, but that's what I think.

STRESSED

Prior to my trip, I was extremely excited about studying in Oxford. I counted down the days to a pleasant life of high table dinners, champagne on the lawn, meeting the locals, and weekend adventures to neighboring countries. Unfortunately, I was in for a rude awakening...

I have never been so stressed in my life!

I completely underestimated the amount of hardwork and stress that is involved in this program. Each day, I am filled with anxiety and overwhelmed with the reading and writing that is assigned. But, don't get me wrong, I was aware that I would still have to reserve time for my studies amidst the amusement and recreation. Students who had participated in the Oxford program in the past informed me of the heavy workload but, at that time, my mind was set on the idea of being abroad and the opportunity to travel. I never imagined that I would be under an increasing amount of stress.

I haven't been a complete hermit in my room with my nose in the books, deprived of even an ounce of enjoyment. I had a great time this past weekend, walking the streets of Oxford and hanging-out at local pubs but, I, like all of us, could surely do without the added pressure of our academics. Hopefully, as time passes, I'll be more comfortable with the academic work and will be able to fully enjoy this experience. But for me, that adjustment has yet to come.

Retail Therapy Gone Wrong

"UP TO 70% OFF SALE!"

"BIG SUMMER SALE!"

"CLEARANCE ITEMS MUST GO!"

Initially seeing these big signs in every clothing store window in Oxford immediately reeled me in. Half off? That means I'm paying regular price for a unique piece of clothing, or at least a garment that no one will have back in the states. With the latter part of that sentence possibly being true, the former couldn't be any more wrong!

Many store owners in Oxford realize that during the summer months, lots of American tourists keen on shopping in special boutique stores will appreciate the appeal of a sale. However, a top that's 50% off of 45 pounds... yep, it's still $45 American. The advertisements in the store can easily trick you into believing you got a good deal when in fact you're still paying quite a bit in American dollars.

Another thing I don't quite understand about shopping in Oxford is the stock of clothing in each store. Sheath dresses? Mini skirts? BIKINIS?! I can easily see these items being sold in America, but it's far too cold here for that! What non-existent beach would you wear these items to? And my struggle in finding a good coat (yes... I was quite the ignorant packer) still persists. Coats should be sold where weather permits! Yes, summer clothing with its surf shorts and tank tops is appealing... but don't native Oxonians find it unrealistic? Who actually buys this stuff? Is anyone so swayed by the "fun-in-the-sun" advertisements that they might still buy a bikini just for the appeal? I'm not an Advertising major, but even as a consumer I can recognize that paying 20 pounds for a beach bag in Oxford is a little ridiculous.

Art on the Underground

While visiting London, I took notice of how safe, efficient, and visually appealing the city's public transportation is compared to the Marta system serving the Atlanta area. After walking just a few feet into the underground station, I saw an interesting display of advertisements and artwork. It was both creative and very attractive. For example, along the escalators were displays announcing upcoming theatrical performances in the West End area. Walls were covered with artistic posters. When I finally got myself onto the right tube, there was more wonderful pictures and poetry. I became curious about where and how all this originated. Later, back on campus, I searched on the Internet for further information and found that the London Underground has been a pioneer in commissioning and presenting art since 1908. More than a century ago, the company began commissioning leading artists such as Man Ray, Edward McKnight Kauffer, and Graham Sutherland to work on innovative poster campaigns.

Using the tube and bus system in London provides a wonderful way of getting around in a busy city. Beyond the basic function aspects of efficiency there is provision for making what could be a tedious and boring experience into a pleasant journey with a sense of art and excitement. As an American tourist, it also is a comfort that helps make up for some close calls while crossing the street as a pedestrian. I cannot imagine trying to drive here in England. It would be nice to have a similar high quality and "fun" option in the Atlanta metropolitan area. So, I am left with the question, "why can't Marta do as well as London's Underground?"

Stereotypes

On the 4th of July, I went out to celebrate. I thought it was kind of funny to be celebrating our country's independence from England in England. But while I was out I met some British guy. He asked me if i was a cheerleader. Why did he think i was a cheerleader? I realize my peppy personality may be misleading, but it was kind of a weird question. So we continued to talk and it turns out that all of the girls being cheerleaders and the guys being jocks is a stereotype that the British have about American kids. So we continued to talk about stereotypes and of course the British having bad teeth came up. He asked me why we think that all British have bad teeth and I responded with i guess that is what we were taught and what we see on television and in movies. I also told him that we think all British people love soccer and they all love to drink, which he said is pretty much an accurate stereotype. I think the British men think that American girls are all wild party girls too. They think we all love baseball and football. It was just really interesting to talk to a British person and have an exchange of what our cultures think about the other and to confirm or deny those stereotypes.
I decided it would be fun to look up some more stereotypes about the British and see if i can find any truth to any of them while i am here in the U.K. So here is a list. Let me know if y'all find any of these to be true:
~They all love dogs
~They all love tea
~They all love the queen
~They are paranoid about fire
~Men-Pop your collar and gel your hair
Another stereotype that i made up myself is in regards to British fashion for women. It seems as though they have no summer look. They do not wear summery colors. It seems like all of the girls wear skinny jeans or skirts and leggings and flats. Which are all very much fall clothing articles for us in the U.S. And the men here seem to be a lot more fashion conscious than men in the United States for the most part.
Alot of sterotypes we have can often be very misleading about a culture, but i think that sometimes they do help us to generalize about a population. I think that every sterotype that i have about the British has come from watching television and movies. Obviously Hollywood can exaggerate, but it is interesting to find out that some things are actually true.

Where are all the cell phones?

While exploring Oxford, I have been doing a ton of people watching. One main thing that caught my eye was hardly anybody here walks around talking on their cellular device. I can understand if tourists are not on it, due to the fact they may not have a phone that works here, but I have only seen a handful of people chatting it up. If someone does receive a call, it reminds me of those Verizon Wireless commercials where the family says a thousand words a minute to cut down the costs. They are on and off again in practically a split second.

In the pubs, bars and clubs, I have noticed the younger Oxonians are also not glued to their phones. In downtown Athens, we are always checking our phones every two seconds to see if we have gotten a new text, and missing the intimate time with our friends present. We are calling our friends to meet up. They seem to be mellower, and are happy with where they are and whom they are with.

I wonder after comparing home to here, if our cell phone use is why people hate Americans. I know a ton of us could barely wait to get to Vodafone and buy our new phones to call our friends and family. We all have downloaded Skype. We have found everyway possible way to keep in touch, and have even added more ways than we usually do at home. I am here without a phone, and although I miss texts from my friends, I am seriously enjoying this new way of life. I wonder if we are losing the sense of face-to-face contact. I’m curious if in Athens, we all followed the Oxonians and hung up for a day, how things would be different.

Real cheese isn't processed.

Bland.

That is the word I always heard when someone described English food. They would say the sights are great, weather is ok, and the food is bad. For some people bland, boring food may not be a problem, but for me it was almost a deal breaker.

You see, I really...REALLY enjoy food. I love bold flavors and unique ingredients. The thought of eating cardboard everyday for six weeks was more upsetting to me than my tutorial. The week before I left for Oxford I ate all my favorite meals, said farewell to salt and seasoning and mentally prepared for my personal hell.

I was so wrong!

The food is great here!!! I love everything I've had so far in England. The cafes all use fresh ingredients that taste amazing, which is a nice change from the typical frozen burger. Also, I've seen a great selection foods and rich flavors. In the US I am lucky to see goat cheese (my favorite cheese) on the menu, but it seems like most restaurants in the UK carry an assortment of unique cheeses like goat, feta, brie, you name it. Even pub food has turned out to taste really good.

I would honestly like to see more food like this back in America. We just don’t have the sandwich shops and cafés that Oxford has on every corner. I mean, I love greasy fast food like any American, but why can’t we have Taco Bell and Morton’s? Just a thought.

Oh The "Friends" You'll Meet!

As I am sure some people have already heard, a few of us went on a day trip to Bath on Friday. While we were waiting for our train in the station, we saw a man with a beautiful white polar bear-like dog and so a few of us went to go pet her. The owner was very sociable and after a few minutes began to chat with one of our fellow travelers, Amanda.

The conversation began when Amanda quoted a line from the TV-show "Friends". Hearing this line, the man immediately knew which specific episode it came from and he chimed in with Amanda when she began discussing the episode. Not only did he remember that episode, but he remembered and brought up others and the two of them had a lengthy conversation about the American favorite.

The discussion of "Friends" soon led to other TV-shows and he began telling Amanda about all of his American favorites. He told her that he really enjoyed "House" along with all of the "Law & Order" and "CSI" shows. This man was clearly and American TV fan.

I found the conversation between Amanda and this nice man to be very interesting. I can not think of a single British TV show and this guy not only knew of American shows, but he called them his favorites above British shows. I can now see what people are talking about when they say that American media sometimes feels like it is taking over the world. Although the Davies & Pearson reading said that American shows are not being shown on prime-time television in other countries, they seem to still be able to attract large audiences.

Have any of you noticed any other ways in which American culture seems to be seeping into the U.K.'s?

The beginning of modern day Jack the Ripper(s)?

Upon getting on a train for what was to be a fun day trip to Bath, maybe listen to my iPod for a little bit on the one hour trip, I could not help but pick up one of the numerous copies of The Metro lying on and around the seats of the train.  What grabbed me was the headline reading, " 'My Lolo's murder will be avenged.' " As Hannah, sitting next to me, picked up a copy, we could not believe what we were reading.  Two French men, both 23 year old students, were murdered in Scotland Yard (Southeast part of London) on Sunday. But this was no ordinary murder.  The men had been stabbed over 200 times after having been tied up, gagged, and tortured.  80 of those stabs occurred after the two were already dead.

Following the murders, the men/apartment were set on fire.  What was even more disturbing was the fact that the London police had yet to see a murder this brutal in London.  The comment that really intrigued me, and is related to the Natural Born Killers murders, was the fact that the murder was either a demonstration killing or psychological, as if the killer(s) had watched Quentin Tarantino films over and over again.  It is very disturbing to think that people, just like the Natural Born Killers, could take "inspiration" and ideas from movies and actually mimic them in real life.  Although these killings are so rare, it is horrifying to learn about something so gruesome that has happened in the real world.  I cannot even imagine the impact it must have on the people closest to the victims, because it has such a profound impact already on the general public.  The headline of the newspaper was a quote from the fiancee of one of the victims and how she will not rest until "Lolo's" death is avenged.  

The killer(s) are still on the loose, and although the police have some vague idea of a man who could have potentially committed this crime, they are still very sure.  In this day and age, we are so used to the police having suspects and catching the criminal(s) within a couple of days of the crime.  So just like Jack the Ripper, this man/these men have no identity, and have so far gotten away with a horrifyingly brutal crime.  Will the killer(s) be caught? And if/when caught, what triggered the fascination and determination to commit such a heinous crime? How much of a role did the media actually play? 

First-Class Street Entertainment

As some of you already know, I ventured to London Thursday night to meet up with my UGA roommate who is traveling for the summer. We had a full day planned for yesterday, which included stops such as Buckingham Palace, the National Gallery, Leicester Square, Soho, Chinatown and Big Ben.

Towards the end of the day we decided to stop at the Covent Garden Market. We had heard that this famous market had great shopping and also an underground stop. As we came up to the market entrance, we started seeing very odd forms of entertainment, including those men spray painted to look like statues and others playing the didjeridu. None were as strange as the man pictured here. If you can't tell, this "dog" is in fact a man with his head sticking out of a dog pen. At first, I wasn't sure what was going on until he started shaking the table and barking weird things at people as they walked by. One woman actually put money in his doggy bowl and he tried to bite her!

My friend and I thought we had seen it all until we came up to a huge crowd of people. Curiosity overwhelmed us, so we walked up to see what all the fuss was about. These two Jamaican men were doing a circus-like performance in the middle of the market. This video is what impressed me most.

Besides the sheer entertainment value of these acts, what value does this type of performing give to Covent Garden? I wonder, do these people have to get a permit to be here? I know that performers in the New York City subway stations have to be approved. Does the dog man? It doens't look like it.

American Express is not everywhere you want to be...

I am completely baffled by the Brit's frustration with credit cards. For instance, today at a gift shop at the Roman Baths, I paid for my souvenirs with my Visa card. The woman behind the counter looked a little annoyed at me and the processing time took forever. I am talking a good minute and a half to two. She then had to verify my signature on the receipt with the one on the back of the card. I have never seen that in the States. Then, at dinner, two of us paid with debit cards and the waitress looked as if she was about to explode. She took one card and dissappeared for 10 minutes only to return with a handheld processing maching. Then, she did the same thing with the second card and returned AGAIN witht the machine. It took about 25 minutes for all of us to pay. Was it just bad service or are credit cards really all that different over here? I was under the impression that traveling with a credit card was actually smarter than cold hard cash, or at least that is the rumor circulation throughout our country. Is it just an American thing to carry around several plastics in your wallet? I am definitely confused.

"The Big Issue"

I'm not sure about the rest of you, but I know that as I walk around Oxford I am sometimes hassled by guys on the street selling a magazine titled The Big Issue.  Glenn heard that the issue was being sold to help drug addicts get off of the streets and back on their feet.  I was curious so I finally gave in and bought an issue. 

On the first page there is a little blurb with the headline "Street Trade, Not Street Aid..." and it explained what the magazine was all about.  For 70p vendors can buy the issue and then resell it for 1.50 (in pounds), pocketing the profit. It says that the magazine was started in 1991 to help the homeless and those struggling with housing earn an income.  Anyone who wants to sell the issue has to go through training and sign a code of conduct. 

It also says that the magazine has editions in Australia, Japan, South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, and Zambia.  The 4 main parts of the issue are N&C, Arts, Street Level, and You Are Here.  

I think it is interesting to mention that as soon as I bought the issue, Glenn, Michele, and I watched the guy walk across the street to a woman sitting on the sidewalk.  They exchanged something (looking very suspicious), talked for a second, and then the guy left.

Very interesting.  

Celebrity Obsession

So we have the E! channel and countless magazines devoted to celebrity gossip back in the states. But here, they take it to a whole new level. They not only keep tabs on their own super rich but take notes on our Hollywood elite as well.
We read an article about how American entertainment is far reaching and permeates almost every media market. I guess it's not much of a stretch to imagine the American entertainers have the same clout.
I guess we have borrowed some of the Brit's thespians as well though. The Office was a hit here first before we borrowed the workplace setting as our own comedy gold (and did a better job as admitted by my tutorial professor). There are some movie actors we sometimes forget are English they are so good at emulating our cowboy swagger and twang. Our very own caped crusader, The Dark Knight himself Christian Bale is from Wales. Hugh Laurie, the crutch wielding cynic on House was born right here in Oxford.
There is more shared between our cultures than just our language and an obsession with celebrities is definitely one of them.

Learning the Lingo

I'm sure we have all heard of Fish and Chips back in the States and most of us were ready to order chips, not fries. But certainly that's not all one needs to know.

Before I left, I prepared myself for the inevitable "culture shock". Though Great Britain shares more similarities with the United States than most countries, that doesn't mean certain differences cannot be debilitating.

I can't say I was traumatized by such miscommunication but I have experienced an awkward moment or two because of my ignorance of the lingo. Take our trip to Turf Tavern, for example. I was starving and failed to order an appetizer. I went to the bar to order my Diet Coke and some potato chips. I already knew Diet Coke was actually called Coca-Cola Light over here so I was ready to impress the bartender with my new found knowledge. "I'll have a Coca-Cola Light, please." He cocked his head and smirked at me before responding, "You mean a Diet Coke?" What!?! How could this be? I am assimilating to your culture and using your terms for a Georgia born soft drink! Whatever. "Yes, a Diet Coke," I said. "Could I have some chips, as well, please?" Wrong move, Katherine. "Chips? No, here we call fries, chips." At this point, I was getting a bit frustrated. "Okay, then what are chips?!" "Crisps," he said. "Fine, I'll have some crisps." A few patrons were smiling. A little snicker here and there. But it's okay. Now I know.

I could go on for at least another couple of paragraphs. The time when I said at least four different variations of "Excuse me, what was that?" when a girl asked me if I went to Uni in Georgia (University). (I thought she was asking if I was in a Union. What, like a worker's union? I just told you I was a student!) Or the time a couple of British guys made fun of me for at least 10 minutes straight about my pronunciation of "garage" and "tomato". I will spare you all the details. The point is...As hard as I try not to be a stereotypical, obnoxious American, I can't know every bit of slang before I arrive or within my first week here. It will take some time. Until then, I've accepted the fact I may have an awkward moment or two and I may get laughed at once or twice because as much as I try to blend, I'm still an American!

Katherine

Of course it would happen to me!

OK so most of you may already know this, but for those of you who do not get ready for a really lame story.

We have not even been here for a week and I have already injured my left foot. Yesterday while walking around and shopping my foot progressively began to get sore and by the end of the day, I could not even stand on it. It hurt SO bad and became very swollen. I then went to boots to buy what I thought was an ace bandage. Turns out it was not what I thought.

So here I am crippled in England with no idea what to do. I start with Dr. Trivedi. He advises me to go to the Porter and ask them for some first aid. They thankfully had a wrap but when I asked if they had any ice they did not have any. No surprise there :) So they make about a million phone calls all over college trying to find ice for the American who can't walk. I leave finally with an ace bandage yet still feeling a little defeated. When I finally make it to dinner around 6:15 I sit down to find Dr. Trivedi with a bag of ice. A bag of ice just for me. These people are so good to me.

So while everyone went to the social at the UGA Center, I stayed in bed with a book, elevated my foot with the ice, and fell asleep after the first three pages. Best nap of my life by the way. When Katherine came to wake me several hours later I was well rested and my foot felt so much better. It still hurts a little but the swelling has gone down a lot and I am walking on my toes. So in conclusion, I would just like to say thank you to Dr. Trivedi, the Porter, and everyone else who lended a hand in helping their poor pitiful friend. Wow!
-m

Media Access at the British Grand Prix

With a demand for getting information quickly, pressure is placed on the media to obtain this information efficiently but accurately. Media access is an important variable for the members of the media in order for them to collect information. After the excursion at the Silverstone International Media Centre, I was impressed with not only the intricate plans for handling the media but also the availability of access that they offer.

The accommodations Silverstone provides such as workspace, Wi-Fi connections, television screens, shuttle services, and a wall containing all the pertinent information regarding the event, enable Silverstone to run the media-side efficiently, and it, in turn, allows the media to be efficient in gathering the information they will need to distribute to the public. It was also interesting that the media that attend the event are required to submit an application to prove their credentials. Again, Silverstone provides an availability of access that allows the opportunity for the information, especially for such a large scale event, to be disbursed on not just a local, but an international scale as well.

Picture- Inside the media centre

That Coke was great...now can I have my arm and leg back?

I traveled to this country expecting some cultural differences, and I continue to discover them every day. However the greatest shock for me is the lack of beverage choices with meals. There are two options...alcohol or water. Personally, Alcohol ruins my food, and food ruins my alcohol. Water is simply boring. What to do? I ran into this dilemma at the Eagle and Child Pub, and I asked politely for a Coke. Much to my amazement, they had it! I was charged two pounds, and the waitress brought me what appeared to be a shot glass full of Coke. I then asked for a Coke in a pint glass and was charged three pounds. Needless to say, I was a bit disgruntled with the fact that I just spent the equivalent of $11US on Coke. There was nothing I could do but learn from my mistake. I promptly went to the grocery store to buy Cokes to take to dinner with me.

Moral of the story: Learn to drink alcohol or water with dinner or learn to do without an arm and a leg...because that's what Coke costs in England. The picture above is the place at which I lost my arm and my leg.

Wondering Around Oxford

One of the things I have enjoyed most about this summer so far is just walking around Oxford and discovering real Oxonian life. The shops, people and just hustle and bustle of the town is really a site to see. One site I have enjoyed the most was St. Mary’s church. The outside is truly breath-taking with its intricate architecture and centuries old stain glass windows that make it stand out from the shops around it. Once you walk inside, you see the still used church including the pulpit used by John Wesley. The most amazing part is defiantly the view from the top. After walking up very steep and narrow stairs, you are taken back from the magnificent view of Oxford. Every college is insight buried in the quaint town and bordered by rolling green hills. When one thinks of England, this should be the view in their head.
Picture – view from the top of St. Mary’s.

Euro Cup Interrupted

While traveling around Europe before arriving at Oxford, and once I arrived in Great Britain the Euro Cup 2008 was the focus of the sports media. Everyone in Europe scatters to the local pub television to see the match and support their country with painted faces and flags. The interesting thing I found about watching the football games in Europe was that the rights of the game were sold only to ONE company in the country! At Oxford we had no problem watching the entirety of the game but previously I did not have the same results. I had an experience in France where the game was interrupted by a news program or another show right in the middle and everyone acted like this was normal. I found this interesting that the media or owner of the network was able to just cut out parts of the game and maybe come back to the game or in some cases the people watching were just left to find out how the game ended by other means of communication. Also, there was no notification that the coverage was ending. All the sudden in the middle of a break away towards the goal the news would start! I think if this happened in America people would not just sit there and wait patiently and say "oh well that happens sometimes" like the Europeans did. American Sport fans would cause a huge scene and somebody would be sued or ridiculed for interrupting the game. Europeans and Brits love their football like we love our college football and I don't see the UGA game broadcast being shown first of all on only one channel and being interrupted without notice for other programming leaving no alternate means for watching the game.

Making a Wish

On our tour the first day, tour guide Debbie suggested that we stand under the Hertford Bridge (modeled after Venice's Bridge of Sighs) and make a wish. She instructed us NOT to tell anyone our wish or else it will not come true.

Debbie was happy to be a native Oxonian. She can trace her lineage back to the 13th century. The class thought she was very knowledgable and enthusiastic.

We saw Harry Potter sites, which was a highlight. We saw Oxford scholars in robes. We saw J.R.R. Tolkien's student room on Terl St. The students will post more details, I suspect.

The top photo is of us wishing under the Hertford Bridge. Here's hoping our wishes come true. The second photo is a birds-eye view of Oxford from St. Mary's tower.

Getting Acquainted with Oxford

Apart from the unfortunate hour-plus wait on the tarmac at Heathrow those of us on the group flight had an uneventful time. The late arrival created by the tarmac wait caused the schedule to tighten once we got to Oxford. But we enjoyed orientation and dinner together. Some of you, I suspect, started exploring Oxford straightaway. I watched a bit of the Spain vs. Germany Euro soccer finals.

This morning our tour guide, Debbie, gave us an overview of how Oxford University works. The video of that description appears with this post. She was a good and enthusiastic tour guide, in my opinion. Sorry the sound is a bit off.

Tonight we have our first High Table and classes begin tomorrow. Ours meets from 9 to 11 a.m.

Are You Packed?

Some of you have already been traveling for awhile. The rest of us are making our last minute preparations. In addition to completing class plans (i.e., the syllabus, readings, excursions) there are personal preparations to make.

Among my problems to solve has been to arrange for dog care. Parker, our West Highland White Terrier, would be delighted to join us in England. Alas, it's not to be. He'll be very well cared for by a good friend.

What are your last minute stories? I'm really excited about starting to study media effects with you next week. See you soon.

Exploring Media in England

Studying media and media effects in England provides us some uncommon learning opportunities.

The British Grand Prix www.silverstone.co.uk/php/rm_overview.html -- one of the longest-standing races on the Formula 1 circuit -- is being held the weekend after we arrive (July 4-6). We will be hosted by the media staff for the British Grand Prix on a tour of the International Media Centre on Wednesday, July 2 as preparations are being finalized for hosting journalists from around the world.

As you make final preparations for your trip, take some time to explore a little about Formula 1 racing and the British Grand Prix. We are exceedingly fortunate to be provided the opportunity to visit the International Media Centre. One member of the UGA at Oxford on-site staff said, "This is an opportunity many people would die for."

Preparing for Living in Oxford

Beyond preparing for our course together, I'm also preparing to live in Oxford for six weeks.

• I've talked with faculty friends who have taught in the Grady at Oxford program. They have given me practical tips from how to do laundry to where to buy groceries to some of their favorite dining establishments.
• I have UK, England and Oxford guidebooks scattered about the house.
• I'm following the news via BBC You can too -- www.bbc.co.uk/oxford/news/
• I just found this webcam. It's down right now, but should be cool if it comes back up soon. www.bbc.co.uk/oxford/content/webcams/oxford_high_st_webcam.shtml

So, what are you doing to prepare? Oh, I suppose I should think about what I'll pack, too...

Continuing the Countdown

Because I taught a graduate PR management class during Maymester, I am only now able to really turn my attention to our course. I'm getting excited about what we're going to be studying, and I hope you will be, too.

Social effects of mass media surround us. We see these effects on a daily basis, perhaps most recently with the political effects of mass demonstrations and their news coverage in Seoul, South Korea. Koreans are filling the streets with candles lit. They are protesting the import of U.S. beef (among other things). The effect of the demonstrations and their coverage has been that South Korean cabinet ministers have offered to resign their posts. A pretty dramatic social effect! As you prepare for your time at Oxford, please pay attention to how you see mass media having an impact on society. Your examples will provide great discussion fodder.

Well, I better get back to reading and preparation. June 28 is approaching fast!

Welcome to the Grady at Oxford Blog

As I was thinking about best ways to communicate as we lead up to class and during our summer together in Oxford, I decided a weblog would be just the thing. Each of you will be able to view, read, and post material. Also, if you'd like family or friends to be able to read the blog, you can provide me with their e-mail addresses and I'll invite them as read-only members of our blog community. The blog should do several things for us.

1. We can communicate about class issues. For example, here I can give you information about where our textbook is available. The book for our seminar is titled "Fundamentals of Media Effects" and was written in 2001 by Jennings Bryant and Susan Thompson. It will be available at Blackwell's Bookshop in Oxford (http://bookshop.blackwell.co.uk/jsp/bobuk_editorial/services/shops/SHOP52.jsp). Shortly after your arrival in Oxford, you can wander over to Blackwell's to pick up your book.

2. We can discuss ideas that are raised in class and through our excursions (more about those later).

3. We can offer each other tips about good shopping, restaurants, pubs, walks, entertainment, short trips and more. We can also use this cite to share observations about our living in Oxford and traveling in England and perhaps beyond.

4. We can post pictures and video to show a bit about where we are and what we're learning.

I hope by now you agree that a Grady at Oxford blog will serve many purposes.

I'm looking forward to our time together -- only 24 days until we leave!