MC Jenkins

The new (or old depending on who you're talking to) Star Wars trilogy that Lucas decided to spring on audiences really, oh I don't know, made me sick of Star Wars. Star Wars was advertised so aggressively and infiltrated all aspects of consumption that I had a hard time avoiding Jar Jar Binks quotes. I mean, seriously, I might be going out on a limb here but I never considered Star Wars to be a hard thing to sell. Was Lucas really worried that no one would show up at the screenings so he had little toy Jedis haunt me in my sleep? It was overkill.

Star Wars was a juggernaut that my boyfriend insists was only meant to sell Star Wars merchandise. Unnecessary sweeping shots of spacecrafts taking off and landing only served to help sell the same minaturaized plastic toy. Or how about the gratuitous insertions of elaborate aliens and landscapes? Is Star Wars trying to tell the story of Darth Vader or is it one long insufferable show and tell of CGI?

To make things worse (or better, again depending on who you're talking to) Star Wars encouraged cosplay at movie screenings and movie conventions. We saw local news reports on imaginative individuals who thought it would be a great idea to dress up as a Jedi when going to see the movie. A proteur, a Jedteur if you will.

But enough about Star Wars (because I really don't want to stir up anymore terrible memories). We briefly mentioned in class the new iReport on CNN which allows regular Joe Schmoes like you and me to submit BREAKING NEWS videos. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of reporting for CNN when I can publish the news on my own blogs and sidestep CNN completely. If there ever was an example of CNN being out of touch (with reality, ha ha), their iReport would be it.

I think my ability to capture video and publish it myself through a blog or on a website, is a way in which I can inject reality in life through virtual reality. Isn't it a bad sign when the media relies on participation. Won't the fan simply find means of doing the producing?

Steven Colbert's Green Screen challenege is an example of how participation helps make hilarious Jedi "skills" become a "reality". Fans participate and create something else. But with outlets like youtube and myspace, music groups like OK Go! sidestep MTV completely and publish their own music according to their standards.

No pictures in an entry kinda makes it boring, huh?