Final Project

I think that social media has the potential to revolutionize media as we know it. From civilians videotaping protesting and sharing it with the world on youtube, to bloggers blogging about bringing change to their communities. Social media makes the everyday persons opinions matter. DOTCOM has opened my eyes to the effects of social media. After this program I hope to make a change in my community by making films about connecting cultures.

Final Module!!

My video

Mobile Eyes: Video

And now to my English video...

Mobile Eyes: Index Card Script

My "Mobile Eyes" public health idea is about teenage smoking. I am spending this school year studying in Hungary, in a Hungarian high school. I've noticed that at school the majority of the students smoke cigarettes. Back in Vermont it's rare to find a teenager that smokes cigarettes. I want to make a film that shows the negative effects of smoking and to question why people smoke. My film is going to focus of helping Hungarian teenagers that smoke to quit smoking.

Index Card Script

Card #1: Images of smoking advertisments.

Card #2: "Do you want a cigarette?"

Card #3: It starts with just one.

Card #4: One quarter of 11 to 13 year olds who smoke as few as two or three cigarettes a day become addicted in just two weeks.

Card #5: Images that show the effects of smoking.

Card #6: "No."

Card #7: Visit notobacco.org for more information.

Phase 3 Module 2 - Reel Bad Arabs

The first thing that came into my mind when I thought about the word "Arab" was a picutre of a dark skinned man wearing a turban and a robe.
I think that this image comes from the movie "Aladdin".



1. The limbic part of my brain was intrigued by the stereotypical Middle Eastern music. I feel that the images in the video are also very powerful, especially the video clips of well known movies that relate to the stereotyping of Arabs. The reptilian part of my brain was suprised by the sudden explosions and guns shots in the beginning of the video. The neocortex part of my brain is stimulated by the questions that this video brings up. For example, why are Arabs stereotyped as villans and murderers? Is it to make us less sensitive to future attacks on Arabs?

2. I think that the camera movement and the short clips of other films are powerful.

3. Rhetorical Questions are commonly used throught this film. For example in the beginning of the film when Dr. Shahenn asks, why can we not unlearn our predjudices against Arabs? These questions provoke thought.
Group Dynamics are also used in this film. As found in this quote from the film, "whenever we see anyone being vilified on a regular basis we have to speak up". Dr. Shahenn is trying to use Group Dynamics to call us to action.
I agree with the points the Dr. Shahenn makes in this film, but I think that he uses Hollywood as a Scapegoat for making us believe stereotypes about Arabs. Although the Arabs we see in movies may be a large part of what we see when we think of Arabs, we also find these stereotypes in newspapers, television, and in other people.

4. One suggestion I would make to the filmakers of "Reel Bad Arabs" would be to point out that not only Hollywood wants and makes us believe these stereotypes about Arabs.

5. I do recommend this film becuase I think it asks important questions about the way we think of Arabs.

PHASE 3: Module 1

1. The most challenging thing for me would have had to be making the movies. I was used to the newer iMovie so using the older version was difficult. I also never had much movie making traning before DOTCOM other than making movies with my friends.

2. The most rewarding part would have to be movie night. Watching the movies we struggled to make, finally make it to the "big screen". It felt amazing to see everyones amazing movies!

3. The most fun for me would be the never ending Poot n' Roll joke. No matter how many times Poot n' Roll was put in a sentence it was still wicked funny. The songs about Poot n' Roll were pretty great too.

4. I'm excited about following everyone elses blogs now that I know everyone and know their personalities. I am also excited about learning how everyone else is doing in their counties.

And I'm sorry if I spelled a lot of things wrong, since I am in Hungary the spellcheck says that every word is wrong.


Now for the picture...

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/photo.php?pid=2274986&id=544705885

Blogger won't let me upload it so I have to post this link. It's a picture of some of the love and friendship that was made during DOTCOM. :)

I'll try to post it again later.

Day #5 DOTCOM Reflection Assignment

1. While in Washington D.C. we learned through games about media. An example of this is: the game about designers, engineers, and messengers. One person in a designer who designs a Lego model in any shape they want. The engineer has to create the exact same Lego model as the designer envisioned. The messengers of both the engineer and designer had to explain what the designer created to the other messenger, and the other messenger had to pass that information on to the engineer. This game helped us reenforce the idea that unless you are physically see the event, you can never be sure that the information you are receiving is accurate. The language barrier was also made the information less accurate.

2. I learn a lot about the similarities between my colleagues from Armenia and Azerbaijan. Everyone has been very friendly and some of them have also been helping me with Russian. I found that the Beatles and dancing have been common interests and great conversation starters.

3. As a naturally shy person, it has been challenging to put myself out there and make friends. The other students who are part of DOTCOM have made making friends and being outgoing easier.

4. I found it very exciting to finally meet the Azerbaijanis and bond with them. I loved getting to know everyone and become great friends.

Go DOTCOM!