The movie Killing Field is a remarkable and deeply affecting film which is based upon a true story of friendship, the horrors of war and survival. It is following the historical events surrounding the US evacuation from Vietnam in 1975. The film is directed by Roland Joffe and produced by David Puttnam. The original character of the story who is a Cambodian journalist was an actual survivor of the Cambodian holocaust. He was tortured and experienced the starvation and death of his real-life family during the actual historical events revisited in this film.
In the movie, Sydney Schanberg is a New York Times correspondent. In 1973, he goes to Cambodia to report the war which starts from Vietnam and then crosses it's boundary to it's neighbour country. Together with local representative Dith Pran, they are covering some of the tragedy and madness of the war. When the Americans forces to leave Cambodia, Dith Pran sends his family with them, but stays behind himself to help Sydney keep covering the event. As an American, Sydney won't have any trouble leaving the country, but the situation is different for Pran. As a local citizen, Pran can't leave without his passport and he is forced to remain. At the same time, the Khmer Rouge are moving in and then Pran's terrible life begins.
The movie can be divided into two part, the first is about the help, loyalty and friendship between the two protagonists: Pran and Sydney. In this part, Sydney diaplays more power and Pran seems to follow. At first, Pran is just a interpreter, a guide, he figure out the way to go the place where the explosion is happened for Sydney. Pran is just always follow behind Sydney and stands out whenever he needs help. They become friends very quickly and Pran saves the lives of the foreign correspondents from the knmer Rouge, but Sydney still in the leading position. At last, the foreign reporters tried make a passport for Pran to help him leave Combodia but they failed. Pran has to stay there and starts his "re-education" life.
In the second part, the roles changes. The moive just mentioned a little about Sydney and mainly describes the fugitive life of Pran. Pran keeps struggling and attemps to escape from his captors. The first time, he is caught back and almost died in the punishment. But he doesn't give up. The second time, he is succeed, and his horrifying walk through the skeletal remains of the brutal massacres in the Valley of Death. This makes his mind to escape much stronger and the muddy "killing fields" all present potent apocalyptic images on his journey to Thailand. The movie skips ahead to show Shanberg receiving a “Journalist of the Year” award in the US and Sydney argued with his friend in the restroom are formed a strong contrast.
I like this movie and I strongly recommond it. It's clear and I can easily get a lot information from it. From the movie, it mentioned me a lot about the histories I didn't pay attention before. When I saw the children in the Khmer Rouge kill people with indifferent eyes and the valley of death filled with skeletal, I felt appalled. A lot of people died and get hurt just because the US government set the wrong direction of the misile made me angry. Pran escapes succsesfully but he can't even save the person he wants to protect, the boy dies in front of him. Sydney get the "Journalist of the Year" award. It bases on the contribution of Pran,but Pran is under the control of Khmer Rouge. Lukily, Pran arrived the board of Thailand and he get together with Sydney again.
The moive obviously shows the global communication. The foreign reporters come to Combodia to cover the event. US's accidentally bombs Combodia. The war starts in the Vietnam extends to Combodia. These are all the facts of the global communication which are forms in different ways.
The movie is very objectively to describe the wrongdoings does by the government and reprodeuce the history. It can help us know more truth about the histories and how do people live in the war. The " Killing Fields" worths to see.
2010年2月24日星期三
2010年2月17日星期三
12 Questions
1. Where are you come from?
2.Do you have a crash on the different culture?
3.Why do u come to study in the US?
4. What's your major?
5. Do you have any plan after graduate?
6.How do you like St.Cloud?
7.What do you like here?
8.Why do you come to SCSU?
9.What is the most difficult thing whrn you first come here?
10. What did you learn from the American culture?
11. What is the biggest different between the US and your culture?
12. Why do you choose your major?
2.Do you have a crash on the different culture?
3.Why do u come to study in the US?
4. What's your major?
5. Do you have any plan after graduate?
6.How do you like St.Cloud?
7.What do you like here?
8.Why do you come to SCSU?
9.What is the most difficult thing whrn you first come here?
10. What did you learn from the American culture?
11. What is the biggest different between the US and your culture?
12. Why do you choose your major?
Report of A crash course in American Culture
From the article the chronicle; a crash course on American culture, Jun –Kai Teoh talked about his experience in the Chronicle.
Teoh is a international student of SCSU from Malaysia and he works in the Chronicle. As the other newspaper offices, Chronicle is a place which is full of rush hours. Everyone there have their own responsibilities and they need to balance their own time. “They do what they can with what they have”, Teoh said. They help him get to know more about the American culture. To Teoh, they are more than just his coworkers. He also talked about his experience to the sugar daddy which gives him a new lesson about the American culture.
I agree that to expose myself to different experience is also a part of the reasons I come to the US. I want to have the chance to receive different culture and education. Before I came here, things are attractive and new to me, I was curious, excited and a little afraid because i'll live in a foreign country which had a different culture. Things were difficult at first, I don't know anything here. Even though I have heard the news from my teachers, the Internet and movies, there were still a big difference in the daily life. French Frice was the first word I learned here.
I tried to be independent, tried my best to catch the opportunities.
The crazy parties, the extremly cold weather and the loud noise of the cars really shocked me a lot at first, but now I'm already get used to them. Language is still the biggest problem.
Yes, It feels like falling down to the rabbit hole to come to another country which has a totally different culture as mine. It worth to be regarded as a special memory of my whole life.
Teoh is a international student of SCSU from Malaysia and he works in the Chronicle. As the other newspaper offices, Chronicle is a place which is full of rush hours. Everyone there have their own responsibilities and they need to balance their own time. “They do what they can with what they have”, Teoh said. They help him get to know more about the American culture. To Teoh, they are more than just his coworkers. He also talked about his experience to the sugar daddy which gives him a new lesson about the American culture.
I agree that to expose myself to different experience is also a part of the reasons I come to the US. I want to have the chance to receive different culture and education. Before I came here, things are attractive and new to me, I was curious, excited and a little afraid because i'll live in a foreign country which had a different culture. Things were difficult at first, I don't know anything here. Even though I have heard the news from my teachers, the Internet and movies, there were still a big difference in the daily life. French Frice was the first word I learned here.
I tried to be independent, tried my best to catch the opportunities.
The crazy parties, the extremly cold weather and the loud noise of the cars really shocked me a lot at first, but now I'm already get used to them. Language is still the biggest problem.
Yes, It feels like falling down to the rabbit hole to come to another country which has a totally different culture as mine. It worth to be regarded as a special memory of my whole life.
2010年2月10日星期三
Paraphrased Topics
Bertelsmann
According to the article, the German-based Bertelsman, which is the forth largest media company globally has a strong presence in the media with its corporations in over sixty countries worldwide. It's recently focused on developing its multimedia capabilities. (Global Communication P75)
Vivendi Universal
The Vivendi Universal Corporation was established in the nineteenth. It is a major player in France and across Europe’s audiovisual sector. In order to reflect its new communication interests, the company changed it's name from Generele des Oeaux to Vivendi. It is also one of the major pay-TV operators in Europe. (Global Communication, P77)
British Sky Broadcasting Group
The global communication describes that the British Sky Broadcasting Group is the leading pay-TV provider in the United Kingdom. The BskyB has forty channels which includes news, sports and entertainment. By corperating wirh American Online, it formed an alliance in 1998. It's major shareholder is the Rupert Murdoch’s news corporation. They hope to have the sames succuess as HBO did and want to expand their cable and satellile net-woerks around the world. (Global Communication, P79)
According to the article, the German-based Bertelsman, which is the forth largest media company globally has a strong presence in the media with its corporations in over sixty countries worldwide. It's recently focused on developing its multimedia capabilities. (Global Communication P75)
Vivendi Universal
The Vivendi Universal Corporation was established in the nineteenth. It is a major player in France and across Europe’s audiovisual sector. In order to reflect its new communication interests, the company changed it's name from Generele des Oeaux to Vivendi. It is also one of the major pay-TV operators in Europe. (Global Communication, P77)
British Sky Broadcasting Group
The global communication describes that the British Sky Broadcasting Group is the leading pay-TV provider in the United Kingdom. The BskyB has forty channels which includes news, sports and entertainment. By corperating wirh American Online, it formed an alliance in 1998. It's major shareholder is the Rupert Murdoch’s news corporation. They hope to have the sames succuess as HBO did and want to expand their cable and satellile net-woerks around the world. (Global Communication, P79)
Headers of Global Communication
Cultural Imperialism
- Concern about the possible effects of the mass media on individuals and cultures has been apreoccupation of academics since World War II.
- Since World War II, the effect of mass media on individuals and cultures has been a preoccupation of academics.
THE UNITED STATES OF EUROPE (USE)
- Europe’s television, movies, music, cable and satellite industries are experiencing and unexpected frenzy of consolidation. The fifteen European nations are working more and more as a collective rather than individual nation when it comes to international media .
- Transnational communication corporations across Europe are becoming larger and larger as they purchase smaller systems across Europe, start entirely new channels or networks, or buy foreign media outlets, prompting some critics to call these countries collectively the “United States of Europe.
Bertelsmann
- The German-based Bertelsmann group of companies has a strong media presence in over sixty countries worldwide.
- Most recently, Bertelsmann has focused on developing its multimedia capabilities.
Vivendi Universal
- France’s Vivendi universal is a major player in France and across Europe’s audiovisual sector.
- Vivendi is one of the major pay-TV operators in Europe.
British Sky Broadcasting Group
- British Sky Broadcasting Group (BSkyB) is the United Kingdom’s leading pay-TV provider.
- Rupert Murdoch’s news corporation is the major shareholder of BskyB.
Matra Hachette
- France’s Matra Hachette which was formed bu merger since 1992 is an extremely diversified conglomerate with major publishing and media interest as well as military-industrial activities.
- The focus of its various magazines is primarily on advertising and then on circulation; ad pages constitute 65 percent of content, with editorial and story content making up 35 percent.
Canal Plus
- Created in 1984, France’s Canal Plus is the European leader of pay-TV, offering premium programming on several channels.
- It is one of the best-known European suppliers of television decoder units for Digital pay-TV reception.
Pathe
- Pathe is a major European entertainment and film production company located in France.
- Pathe is well positioned to be a major industry in the expanding European audiovisual economy.
Pearson
- Pearson, based in the United Kingdom, is a global media company that controls several media properties.
- Pearson also controls the largest number of web sites directly related to major leading textbooks.
VNU
- Netherlands-based VNU is a multimedia empire that includes publishing, television, feature film productions, music, Internet services, and television ratings.
- Nielsen is the North American producer of television audience statistics in well over two hundred television markets.
Mediaset
- Mediaset controls the three largest private television channels in Italy.
- Mediaset is seeking international expansion for its vast library of soap operas and sitcoms.
OTHER FOREIGN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATIONS
News Corporation (Australia)
- News Corporation is a global media firm with significant interests in television, film, books, newspapers, magazines, satellites, cable systems, and sports.
- It is a diversified global communications corporation with operations and holdings in every core and semi peripheral country as well as most peripheral regions, excluding Africa, due to the vast range of its satellite networks.
STAR TV (Asia)
- The STAR TV channels offer the region’s widest television choice, whether in music, news, sporting events, Asian and international dramas and films, or cultural and informational programs.
- The STAR TV network offers both subscriptions and free-to-air television services, reaching more than 300 million people across Asia, India, and the Middle East in a multitude of markets, making STAR distinct among broadcasters。
CanWest Global Communications Corp. (Canada)
- Future strategic plans for CanWest include further global expansion and buying print properties in North America.
- It is one of largest private broadcasters in Canada, Can West Global, initially started in the 1970s as the third national television network.
WETV (Canada)
- WETV is a global television network that takes both commercial and public broadcasting approaches.
- The programming comes primarily from independent producers , development agencies, and various affiliated stations.
Aboriginal People’s Television Network (Canada)
- It was launched in 1999 as a means of promoting positive images and messages about aboriginals and aboriginal lifestyle.
- APTN is a clear example of development communication.
Grupo Televisa (Mexico)
- Gropo Tevisa provides Univision with a large number of Spanish - language programs that appeal to the growing U.S. Hispanic audience.
- It is Latin America’s largest multimedia corporation.
Sony (Japan)
- Sony’s major products include audio and visual equipment, televisions, information, communications, and electronic components.
- The company is rededicating itself to producing quality audiovisual products including digital televisions, Internet ready-televisions, CD-ROM's, and digital satellites.
CONCLUSIONS
The Sports Connection
- The connection between sports and mass media has had a long and checkered career.
- Today the Olympics enjoy substantial revenue from a combination of media and marketing funds that were created as part of the selling package for the host cities.
Global Stakeholders
- These descriptions of transnational media conglomerates reflect a basic point- namely, that global communications systems are only partly American in shape, content, and ownership.
- Many powerful non-U.S. global corporations are extremely active in the global communication marketplace.
2010年2月3日星期三
Abstract of "Presses and Democracies"
According to the article Presses and Democracies by Daniel C. Hallin and Robert Giles, it mainly talks about the differences among media systems and especially the western media system.
During the early times, what the media should be and do were proposed into four models which were authoritarian, libertarian, social responsibility and communist. By doing the research of Europe and North America, the differences among media systems are connected with other characteristics of political and social systems.
In the western world, people identify the media systems as three models. The first is the liberal model. Second is the polarized pluralist model. The third is the democratic corporatist model. Each of these models is important and has their own characteristics.
The liberal model which is common in the United Sates, British and former British colonies has three primary characteristics: commercial newspapers developed early, state intervention is limited, and the objectivity norm is a strong form of journalistic professionalism.
For the polarized pluralist model, it is significantly different from the liberal model and was widely used in the southern Europe. The state has played an interventionist role in the media system and political parallelism is also high in the southern Europe. Journalistic professionalism developed slowly.
In the third place, the democratic corporatist model is another system and has developed in some central and northern European countries. The system not only combined by the free press and active government intervention but also combines the political parallelism and strong journalistic professionalism. It less tied to the objectivity norm and involves in a higher level of formal institutionalization.
The article states that the differences among the three systems are result from the secularization of European society. The expansion of commercial media also influences on the differences. Political cultures and political systems still differ, even among the relatively similar countries of North America and western Europe.
Sources:Overholder,Geneva. Press and Democracies. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2005.1-15. Print.
During the early times, what the media should be and do were proposed into four models which were authoritarian, libertarian, social responsibility and communist. By doing the research of Europe and North America, the differences among media systems are connected with other characteristics of political and social systems.
In the western world, people identify the media systems as three models. The first is the liberal model. Second is the polarized pluralist model. The third is the democratic corporatist model. Each of these models is important and has their own characteristics.
The liberal model which is common in the United Sates, British and former British colonies has three primary characteristics: commercial newspapers developed early, state intervention is limited, and the objectivity norm is a strong form of journalistic professionalism.
For the polarized pluralist model, it is significantly different from the liberal model and was widely used in the southern Europe. The state has played an interventionist role in the media system and political parallelism is also high in the southern Europe. Journalistic professionalism developed slowly.
In the third place, the democratic corporatist model is another system and has developed in some central and northern European countries. The system not only combined by the free press and active government intervention but also combines the political parallelism and strong journalistic professionalism. It less tied to the objectivity norm and involves in a higher level of formal institutionalization.
The article states that the differences among the three systems are result from the secularization of European society. The expansion of commercial media also influences on the differences. Political cultures and political systems still differ, even among the relatively similar countries of North America and western Europe.
Sources:Overholder,Geneva. Press and Democracies. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2005.1-15. Print.
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