The Final Inch by Irene Taylor Brodsky.

This Documentary follows the lives of a few different people, in different parts of the world who have all had different experiences with polio. The main focus is on the widespread of the disease in certain cities in India, and the foot soldiers going around trying to bring the vaccine to the children of these cities.

It also gives some insight to the disease and how it has affected America and interviews a couple of the people that lived through the disease.

One woman has survived in an Iron Lung for the last 60 years. She explains how it's not a great life to live and how she would speak to anyone who didn't want the vaccination and convince them to get it.

The other American man is paralyzed from the waist down and is riding a hand-bike over 900 miles across the state of Texas to promote Polio awareness.

The entire story is fascinating about how prejudice the Indian people are toward the vaccine because it's possibility of being invented by Americans. It brings about a lot of controversy but does a great job and promoting awareness for the disease and those who are trying to help contain it. It's a truly sad but absolutely beautiful story. I really would reccomend it to anyone who cares about things like this, as I do.

Documentary: Lakshmi and Me

Nishtha Jain is a middle-class professional who likes all contemporary expediencies because she feels that they promote femininity.  When she was young, she refused to learn the cultural ways of her mother unless her brothers did the same.  She claims that she was “born a feminist.”  As soon as she moved out on her own, she hired a maid so that she wouldn’t have to do the housework.  She didn’t want to follow the stereotypical ways of women in Mumbai, India culture.  Jain decided to create a documentary, which she directed herself, about her personal relationship with her maid, Lakshmi, and her own developing feelings towards social groups, rankings and freedom for women.  In the film, Jain also focuses on Lakshmi’s life and the struggles that she as to overcome on a daily basis because of her social class and because she is a woman.

Today, one might be shocked that India’s people are still predestined by the caste system.  However, if you are a professional woman in India, you aren’t expected to do household tasks, but you are expected to have a bai to do it for you.  A bai woman in India is one who comes from a lower class background and is expected to do nothing but housework.  This shows that even though women are seemingly gaining power in the world, they are actually losing some power because they are still using other women to do their “womanly” chores and responsibilities.

I believe the main argument that this documentary is expressing is that people, especially women, need to come together as a whole and stop letting ancient traditions and social norms keep them apart.  In order for women to continually gain equality, rights and power, they need to look past the cultural norms, social classes and backgrounds and work together in a way that is beneficial to all.    

Extra Credit- sources

I found my scholarly source at http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=3&hid=108&sid=55233a42-938d-4dd6-8a33-d8fc38132ee%40sessionmgr103. This source gave a breakdown of the precautionary measures one should consider when dealing with electricity. The facts provided within this article discussed the safety elements of electricity whether you are at home or on the job, in addition to whether you were a grown adult trying to protect your home and especially as a parent trying to teach your children about the importance of safely handling electrical devices. The facts outlined in the article are very alarming to readers. However, the truth needs to be understood in order for everyone to understand the dangers of electricity and learn from other’s tragic mistakes and accidents. This article could really help anyone learn about the importance of practicing electrical safety in order to save your life and the lives of loved ones.

My popular culture source was found at http://www.rp-l.com/electricsafety.htm. This website was awesome! It was both kid friendly and parent friendly. It offered everything from safety tips, games to learn about electricity, the makings of electricity, what causes lightning, and so much more. What’s so great about this website is the easy to follow and understand format for both children and parents. A website that can target and interest both kids and adults was very clever in its’ making. This was an inspirational website as we developed all of the aspects of our project campaign.

Documentaries--

This is a documentary that made over 170 million at the box office.  It wasn't attacking any institution or idea, but simply documenting this fascinating trek these penguins take in order to breed.  Possibly highlighting the effects of global warming.

The climate crisis is a huge problem that many don't think twice about.  This is something that has been known for quite a while, but not take very seriously.  This next documentary brought a spotlight to a global threat that reached a vast audience who was possibly hearing about this for the first time.  

A documentary film is a video that attempts, in some way, to document reality. Even though the scenes are carefully chosen and arranged, they are not scripted, and the people in a documentary film are not actors. Sometimes, a documentary film may rely on voice-over narration to describe what is happening in the footage; in other films, the footage will speak for itself. Often, a documentary film will include interviews with the people in the film.


Michael Moore has made a name for himself by doing these types of films. Fahrenheit 911 is a solid example of this.















But many other documentaries have become very well-known recently, including Super Size Me and An Inconvenient Truth.

Skin cancer PSA'S

This is an unique way to highlight the danger of skin cancer and the sun. They highlight the glamorous side of

tanning and yet what it can do to you. Instead of preaching about wrinkles and cell damage, it reaches a broader and possibly

younger audience by using a music video format. Going further its similar to a modern day hip-hop video, with booty-shakin

and girls in bikinis. And to top it off, it is hilarious, which always grabs more attention than simply stating facts.

This is more of an informational PSA

that is very serious. It gives you a few facts

and puts the ugliness of the disease in your face.

Both of these blogs are extremely effective but strike different

chords with people.

New media vs old media

1- http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2006/08/spelling-out-the-media-shift222.html. This website offers a philosophy piece on the media shifting from old to new. Along with a blog at the bottom asking for viewer feedback. The writer Mark Glaser gives what I believe to be great examples of how the media has been transitioning throughout the years. I also believe that many other Americans are seeing and following these changing trends within the media. Overall very helpful source for our project, not only do we get the viewpoint of the writer but many other Americans viewpoint and ideas on how the media is shifting from old to new.

2-

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=4&hid=120&sid=15606270-a66e-40f8-a293-02fee5ab1544%40sessionmgr108. This newspaper article written by Reid Goldsboroug in October 2005 was very honest about what’s underneath the transitioning from old media to new media. Although the information seemed to me to be a “no-brainer” on trusting what you find out on the internet/new media outlet. Reid still implied that old media can’t vary well not exist anymore yet because of needing to have reliability factor for individuals. Reid quoted, “I’d argue that old paid media generally more reliable then new free media. Because professionals are paid, they’re accountable, and if they fall in fulfilling their duties they’re gone.” I would definitely agree with that, yeah I like having the internet at my fingertips whenever I need information for an assignment or just for personal interest, but I also take that information with a grain of salt. Is it really the truth or someone making it the truth? This source would be great for all my members to read so we can improve our new media aspect on the project but still not fail our old media.