Globalization

     With over 6.6 Billion people living on this planet, Earth is a giant place that seems to get smaller each and every day. Technology is constantly evolving and is allowing us to keep in contact with parts of the world some thought would never be accessible. Globalization is the process of increasing interconnectedness among nations, cultures, and people. It is supported and accelerated by technological developments.  

     An example of globalization is seen with the increase in glocalization. Glocalization is when an idea or formula that has proved to be successful in one place is taken and adopted in another. The popular TV game show titled "Family Feud" was very successful in the United States of America and ran for many years with a variety of different hosts. It still runs today in the USA, however, the concept of the show has been taken and translated into a Spanish version that airs in Mexico and in the USA on certain Spanish TV Networks. The show follows the exact same concept, but is called "100 Mexicanos Dejeron." This show has taken off and is still running on local TV networks.
     The fact that a successful TV game show can gain popularity in pretty much any other country in the world is a sign that the world is in a sense becoming one large country. There are no longer huge barriers keeping people from different parts of the globe from communicating with one another. If a TV show can be translated and become a success in a foreign country, the possibilities of what all countries combined can do are limitless!

***VIDEO***

Family Feud [USA]

***VIDEO***
"100 Mexicanos Dijeron" [Spanish version of Family Feud]

T-Mobile MyTouch4G [Advertisement]

     One of my favorite ads that I have recently seen played on TV, has got to be T-Mobile's new commercial for their recently launched MyTouch4G smart phone. This is the first ad in T-Mobile's new ad campaign that just started rolling out for their newly improved "4G" network. This ad really caught my attention based on the fact that it sort of has that feeling and very similar style to Apple's famous campaign to promote Mac's over PC's. The ad ultimately made me feel that T-Mobile's network has less restrictions than the competition, which in this case is AT&T. 

     An appeal that is used, and more than likely works in T-Mobile's advantage is sex appeal. In the ad, AT&T and the iPhone 4 are portrayed by 2 men. One man [iPhone 4] is giving another man [AT&T network] a piggy-back ride that is obviously painful for the man carrying him [iPhone 4]. On the contrary, T-Mobile's MyTouch 4G is represented by the actual phone itself, and is being held ever so gently by a beautiful, appealing, young woman who represents T-Mobile's network. The sex appeal is strong in that there is an all white background. The men are in black & white suits that don't stand out much, while the T-Mobile woman is wearing a bright white & pink summery dress that catches the viewers attention instantaneously. 

     The ad does a great job using the sexual appeal. The ad not only promotes the the newly MyTouch4G smartphone, but also mentions to the public that T-Mobile now has the "largest 4G network" in the country. It's pretty much common knowledge that men tend to be more tech savvy than woman. With that said, it's no surprise that T-Mobile would use an attractive young female to promote their network along with their newest smart phone. T-Mobile also uses the theme that Apple is most notably known for in their "Mac or PC" campaign from a few years ago. It's rather funny how T-Mobile uses the same concept against Apple and AT&T at the same time in one ad.

     Overall, this commercial ad for T-Mobile is very successful in attracting the viewer and informing them about their new smart phone and newly improved network. By using sex appeal, the ad grasps their  target's attention and will ultimately get it's points and intentions across to the public.

***VIDEO*** [T-Mobile MyTouch 4G][Commercial]

Hollywood's 3-Act Structure [Armageddon]

     It's not hard to see that most, if not all, Hollywood films seem to follow the same basic structure. The genre of the film usually does not change the fact that the viewer is expecting to be introduced to a problem, have the film hit a conflict/complication in the middle of the film, and watch it end with a resolution that makes everything end for the better. This is known as the "happy ending" structure that most people expect from a film. 

     A good example of this 3-Act Structure being used, is in the film "Armageddon." This is personally one of my favorite films in that it makes the viewer feel nearly every type of emotion know to man. The film begins with an introduction to the problem which is that a giant asteroid is on its way toward Earth and that it will bring an end to the world as we know it. The introduction tells about the time when Dinosaurs, and most species, were wiped out by an impact caused by an asteroid. The last line of the introduction, "It happened before. It will happen again. It's just a question of when" gives the viewer the knowledge that this film will be about another possible asteroid impact on earth. That last line is also the peak of the introduction part of the 3-Act Structure.

     As the film progresses, the people at NASA have to find a group of men who are willing to help destroy the Asteroid by going up into space and drilling a bomb into the asteroid, essentially blowing it apart. This here is plot point #2, or the complication in the film. The problem is fixed when NASA finds a man named Harry and his friends, who are known as the best drillers in the world. The drillers then go under intensive training to help them prepare for the conditions they will experience on the asteroid. The peak of this plot point is right before they are about to board the shuttle. Here, one of Harry's workers, who is dating Harry's daughter, is singing to her as he prepares to leave her behind. This scene gives the viewer the feeling that the time has finally come for these drillers to show what they are really made of and make use of the training that NASA has provided them with.

     Lastly, the climax and resolution of this film comes when they encounter a problem on the asteroid and discover that one of them will have to stay behind to detonate the bomb that will blow up the asteroid and save all of mankind. The climax is when Harry has to tell his daughter that he won't be coming back home like he had promised and that he wants her to go ahead and marry his worker, AJ. The scene is enhanced by the use of an Aerosmith song made specially for this film and in the way the scene was filmed showing his daughter crying as she puts her hand on one of several screens to "touch" her father one last time. This climax is then essentially resolved when Harry stays behind and blows up the asteroid, thus saving the entire world.

     This movie is over two hours long, and is a film that easily makes use of the 3-Act Structure. They introduce plot point #1 in the opening scene, reveal the conflict and plot point #2 in the middle of the film, and ultimately end the film with the climax and resolution. Overall, this film is a great example of Hollywood's Classic 3-Act Structure.

***VIDEO*** [Armageddon: Opening Scene][Plot Point #1/Introduction]

***VIDEO*** [Armageddon: Leaving On A Jetplane][Plot Point #2/Conflict]


***VIDEO*** [Armageddon: Ending][Climax/Resolution][Start at 4:45]