- Sep 22, 2013
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Americans love media and this love is even reflected in American films such as Network, Celebrity, and Broadcast News.
I studied Cognitive Science at Dartmouth College (Hanover, New Hampshire) where I developed an interest in cultural anthropology. I find the connections between mass psychology and culture very fascinating.
Why do Americans hype movie stars and celebrate fantasy-rich films such as Iron Man and The Dark Knight?
Here's a short-story I wrote (using myself as the inspiration for one of the characters) about an everyday American meeting the American movie star Tom Cruise and forging a 'crusader-alliance.'
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Ajay looked at his dormitory alarm clock. It was 9 a.m. on a snowy Saturday morning at Yale University (Connecticut, USA). He was excited to hear a new 'freshman welcoming' speech delivered by the American movie actress Claire Danes who had just been accepted into Yale. Ajay had a secret crush on Danes and decided to attend the speech in the hopes of meeting the beautiful young actress. He looked at his notes about "Media and Society" (his senior thesis) and then headed to the speech.
In Los Angeles, a special conference headed by big-name movie stars was about to begin. The conference was to address the opportunity that modern movie stars have in marketing politically-conscious ideas in the media. This conference was specifically about actors/actresses participating in eco-activism talks and events. The conference was spearheaded by American movie stars Leo DiCaprio and Michael Douglas, and Tom Cruise was looking at his watch to make sure he would not arrive late.
The Toronto Blue Jays outfielder John Olerud looked up at the sky as he took batting practice hits on a cold but crisp October morning. He remembered what his father told him about the special magic of a professional baseball field as the sunlight hit the diamonds. Olerud had become increasingly interested in eco-activism events and was considering ways to use his athlete-spotlight to promote environmental awareness. What he did not realize, however, was that a terrorist from the Middle East was planning a bomb-attack on that evening's Blue Jays playoff game.
Ajay and Tom Cruise were both attending that targeted Blue Jays playoff game. Toronto was playing the Boston Red Sox in an ALDS series, and both Ajay and Tom were huge Red Sox fans and purchased tickets to attend the exciting deciding Game 7. Tom and Ajay sat on opposite sides of the baseball stadium, and the game was set to begin at 4 p.m. John Olerud came out to the pitcher's mound after the national anthem ceremony to deliver a special speech about the opportunity celebrities have in promoting environmental awareness.
Suddenly, Tom Cruise got up from his seat and pulled out a megaphone and yelled into it, "We know you intend to bomb this game, mystery audience-member!" Then, Ajay got up and pulled out a megaphone too and yelled into it, "We also know that your grudge is against Western capitalism, which is why you're attacking a televised sports event!" As Tom and Ajay realized they both knew about the terrorism plot, they decided to run to the front entrance of the stadium to meet each other. Would this be a new 'evangelical alliance'?
TOM CRUISE: How did you know about the terrorism plot?
AJAY: An anonymous op-ed in the Boston Globe titled, "Why I curse the Sox-Jays series!"
TOM CRUISE: I read that too; that's how I knew too.
AJAY: Do you think it has anything to do with Olerud's eco-activism speech?
TOM CRUISE: Probably. It's all connected to a terrorist (industrialization, capitalism, etc.).
AJAY: What's your plan?
TOM CRUISE: My megaphone-outburst should get the attention of the police.
AJAY: That was my plan too.
TOM CRUISE: The cops will take it from here.
AJAY: Yep.
TOM CRUISE: Are you a fan of my movies?
AJAY: Of course! Rain Man, Jerry Maguire, Valkyrie, they're great!
TOM CRUISE: Perhaps you'd be interested in my Scientology Eco-Activism Brochure.
AJAY: Email it to me!
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I studied Cognitive Science at Dartmouth College (Hanover, New Hampshire) where I developed an interest in cultural anthropology. I find the connections between mass psychology and culture very fascinating.
Why do Americans hype movie stars and celebrate fantasy-rich films such as Iron Man and The Dark Knight?
Here's a short-story I wrote (using myself as the inspiration for one of the characters) about an everyday American meeting the American movie star Tom Cruise and forging a 'crusader-alliance.'
====
Ajay looked at his dormitory alarm clock. It was 9 a.m. on a snowy Saturday morning at Yale University (Connecticut, USA). He was excited to hear a new 'freshman welcoming' speech delivered by the American movie actress Claire Danes who had just been accepted into Yale. Ajay had a secret crush on Danes and decided to attend the speech in the hopes of meeting the beautiful young actress. He looked at his notes about "Media and Society" (his senior thesis) and then headed to the speech.
In Los Angeles, a special conference headed by big-name movie stars was about to begin. The conference was to address the opportunity that modern movie stars have in marketing politically-conscious ideas in the media. This conference was specifically about actors/actresses participating in eco-activism talks and events. The conference was spearheaded by American movie stars Leo DiCaprio and Michael Douglas, and Tom Cruise was looking at his watch to make sure he would not arrive late.
The Toronto Blue Jays outfielder John Olerud looked up at the sky as he took batting practice hits on a cold but crisp October morning. He remembered what his father told him about the special magic of a professional baseball field as the sunlight hit the diamonds. Olerud had become increasingly interested in eco-activism events and was considering ways to use his athlete-spotlight to promote environmental awareness. What he did not realize, however, was that a terrorist from the Middle East was planning a bomb-attack on that evening's Blue Jays playoff game.
Ajay and Tom Cruise were both attending that targeted Blue Jays playoff game. Toronto was playing the Boston Red Sox in an ALDS series, and both Ajay and Tom were huge Red Sox fans and purchased tickets to attend the exciting deciding Game 7. Tom and Ajay sat on opposite sides of the baseball stadium, and the game was set to begin at 4 p.m. John Olerud came out to the pitcher's mound after the national anthem ceremony to deliver a special speech about the opportunity celebrities have in promoting environmental awareness.
Suddenly, Tom Cruise got up from his seat and pulled out a megaphone and yelled into it, "We know you intend to bomb this game, mystery audience-member!" Then, Ajay got up and pulled out a megaphone too and yelled into it, "We also know that your grudge is against Western capitalism, which is why you're attacking a televised sports event!" As Tom and Ajay realized they both knew about the terrorism plot, they decided to run to the front entrance of the stadium to meet each other. Would this be a new 'evangelical alliance'?
TOM CRUISE: How did you know about the terrorism plot?
AJAY: An anonymous op-ed in the Boston Globe titled, "Why I curse the Sox-Jays series!"
TOM CRUISE: I read that too; that's how I knew too.
AJAY: Do you think it has anything to do with Olerud's eco-activism speech?
TOM CRUISE: Probably. It's all connected to a terrorist (industrialization, capitalism, etc.).
AJAY: What's your plan?
TOM CRUISE: My megaphone-outburst should get the attention of the police.
AJAY: That was my plan too.
TOM CRUISE: The cops will take it from here.
AJAY: Yep.
TOM CRUISE: Are you a fan of my movies?
AJAY: Of course! Rain Man, Jerry Maguire, Valkyrie, they're great!
TOM CRUISE: Perhaps you'd be interested in my Scientology Eco-Activism Brochure.
AJAY: Email it to me!
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