Review Assignment

Basic information:
1. http://www.cinemablend.com/music/CD-Review-Paris-Hilton-s-Paris-848.html
2. The reviewer is Micheal Fraiman 3. The review is posted on cinemablend.com
4. The CD is not rated.
5. The focus of this website is to review movies and music.

Analyzing the Argument:
1. It’s hard to say that Paris fails to live up to expectations. If anyone out there legitimately likes Paris Hilton from a perspective outside of the dumb-blonde jokes on her show “The Simple Life,” then odds are that very same person lacks, shall we say, a refined musical taste. If this is the case, then Paris is perfect for such a person, and should be avoided like the plague by the remainder.

2. - it's a simple (admittedly addictive) techno tune
- musically, Paris is on par with a train wreck, but barring this fact, the album could be enjoyed if all you expect are a few light and easy dance club tracks. The album is, at best, decent but trite fluff-pop with no particularly distinguishing traits.

3. Negative Aspect #1
Element being criticized: Paris' singing.
Reasons: - Paris can barley be heard over synthesized bass and keyboards.
- The only thing Paris can do with her voice is a "sultry, low moan"
- Fails to hit any of the notes on the Rod Stewert cover song "Do ya think i'm sexy"

4. Element being criticized: Lyrics
Reasons: - Reoccuring theme of Paris' ego.
- Every song has the word "sexy" in it.
- Described as a collection of uninspired, self-indulgent, techno dance tracks.

5. Element being critized: Paris' lack of creative control
Reasons: - The album is more of an offspring of producer Scott Storch than Paris.
- Most songs are specifically written for her limitations.



My Paris Hilton CD Review (for lack of a “spicier” title)
The album I am writing a review on is Paris Hilton's debut album Paris. I admit, I bought this CD the first day it came out when I was in gr.8. I chose to review this CD because I figured I could easily find some bad reviews on it, and I totally disagree with 90% of what is being said. I will be critiquing the three main elements that the author of the review posted above including, Paris’ singing abilities, the lyrics, and Paris’ alleged lack of creative control on the album.

I agree that Paris is not the strongest of singers, but very, very few mainstream artists are strong singers these days. The author of the article mentions that her voice on the album is drowned out my synthesizers, or edited to improve it, or even that the songs are specially written for her inabilities. What the author probably didn’t consider is that every single artist on t.v is edited. Unless of course you go see them live, where you can hardly hear their voices behind their cranked up instruments and cheering fans. So needless to say I found this review to be a bit biased. I think that Paris did a remarkably good job considering that she is not musically trained, which so many of today’s crappy artists are. I don’t think Paris is trying to prove that she’s the world’s greatest singer, but if Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, the Disney kids and all of the auto-tuned rappers turned “sangers” (T-pain, Kanye) can become musical sensations then who says we shouldn’t give Paris a chance?

Another element I would like to touch on, is the lyrics of the songs on the album. The author mentions that the lyrics are “uninspired, fluff-pop,” and mentioned the lyrical theme of Paris’ inflated ego. What can you expect from a pretty girl who has been given everything she wanted since birth? If her album was a heartfelt, humbling collection of soulful music, people would call her even faker then they already do. Paris co-wrote most of the songs on her album, artists write about their lives. Partying, fashion, boys fighting over her, that’s Paris’ life, therefore her lyrics are real as can be.

The author of the article said that Paris had a lack of creative control. He mentioned that the album was more of an offspring of producer Scott Storch. Because of other albums produced by him, I agree that Storch is amazing and he most likely deserves a lot of credit in the production of this album, but Paris co-wrote most of the songs. Another one of his complaints is that Paris’ songs are written to suit her “vocal inabilities,” which seems like a pretty dumb statement because common sense says why write a song for yourself that you can’t sing.

Overall, I thought that the album was really good and the review was unfair and biased. I’m wondering if this author has the same views about all pop artists, or just the ones with rich parents and the world at her fingertips.

Blog Assignment #3

Everyone has a movie that reminds them of the summer they saw it. Weather it's what they were doing before or after the movie, the friends they saw the movie with, or how the movie made them feel, summer blockbusters bring back memories for everyone. Although the main intent of making summer blockbusters is to make money, and usually the only good parts are in the trailer, summer blockbusters do have the ability to bring people together and entertain them if nothing else.



A summer blockbuster from 2009 that I'm sure everyone is familiar with is Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen. I believe this movie is so successful, not only because it was extremely advertised, but because even though it is rated pg-13, a lot of parents let their children watch it because they play with the transformer toys or watch the cartoons, a lot of people watch it for the intense action scenes, and then there are some who simply watch it to see Megan Fox. Through all of the special effects, close-ups of Megan, and scenes of evil robots destroying everything in their paths, I don't think there is much artistic merit, but it does make for great entertainment.


Another summer blockbuster from 2009, is Bruno. It's obvious that Bruno was created for no other reason then to make people laugh, and gross people out. It is not a piece of art, it has no moral to the story, and it's plot line is completely pointless. However, I must say it was a pretty funny movie and I would watch it again. That's the way some summer blockbusters work, Bruno made a lot of money without actually being great piece of work.

Pointless comedy movies with a weak plot and no real morals to the story, no lesson learned are really typical of summer blockbusters. Another from 2009 that really fits this description, is The Hangover. I think anyone who has seen it would agree that The Hangover is a really funny movie and the money made from this movie shows it. Does that make it a good movie? It depends on what you look for in a movie. The Hangover was the kind of movie that it really wouldn't take a genius to make, probably just a 40 something year old man with the sense of humor of a 17 year old boy.

Summer blockbusters can be great entertainment, or just plain dumb depending on who you ask. In my opinion summer blockbusters are never as good as the trailer leads you to believe, and have more action/comedy than plot line or talent. Summer blockbusters are usually all hype and just an attempt to make the film industry a lot of money.

Teenagers in the media

I think teenagers are misrepresented in the media. In the media teenagers are always represented as coming from some kind of group of clique as in nerds, preps, goths, when really if you look around the schools here there is not a lot of that at all. I think teenagers are more willing to be friends with people that don’t necessarily look or act like them than the movies or TV make them out to be.

I don’t think the people who make the movies, TV shows, etc. aren’t doing enough research into the teenage life, or they are and they just think that this kind of portrayal of teenagers is good entertainment.

Another thing that I always see in the movies and TV about teenagers is that all teenagers are sarcastic and extremely rude to all adults and figures of authority. When really, a lot of teenagers are really nice to anyone.

I think because of the way that teenagers are represented in the media, people have a very unrealistic view about teenagers, the way they act and the way they live their lives. I really think that this is an unfair representation of teenagers.

First Post.

1. I believe that media is a very important part of my life. Weather it's tuning into TMZ, checking out Perez's newest posts on Twitter, or just flipping through a magazine or even listening to music, media is directly involved in a lot of the things that I do. Most, if not all of the things that I buy or wear are things that I have seen in a magazine or on a commercial, and those are just some of the ways media effects my life.



2. I think the types of media I feel most passionate about are music, internet and advertisements/commercials. I love listening to music, and if I had to go a day without it I would probably go insane. I don't actually go on the internet that much, so I get all my notifications from Facebook and Twitter sent to my phone in a text message, so I kind of use my cell phone as a media device. I think one of the most important forms of media is advertisements in magazines and on billboards, that effects my life hugely by influencing what I want to wear or look like.

3. I personally love our modern popular culture. I love all the ways you can use one device to do what many devices are made for. For example if you want to use the internet, you can use your computer, cell phone, or even your ipod.

4. Desert Island Choices - My favorite movie ever is Fight Club, I absolutely love it because it really makes you think and there is a crazy twist at the end. I hardly ever read, but I've got to say that Fight Club is my favorite book too, some of the things said in the book are so insightful and really make you think about the way that you see the world. My favorite T.V show is Gossip Girl because every season the plot keeps getting more and more scandalous to the point where I go crazy if I miss an episode. I would have to say that my favorite album of all time is Sublime's album Sublime. One day when I was like 9 I found that someone threw a CD in my backyard so I picked it up and listened to it for like years, and ever since I've been in love. Finally, my favorite website is Facebook, because it makes it easier to connect with friends who you don't see everyday.