Writing a paper.

This could quite possibly be the most boring entry in the history of my journal. In fact, let's just get the award ceremony over with before we start.

Now presenting the trophy for "Most Boring Journal Entry Ever":
Alright, now that we got that over with, I don't want this blog to turn into a negative vent-a-thon. So I am going to take my horrendous paper writing experience from last night and turn it into a positive and edifying experience.

Hold on, I'm thinking of the positives.

Still thinking...

So I had to write a paper for my communications class that was due this morning. Since I had been sick all last week I was unable to get very much work done, but I did make the effort to quickly browse over the paper requirements. They looked very similar to the requirements for my first paper so I didn't give it much thought and just figured I would pound it out last night. If there is one quality I have, it is that I am extraordinarily good at procrastination. Is that a quality? At the expense of the positivity of this entry, we will call it a quality for now. Anyways, 11:30 rolls around last night and I settle in to get this paper done.

You see, in communications we are studying the concept of media representation. The purpose of studying this subject is to understand how media, such as advertisements, commercials, etc., communicates with us the viewer. What is it exactly that the producers of media want us to understand? What are they trying to tell us? How effective are their persuasions?

For the paper we were asked to provide an image and provide an interpretation. When developing an understanding and interpretation of an image, the viewer goes through two steps known as "levels of meaning." The first level of meaning is known as the "denotative level of meaning," or the "basic descriptive level of meaning." The second is known as the "connotative level of meaning," or the "broader cultural meaning."

Basically, the denotative level of meaning is just what you see. There are no interpretations being made, just simple descriptions. The connotative level of meaning explains what each denotative element and/or their relationship to each other "mean" based on specific cultural knowledges (what we know to be true in our culture).

So for example, the trophy found at the top of this entry.

Denotative level of meaning: A silver cup with handles atop a black pedestal. The text: "Most Boring Journal Entry Ever" engraved into the pedestal.

Connotative level of meaning: A silver cup with handles atop a pedestal in American culture represents what would be known as a trophy, an award for accomplishing some sort of achievement. The text: "Most Boring Journal Entry Ever" found engraved into the pedestal indicates that something or someone has received, or is going to receive this trophy for having created a very boring journal entry.

By examining the denotative and connotative elements of any image, and linking the two using cultural knowledge, a "myth" can be created. This a different definition for myth, it does not mean "something that is not true" like the definition we are used to seeing. In fact, a myth according to communications is the exact opposite. It means a "universal truth," the general truth about society or culture that the image has produced. So the myth for the image of the trophy would be, "This journal entry is the most boring journal entry ever." That is the truth that the image creates. And that was just part 1 of my paper.

Neat, huh?

So, after slaving through part 2 of the paper, a concept of media representation that frustrated me so badly it will not be mentioned, I finally finished my paper at 7:30 this morning. Time for bed.

8:30 this morning. time to get up.

You know those days when sleeping for an extra minute is all you want to do? And a minute becomes five minutes, then ten minutes, then 15 minutes? That's how this morning was. I squeezed every last second out of that alarm clock before I finally forced myself to get up. A quick shower and I was out the door five minutes later than usual...not bad. My historic night was over and the new day was bright and encouraging.

There was 6 inches of snow on my car.

Check it out, I am not a fan of tragedies. I like my stories to conclude with happy endings. If I would have ended right there, this story would have been an absolute and epic tragedy. But lucky for you, reader, I am not ending here. Fast forward to 2:30. School is over and it is time to reward myself for making it through a frustrating night and a sleep deprived day. I present to you:


The Spicy Baconator, from Wendy's. Pepper Jack Cheese, 2 Beef Patties, Six Strips of Bacon, Loads of Jalapenos, Spicy Chipotle Sauce. Enough said.

Could an ending get any more happier? Didn't think so.