Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Updated Post, On-Campus Field Trip on May 9

Los Angeles crime novelist James Ellroy will speak in the Glendale College Auditorium on May 9, the day after our Getty Center field trip. You can receive field trip credit for attending if you complete a short (200-300 words) written assignment about the talk. Answer the three questions below. They are based on the tenets of Media Literacy that were part of the Chapter 1 lecture. Review your Chapter 1 notes and PowerPoint if you have trouble understanding what the questions mean.

•All media messages are constructions. How was Mr. Ellroy's author presentation a construction?

•All media messages are targeted. How was Mr. Ellroy's author presentation targeted and who was it targeted to?

•All media messages want to sell you something. What was Mr. Ellroy selling, both on an obvious basis and on a less obvious basis?

Below is the original information about the event by its organizer...

The Demon Dog of Crime Fiction

*****JAMES ELLROY*****

Bring BOOKS have them SIGNED by the author!


Thursday, May 9th, 2013

12:20pm-1:30pm

GCC Auditorium

LA WRITERS READING SERIES PRESENTS:
WITH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF GCC Ancillary Adjunct Fund and the English Department

JAMES ELLROY

author of bestselling books, The Black Dahlia, L.A. Confidential and the true crime memoir, My Dark Places. A prolific writer of true crime fiction, noir, neo-noir, memoir, and postmodern historical fiction, Ellroy has had a profound influence on Los Angeles literature.

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1 Comments:

Anonymous Tenny Khalaj said...

James Ellroy- The Demon Dog of Crime Fiction

1. All media messages are constructions. How was Mr. Ellroy’s author presentation a construction?

Mr. Ellroy’s presentation was considered a construction because the message he was giving out to the audience was to turn against mass media and the internet. His beliefs were very concrete and he had many strong opinions about technology and the internet. He briefly mentioned that he actually does not even own a computer and never watches television, which contributes to his dislike for media.

2. All media messages are targeted. How was Mr. Ellroy’s author presentation targeted and who was it targeted to?

I believe Ellroy’s message was targeted to those who are dependant on technology, specially the internet. Even though Ellroy had a very difficult past and childhood, he confides his career and writing. Judging by his description of his childhood, I can see where his dark and twisted personality shines through in his books. His childhood molded his style of writing and gave him a style that makes him stand out from others. I think he was trying to make the audience think more like he does and be very straightforward and away from technologies. He wants people to have their own mind and free expressions. It was evident that Ellroy was not even interested in the fame and popularity that came about from his career, all he wanted to do was to make his point.

3. All media messages want to sell you something. What was Mr. Ellroy selling, both on an obvious basis and on a less obvious basis?

Ellroy was definitely trying to sell his idea of being true to one’s self and being unique. His personality and past stories reflected his independent attitude, and he wanted the audience to be independent and actually spread an important message. It was as though he was selling his novel to us, but in a way where the audience pictures themselves in his shoes. His unique view of the world was a story in itself, and he made sure the audience got a little taste of where he comes up with his creativity and attitude in his stories. In my opinion, it would be an almost impossible task to write bestselling novels without technological aid. I can imagine he has a lot of pain in his hands from handwriting so much. All in all, I found his appearance very amusing because he actually made me think what he wanted me to think.


10:47 PM  

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