MCOM 1003 | Lauryn Singletary

When I was in elementary school, almost every other Friday, my mom would let me and my sisters skip school. Practically every skip day would result in us going to the movies. It was our tradition to run by Family Dollar and buy all the snacks we would need. Going to the movies has always been an enormous part of bonding with my family. Which makes these current conditions of COVID a little discouraging. I have not been to the movies since December. The last movie I saw in theaters was the newest version of Little Women.

        Since the day I found out from the 20 fan pages I follow on Instagram that America’s sweetheart, Timothée Chalamet, was set to star in this film, I knew I had to see it. Not only was Timothée going to be in the movie, but also his former co-star from the Oscar-nominated film Lady Bird, Saoirse Ronan would play the main character. Mr. Chalamet alone would have been enough for me to go and see the film opening night, but things kept getting better. The director of the movie, Greta Gerwig, who had also directed Lady Bird, played in many more of my favorite movies. In addition to all of these things, because of my sister, I grew up watching the 1994 adaptation of Little Women all the time. It was one of her favorite movies growing up. So, naturally, this movie had a soft spot in my heart. The cast is an undoubtedly strong group of women that also includes big names such as Emma Watson, Laura Dern, and Meryl Streep. Pictured below are some of the cast of the film.

On December 24th, I miraculously convinced my mother to go with me to see Little Women on opening day. The next day, after opening presents with my sisters and stepdad, my mom and I loaded up and headed to Texarkana to watch this movie. I had never been to the movies on the opening day of a film, much less on Christmas Day. When we got there around midafternoon, we paid about $12 each for our tickets. For some reason, I thought it would be deserted and we would be the only people there. Surprisingly, it wasn’t. People were bustling around, the same as us, to get to their seats on time. We bought some snacks and drinks, which is very unlike us, but considering the occasion, mom made an exception. I don’t remember the exact prices, but according to this website, I estimated how much we paid. We easily spent $30 on the underwhelming amount of things that we got. 

Mom and I got there early so we could get the best seats and watch all of the previews. My mom thinks that if you don’t get to see the previews then why even bother going. The audience there were mainly groups of girls my age and their mothers. You could tell the daughters were there for Timothée and the moms were there for the nostalgia from either reading the book or watching the previous films when they were younger. Which was my exact situation. The audience was pretty full but not as full as the theater during a Marvel movie. Looking back, it was comical the way the audience reacted to the movie. The first time Timothée Chalamet made an appearance you could hear all the teenage girls gasp and whisper to their moms explaining who he was. There were a lot of entertaining moments in the film too that had everyone laughing collectively. As well as moments that were emotional. I couldn’t tell you if anyone else cried, but I know I sobbed like a baby. 

Considering the movie was based in the 1860s, I would have to say there probably was not any product placement. Unless they wanted to team up with whoever designed the dresses Amy wore while she was in Europe because I would buy one so fast. The movie was evidently directed towards women. Older women who had grown up with reading the books and watching the movies were one target, but younger women and girls were also enticed by the theme of women empowerment. So, even if they had never heard of the book or other movies they would still want to see the film because, from a female perspective, it is very inspirational. They also had their secret weapon, charming ole Chalamet. They were very successful in reaching their intended target because as far as I could tell, that’s who came to see the movie.

The plot of the movie revolves around the March family, which consists of all girls excluding their dad that is away at war for a majority of the film. The theme deals with personal growth and how it's okay to not join the status quo or is okay if that is what you see for yourself. The movie’s purpose is to make whoever is watching feel like their opinions and feelings are valid. In my opinion, the production quality was genuinely good. The aesthetic of the movie was elegant. Twelve dollars to see this movie was well worth it. Not only was it a 2-hour experience of someone's artwork, but it also left the viewers with a lesson to take home. Since the release, Little Women has been nominated for 187 different awards and scored a win at the 2020 Oscars for “Best Achievement in Costume Design.” It currently sits at 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.

According to a survey from 2019, the average American adult spends roughly 12 hours in front of a screen. (Fisher) Those numbers may seem like a lot at first glance, but when I look back on my daily routine, it does not seem as crazy. In my daily routine, I probably use more. With four online classes and an obsession with Hulu, my day is eaten up with technology.In the morning, I wake up to that dreaded sound of Apple’s “radar” alarm. Granted that I’ve hit snooze at least 4 times. The first thing I do is pick up my phone and check my Instagram. I scroll until it is time for my 9 am online class. After class, I normally try to do some work. Notice how I said try. Nine out of ten times, it ends with me back in bed watching America’s Next Top Model. At 1 pm, I have to attend another zoom meeting. I sign out at about 2 and if you have not noticed I’ve already used up 6 hours of my day on technology. 

After I am finished with school, I normally meet up with my roommate and get lunch. Make a note of my first hour without media for the day. During this time, I really couldn’t tell you how much I check my social media, but I can assume it’s every time it dings. While we are out buying groceries or running errands, we always listen to music. When I get back to my dorm, it always seems like I never am finished with my schoolwork so I crack open my computer again and spend more time in front of that screen. I usually end my day by watching a couple of episodes of whatever my roommate and I are watching at the time. 

Ever since Apple has added the Screen Time feature I’ve been very insecure about the number of times I pick up my phone. That is until I saw my little sister's daily average. Last week, I spent an average of 5 hours and 25 minutes on my phone a day. My total screen time was 37 hours and 59 minutes. Please stop, I can feel you judging me. Social media consumed 17 hours and 38 minutes of that time. I spent 5 hours and 24 minutes on Safari. Doing what? I couldn’t tell you. Probably looking up the definition of words I should definitely know. The rest was taken up by Entertainment, Productivity, and Education. 

Earlier, I brought up my little sister and her phone usage. She goes to school online and if I had to be completely honest she probably spends more time using media than me. So, if you ever need an update on any famous TikToker she is the one to go to. My roommate though is very in touch with her mother nature side. She spends a lot of her time outdoors. So if I had to estimate, she more than likely spends less time using technology than me and my sister. 

Maybe I’m in denial, but I don’t think technology has had such a bad impact on me. My mom will beg to differ, but I know in good faith that what I am reading and watching on my phone or computer is not rotting my brain. In my academic lifestyle, technology is an essential. I literally couldn’t do my work, go to class, or maintain access to resources without it. It has been very necessary for my success in school. In my personal life, I use media to benefit myself. That’s what all the brainwashed teenagers say, isn’t it? I watch things that make me happy. I listen to music that makes me happy. Most importantly, I google weird questions I have at 2 am when I need an answer.

The article written by Nicole Fisher “ How Much Time Americans Spend In Front of Screens Will Terrify You,” did not terrify me. What did terrify me is all the negative side effects of using so much technology. Obesity, poor sleeping habits, and higher rates of depression in teens. Of all these scary things technology is supposedly responsible for, the part that stood out to me in the article was “adults are consuming five times more information every day than their counterpart 50 years ago.” Maybe it’s just me, but that sounds awesome. My phone holds so much information. Technology connects us and teaches us more than we ever could have imagined. And I think that is an amazing thing.

At the end of the day, I can definitely see why people are worried about the negative effects produced by technology. But I do not understand why people are not using media and the internet to explore and engage with the world around them more often. When used efficiently and safely, the internet can be a great resource for learning things that someone is not normally taught in a conventional classroom. My world has become technology-dependent and I have no intention of changing it. Media will always be an important part of my life, even if my mom thinks otherwise.

1. Wreck in front of Hampton Inn early Monday kills two Camden students, third injured- In a collision early morning of August 10th, two teens were killed and a third injured on the U.S. 79 bypass. While pulling out of the driveway at the Hampton Inn, the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado truck was hit by a 1997 Freightliner. Both the driver and passenger were killed on impact. The second passenger was taken to Magnolia Regional Medical Center and later transported to Little Rock hospital. The driver of the Freightliner is uninjured and was not identified in the report. (Magnolia Reporter)

2. Walmart AMP expansion complete but waiting for a concert- As soon as concerts are safe again, touring acts will have a new place to perform in Northwest Arkansas. The Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion in Rogers has spent the summer renovating the amphitheater. The renovation project increased the value price by around 4 million dollars. Concerts seekers can look forward to attending concerts here in the summer of 2021. (Fayetteville Flyer)

3. Trump calls Biden’s coronavirus plan unscientific, rejects call for national mask mandate- On Thursday, President Donald Trump disapproved former Vice President Joe Biden’s request for a national mask mandate to battle the coronavirus. Referring to masks, Donald Trump said, “Maybe they’re great and maybe they’re just good, maybe they’re not so good. But frankly what do you have to lose? You have nothing to lose.” Also, repeatedly stating lockdowns would inflict more harm than good. Biden’s newly announced pick for Vice President Kamala Harris has spoken out on the topic stating, “This virus has impacted almost every country, but there’s a reason it has hit America worse than any other advanced nation. It’s because of Trump’s failure to take it seriously from the start.” (CNBC)

4. First Covid-19 reinfection documented in Hong Kong- On Monday researchers in Hong Kong reported what they think is the first confirmed case of Covid-19 reinfection. In late March, a 33-year old was first infected by SARS-CoV-2, then 4 and a half months later contracted the virus again while traveling to Europe. Maria Van Kerkhove, a coronavirus expert at the World Health Organization reported “What we are learning about infection is that people do develop an immune response, and what is not completely clear yet is how strong that immune response is and for how long that immune response lasts.” Meaning if someone was to get the virus again they are more likely to have milder symptoms, but they still don’t know enough about the virus to be certain. (StatNews)

5. Thailand floats plan to welcome back international tourists in October- Thailand’s Minister of Tourism Phihat Ratchakitprakarn announced in a public forum last week that the country is working to allow foreign tourists to visit the country through a program called “Safe and Sealed. The plan will permit guests to fly to Phuket and quarantine in a designated resort for 14 days. They will be allowed to go to the beach during their quarantine so long as they stay in their allotted area. At the end of their quarantine period, they will be tested and, if results positive, free to travel on the island. If tourists want to leave the island they will have to quarantine for an additional 7 days. (CNN)

6. Mavericks' Luka Doncic calls historic triple-double, game winner 'something special'- After about 40 hours after he sprained his ankle, Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks returned to the court Sunday afternoon to play in Game 4 against the LA Clippers. After receiving clearance to play he delivered a historic performance. Leading the scoreboard with 43-points, 17-rebounds, and 13-assist, making him the youngest player in NBA history to record a 40-point triple-double. Luka Doncic led the team to victory with a buzzer-beating 3-point step-back ensuring the overtime win 135-132. (ESPN)

7. Britney Spears' request to remove father from guardianship delayed to 2021- James P. Spears, who has overseen his daughters personal and financial decisions for over a decade stepped down due to health problems last year. Britney’s lawyers said she was strongly opposed to her father returning to the position. Conspiracy theorists believe Britney is being held against her will and being stolen from. James Spears addressed those rumors by stating “I have to report every nickel and dime spent to the court every year. How the hell would I steal something? … I love my daughter.” A California judge has ruled that Britney’s request for a court to prevent her father from returning as her conservator will not be decided until February. (The Guardian)

8. TikTok user becomes an unlikely sex symbol by dressing and talking like Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka- Duke Depp, a 19-year old from Utah, goes by willywonkatiktok on TikTok. Duke has gained more than 7.2 million followers since he first uploaded on May 3rd; making him the fastest growing page on the app. TikTok users cannot get over Duke’s uncanny resemblance to Johnny Depp’s Willy Wonka from the 2005 movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Along with Duke’s hair and accessories, he also can do a pretty good impression. Unlike the movie, Duke sometimes does sexy stripteases and dances provocatively for the camera. (Daily Mail)

9. It Started As A Joke But Gen Z Is Trying To Sexualize The USPS To Save The Agency From Being Defunded- After a TikTok of a user dancing to “WAP” in a sexy mail carrier outfit went viral, Gen Z has expressed their passion for saving the USPS service from being defunded. Since the post, many users across America have shown their support by signing petitions and spreading important information about more ways viewers can be involved. A USPS spokesperson says they have no comment about the trend. (Buzzfeed News)

10.These Photos Show How The Oldest State Park In California Has Been Destroyed By Fire- On August 17th, California’s biggest state park, Big Basin Park was struck by lightning; resulting in a fire that burned more than 55,000 acres as of Friday. The fires were to blame for 5 deaths and is still uncontained. Park structures and houses in the area have taken a hard hit and Rangers are having a hard time controlling the fire because of the fire risk. Pictured below is a bathroom and a state park sign that were ruined by the fire. (Buzzfeed News)

11. Arkansas focusing on safety of voters- The Secretary of State John Thurston is giving as much as $1 million dollars in PPE (personal protective equipment) to county clerks across the state. Last week several truckloads were delivered and more are enroute. The equipment is to make voters feel safe and be safe. Thusrton encourages everyone to vote and suggests that people who are healthy and able vote at a poll to avoid taking chances with their vote being lost in the mail. (Arkansas Online)

12. Storms Marco and Laura Are Poised To Give The Gulf Coast A Deadly One-Two Punch- In the coming days, the Gulf Coast can expect two major storms to hit. It is very rare for two hurricanes to make landfall with such swift sequence. The 2020 hurricane season is predicted to rival 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. The National Hurricane Center has issued warnings for both Louisiana and Mississippi coasts. (Buzzfeed News)

13. The Golden State Killer Has Been Sentenced To Life In Prison- The 74 year Joseph James DeAngelo was finally sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of a 12- year murder, rape, and burglary spree in the 70s and 80s. In 2018, with the use of a genealogical database, investigators connected his DNA to multiple cases. In June, DeAngelo pleaded guilty to 13 counts of first-degree murder, 13 counts of kiddnapping for robbery, and addmitted to at least 50 rapes and 120 robberies in which he was not charged. (Buzzfeed News)

14. Doctors Call For Immediate End To High-Intensity Active Shooter Drills In Schools- The American Academy of Pediatrics recently came out against the use of active shooter drills. Their statement said they don’t really help prepare students for a real shooter. The most they do is drain and traumatize kids. One doctor said that it makes no sense for schools to take safety precautions for Covid and then turn around and pack a bunch of students closely together. (Huffington Post)