Disney Movies and the Environment

Communication students (and others) who've examined the portrayal of character types or issues in Disney movies -- always a popular topic for term papers -- might be interested in this New York Times article on a debate over the impact of Disney flicks on environmental awareness and activism: "Animated Bambi Debate Arouses Pastoral Passions."

Crunch Time: Research Help with Your Papers

The last few weeks of the semester, with paper and project deadlines approaching, are among the busiest for students – and for me. I’m here to help with your research. Here are tips on different ways to get help.

• * Set up a time to get together. In person consultations are not always necessary, but 10 or 15 minutes together are often all it takes to jump start your research or get you past a stumbling block. (We can take more time if it’s needed.)
  
• * E-mail me or contact me via the live help boxes on many of my pages and we’ll find a time that works for both of us. You can also drop in, but I may be out or with another student.
• * Ask a question online. Many questions can be answered without meeting in person. Send me an e-mail or use the live help boxes on my home page, course pages, and research guides. If I’m online, the live help box lets us chat without IM; if I’m not online, you can leave a message. (Just be sure to tell me who you are and how to get back to you.)
• * Check out sources and tips on the pages I created for specific courses or for broad communication subject areas. There are links to all of them, and to key databases, on the Communication Research Help by Subject page on the library’s website.
  

Remember that I have many students coming for help at this time, so be patient if I’m not available at exactly the time that’s best for you. But do let me know if you need help, and I will work with you in whatever way I can.

E-Journals: New Issues This Week

New issues of the following journals are available online this week:

• International Journal of Press/Politics
• Journal of Nonverbal Behavior
  
• Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
• Journal of Visual Culture
• New Media & Society
  
• Television & New Media
• Theory, Culture & Society
  

Click on a title to access the issue. (Login with your BC username and password is required for off-campus access.)

Absolut Mexico

This story touches on so many issues of interest to communication studies -- advertising, intercultural communication, media and politics, crisis communication, and more -- that I just had to post it here.

Absolut Vodka has apologized for an ad that ran in Mexico with an old map showing the southwest United States as part of Mexico "In an Absolut World."

The ad, according to Fox News, provoked heated comments on Internet blogs and Web sites and a call for a boycott by U.S. consumers.

Here's what Absolut Vice President of Corporate Communications Paula Eriksson had to say on Absolut's own blog:

The In An Absolut World advertising campaign invites consumers to visualize a world that appeals to them -- one they feel may be more idealized or one that may be a bit "fantastic." As such, the campaign will elicit varying opinions and points of view. We have a variety of executions running in countries worldwide, and each is germane to that country and that population.

This particular ad, which ran in Mexico, was based upon historical perspectives and was created with a Mexican sensibility. In no way was this meant to offend or disparage, nor does it advocate an altering of borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American sentiment, nor does it reflect immigration issues. Instead, it hearkens to a time which the population of Mexico may feel was more ideal.

As a global company, we recognize that people in different parts of the world may lend different perspectives or interpret our ads in a different way than was intended in that market. Obviously, this ad was run in Mexico, and not the US -- that ad might have been very different.

Her post has generated over 1500 comments since Friday. You can view the thread here. (Interestingly, Absolut requires you to fill in a birthdate to access their site.)