MANUSCRIPT MAGAZINE Fifth Final

MANUSCRIPT MAGAZINE

Hulu Hello Meet the Celebs!

Books into Movies?

Fan-Wars?

Are you are hero, or a VILLAIN? Harry Potter Collage of Memories

Table of Contents Manuscript Mag. Page 3: Bridging toward the other-world Page 8: Our Hot Guys Page 11: Tv Babies Page 15: Books... into movies?

Page 19: Radiant Blue light Page 31: Hulu Hello Page 36: Christmas screen traditions Page 37: Common fan-wars.

Page 41: Hero or Villian Quiz

Books... Into Movies?

Page 15

Fan Wars! Page 37

Visit us online at manuscriptmagazine.blogspot.com!

December | 2

About the Editors Hear No Evil- Madisen D-B.

Images Courtesy of Evlin DuBose

Hello world! I’m a freshman at LASA that probably spends too much time sitting in front of the TV instead of doing homework. I love millions of TV shows, but one thing that everyone knows about me? I love the show Friends. One could say I am unhealthly attached to it.

See No Evil- Evlin D.

Hello world! I’m a spastic, Star-Trek obsessed LASA teen with a not-so-secret fetish for Avatar: The Last Airbender. I’ve been obsessed with writing since before I can remember, and have at least 47 novels sitting within a flashdrive somewhere in my room. I’m Australian, but my accent doesn’t seep in unless I’m upset. G’day, mate!

Speak No Evil- Julieanne W.

Hello world! I’m a bubbly, eccentric, anime-obsessed Texas-girl who’s always loved the art displayed on the big screen. I’m in love with Japan and the Keep Austin Weird style is the perfect fit for me! Robert Pattinsin and I are married, no joke, and the posters of him in my room gaze lovingly at me wherever I go.

December | 3

Bridging Towards the Other-World

By Evlin D.

A view into the world of celebrities, and why we feel like we need to meet them.

By Evlin DuBose December | 3

I

leaned back in my chair, wondering Clint Black, and a few more I think I am what to type next. Suddenly, it hit me. forgetting...”

I pulled forward and let My jaw my fingers hit the keys. dropped. Bill What is your experience with Cosby? Nichocelebrities? I wrote as quickly las Cage! Inhu“My experience with celebas I could; my second question man! I couldn’t out of ten was written, over help but wonrities involves me literally and done with. The screen der what made physically running into them blared a translucent gleam, her able to on a regular basis.” the lights ahead blazing in the meet of these foreground. I had to get this important interview out of the way. But people. Obvipart of me was curious. Who ously she must had Lissa Whitehurst met? I’d had my own be knowledgeable about her favorite celebaccounts with celebrities. Everyone has met rity’s locations, right? Not according to her. someone. Me, personally-- Jackson Rath “My experience with celebrities bone. But Mrs. Whitehurst was special. involves me literally physically running into

“My mom has met tons of celebrities. them on a regular basis,” she says, smiling Like, I mean, tons!” Julieanne, Mrs. Whiteas she is about to add a joke. “I would call it hurst’s daughter, pitches beside me during the ‘luck of the Irish’, but I am French.” our story conference. We had to share who Luck of the Irish. I continued to read knew who, who could potentially be impor- on. Of course, meeting celebrities is a big tant to our magazine. And meeting celebri- deal-- no one can pull out a few meetings ties would surely be an interesting topic, I from their pockets, a few incredible connechad hoped. Relevant and important-- this tions to the stars of their TVs. I was curigeneration was the one of star-obsession-- ous-- had she always looked up to celebrithe social currency of meeting a celebrity ties? Everyone has admired to a celebrity was more important than ever today. at some point in their lives. Whether it was

After waiting, I finally got my answer a Twilight star obsession to plain admiraback. I could imagine the short, bubbly, tion for a director, the average American eccentric mother of my friend of four years has had some connection or ideal set in the drumming away at her keys, listing out the Hollywood world. Science has started to celebrities one by one, occasionally seeking prove that it is more than a social effect-her daughter, Julieanne, for memory assis- it’s economic, psychological, and social. tance.

Mrs. Whitehurst’s reaction to this be “I have met or run into Harrison ing psychological? It was hardly surprising Ford,” she begins her email in response, to her. “I think the worshipping of celebri“Ron Howard, Carol Burnett, Leslie Neilson, ties is hugely psychological because people Jack Klugman, Bill Cosby, Nicholas Cage, Cy- make the ‘famous’ idols. People believe bil Sheppard, Billy Idol, Lady Bird Johnson, they are better if they wear what the stars December | 4

wear, drive what the stars drive, eat what the stars eat, it goes on and on.”

The idealism of stars has been around for a while. The ancient Romans used to worship their favorite Gladiator due to the high mortality rate-- the average Roman that reached the age of 20 expected to die at the age of 30, and so they longed for the opportunity to “grow”, so to say, into their own deaths, giving them an opportunity for the fulfillment of dignity, and, in the end, they found this sort of self fulfillment in gladiators.

Has the importance of celebrities dulled throughout time? “I’m pretty sure people in the Bible thought Moses hung the moon...,” Mrs. Whitehurst answers. “I think celebrities have always been and will always be important, on some level, to just about everyone.”

And to just about everyone they are.

Shaking hands with a celebrity is an uplifting, life changing experience.

Image Courtesy of flickr.com December | 5

“I love to tell a good story and people seem to love hearing about my brushes with the ‘rich and famous’.”

A 1995 study from the University of Michigan found that this kind of celebrity idolization is in fact the normal developmental behavior expected from a child. They study filched results from a variety of different teen and pre-teen groups including kids 1011, 12-13, 14-15 and 16-17. Although each group produced some degree of celebrity idolization, the highest amount came from the 10-11 year olds, noting that this kind of worshipping occurs early on in the era of brain development. This craving after the ideal human is more true today than it has ever been. The hoards of young teenage girls drooling after Zac Efron or Robert Pattinson, or maybe the gaggles of boys dreaming of Megan Fox in a bathing suit, can only prove the scientific, or psychological, relation and idealism patented towards celebrities.

Mrs. Whitehurst recalls her own childhood memories of her idolization of celebrities. “I’m not so sure my early feelings involved looking up to them,” she writes.

“I just knew they were ‘stars’ and everyone seemed to love them.”

The child-like idolization of celebrities has continued to branch off into the realm of science. The term “narcissistic idealism” was coined by Heinz Kohut, a scientist leading in the area, and was used to explain the average adolescents need to fill in the failure provided by the parents to live up to the

Images courtesy flickr.com

Whitehurst explains. “When I am with my peers and we begin to discuss the topic of [the celebrities’] fame it somehow seems to make us all feel special or a little better about ourselves.”

No matter what’s the reason, the celebrity idolization won’t be going away for a long time. Not after the human history correlating with it growing ever so quickly. It doesn’t matter what age you are, or where you come from. Everyone has their own Two lucky fans get to secret celebrity fetish. And it doesn’t meet their celebrity idol-matter if you have met millions or Elijah Wood. none-- they can still affect you in your life.

“I think the idea of ‘celebrity’ afchild’s needs and desires. fects everyone because people as

“My father died when I was a whole want to feel some sort of seven,” Mrs. Whitehurst remembers. connection with the ‘famous,’” Mrs. “My mother raised me and my two Whitehurst comments. “Many indisisters and brother by herself...I reviduals pick a celebrity they can idenmember loving shows like The Brady Bunch because it made me see what I tify with and it aids them in relating to thought a ‘regular’ family looked like.” society.”

But, no matter what age group, celebrities are important for other reasons. My parents rage debates over who is better for Bella Swan of Twilight: Edward, or Jacob; which suitor would be the fulfilling husband.

Two individuals within their forties can still relate to the commons idols of today. The celebrities can still manage to make everyone special.

“I love to tell a good story and people seem to love hearing about my brushes with the ‘rich and famous’,” Mrs.

December | 6

Johnny Depp is definitely a celebrity that a lot of fans look up to.

Who’s

Your Celebrity flickr.com

IDOL?

Celebrity?

How long have you known them?

How often have you On a scale from one met a celebrity? to ten, how big a role do celebrities play in your life?

I hate celebrities. (2 votes out of 18.)

I don’t like any celebrities. (Average answer).

Not very often.

1 (low).

A fictional character! (3 Almost my entire life. votes out of 18.)

(Average answer).

I’m almost a paparazzi!

10 (high.)

A pop singer. (3 votes out of 18).

About a year. (Average answer).

Nya, I run into them on 6 occasion.

Famous Actor (5 votes out of 18).

Longer than a year.

(Average answer).

I haven’t met a celebrity.

December | 7

5

Images courtesy of flickr.com

Poll by Evlin D.

Our Hottest Guys The people who should’ve won hottest man alive.

Top Left- Zachary Quinto Top Right- Tom Felton Middle Left- Robert Pattinson Middle- Zac Efron Middle Right- George Clooney Bottom Left- Justin Timberlake Bottom Middle- Hugh Jackman Bottom Right- Brad pitt

By Evlin D.

December | 8

We asked our readers...

What is your favorite movie?

Titanic Lord of the rings Inception Avatar: The last Airbender Avatar Twilight Saga Ice age Pirates of the Carribean Star Trek The lion king Toy Story Harry Potter Series

December | 9

3% 3% 5% 5% 7% 7% 8% 10% 11% 11% 11% 18%

2 votes 2 votes 3 votes 3 votes 4 votes 4 votes 5 votes 6 votes 7 votes 7 votes 7 votes 11 votes

Images courtesy of backseatcuddler.com and onatlopera.com

What is your favorite TV show?

The Office How I Met Your Mother Vampire Diaries Grey’s Anatomy The Simpsons Spongebob Squarepants

2% 2% 3% 6% 8% 8%

1 vote 1 vote 2 votes 4 votes 5 votes 5 votes

House

8%

5 votes

Friends Bones The Big Bang Theory Saturday Night Live Glee Modern Family

10% 10% 10% 11% 11% 11%

6 votes 6 votes 6 votes 7 votes 7 votes 7 votes

Image courtesy of flickr.com and frugelware.com

December | 10

Tv babies By

Julieanne W.

T

elevision is new. Everything about it is new. The screens keep getting new, the shows keep getting new, and the idea that people can be crammed into more than a million little boxes at the same time is new. Babies, they aren’t new. Babies have been popping up since the dawn of man. There’s tons of them sitting around the world right now. Some are playing, some are listening to their mommies an daddies tell them stories, some are sleeping, and some are watching this new thing, TV. One of these groups of babies is going to have less social, mental, and emotional skills and will be more easily influenced as they grow older. You guessed it, the baby watching Television.

There have been many studies taken on babies that watch TV and almost none of them have shown results that were better than the kids that actually interacted with things and people. The TV only shows images and keeps the baby away from the interaction their watching through a glass barrier, while the kids playing and interacting are Images courtesy of flickr.com

really there and are learning more and more things.

Babies need to interact with things to learn. Its just the way they learn. Watching someone on TV say mommy isn’t going to be the same as their parent looking at them in the eyes and repeating “Can you say mommy?” Babies aren’t going to learn how to build with building blocks by watching TV, even if the show

has other babies playing with building blocks. Babies need to have interaction directly with the item or the person.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has said: “Pediatricians should urge parents to avoid television viewing for children under the age of 2 years. Although certain television programs may be promoted to this age group, research on early brain development shows that babies and toddlers have a critical need for

direct interactions with parents and other significant caregivers for healthy brain growth and the development of appropriate social, emotional, and cognitive skills. Therefore, exposing such young children to television programs should be discouraged.” At this point in life, the brain is trying to grow. It wants to learn things and doesn’t want to learn them from a strange person in a box. They want to learn it from the people who love them.

All children in general are affected by TV. If they see a commercial that shows something that looks good, they want to have it. If they see one of their favorite characters on TV act a certain way, they are going to want to be like that character, so they act that way too. Experiments have shown that “One-year-olds avoided an object after they watched an actress react negatively to it on video, suggesting that infants can apply emotional reactions seen on television to guide their own behavior.” So if they simply avoiding something because an actress avoided it, then they could December | 12

also possibly become more violent because an actor was.

So even though the child can pick up good feelings from TV, they can also pick up bad ones, and there is a lot more violence than love on TV. Children CAN learn from TV. There are shows that teach them the alphabet, there are ones that teach them colors, ones that teach them songs, and ones that teach them about being nice.

These DO affect kids, as do the adult programs that they shouldn’t be watching. PBS says that “Studies have found that children at 30 months of age [2 and a half years old] who watched certain programs (one study focused on Dora the Explorer, Blues Clues, Clifford and Dragon Tales) resulted in greater vocabularies and higher expressive language whereas overall television viewing (including adult programs) has been associated with reduced vocabulary.” and The University of Michigan says “Programs that are well designed and take into consideration children’s developmental stages are more likely to have educational merit than shows not geared toward their healthy growth.”

Still, the children in the studies were over two years old, and they either gained from the test or had loss from it.

The ones that had loss were

December | 13

the ones that watched TV that weren’t aimed at them, like Glee, Two and a Half Men, or The Daily Show.

Television is new.

Everything about it is new. The idea that babies can learn from a video during early stages of life is new, the idea that it’s okay for your baby to just sit there and do nothing but stare is new, and the way those kids are going to grow up will be new. There are millions of babies out in the world right now, and if we let them grow up not learning how to do things without watching someone on a TV screen do it, then these babies are going to crumble. We know now that putting an infant in front of a TV screen can harm them and their minds, which isn’t very happy. So even though it’s tempting to put a toddler in front of the TV because they stay quiet, it’s going to change that child forever, and it can never be redone.

The future is based on how we learn as a baby. If our brains don’t grow or learn enough in this short period

“Pediatricians should urge parents to avoid television viewing for children under the age of 2 years.” of time at this age, we will be negatively different in the future, but if we aren’t stuck in front of a TV during this time and play with the things around us, then we will grow up into better human beings.

So if we grow up good, then shouldn’t the next generation be treated the same way we were? We can chose how the kids in the future can act by simply spending time with the babies now. With this, we can make the new people on this Earth smarter, nicer, and all around better.

George Clooney

Robert Pattinson

Justin Timberlake

Zac Efron Tom Felton

James Maslow Hugh Jackman

Justin Bieber

Our Hottest Guys IN

Awkward Poses

Photos courtesy of Flickr

Brad Pitt

Zachary Quinto December | 14

Books?

Into...

Movies?

By: Madisen D-B.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/5021019816_78edd49386_z.jpg

T

until the movie came out. he Advil commercial suddenly flashes off, and “[The book] was ruined,” Porter said. the bright lights around you turn off. You put “because it not only changed the charthe buttery popcorn bowl down, wipe off your acters and the setting, but it changed greasy fingers, and reach for the remote on the table the entire plot.” in front of you. After you repeatedly click the power When a book is made into a movie, button for a few minutes, you come to the conclusion the screenwriters have to get the OK that the power’s out. So you pick up the book next from the authors’ to write the movie. to you- Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the LightBooks are copyrighted, so this is needning Thief. You read for a while, enjoying the silence ed or the screenwriters could get in around you and the patter of the rain outside. There some major trouble. The screenwriter is a low grumbling sound, and in a flash the house would read the book, and then come lights up again, turning on the TV, to show you the up with a script to go along with it. end of the Percy Jackson movie. Thus, the end of the However, somebook has been ruined times the writfor you. ers can go a little So many books are “There are certain specific apcrazy, and change being made into movthe plot so much ies. Some people like pearance/personality traits of that it’s almost an seeing the images in characters and places and even entirely different their head on the big story that’s bescreen, and others plot points that should be ining told. The book would rather stick to cluded,” Porter said. “It seems wont be ruined the words on the page. for you, but there But one thing’s certainlike the movie makers just disrewill be a lot of If a popular book has a gard those things.” angry fans upset good plot line for Holwith the directors’ lywood, expect them to choice. be in the theatres in a “There are couple of years. Movcertain specific appearance/personality ies aren’t able to show the character bonding- they traits of characters and places and even aren’t able to put every little conversation in there.

The books provide details, and the movie provides the plot points that should be included,” Porter said. “it seems like the movie overall plot line. Books have the ability to go into as much detail or fantasy as they want, and movies have makers just disregard those things.”

There could be many reasons for to find a way to cover all of that in the movies’ budget cutting specific scenes out of the movand time frame. So naturally, sets can be portrayed wrong, plot lines can go astray, and characters can be ie- Budget and time are both big things.

Also, if the book was originally told in cut.

Tons of books are ruined for people every year, due first person, it is very hard for the book to be translated into movie language. to Hollywood’s production studios. When a person “Time...” Lake Travis high school sees a movie that originated from a book, the person freshman Tiffannie Shively said. normally doesn’t read the book- They already know “There’s not enough time. That’s why the plot line, so why is it necessary to read the details? According to tall, pink-haired, blue-eyed Liberal a lot of books are being cut into two parts, such as Harry Potter. This also Arts and Science Academy high school Freshman Mayrose Porter, the Lightning thief was a good book... pleases the crowd, because so much December | 16

more can be added to the movie.” lot more popularity. But if the movie is far from satisThe setting of the story can be changed too. In factory, the author might have a problem with getting your head, things that really aren’t possible can be his or her series to continue to sell. So basically, If the shown. But movie direcbook is a best selling series, in order tors have to work with to continue the series with the movgravity, abnormal weather ies, it must stick to the books’ plot “Books allow more freeconditions, and other like glue. This isn’t to say that books dom to imagine,” Kalk things that we don’t really made into movies are always bad. think about in every day If they have all the right elements said. life. These things, however, and qualities, it can be a fabulous could easily change the movie. But the next time you see setting of the movie, which a bad movie that’s named after a makes the movie skew away from the books’ setpopular book- give the book a try. It didn’t get popular ting. According to Porter, the mental image in your off the movie, it got popular because it was written head can be changed once you see the books’ well, and the public enjoyed it. movie. In a book, you get to picture what the he“The good thing about making books into movies is roic character looks like. With the bits and pieces that you get to see what other people imagine.” Kalk the author provides, you create a unique image of said. “And sometimes, the movie just sucks.” the character. In a movie? Well, it would be pretty hard to find an actor that satisfied everyone’s imagination.

“The books are better [than the movies.] The author can go into more detail,” Austin Waldorf School freshman Caitlin Kalk said. “Books allow more freedom to imagine.”

The casting directors play a big role in the book to movie production. It’s up to them to find an actress or actor who can portray the book character correctly. As simple as this task seems, it’s not always that easy. A well known movie that was able to cast their characters well was Harry Potter.

The actor’s looks were very similar to what was described in the book. Hermione Granger? Bushy, brown hair. Albus Dumbledore? Long white beard and glasses. However, we don’t always get the fortunate event of this happening.

“Not only was [Annabeth] supposed to be blond with grey eyes (those were big trade marks of her appearance), but she was also supposed to be 12, as were Percy and Grover. Not 16.” Porter said.

Because of these easily overlooked mistakes, it will be hard to continue the series in a way that’s somewhat parallel to the book.

“Some movies add random stuff to [the movie] that would make no sense if you compared it to the book,” Kalk said.

When a director comes out with a superb movie People waiting to buy tickthat follows a books’ plot line, the book will gain a ets to see a movie December | 17

Image courtesy of flickr.com

The Wizard of Oz came out in 1939, featuring Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lhar, and Frank Morgan. This movie was made from the 1900 novel, the Wizard of Oz. It is a story about a girl who somehow get transported to a strange new world, and has to get back home. On her way to find the wizard, she meets many odd people such as the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, and The Scarecrow.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe movie came out in 2005, and was named after the popular series (the Chronicles of Narnia) which was released in 1949 by C.S Lewis. The movie features an orphan family of four (played by Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley, William Moseley, and Anna Popplewell) The group discovers the world of Narnia, and the adventure begins there.

The Diary of a Wimpy kKd movie came out in 2010, after a very popular book written by Jeff Kinney. This book is popular with the younger crowd, full of humor and family drama. Greg Heffley, played by Zachary Gordon, is stuck in middle school and uses his diary to write down his thoughts and concerns.

Images from: Teach with movies, IMP awards, and School Library Journal

December | 18

Radiant Blue Light

by Evlin D.

A narrative on the influence of the Mass Media.

December | 21

Brit does on a Thursday morning? The Mass Media undeniably has influence, but what helps fuel our daily lives isn’t necessarily a bad thing if we concede to ourselves the benefits.

We all remember our favorite childhood TV shows, books, or fables told in many forms and many mediums-- the most common of which, in this generation, is the television. Everyone loves a good story. It’s through the TV that people are first taught the stereotypes of society through repetitive exposure. The comfort provided from stories that reflect our daily lives is enough to spurn laughter or cull groans. According to many studies performed and reported by the University of Michigan, TV can

“

teract with the world. It’s obvious in the way we begin to think that our minds are readily influenced

by TV and the Mass Media, unconscious messages being transmitted to our minds through a series of fast-paced, flickering images.

But subliminal messages through the stories and shows seen on our TV, like the habit of watching TV, isn’t inherently bad.

People receive comfort from the TV, according to Robert Putnam, by choosing what they watch based on their believes and day to day livelihoods. The limited-effects theory argues that people rarely get impacted by the media because they choose what they see based on their beliefs.

This is the average afternoon home of the average American.

A couch, a worn out mind, and the TV.” be educational through its storytelling techniques and purposes to our young, bright learners of today.

Underlying, subliminal messages can be transmitted through the TV, effecting the way we view and in-

Courtesy of masternewmedia.org

It’s

five o’clock. I just recently jumped from the school bus steps onto the hard pavement winding down my street from an exhausting day at school. The air is thick with vapor, my skin sweltering under the stored heat. After a brief journey, I’ve finally embraced in the air conditioning of home. My couch looks invitingly up at me, like a child waiting for the candy clasped in my palm. I fish out the remote from between fluffed pillows, sprawl down across the assortments of quilts, and with the click of a button, my TV is on, introducing a world of news, entertainment, and media. I can finally relax. I can finally catch up with the world after the gaggle of problems from high school. Stress, life, health, mind-- all don’t matter anymore when I have flickering images running across a transparent screen.

This is the average afternoon home of the average American. A couch, a worn-out mind, and the TV. The Mass Media, in this day and age, has regularly integrated itself into our lives. It offers comfort, entertainment, and a cultural insight to the ever-changing medium that is the US of A, creating a central hubbub keeping us connected and informed.

Critics argue that the endless, climbing number of hours spent before our flaring lit-screens will inevitably destroy our overall health, but what other method can keep us informed about the news, laughing at our favorite episode of Modern Family, or teach us what a

The theory arose during the early 1940s and 1950s after studies were performed that examined the media’s influence on voting, the studies showing that well-informed people via the news tended to rely on personal experience, prior knowledge, and their own reasoning. However, reinforcing the ideas we all ready hold could be considered influence from the media if you examine the effects of hours spent exclaiming delight of the win of our favorite football team. Media has the tendency or ignore or frame the sides of a debate depending on what minority elite sponsors the news channel or station, which could in turn effect how people draw their conclusions, based on what they see.

Of course, the theory can be widely debated now after the increase of media

influence over the last half century. Though the studies may seem out of date, a much more recent study conducted by Robert Putnam himself during 2000 showed a tremendous correlation between me-

bitual viewers, or viewers that are willing to watch whatever happens to pop up; and speculative viewers, or viewers the specifically choose what they want to view. Consistently, speculative viewers had

“

A recent study conducted by Robert Putnam himself during 2000 showed a tremendous correlation between media influence and what he called ‘civic engagement.’” dia influence and what he called “civic engagement” of the populace, such as participation in local community organizations such as church or a fundraising charity event, writing letters to Congress, and making speeches on behalf of a minority. He divided his testing group into two-- ha-

Image Courtesy of flickr.com

higher civic involvement than habitual viewers. This only goes to prove that TV functions as a cultural uniting of our nation, using its techniques of advertising and displaying information to effect the way we interact with the world.

The two theories made to counter the limitedeffects theory are the class-dominant theory and the culturalist theory. Both theories pertain to both the idea of media influence of our current generation, instead of stemming from research done and based during an earlier time period, and the media’s ability to help unite our generation on prevailing politics, economic debates, and/or

December | 22

A Potrait of a Typical American Living Room TV placed precariously in the center.

Couch oriented in the TV’s general direction.

Expansive place in flooring to provide extra seating for those who didn’t land a spot on the couch.

December | 23

Image courtesy of flickr.com

stories.

The class-dominant theory suggests that TV reflects one view and one view only-- the few of the corporations and minority elite controlling it. Supporters of this view state there concerns for what views and idea that the media can portray through constant bombardment and censorship of stories that could possibly pull a major corporation out of business. However, the culturalist theory, developed in the 1980s and 1990s, merges the other two theories and defines the media influence as people’s way of interacting with the world and creating their own meanings out of the messages and images that they receive.

The culturalist theory is not only supported almost entirely from Robert Putnam’s research, but also the daily life that we can see around ourselves. I know for a fact that I only find out about the news through three sources; one, television; two, magazines, who ultimately share the same news with the television in a more

compact, limited form; and three, my friends, who also, ultimately, received the information from the television. Our family’s daily viewings of TV is almost 35% news, providing me my daily ounce of the world. If anything gets rehashed to me, it’s most likely from the TV. I can only examine the culture of America through hearing about the news that the TV tells me.

Medial influence on society kept at a minimum? I think not. We not only laugh at our favorite episode of Big Bang Theory, we receive from it. The world receives from it.

Coding beneath the run-

ning images on our screen to how much we decide to write to Congress can just be the effect of what we choose of watch and what we end up watching.

So, I’ll just end my stressful day at LASA LBJ High School with a few Simpsons reruns an maybe a story of two of news. I’ll laugh, I’ll groan, I’ll be depressed by images of a bank that was recently robbed-- but hey, it’s TV. I’m learning here.

One of the only forms of communication now is by laptop. But it’s simple and easy - one touch of a button and you’re watching Glee!

December | 24

Recorded music permeates our society- Cd’s, radio, mp3 files and even records. With Itunes, people pay around a dollar to listen to a song as many times as they want. People can even listen to free songs using YouTube or Pandora radio. With all this new (and old) technology, there’s no need to play a musical instrument, right? Wrong.

Many kids that have received a musical education do better in school than those who haven’t. Participating in band or orchestra has shown a positive effect in many cases, and for all ages.

A Princeton study in 2007 showed that musicians scored 57 points higher on the SAT’s verbal section, and 41 points higher on math. This, along with other studies, gives me the idea that music really does improve learning abilities and information retention, even if for only a short period of time. Many people have heard of the Mozart effect-a theory that if a person listens to calming Mozart music, they will be smarter. Many studies have proved this incorrect, making people question the power of music.

Young children grasp the concept of math and music, even if they don’t realize it.

When a baby cries, its mother pats its back in a steady way, and sways from side to side, usually in near perfect time.

According to Ohio University professors Gene and Kamile Geist, this simple action can help a young child with advanced math such as algebra. Being introduced to math and music at an early age is better than if music is introduced in middle or junior high school. I was introduced to music at the age of five, and I have noticed some things that other people in my orchestra don’t. Studies have shown that babies eight months old are able to understand a compli-

December | 25

Image courtesy of flickr.com

By: Madisen D-B.

Music... Makes you smarter?

cated Balinese scale, while adults cannot. Researchers Erin Hannon and Sandra Trehub conducted an experiment to see whether babies or adults picked up more complex rhythms. The babies “aced” both simple and complex rhythms, while the adults did poorly. According to Hannon, babies soon lose this skill unless they need it. So, in order to keep the skill to pick up advanced rhythms, children need to be introduced to music at a very young age.

However, many people have some sort of problem with money. Music lessons tend to cost a lot, and it’s not until 6th or 7th grade that many schools introduce band and orchestra. By that time, the skill is lost and they have to start over.

Due to the idea that music makes you smarter, teachers have begun to use music in their lesson plans. Keith Smolinski, a Biology teacher at Fairfield middle school, wrote an educational song about Biology, and when the students learned it their test scores were about ten points higher than the students who didn’t bother learning the song.

We have all had that one song stuck in our head for days, and nothing can get it out. Well, why don’t we try to get an education song stuck in kids heads? With this biology song, kids were able to remember the parts and functions of cells better than those who just studied.

Playing a musical instrument has shown academic improvement in many cases, mainly IQ and standardized test scores. According to a study at the university of California, second graders who played a musical instrument scored 27% higher on a fractions test compared to those who lacked musical instruction. Math and music are linked together, oddly enough. There are only two universal languages in the worldMath and music. Math is a part of music. Without it, there would be no music. In order to play music well, you need to

Photos from flickr and lesliewong.us

know that a quarter note gets 1 beat in 4/4 time.

You need to know the tempo.

All of the components of music have something to do with math. The link between music and education is becoming more apparent these days.

Musicians don’t only do better with tests, but also life choices.

The Texas Commission of Drug and Alcohol abuse found that students in band or orchestra were less likely to do drugs, smoke and drink alcohol.

These results are also linked to the brain. Drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes kill brain cells, making it harder to retain the information learned. Many kids these days have some sort of way to play music. An ipod, a radio, a computer, or even a C.D player, and even though you aren’t playing an instrument, you are listening to various rhythms that help you. This does not mean that only children who enjoy playing a musical instrument do better in school. Researchers found academic gains even in kids assigned to music lessons and groups. This means that even if your kid hates you for putting them in music lessons, they will show academic improvement. Personally, I hated practicing viola, and still do. It may just be the December | 26

December | 27

Photo from Pisca Photos from Wikipedia, stockvault.net, and pisca

thought of going into my room and practicing, but once I do it, I enjoy it. If children know the benefits of learning how to play a musical instrument, the better off they’ll be. Of course, there will be some complaining. But that’s what kids do best, isn’t it?

I know many people who can easily calm down and clear their head when they listen to music. And the beauty of all this? It doesn’t have to be a classical, all music-no words song. It’s what you like to listen to.

So if you like Taylor Swift, System of a Down, David Cook or Coldplay, its all equally good for you, and your education. Of course, there is controversy over this. This has something to do with the Mozart effect (mentioned above.) The people that believe the Mozart effect is true might say it’s only classical music.

But studies have showed otherwise.

Every time you walk down the street, you must see at least one person with an ipod. They may not realize it, but it’s improving their academic skills at that moment, and will keep them more aware for about ten minutes after they stop listening to the ipod. Now you walk a little farther and you see a local teenage band playing in the street, with their cases open to make a little money. They may not realize it, but they are improving their life. Either one of these situations are good for the brain, but the teenage band will get more out of it- and this works even better if it is what these kids enjoy doing.

Full Orchestras include all insturments in the Wood Wind, Brass, String, and Percussion sections.

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1

The Aristocats

2

The Lion King

A

"Do we have a lobster door?”

“No, we have a DOG door."

B

“Oh, there's the usual things; flowers, chocolates, promises you don't intend to keep.....”

3

Finding Nemo

C

“Hmm! Teenagers. They think they know everything. You give them an inch and they swim all over you!”

4

Aladdin

D

“I'm a damsel. I'm in distress. I can handle this. Have a nice day.”

E

“Let me get this straight. You know her. She knows you. But she wants to eat him. And everybody's okay with this? DID I MISS SOMETHING?”

F

“Forever is a long long time and time has a way of changing things.”

G

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder... Or forgetful.”

H

“Ladies don't start fights, but they can finish them!”

I

“Look, you're really cute, but I can't understand what you're saying.”

J

“Would you like to stay for dinner?”

“Would you like to stay forever?”

5

Beauty and the Beast

6

Hercules

7

The Little Mermaid

8

Peter Pan

9

Lilo and Stitch

10 Mulan 11

K The Fox and the Hound

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"Wow, there's a big surprise. I think I'm going to have a heart attack and die from that surprise"

Image courtesy of flickr.com

Answers on Page 43

Disney Pixar is something many people all know and love. Our generation grew up with the films, and have learned to love them and the geniuses behind them. It seems like there is never a bad movie created by pixar. Pixar creates amazing movies, and really good shorts.

In order to make a pixar classic, it has to go through many steps.

1. A story idea is pitched 2. The text treatment is written. This is similar to an out line of the story.

3. Story boards are drawn. This is like a comic strip of the movie.

4. Voice talents begin recording. The pixar artists record their voice, and get profesionals later. It is a temporary voice for the character.

5. Editorial begins making reel.

6. The art department creates the look and feel. In this step, the artists create the sets in the movie, props, and “illistrating the world and the characters” 7. Models are sculpted and articulated. The characters, sets and props are sculpted or modeled on the computer.

8. The sets are dressed. More detail is put in the sets.

9. The shots are layed out. They choreograph the characters to make the scene, and take shots of the models to make it. It is usually cut up, and is kind of like claymation.

10. The shot is animated. The animators use Pixar’s animation software to make the scene flow more, and less like claymation, more like an animation.

11. Sets and Characters are shaded. The lightening is adjusted.

12. Lighting completes the look.

13. The computer data is “rendered.” all of the files and shots are put into a single frame of film.

14. Final touches are added. Music and sound effects are added.

Info from Pixar.com

Feature films: -Toy Story 1, 2, & 3 -Up -Wall-e -Ratatouille -Cars -The Incredibles -Monsters Inc -A Bugs life -Finding Nemo There is talk about a second cars coming out, in 2011

Short films: -Day & Night -Partly cloudy -Dug’s special mission -Presto -Burn-e -Lifted -Your friend the rat -One man band -Mater and the ghostlight -Boundin’ -Jack-Jack attack -For the birds -Mike’s new car -Geri’s game -Knick knack -Tin Toy -Red’s Dream -Luxo jr.

-The adventures of Andre & Wally B.

photos from: Flickr, driller.blogs.com, Pisca, and lei.fonte.com December | 30

By Julieanne W.

Hulu, Lila gets home from school, finally after 8 class periods of listening and learning. She decides to start on her homework, letting her hand work even more than it has. Three hours and a few snacks later, she’s still barely made a dent in the stack of work due the next day. She slowly turns to look at the clock to see how much time she has left ‘til she can sit on the couch and watch the new episode of House that she’s been waiting for. Her eyes almost pop out of her head, she drops her pencil out of shock, her mouth gapes open, as she realizes that she’s just barely missed the entire episode!! She freaks out, wonderDecember | 31

Hello! ing if anything extremely important happened while she wasn’t watching. Then almost as if a calming switch popped on, she felt extremely relaxed about the situation. “I’ll just watch it on Hulu during lunch tomorrow...” she mumbles to herself as she picks up her pencil and starts back on her homework.

Hulu has been open to the public since March 2008, and ever since then, it has skyrocketed in popularity. The website has almost every American TV show in one place where you can watch them free at any time!

The website grew with showing a commercial, calling Hulu “an evil plot to destroy the

world,” with Alec Baldwin and a few other celebrities as their spokespeople.

The commercial was a hit, and the website went crazy with views of millions of people. Ever since then, Hulu has been a trusted source by many people for viewing TV shows easily.

Alex Albach, a 9th grader from the Liberal Arts and Science Academy, says, “I love hulu,” Says Albach, “it’s really nice to have all of my favorite shows in one place for free. [Also] the shows all run at once and I don’t have to search for the 8 different parts of one episode, and the pixel quality is a lot better on Hulu.”

where anyone can only watch the last 5 episodes of popular shows, unless you join Hulu Plus by paying $9.99 a month.

Hulu has also gotten complaints from people who want to watch full length movies for free. Hulu only shows parts of movies, or at least popular movies, and they don’t let you watch the entire thing. This, along with ‘excessive’ advertising is fueling Hulu criticism.

There are more video websites than just Hulu.

Hulu is currently the second largest video provider on the web. The first is YouTube, a popular video sharing website.

They have over 100 million videos to show, and anyone can make an account and post their videos for free. But Hulu is giving YouTube a punch with the fact that you can watch an entire episode on its website. But, there are some short viral videos that are on YouTube like Fred or Shane Dawson that aren’t available on Hulu, and that’s what keeps people glued to YouTube. Still, YouTube doesn’t provide glued-together TV shows or movies.

“I don’t use YouTube for TV or movies at all,” says Alison McKay, “I use it for the YouTube videos.”

All the shows on Hulu like Glee, Psych, Greys Anatomy, House, Modern Fam-

“I love Hulu, it’s really nice to have all of my favorite shows in one place for

Alison McKay, another 9th grader from The Liberal Arts and Science Academy, likes Hulu, but has some problems with it.

“I liked it more when it had less advertising, but it has very good video quality, a lot better than certain other sites... Most of the shows I watch either aren’t on Hulu at all, or Hulu only has the latest couple of episodes... [But] yeah, I do [like Hulu].”

Since Hulu has been becoming increasingly popular that they have chosen to put more advertisements on the website and they also have started a new system

free.”

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ily, and The Simpson’s are all super popular and on Hulu they’re available 24/7 for free. Then again, there’s also the classic Television set where those shows rerun all day for free. Many people still enjoy holding the remote more than clicking a little square ‘play’

screen that they’ve never watched anything on. Plus, Television is like the tree of life. Without TV there wouldn’t even be Hulu and probably not even YouTube.

Hulu is on it’s way to greatness, but still, it’s second to YouTube in video

button on a video, and they wouldn’t like to change to Hulu anytime soon.

“Its not that I didn’t like [Hulu], its just that I like TV better,” says Aubry Foose, a 9th grader at the McCallum Fine Arts Academy.

Television has a few advantages over Hulu. First, it’s easier to watch a show on a big TV than to crowd around a small computer screen to watch something. This makes things easier watching on TV. Also, TV has been trusted by people for many years before Hulu, so most people probably don’t like the idea of switching over to a smaller

availability and second to TV on viewers and liability. It’s got lots of people watching it, but it still needs even more, and also maybe a groundbreaking discovery showing that Hulu makes you fly or something. So, even though Hulu is a great idea and a breakthrough for online media watching, people still love watching their media from TV sets, whether they’re flat-screened or old fashioned, and it might take a while before Hulu is watched by everyone.

People magazine has just come out with the Sexiest man alive for 2010

The winner is...

Ryan Reynolds!

Ryan Reynolds was born in Canada in 1990, and is the youngest of 4 siblings. He is known for romantic ad comedy films.

He is married to Scarlett Johansson, and flickr.com, piscaweb. has appeared in many movies, such as the google.com Proposal and X-Men Orgins: Wolverine.

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3 5

4 6 7

8 9

10

11

12

Crossword puzzle

2

1

Across

Down

1 “_____ and snap!”

4 “Don’t have sex, because you will get pregnant. And die.” (What movie is this from?)

7 Teen idol with a wolfy grin 8 “Fish are friends, not food.”

10 Evil wizard the resmebles a snake 11 “_____, I am your father.”

12 “______ the elf, what’s your favorite color?”

2 “Jesus Christ, Doc, you ________ Einstein!”

3 Hakuna Matata 5 “Run ______, run!”

6 “Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na ________!”

9 “Rock, paper, scissors, lizard, ______”

Answers on Page 43

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Christmas Screen

Traditions!

Movies to watch!

Food to eat!

-Candy Canes!

-Gingerbread Cookies!

-Cranberry-popcorn Strings!

-Eggnog!

-Ham and Turkey!

-Suger Plums!

-Peppermint!

-Chocolate!

-Apple Cider!

-Hot Cocoa!

-Cranberries!

-Crumb Cake!

Merry Christmas!

December | 36

Image courtesy of collegefashion.net

-A Charlie Brown Christmas!

-The Grinch!

-Home Alone!

-A Nightmare Before Christmas!

-A Christmas Story!

-A Christmas Carol!

-Frosty the Snowman!

-The Nutcracker!

-Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!

-Elf! -The Polar Express!

-The Gremlins!

-Shrek the Halls!

-Scrooge!

Image courtesy of asylum.com

Avatar vs Avatar

Image courtesy of nationalledgery.com

This started when James Cameron’s movie epic Avatar stole the first word in the title of a children’s series coined Avatar : The Last Airbender.

Angelina vs Jennifer

Image courtesy of flickr.com

This feud started when Jennifer Aniston’s hubby Brad Pitt started dating co-star Angelina Jolie.

Feast on the worst fan-wars before your eyes!

Ever since the rise of popular fandoms, from the Beatles to the early generations of Star Wars, people have always blown out of proportion the dicrepancies between favorites. Whether is was which Mystery Inc. character rocked the most socks, or Spock .vs. Kirk, everyone has had their favorites.

Dubbed “fan-wars”, these emotional battles have strung out through the last century and have bled into many books, series, shows, and movies. These are just a few of the most obnoxious, silly, horrible, terrible, cliche, overdone, bland, spicy, ancient, and most hilarious feuds of all time!

By Evlin D.

LOTR vs HP

When a popular fandom overtook another.

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Images courtesy of flickr.com

Image Courtesy of thewowie.com

Edward vs Jacob This popular fanwar started when the hit teen sensation Twilight came about. Edward and Jacob are two battling love interests of the main protagonist’s.

Image courtesy of flickr.com

Star Trek vs Star Wars

Coke vs Pepsi

Pepsi was invented and people thought it was to mock Coke.

December | 38

Can YOU Spot the Differences?

Answers on Page 43

Rupert Grint

Rupert Grint is an arachnophobic, unicycle riding, Chemistry loving actor who is famous for his role of Ron Weasly in Harry Potter. On his audition tape to get the role, he sang hip-hop lyrics he had written to promote himself to be Ron

Emma Watson

Emma Watson was born in Paris, France and has two cats named Bubbles and Domino. Famous for being in Harry Potter, her favorite one of the wizard books is the Prisoner of Askaban. She can speak some French.

December | 39

Are you a Villan or a

Hero?

Take the quiz and find out!

1. Do You Have any Fears?

A. NO! I am fearless!! AARG!!

B. Eh... I guess...

C. YES! D. WHO ARE YOU?! WHY ARE YOU ASKING ME QUESTIONS??!

2. What is your Weakness?

A. WHY DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?!?!

B. Cute little animals :3 C. NOTHING!! I AM INVINCIBLE!!

D. The Person I love

3. What is your opinion on cupcakes?

A. Yummy!

B. EVIL!!!

C. I only like CERTAIN cupcakes.

D. WHY. DO. YOU. NEED. TO. KNOW?!

4. You find a sword, what do you do?

A. USE IT TO KILL!!!

B. Donate it to a nice museum C. Is this an interrogation?

D. OMG ITS SHINNYYYYY!!

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5. Someone’s falling off a building!!

A. I’LL SAVE THEM!!

B. BWAHAHA JUST AS I PLANNED!!

C. OMG WTH?! CURSE YOU GRAVITY!!!

D. eh... whatever...

6. Describe your super costume!

A. Dark Maroon, with a super spiky cape B. Brightly colored, to blind evil!!

C. WHY DO YOU CARE?!?!

D. Umm.. IDK... like... Awesome...

7. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

A. OMG MARRY POPPINS!!

B. ARE THOSE THE WORDS OF EVIL?!?!

C. Did you spell that right?

D. MAGIC SPELL!!! ITS A MAGIC SPELL!

8. Time to go through a metal detector! What do you do?!

A. Let me just empty my pockets of weapons that could potentially blind people...

B. ME FIRST! I WANNA GO THRU FIRST! C. Go through? I’ll just fly over it...

D. ARE YOU THE POLICE?!

9. Do you think you are good or evil?

A. I FIGHT FOR GOOD!! GOOD!!

B. I don’t believe in evil or good...

C. OKAY I’M THROUGH WITH YOUR STUPID QUESTIONS!!

D. I AM EVIL!!! KILL EVERYONE!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Check Your answers on the next page!!

Images courtesy of google.com and flickr.com

December | 42

Results

Hero!

The answers you have the most of

Villian!

Results:1C, 2D, 3B, 4B, 5A, 6B, 7B, 8C, 9A

Results: 1A, 2C, 3C, 4A, 5B, 6A, 7D, 8A, 9D

You are a heroic person that cares about others. Despite your weaknesses, you power through to save ohters. You have a kind and caring heart, but when it’s broken you can have a very bad temper. If you learned how to fly, you would be the new Superman!!

You are truly evil, or at least you think you are. You really like to destroy things a lot, and stealing damsels in distress somehow make you feel better about yourself. You show that you are very evil, but you have a soft side that you usually show no one. You could take over the world anyday!

Sidekick!

Results: 1B, 2B, 3A, 4D, 5C, 6D, 7A, 8B, 9B or 9A You’re almost super heroic... ALMOST. But you’ll probably never get to the point where you can save the day all on your own, mainly because you give up or get distracted too easily. You are really brave and do your job well though! A superhero can’t live without a sidekick!

Spot the Difference! Answers:

Person Who Needs Help...

Results: 1D, 2C, 3D, 4C, 5D, 6C, 7C, 8D, 9C

Okay, calm down, the quiz is over.

It was just a quiz to figure out what kind of hero you were. Now time to go back into your nice white room with bouncy walls. You are overly paranoid of everything, and when you aren’t, you just don’t care about what’s going on. The villian always needs a common friend in the nuthouse... I guess...

Crossword puzzle Answers Across: Down: 1. Bend 2. Disenigrated 4. Mean girls 3. The lion King 7. Taylor Lautner 5. Forest 8. Finding Nemo 6. Batman 10. Voldemort 9. Spock Disney Quotes 11. Luke Answers 12. Buddy 1-H 7-C 2-E 8-G 3-I 9-A 4-K 10-J 5-B 11-F 6-D December | 43

Toothpaste

Makes You Smarter December | 44

Dear Reader, Welcome to Manuscript Magazine. Obviously, you’ve reached the end of our pages, and our first issue, and we want to thank you for taking the time to absorb in a new experience having to do with the big screen, or the blue screen, or green screen. It depends. There are so many different types of screens.

But that’s the point of our magazine, isn’t it? There are many different types of screens. The computer screen, the TV screen, the movie screen-- everything has it’s own medium to display a story. We touched on Hulu, books into movies, your favorite TV shows, and more, expanding across all of the realms that are used to tell a story. It was a goal from the start to explore the world of the screen, but after all, the world is so expansive, and our magazine is so small that it can hardly contain everything.

So that’s why you are important. There is so much more to learn about the realm of the media. We hoped to inspire you, our reader, to continue to learn about the screen-- big or small, TV or movie theater, computer or book-- and explore with what you like in your media. If you hate a way a movie was performed or made, strive to make it better, whether it is taking screen writing classes or aspiring to become a film composer. Heck, you even don’t have to do anything. All you need is a little perseverance and patience. The movie theater doesn’t change on its own. Choose not to support bad movies, or TV shows, December | 45

Image courtesy of FreeImageGallery.com

or anything that displeases you.

Eventually, it’ll die. Die of neglect.

But please, don’t hesitate to sit back and enjoy the show. Take some popcorn, maybe a few Twizzlers, and allow the experience to flow.

Sincerely,

Manuscript Magazine

December | 46