mitZine v10.3

Volume 10, Issue 3 November 2010

“The philosophers have only interpreted the world... the point, however, is to change it.”

- Karl Marx

mit

makes

MUSIC FEATURING

MONICA ROSSA BRANDON SOUSA & GENEVIEVE FISHER (PICTURED)

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

Controversially Canadian Jennifer Spence

Sleepwalking into Oblivion Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood

Breaking the Binaries Sarah Koopmans and much more

Disclaimer: The sole responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the authors. Its contents do not reflect the opinion of the University Students’ Council of the University of Western Ontario (“USC”). The USC assumes no responsibility or liability for any error, inaccuracy, omission or comment contained in this publication or for any use that may be made of such information by the reader.

www.mitsc.ca

ESAELP ELCYCER

PLEASE RECYCLE

CONTENTS STAFF

3

10

Breaking the Binaries

Naughty and Nice

SARAH KOOPMANS

JONATHAN NGUYEN

Challenging conceptions of gender exclusivity

The men’s body wash war: Axe vs. Old Spice

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Letter from the President ERIKA CASUPANAN

11

HEAD COPY EDITOR

4

The Unilever Paradox

Can-See-No Reality

KIM APPOTIVE

TAYLOR PEARCE

12

5

Announcing the mitZine Online

Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood zine.editor@gmail.com Taylor Pearce zine.copyeditor@gmail.com LAYOUT EDITOR

Mary Wong zine.layouteditor@gmail.com ADVERTISING AND WEB EDITOR

Jonathan Forani zine.adteam@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTORS WRITERS

Kim Appotive, Erika Casupanan, Gillian Cummings, Sarah Koopmans, Jonathan Nguyen, Tania Overholt, Jennifer Spence, Julian Uzielli ILLUSTRATORS

Megan McDonald, Liam Grue, Warren Kong, Emily Stewart COPY EDITORS

May Chow, Gillian Cummings, Marisa Dametto, Meg French, Bryan Gold, Mathu Jeyaloganathan, Kristen Roseheart, Andie Wright, Steve Wright

Casinos cashing in on the hyperreal

Sleepwalking into Oblivion

We can’t live like we do forever... so why aren’t we looking for alternatives?

HADRIAN MERTINS-KIRKWOOD

6 MIT Makes Music

Featuring Monica Rossa, Brandon Sousa, and Genevieve Fisher

JULIAN UZIELLI, TANIA OVERHOLT, GILLIAN CUMMINGS

READ THE ZINE ONLINE www.scribd. com/mitZine

8 Controversially Canadian

The Political Fight Over ‘Fox News North’

JENNIFER SPENCE

BE MORE THAN A READER:

EDITOR’S NOTE Reception to last issue’s cover story (“The Myth of Post-MIT Careers”) has been mixed, ranging from straight-out rejection to begrudging acceptance.

As a more optimistic counterpoint, this issue’s cover story (“MIT Makes Music”) looks at the burgeoning music careers of several current FIMS students who are using and applying their theoretical educations in their creative field. It’s an empowering reminder that the elusive careers undergrads desire are entirely attainable with enough effort and initiative.

Hypocrisy in the way we get clean

I am also excited to announce the launch of the mitZine Online (mitzine.wordpress.com), our first foray into the overcrowded blogosphere. mitZine web editor Jonathan Forani has been hard at work developing a stylish and innovative web platform to supplement the print version of the Zine, and the end result is a new avenue of free expression for FIMS students. Check out the mitZine Online for reviews, videos, opinions, and other content that we can’t fit into the print edition.

This issue of the Zine also features critical Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood perspectives on the controversial Axe brand, mitZine Editor-in-Chief insight into the phenomenon of homosexuality in a heterosexual marriage, and an eye-opening look at the proposed “Fox News North”.

CONTRIBUTE TO THE

We’re always looking out for talented writers, illustrators, copy editors, artists, and other contributors. Make your voice heard and your work seen in the official FIMS undergraduate student publication.

Contact Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood for information or inquiries: zine.editor@gmail.com Or visit us online at www.mitsc.ca

BREAKING THE BINARIES

CHALLENGING CONCEPTIONS OF GENDER EXCLUSIVITY written by Sarah Koopmans // illustrated by Emily Stewart // edited by Bryan Gold Amy is twenty-one. She is a college student. She is Dr. Treena Orchard is a health sciences professor gay. She has also been married to a man for almost whose research includes gender and sexuality three years. issues. She is interested in Amy’s unique story.

“There are many factors that [convey] the Amy tells her story casually and comfortably, the expression of sexuality in society. They are hard way that anyone might while reminiscing about to classify because we live in a binary world, but his or her childhood. From the ripe old age of six sex isn’t binary. The spectrum of sexuality is what’s or seven, Amy had known that she found girls real.” attractive. Naturally, hormones kicked in around age fourteen, and she realized she “wanted to do more Amy is unruffled about how remarkable her than just look at them.” situation is: “There really is no difference between my marriage and someone else’s... I chose my Though there aren’t many years between age husband, and so it doesn’t matter that sometimes I fourteen and twenty-one, Amy talks about how she may desire sex with a woman; I desire a relationship had a few relationships with women. Some were with my husband more.” purely physical, but one of them was just like any girls’ first love story: “We did what society usually There is little literature that echoes Amy’s account. expects couples to do: the long walks, staying up Most documented stories are of people who all night talking, leaving each other little ‘I love you’ have come out while in committed heterosexual notes—the cheesy stuff that gives you the warm relationships, causing both partners to have to fuzzies.” reassess their relationship because of their mixed orientation. The book Married Women Who Love Then, when she was seventeen, she met Mike.

Women by Carren Strock (Doubleday, 1998), cites “We had that ‘eyes meet across the room, he tries many examples of women who either didn’t realize to suppress a sly smile, she blushes’ moment…[I] their orientation until after they were married to a loved him instantly,” she says. “I am not sure how to man, or felt they had no other option but to follow explain it. Nine out of ten times I would prefer to be through on what Dr. Orchard calls the “heterowith a woman rather than a man, unless of course normative scripts” that classify our society. that man is my husband.”

Amy is an extraordinary example of how the linear Two months into their relationship, Amy nonchalantly nature of societal boundaries is changing. She talks told Mike that she “historically date[d] women,” but about the power of choice, and about faithfulness. “he handled it beautifully…It just wasn’t something “I am committed to [Mike], and that’s why he has we dwelt on.” Having gotten to know each other, never asked me to forfeit the part of me that is gay, and finding out they had the same life goals—which because regardless, I am his.” included raising a traditional nuclear family—they got married.

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Hello everyone. I hope that midterm season treated you well, and that the images in your head of Weldon aren’t too scarring. Remember, knowing the exact number of ceiling tiles on the fourth floor is totally an employable skill.

Knowing the exact number of ceiling tiles in Weldon and in the Fanshawe library? Now that equals an instant job.

in progress I was liaising with the USC to provide feedback on the potential strike that I have received from FIMS students. The feedback included opinions on communications, contingency plans, and more. Remember if you ever have any feedback on the USC in any way please let myself or MIT Councillor Brandon Sousa (bsousa2@uwo.ca) know.

My past month has been filled with many discussions. The Undergraduate Student Fund Committee met to discuss proposals for funding. Some of the approved projects include MIT’s 2nd Annual Wet/Dry Formal in March and the Charity Coffee House in November. Keep checking out our website because a full list of approved projects should be up very soon! The Equipment Loan Program, which allows undergraduate FIMS students to rent video cameras, has begun and is also a project funded by the Undergraduate Student Fund.

If you have any questions about how the USF works, how to apply for funding, and anything else that the Weldon-bound heart of yours desires, then let me know.

I have also been working with members of the MITSC to plan initiatives for the faculty. This month alone you can look forward to the MIT Clothing Sale, MIT’s Annual Coffee House, The Student Panel, Academic Futures Week, and more.

If there is an event or initiative you’d like to see let me know.

As all of you know (hopefully), a few weeks ago there was a lot of talk about a potential strike. Hey look, we’re still in class. Wild. While the negotiations were

As always, I have office hours every Wednesday from 1:30-3:00 in NCB 298.

There are 9 ceiling tiles in that room. Come play sometime? That’s all for now, friends.

Erika Casupanan MITSC President ecasupan@uwo.ca [mitZine v10.i3] 3

CAN-SEE-NO REALITY CASINOS CASHING IN ON THE HYPERREAL

written by Taylor Pearce // illustrated by Mary Wong // edited by Marisa Dametto He will feed and famish you, Make your wallet bleed and banish you, Nurse you drunk ‘til you concede and ravish you.

marble floors, pillars and high ceilings make your synapses snap to adjectives like slick, lavish and opulent. To further overwhelm you, game tables and slot machines are splayed out across the floor; no matter where you turn, you’re greeted with row after row of machines. This space creates a conflicted sense of wide-open containment; you’re trapped here and you should like it.

Sound like the beginning to a sad country song?

Although Willie Nelson could undoubtedly turn this into another Grammy for his shelf, its inspiration doesn’t come from a bourbon-fuelled break-up.

Instead, it stems from a place that pays homage to an assassinated emperor 24/7.

Although you must be legal to enter, there are features that seem designed for children, most Welcome to Caesars Palace. notably the free all-you-can-drink pop machine.

Located in Windsor, Ontario, the automobile capital Most six-year-olds would drop their hard-earned of Canada, it should come as no surprise that this allowance for unlimited access. In games, most city has been hit hard by the recession. Ironically, exchange your money into chips or receipts that Windsor’s Caesars Palace is its own product of are printed with your standing balance. There isn’t outsourcing, as the casino brand originally hails from much difference between that and an afternoon the Las Vegas strip. Never having visited before, spent wielding Monopoly money. my expectations were shaped only by the many I couldn’t help but observe how bizarre the set up movies I’d watched throughout my life as a chronic of a casino is. Regardless of age, female servers cinephiliac. From Rain Man, Ocean’s Eleven and must wear short, white dresses that would make even The Hangover, movies have used casinos as Wilma Flintstone wince. Here you find fifty-five a backdrop prime for plot conflict. Still, the movies year old Ethel working her clunky pumps, while she don’t do it justice. Once you step inside a casino, serves cocktails to nineteen-year-old high rollers. you step inside another world: the hyperreal.

The patrons within the casino seem to absorb this Hyperreality, according to famous French theorist strange energy. At the game tables, people bond Jean Baudrillard, is the blurring of what is real and together with each other’s wins and losses, hoping what is fantasy.1 In terms of the casino, this blurring the close proximity to a hot hand will rub off. Even is made murkier the further into the experience you Baudrillard’s simulacrum is evident over at a video go. From the moment you enter, the grandeur of black jack table, where five eager men sit around

staring at the dealer on the screen: a life sized woman simulation, complete with cleavage like the Grand Canyon.

Over at the slots, the machines whirl and woo in excited measure as the patrons sit, dull and withdrawn, waiting for a win. Slots can be described as a game where you’re always losing money until you win. Seem like a no-brainer? Well, it should since cerebral cortex activity isn’t required to play.

The slot machine gladly slurps up your money and as your balance dwindles and inflates in a rocky sea motion, your index finger’s attachment to “the button” remains constant. After a few spins, you continue to lose money, until you’ve reached Uno: one spin left. You know you shouldn’t push the button, and at least walk away with your dignity, but your next spin could be the winner. You pause—and push the button. Nothing. The slot machine’s whirl and woo now seems to mock you as it takes your last penny.

Within the walls of the casino, time is distorted and discarded. Windows were conveniently eliminated in the design plan. Once you enter, you have no indication of whether it’s day or night, as if you are expected to use photosynthesis with the light thrown off the machines to further fuel your spending. After someone loses money, they inhabit three states of time at once. You’re in the present as you reflect continued on page 9

SLEEPWALKING INTO OBLIVION

WE CAN’T LIVE LIKE WE DO FOREVER... SO WHY AREN’T WE LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVES? written and illustrated by Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood // edited by Kristen Roseheart We are a generation that is woefully unprepared to handle the grim realities of the coming century. A consumer culture that values novelty and instant gratification has conditioned us to look no further ahead than the next MacBook release, Facebook feature, or Harry Potter blockbuster. We don’t think about what will happen to us in 5, 10, or 50 years because we are told not to. Why pay now when we can pay later? Even our eye-opening MIT classes, which deconstruct the hegemonic powers of the past and apply those lessons to today’s structures and ideologies, don’t look far enough into the future to reasonably understand the world that we will one day be a part of.

The lobbying industry affects public policy more than our elected officials. The corporations that we sustain mitigate our real concerns with superficial products and entertainment. The obvious failures of neoclassical economics are becoming apparent to the millions of unemployed and indebted. The environmental crisis has become a debate of whens, not ifs. Neo-nationalist movements in Turkey, Japan, the United States, and elsewhere foreshadow the inevitable disintegration of globalization. The stratification of wealth and power is worse today than it has ever been. Perhaps more importantly, those who hold the power are becoming increasingly invisible.

Despite their best attempts to pacify the masses with persistent, far-reaching propaganda, however, the power holders are scared too. Infinite growth is logically impossible on a planet with finite resources. We will run out of viable oil reserves within 60 years—we know that—but we don’t know what our alternatives are and we don’t know exactly

how long we have to figure them out. The cost of acquiring stuff will continue to rise (not just in terms of national debt, but lives too) until we either exhaust the Earth’s remaining resources or are forced to radically reconstruct our models of production and consumption.

And what are we, as citizens, supposed to do?

To completely escape consumerism and the hegemonic forces at play in Western society would be to live outside culture. Practically speaking, it cannot be done. Throwing down your iPad to go fend for yourself in the wild would do little to provoke change beyond ridicule from the mainstream news media.

You can start by learning about the world. Reading the news will help you retain far more information than watching it, and talking about it with your peers will allow to you better critique the reality being fed to us by corporations, media, and politicians.

Empathy, a quality obscured by an advertising environment that prizes egoism and individuality above all else, can make a big difference in how we interpret the headlines that matter, like “Dozens die in Baghdad explosions” (BBC), compared to the ones we actually care about, like “Students lose with strike” (Gazette). Pull yourself away from Youtube or Twitter for long enough every day to take an active interest in something that actually matters.

Whether it be the ongoing war crimes in Iraq, Darfur, and Gaza; the rapid, worldwide extinction of thousands of animal species; or the compounding problems of the world economy, find something that bothers you and do everything you can to learn about it and make a difference.

“What is needed is a real understanding of what is happening to the world and why it cannot continue.”

What is actually needed is a large-scale societal rejection of the hypercapitalist model that has exploited the world’s resources and poor people for the last century. What is needed is a real understanding of what is happening to the world and why it cannot continue.

Knowledge may be power, but it is also a burden.

To know that we cannot live as we do for another 50 or 100 years is reason enough for most people to put the blinders back on and hope someone else figures it all out, but the state of the world is not something that can be remedied by one person, regardless of how much hope or change they promise. It takes action by all people at all levels of society. It takes information campaigns, protests, and the subversion of normalized, consumerist values. It takes a drastic reevaluation of what really matters to us, and what is worth fighting for.

It’s not optional. We need to make a difference now because although the people in charge won’t be around to deal with the disasters they have created, we will be. We will be forced to care when our comfortable, insulated lives begin to crumble around us.

We need to make a difference now, because within our lifetimes it will become too late.

Sources available upon request. [mitZine v10.i3] 5

MIT MAKES MUSIC MONICA ROSSA written by Julian Uzielli // edited by Steve Wright Monica Rossa may be young, but that doesn’t mean she’s inexperienced. At only nineteen, she has experience on both sides of the music industry; she put out an album when she was sixteen, which got airtime on several radio stations, and now works full time for Cordova Bay Records, an independent record label based in her hometown of Victoria, BC. “I have had the fortune of being exposed to the music industry as both an artist and a businessperson,” she said, “and I’m thankful that I’m now on the other side of the desk.” She started as an intern, a position she landed through connections forged at a talent competition called Victoria Idol. She’s now a full-time employee of the label, which represents such artists as Krome, State of Shock, and David Gogo. Her responsibilities cover everything from website maintenance to seeking out and signing new artists, to representing the label at events like North by Northeast and Canadian Music Week. And, to top it off, Monica has just been offered a position on the board for Fierce Panda UK, in addition to her other duties at Cordova Bay. Despite her obviously busy schedule, she maintains a full course load as a second year honours MIT student, with a minor in music. “Certain times, the workloads will both be pretty heavy but other times they’re manageable,” she said. So how can she stand the stress? “Work hard, play hard,” she laughs.

“The music industry is the only place where drinking is encouraged on the job and going to see concerts is just an extension of a business trip.” Evidently, work and play can mean the same thing.

There’s no shortage of excitement on the job. “My initiation rites included avoiding the sexual advances of rock stars and embarrassing myself at work,” she said. “I have spilled soda water on myself in front of a roomful of very important industry moguls.” Despite a few misadventures, though, she doesn’t regret making the transition from recording artist to her position at Cordova Bay. “I don’t hesitate to say that I have the best boss in the world, and the relationships I have with the people I work with are some of the new artists for Cordova Bay. closest friendships I have.”

Does Monica have any tips for budding artists in MIT? Yes: send in a demo.

Although she doesn’t have immediate plans to perform on another record, She encourages hopeful rock, pop, folk, jazz, and blues artists to send Monica still writes her own songs on the side, and was recently offered a in an mp3 with a short description of your act and your qualifications to publishing contract as a songwriter. Her main priority, though, is business. monica@cordovabay.com, with “demo” and your name in the subject field.

She plans to open her own PR firm with a focus on entertainment before she For more information about Monica and Cordova Bay Records, check out graduates from Western, and in the meantime, she is constantly looking for www.cordovabay.com.

BRANDON SOUSA

where his lyrics are prepared in one sitting. The end result: an uplifting sound and relatable lyrics.

written by Tania Overholt edited by May Chow

Next—they all became an instant success and grew from there. In 2001 at a leadership conference, Sousa hesitantly performed his first show after being convinced by his peers. In succeeding to move the crowd, the show only encouraged him to continue. It was from Algonquin Park to Kernel Park where he performed alongside Tranquil at the age of sixteen. The crowds kept getting bigger and the performances more frequent. He’s had the opportunity to perform at Toronto’s Reverb, Colonel Mustards in North York and London’s Alex P. Keaton and alongside Roger Marles, Marino Manzoli, and Joseph Accardi. Along this journey, he was able to build a bigger fan base, develop recognition and

What do the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Hootie and the Blowfish and Brandon Sousa have in common?

Well, for starters, all of these big city natives create music that come from their very own walks of life.

Brandon says his fun, vulnerable and soothing music is his expressive outlet. It is a constant piece of work, being inspired frequently by quotes he overhears, personal experiences and the motivation to encourage a sense of comfort in his audience. He starts by experimenting with different guitar chords, and then works at creating lyrics that fit. He admits that creating the music is his biggest challenge,

GENEVIEVE FISHER written by Gillian Cummings edited by Mathu Jeyaloganathan MIT – Media, information and technoculture? Sure.

Meet incredible teens? Absolutely.

Allow me to introduce you to a talented individual at Western: Genevieve Fisher. Genevieve is a first year MIT and pop music student who is pursuing her dream of becoming a country singer while simultaneously obtaining a university education.

The London-born star won her first singing competition at age two and it has been all uphill from there. Between volunteering and singing at various events, Genevieve is set on getting her name known. She has now won two London Music Awards for best country singer, making her the youngest ever person to win, and is in the process of releasing her first CD. After returning from Nashville this past Thanksgiving to record five songs for her upcoming EP, she is now putting the final touches on her album cover and looking to get her first single released on the radio. “Nashville was such an amazing experience. It was a stepping stone for my career, and I can’t wait to go back” she said excitedly. Working with the same musicians that have performed for Brad Paisley and Kenny Chesney has provided her with great experience, which has given her more confidence to pursue the career of her dreams.

In the meantime, Genevieve continues to use her talent to volunteer for multiple charities, and does a lot of work within London and the surrounding native aboriginal communities. Her background, half Chippewa of the Thames First Nation, plays a huge role in her life as her community has generously supported her career aspirations. The other half of her heritage, Italian, has also helped to shape her perspective and her music. Coming from two very rich cultural backgrounds has led her to her to name her first album—Without Borders. She has no limits, no borders that define her culture and believes the songs on her CD are all different from one another, learn the attributes needed for every musician.

He says musicians must be gratuitous to all their contributors, soak up every opportunity and be personable, as the traits will help you build fundamental relationships with those involved in the event and your audience. Building a connection with his audience has become Sousa’s main goal as result. He has learned to tweak the playlist to the audience’s preferences and how to create a shared sense of comfort and vulnerability between him and his audience with every performance.

making her range limitless.

friends. Though her favourite music is country, with role models being Patsy Cline, Jason Aldean and So how does she manage to keep up a budding Carrie Underwood, she also loves all other types of music career, while at the same time working music. towards a double major at school? “Juggling both school and singing has been a challenge for me and To top everything off, Genevieve is more than I knew from the start that it wouldn’t be easy” she just an amazing singer. She has her grade six in explains. “At times it’s very stressful, but this was piano and has played the violin for eight years now. my choice to balance both. I hope that one day I She also writes some of her own music. Listen for can walk away with a university degree and become her new songs ‘Keep On’, ‘Some Letter That You a successful recording artist. I will do whatever it Wrote”, by famous song writer Jeffrey Steele, and takes.” Her determination and passion for music is her personal favourite ‘Sway’. astounding and has allowed her to advance as far Genevieve is excited for her next performance at as she has; it has already led her to some amazing Norma Jeans on December 11th, at 10:00pm. opportunities. Opening for Crystal Shawanda was She is also hoping to have an album release party one of the highlights in her career as it allowed her sometime in January. Check out her website at to start branching off into the industry. They have www.genevievefisher.ca for the date and details! since become Facebook friends and still keep in contact with one another. Amazingly, in between all this music, volunteering, and school, she still finds time to enjoy snowboarding and hanging out with

artist. This effort led him to his first CD debut on the Free the Children’s compilation CD, as well as his personal favourite performance. Two years ago he performed for Western’s Relay for Life, where he was able to use his music “to give back to the people.” As he recreates the memory, he remembers the silent audience and sincerity shared amongst the crowd.

As he stepped in front of 300 people remembering those who have fought cancer, his music took on a whole new role. It allowed him to “restore the true meaning of music as an art” as it helped created a soothing ambiance for those in reflection. From then Last—they all share an interest in using their music on, being a part of fundraisers and local events has to help charitable organizations. Just as Hootie and become Sousa’s primary focus. the Blowfish have become nationally recognized for their contributions, Sousa has worked hard in being So all three acts share the talent, the passion and thought of when local charities are in need of an the Hollywood look, but Sousa is here in London.

Come and see him at the MIT Coffee House Sunday November 28th at the Spoke or visit his myspace page at: www.myspace.com/brandonsousamusic.

If you are interested in booking Sousa for upcoming event contact his booking agent, Matt Marozzo at matt.marozzo@gmail.com.

Are you a musician in MIT, MTP, or MPI? Contact the mitZine about being featured in a future issue:

zine.editor@gmail.com

with a press release with the relatively benign title “Quebecor Media invests in New English Canadian TV News Channel.” The language employed in the press release, however, was a little more impassioned; it spoke of “hard news”, “straight talk”, and quoted Quebecor’s president as stating this new channel would “shake up the current players of the Canadian broadcasting system,” while “offering Canadians something new, something better, something distinct.”

Well, that didn’t seem so bad, right? (Wait for it…)

The press release also contained quotes from Kory Tenycke, Quebecor’s newly-appointed Vice President of Development. Tenycke was far from a household name but was well-connected in the “capital-C” Conservative world as a previous advisor to both Preston Manning and Mike Harris, and a lobbyist for the big-oil-funded Canadian Renewable Fuels Association. Before signing on to help launch Sun TV News, Tenycke served a year as Director of Communication for Prime Minister Harper from 2008 to 2009, and spent several months as a Conservative party pundit for CBC News. If Quebecor hadn’t wanted to court controversy, they would not have enlisted such a polarizing figure. In the press release, Tenycke attacked the “narrow, complacent, and politically correct” approaches of Canada’s primary news networks, and stated Sun TV News would not “be another network catering to elite opinion and ignoring stories important to many Canadians.”

(That hardly sounded nonpartisan; cue the outrage.)

Journalists and news personalities in the Canadian liberal media sphere were furious. Retired CBC news anchor Don Newman proclaimed that this was “the absolute last thing this country needs,” a CTV executive nicknamed it “Fox News North,” and the Globe & Mail ran several articles attacking what they believed to be another outlet for Sun newspapers’ trashy, tabloid-esque, right-wing reportage.

CONTROVERSIALLY CANADIAN

THE POLITICAL FIGHT OVER ‘FOX NEWS NORTH’ written by Jennifer Spence // Illustrated by Warren Kong // edited by Meg French

Will Canada become home to the next Glenn Beck?

That’s what some people are worried of following Quebecor Media’s announcement of plans to launch Sun TV News, a nation-wide conservative television news channel, starting January, 2011. As soon as the press release went out, critics of SunTV were quick to label the proposal “Fox News North”, attacking what they believed would be a biased, propagandistic network, modeled after everything wrong with the American Fox News station.

Canadian” station will be a valuable addition to political debate in Canada? Or should we join Globe & Mail and CBC journalists in worrying this network could be unduly influenced by the slanted “infotainment” approach popularized by Fox News?

(Fun fact: The man behind that polarizing, partisan network, Rupert Murdoch, was recently spotted lunching with a high-powered Sun TV News executive.)

But the most controversial aspect of the announcement was buried in the final paragraph: a single sentence informing readers that the channel had applied for a three-year Category 1 Specialty TV license.

Canada has two categories for television channels, as regulated by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission. Category 1 channels must be offered by all digital cable and digital broadcast satellite providers, which provides a built-in audience and guaranteed income.

Category 2 channels, on the other hand, do not have guaranteed cable-carriage rights, and do not have to be offered to all providers; as a result, Category 2 channels must work harder to gain audience share and revenue streams.

The truth about this situation, like in all good news The problem with Sun TV News applying for a As MIT students, what should we think about this? stories, lies somewhere in the middle.

Category 1 license in June was that the CRTC Should we unquestioningly accept Quebecor’s This political firestorm all started on June 15, 2010, had decided back in March to place a moratorium promise, believing that this “controversially

on new Category 1 licenses; all stations currently licensed as Category 1, such as CBC News Network and CTV News Channel, would be re-issued as Category 2 when their current licenses expired.

No surprise: Sun TV News’ application was quickly rejected. Quebecor execs argued that an exception should be made for them, as they would be creating “an Information & Analysis channel,” which would be “a completely new genre in Canada.” The CRTC informed them that as a “News” channel, they were nothing new to Canada. However, if Sun TV News wished to re-apply for a Category 2 license, the CRTC promised that it would be granted “without delay.”

But Sun TV News, and Kory Tenycke, refused to compromise. Their subsequent application to the CRTC in August, asked that SunTV be awarded a brand-new, (made-up) classification: Category 2 but with a three-year “Mandatory Access” clause. In other words, a Category 1 license with a different name. The CRTC saw right through their plan, but dutifully scheduled a hearing for November 19th.

when Kory Tenycke published an opinion piece on September 3; his article, titled “Atwood sells out to Yankees,” ran in every Sun-owned newspaper across the country. In it, Tenycke writes that not only did Atwood place “her political agenda ahead of principles and patriotism,” but that the anti-Sun petition itself was a “farce,” because fictional characters ‘Homer Simpson’ and ‘Boba Fett’ were also listed as signees on the petition.

In response, Avaaz.org publically questioned the source of Tenycke’s knowledge of those fraudulent names, as the signature list was not publically viewable. Further investigation revealed that those signatures could all be traced back to a single I.P. address from Ottawa, and that they were all added the same night during which Tenycke had written his article. Throughout the ordeal, Tenycke claimed that the “prankster” had tipped him off via Twitter, but then quickly deleted his account. On September 14, Avaaz.org requested that the RCMP launch an investigation into this “deliberate and illegal effort” to discredit their organization.

The next day, September 15th, Kory Tenycke announced his effective-immediately resignation from Quebecor and Sun TV News. He stated his continued involvement in the project would only “further inflame” controversy, and admitted that his actions had “contributed to the debasing of [the] debate” over the network. Shortly after this incident, Quebecor appointed their new VP of Development: Luc Lavoie, a longtime spokesman for former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Much like Tenycke, At the same time, an online petition titled “Stop Lavoie has an expansive network of Conservative Fox News North” emerged. Hosted by Avaaz.org, connections on Parliament Hill. an international activist organization, it claimed Two weeks later, in early October, Quebecor quietly that Stephen Harper was using Sun News TV to revealed that it would change its CRTC application “push American-style hate media onto [Canadian] to seek a standard Category 2 license. They hope airwaves,” and the channel would be “funded to begin airing January 1, 2011. with money from our cable TV fees.” Over 45,000 signatures were added to the petition within a Throughout this ordeal, both Liberals and matter of weeks (the current count stands at over Conservatives have behaved like children; they’ve 80,000). Not one of those tens of thousands of reduced valuable political debate to little more than people, it seems, had bothered to fact-check what name-calling and hurtful gossip. The Conservativethey were signing: the creator’s accusations of backed Sun TV News vows to bring balance to corruption were never cited, and his secondary Canadian news, yet insults their competitors and claim, that of taxpayer funding, was a complete debases any criticism as their competitors “taking misinterpretation of the facts. Regardless, several a shot” at them. On the Liberals’ side, they routinely notable Canadians, including author Margaret sing praises of free speech laws, yet want to stop Atwood, added their names to the growing list of this network because of the assumption it will politically motivated signees. promote views they disagree with.

When news of this lobbying came out, Canadian media were in an uproar. Rumours swirled that Kory Tenycke was using his Conservative political connections to move the process along; one Globe & Mail column, in particular, accused Stephen Harper of pressuring the CRTC chair to resign from his position. Despite the fact that the CRTC chair denounced these rumours as “categorically” untrue, the anti-Sun-TV-News media continued to circulate.

Quebecor dismissed the petition, denouncingAvaaz. org as an “American special interest group funded by U.S. billionaire George Soros”—despite the fact that Soros, a notable liberal philanthropist, had nothing to do with the site. Sun News employees then went on the offensive: a Sun News Ottawa bureau chief accused Margaret Atwood of stifling free speech, and a Sun newspaper columnist published libelous and defamatory statements about Soros. (Both Soros and Atwood are considering legal action.)

This is the kind of insanity that we’ve come to expect from America. Canadians are supposed to pride ourselves on our tolerance and rationality, and here we are attacking each other over a television channel that hasn’t even released any programming details yet.

Until we can experience the network for ourselves, let’s be reasonable. And hey, look on the bright side: even if Sun TV News turns out to be just as biased as Fox News, it’ll just give Rick Mercer more This escalating battle of ideologies came to a head material to mock on his show.

continued from page 4 on your past, telling yourself you should have quit while you were ahead, meanwhile you are going to continue the pattern in the future to try to win your money back. Casinos might as well add time travel to their list of amenities.

When it comes down to it, the casino is essentially a subverted bank. You have your helpful tellers dispersing money in good times and taking it back in bad. Transactions take place at every table. Over in a game of Texas Hold ‘Em, a bad hand means a “remortgage” of funds to stay in the game, while two to the left, a despondent player wallows in their own foreclosure.

The eeriness echoed in George Orwell’s “1984” is recreated in the casino through the security cameras that litter the ceiling, as if Big Brother brought along sixty “Sister Wives”. You aren’t allowed to take pictures with a personal camera and cell phones aren’t permitted at game tables.

The reason behind this is to ensure no one is cheating; it seems like another way to break communication with the outside world and suspend the hyperreality.

If this sounds like a crazed babble about a casino’s corrupted pleasures, let me draw my gaze back. Windsor’s Caesars Palace can be looked at as an entertainment hub. Though it is strongly reinforced you gamble, and undeniably an ulterior motive for why other perks are offered, this casino brings in entertainment acts that vary from David Letterman and Ringo Starr, to Maroon 5 and Chris Rock. With an integrated hotel, it acts as a one-stop destination for overnight visitors who inevitably support the economy. Most importantly for Windsor, it’s one of their largest employers, hiring 3,600 people who could be jobless without it.2 That’s 3,600 more families that can support themselves in uncertain times.

With that said, what do we take away from a hyperreality that can extend as much harm as enjoyment? Although it may be very easy to slip into the “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” illusion, the reality is that the casino is a business that makes money when their customers lose it. If you truly want to get what you paid for, your best bet would be to pass over the allure of winning high stakes and tough hands, and head for the buffet; at least your stomach will be satisfied in the end.

1 http://tripatlas.com/Hyperreality 2 http://www.cbc.ca/canada/windsor/ story/2010/01/29/windsor-sportsbetting-100129.html

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NAUGHTY AND NICE

THE MEN’S BODY WASH WAR: AXE VS. OLD SPICE written by Jonathan Nguyen // illustrated by Megan McDonald // edited by Andie Wright Hello Ladies…

By now, we have all been exposed to the full-fledged war between the two largest competitors in the men’s body wash and deodorant industry. In one corner stands the hip and controversial brand Axe, publicly criticized by female-advocate groups upset over the depiction of women in their ads. According to ABC News though, Axe still holds over half of the market share with profits of $50 million in the US last year. In the other corner stands Old Spice, a seasoned brand that has been selling men’s products for seventy years. Recently, Old Spice has revitalized its image with trendy advertisements that have increased its market share by 8% last year alone and elevated the brand to pop-icon status.

Each body wash giant uses different approaches to sell their respective products. On the one hand, Axe relies on sexual innuendos an imagery, and as a result, has attracted negative criticism for objectifying women in its campaigns. On the contrary, Old Spice uses the same “sex sells” ideology to not only market its products to men, but to positively reinforce the female image, which diversifies its brand more than ever. Ultimately, through different advertising approaches, both perpetuate two drastically different ideologies about women and sex.

woman in a forest, dressed in a low-cut bikini. We see her running through the wild with a determined look, furiously searching for something. We also start to see hundreds of more women, barely dressed and running Baywatch-style. As we see these women conquer the lands and seas of this mysterious place, we finally realize what they are all racing towards—a man profusely spraying the latest Axe product over himself.

This advertisement is exclusively targeted toward men and to further restrict its scope, the advertisement depicts women as primal, manhungry beings, which both alienates and objectifies them. The intended audience, it seems, is a one-dimensional male ego.

sexy women in skimpy clothing, the ad shows the male viewer how they would be seen in the eyes of a female if he wore Old Spice. With both techniques, the commercial attracts both men and women.

Think about it, guys: the next time your girlfriend goes out to buy you deodorant, which one would she be more likely to endorse? Old Spice not only avoids objectifying women in their commercial but manages to directly address them.

“Old Spice not only avoids objectifying women in their commercial but manages to directly address them.”

The Old Spice “I’m on a Horse” commercial is much different in approach and style. Old Spice has received accolades that the commercial is genius and a viral sensation, and the star of the commercial, Isaiah Mustafa, has been elevated to superstar status. Most of us have seen it at least three times on YouTube. For those who haven’t (for whatever reason), immediately report to YouTube for evidence of its greatness. Old Spice manages to create an illusion, where the commercial is still Let’s take a look at two commercials from each marketing to male consumers (after all, it is a men’s brand. For Axe, let’s review “The Axe Effect product), but Mustafa also speaks directly into the Women—Billions”. It begins with a very attractive camera to women. Instead of showing dozens of

Don’t get me wrong; I love half-naked chicks romping around in the wild as much as the next guy. The intriguing thing here though is that Old Spice has managed to use sex as a selling point while upholding the positive image of women. Old Spice realizes something critical that Axe does not: even though the target demographic is men, the female audience should not be in any way diminished or ignored. Start taking notes, Axe.

THE UNILEVER PARADOX

HYPOCRISY IN THE WAY WE GET CLEAN

written by Kim Appotive // illustrated by Liam Grue // edited by Gillian Cummings Countless advertisements, television shows and magazines in the media advocate “thinness” as sexy—the standard which all women are told to achieve. Only a small percentage of the population fit this ideal, leaving the rest unsatisfied with themselves. Based on recent campaigns, it would appear that advertising is changing to target that discontent felt by the majority of consumers. But are advertising companies really promoting a new body size that can be considered sexy or are they exploiting the average woman’s concerns to sell their product? The international company Unilever proves the latter. Two different products, Dove and Axe, send opposing messages of what a sexy body entails. Dove’s Real Beauty Campaign promotes all body shapes and sizes as sexy, whereas Axe continues to promote thinness. Unilever owns both of these products.

Since most women do not fit into the thin standard of sexy, Dove’s campaign aims to target this issue.

Dove focuses on statistics identifying women’s self-image issues. Their research states “only 2% of [women] describe themselves as ‘beautiful.”

The debate on what ‘real beauty’ is focuses mainly on size. One of the most memorable ads in their campaign states: “All this talk about fashion models and extreme dieting. How did our idea of beauty become so distorted?” These statistics and statements enforce the idea that there is a strong correlation between being thin and being sexy. This prompted Dove to change the face of their product,

introducing ‘‘real’’ women in their ads with captions such as “Flawed or Flawless?”, “Fat or Fit?” and “Oversized or Outstanding”? It would appear that Dove has begun to embrace a realistic standard of what should be considered sexy and is one of the products that utilizes advertising to send this positive message.

campaign highlights.

The fact that Unilever owns both products illustrates their willingness to use advertising to exploit the average woman to sell a product. There has been an outcry over the company’s dual ownership and the double-standard they have set for women. The Dove research proves that Unilever knew, down to In contrast, Axe continues to show that men the exact percentage, the amount of women that perceive a thin woman as a sexy woman. The are negatively affected by being unable to attain the women portrayed in these ads are the opposite of ‘perfect’ body size. those in the Dove campaign as they are thin, young Unilever’s Dove campaign attempts to rectify this and seemingly flawless. In fact, it would appear that issue, while the Axe campaign continues to valorize Axe has an inability to portray ‘real’ women in their thin women. Unilever sells to women by appealing ads. On What the Dove, a blogger writes, “none of to their self-esteem, whereas their methods used those women are a size eight because size eight to sell to men contribute to why women have these women don’t sell sex in the world of Axe.” self-esteem issues. This proves that Unilever is Axe’s advertisements suggest that sexy women will willing to manipulate women’s self-esteem in order be magnetically pulled towards a man who uses to successfully sell products to all consumers. Jim their product. In one ad, a man sprays himself Nail comments, “Only one in 100 people may know with the product and turns into chocolate. As he that Unilever owns both brands, but that one person walks down the street thin women chase after him is likely to be participating in social media.” This is and touch, lick or bite him in a sexually explicit proof that the company does not want the masses to manner. This suggests that a man who uses Axe know that their humanistic advertisements tackling is as irresistible to women as chocolate. The Axe women’s issues with their body image is merely a user welcomes this attention, as the women he marketing ploy. attracts are thin and therefore sexually desirable.

The lack of “real” women in these ads tells viewers that only thinness is sexy, which negatively impacts the women who fail to meet this unrealistic standard These are the types of ads that have contributed to the women’s self-esteem issues that the Dove [mitZine v10.i3] 11

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