Olympics Dilemma

The Olympic Torch Relay, sponsored by Coca-Cola took place this week.  The event stirred chaos and protests as many are upset with China’s poor behavior concerning human rights.  Sponsors were dealing with the dilemma of whether or not to continue with their sponsorships. As many sponsors probably are not even able to pull out considering contractual obligations, the dilemma has pretty much solved itself. 

However, Coca-Cola, and other sponsors, have stated their positions as supportive of the event.  “We’re committed to the Olympic torch relay and the Olympics,” said Coke spokesman Kelly Brooks. 

If in place of handling this situation, I would personally emphasize the Olympic’s main focus, and that is the athletes themselves, their hopes and dreams and the representation of their individual countires.  The Olympics is an event for the world. One that is to bring people together, not divide.  If China has done wrong, it is not in the sponsors’  right to place judgement, or punish participating parties, as pulling out would lessen funds, therefore making it more difficult for athletes to take part.  Also considering the fact that many of these sponsors probably have manufacturers in China, thus perpetuating the human rights issues, or make sales in China, it is apparent that in making an effort to pull out, they are solely concerned with their brands image.  This is business, and that is completely understandable, but so as not to be hypocritical, sponsors, therefore in pulling out of the Olympics, might consider cutting all ties with China, or perhaps, staying and emphasizing their reasons for being there, the right reasons of course.

Yo Amo America

The International American Development Bank launched the Yo Amo America (I Love America) Campaign , today Friday, April 4, at 12 noon, according to an article on IADB.org.

The campaign was launched to fight poverty in LatinAmerica and will be using musical influences to do so.  Artists including Ricky Martin, Juanes, Juan Luis Guerra, Alejandro Sanz, and Shakira will be performing at the event, according to an article in El Universal, a newspaper from Mexico City, and will be working with the campaign and their own organizations to fight poverty, each in a particular area that poverty is afflicting, for instance, education and health among others. 

Ricky Martin will be working through the Ricky Martin Foundation, Juanes will be working with the Mi Sangre Foundation and Juan Luis Guerra with the Juan Luis Guerra Foundation.

Each of these artists has, in the past, worked individually with different causes and seeing them unite shows the strength of the LatinAmerican community. 

Integrate

Advertising, Hollywood, and cosmetics all in one? I’ll write on this:

 Perez Hilton just posted Angelina Jolies newest Shiseido ad which will air in Japan, according to VIPGlamour.  Angelina has previously worked with the Japanese cosmetics company but there is no word yet of this campaign being aired in the US.  The television spot includes Angelina’s gorgeous face and some Spanish music. Angelina is almost too perfect for Shiseido, with her godess-like looks and all!!

With all of her humanitarian work, it also only seems right to do an ad campaign that will air in Japan and not the US.  Brad and Angie get enough attention in the states and more press would probably get annoying. 

Miley Cyrus Racy Picture Scandal

Photographs of Miley Cyrus in her underwear leaked and cirulated all over the internet early in 2008. The Hannah Montana star was pictured holding her blouse up, revealing her stomach, while standing in her underwear, as well as on a bed, with her blouse up, revealing her stomach and in her underwear, once more. The pictures, it has been said, may possibly have been fake, or photoshopped.  The photos circulated the internet mostly through form of blogs, as it was difficult enough to find articles about the scandal through mainstream media.

In articles posted on AOL.com, MSNBC.com, AssociatedContent.com and the National Ledger, among a few others that I was able to find, the coverage was mostly unfavorable to Cyrus.  In some of the articles, such as on AOL, she was compared to another Disney Channel star, Vanessa Hudgens, whom also recently faced a similar yet worse scandal.  A few of the articles, such as the one on AssociatedContent.com, claimed that Cyrus was in danger of nearing  a path similar to many Hollywood starlets such as Linday Lohan and Britney Spears. These articles also spoke unfavorably of the Disney Channel for not taking better control of the situations.  Miley Cyrus had stated in several articles, such as this one at MSN BC.com,  about previous photographs being leaked, that she was concerned about the situation and that she tries to keep her cool above anything.  Headlines mostly agree that Miley’s image could possibly be ruined and the articles agree that she will need guidance to keep from falling on the wrong path. 

Blogs, such as PerezHilton.com, are simply writing about the situation as is.  Miley’s photographs were leaked, predominantly on blogs, and Perez Hilton of course, was one of the first to include them on his.  The situation is looked at as any other and as nothing too out of the ordinary.  With so much scandal in Hollywood these days, it comes as no surpise to many.  Coverage is still unfavorable, as Perez’s photos include his comments written all over them, as Cyrus’s photo says “Chola” in writing across it.  Bloggers like Perez are only hoping that scanals like this come up to begin with for more blog readership so for Perez, the situation is something to laugh  at and not a serious matter as it would be to parents.  Blog posts on the situation basically include Cyrus’s contraversial photographs, a small discription or funny comment and space for viewers to comment, which also consist mainly of jokes about Hollywood starlets and “It Girls.” 

While blogs and mainstream news articles both agree that Miley might be headed toward the scandalous life that many young Hollywood stars live, a blogger’s take on the situation is less harsh and less serious.  While articles claim the irresponsibility of adults in her life and of the Disney Channel, blogs just directly point fingers at Cyrus and laugh.  Coverage was far more prominent in blogs as this is where the pictures were able to circulate.  While the mainstream media has something to say about it, it didn’t say too much.  The scandal was soon forgotten. 

Miley Cyrus’s publicist did an pretty good job of keeping the scandal under wraps.  I don’t feel that I would have done differently, as it seems that mainstream coverage on the scandal was kept well under control.  Two months later, Miley Cyrus and Hannah Montana are just as or more famous, as it seems Cyrus’s fame grows day after day.  My only concern at this point is for the Disney Channel. Parent complains might become a problem for their viewership and reputation. 

Almost Moon… Almost Decent

 

Three years ago I picked up Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones, and unable to put it down, finished it in two nights.  Recently I also read Sebold’s memoir, Lucky, and was equally if not more impressed.  I decided I’d give her third book, and second fiction work, a shot and so I bought The Almost Moon when I went home last weekend.  The first line reads, “When all is said and done, killing my mother came easily.” Strikingly similar in style to the first lines in her other two books, I expected ‘Moon’ to be just as captivating, but to say that I am very disappointed is a complete understatement. 

‘Moon’ was released last October and immediately caused a stir, and not a good one.  According to an article in USA Today, “It was never going to be easy for Sebold to follow The Lovely Bones, her nearly letter-perfect 2002 novel narrated from heaven by a girl who is murdered by a serial killer.”  I have to agree and add that Sebold is only beginning to get comfortable with fiction. While many of Sebold’s devoted readers were heartbroken, to say the least, her style is strong and I feel she will have many an opportunity to write a second fiction novel that may be up to par with ‘Bones’ and if so, may I be crossing my fingers that it make it to Oprah’s Book Club. 

Sebold needs only a page turner with characters that we may all relate to or empathize with, because honestly, no, we don’t all as kids spend “sweaty summer afternoons in [our] bedrooms daydreaming of cutting [our] mother up into little pieces and mailing them to parts unknown.”

Lohan does Monroe

Lindsay Lohan posed nude for the cover of New York Magazine’s Feb. 25, 2008 issue.  Lohan did so while recreating a photo shoot that Bert Stern shot of Marilyn Monroe in 1962 at the Hotel Bel-Air Calfronia.  Lohan was shot in the same location, and while Marilyn was drinking, and according to The Superficial, drunk, during the shoot, there was no alcohol present on Lindsay’s set. According to an article from CTV.ca, ” [Stern] said he thought the photo shoot would be good for the young actress, giving her the chance to portray herself as a grown-up. He also lauded her for her willingness to do it in the nude.”  Lohan feels that Monroe’s death and more recently Heath Ledger’s death, are “both prime examples of what the industry can do to someone.”  While many believe that Lohan is headed down that same track, she adds, “I sure as hell wouldn’t let it happen to me.”  I feel right in applauding Lohan for slowly getting better, and staying in and out of the limelight in non-exessive amounts.  I also have to agree with Stern that Lindsay is giving herself the opportunity to be portrayed as an adult.  I feel the photoshoot is not a step back, as many believe, but a leap forward for the young actress.  Lohan has much potential and by placing herself in a more positive light and staying away from the alcohol, which I hope she really is doing or will conitnue to do so, I think she truly can bring out that potential. 

Flashing Lights

 

Kanye has just dropped his newest video for Flashing Lights.  Upon first hearing the song I fell passionately in love and was excited to see what he might come up with for a video.  In my eyes, a brilliant lyricist and a huge talent, Kanye never ceases to amaze me. He is allowed, in my own view, to be as conceited as he wants to be, his breakdown moments make for something to laugh at anyway.  As I see it, he is one of the smarter and most legit rappers of his generation. The video for Flashing Lights struck a chord somewhere.  I watched in anticipation for Kanye’s appearance and continued watching in fear. The end is truly brutal. Yet another success for Kanye.  Perez Hilton has a link to the video posted on his site. 

She Can Do No Wrong

Upon beginning this first entry, I decided to visit Perez Hilton, of course, in hopes of finding something worthy of praise.  I was trying to avoid anything Paris or Britneyesque and found nothing remotely interesting.  I took a stroll on over to The Superficial and found exactly what I was needing. 

Being the loyal Shakira fan of 13 years that I am,  I can say I was pleased to see that she was the 2nd story down on page 1, right below a story about Anna Nicole Smith.  According to The Superficial and Fox News (I didn’t go here at my own free will, The Superficial linked me on over), Shakira has auctioned off much of her wardrobe, including costumes for her Oral Fixation Tour (which I sadly missed because, well, college students are sometimes economically restricted) and a Roberto Cavali bra on Ebay for charity.  Shakira is donating 100 percent of the proceeds to Fundacion Pies Descalzos, an organization which she started to assist children from her native Colombia. 

 Although Shakira has been out of the spotlight for a bit (recording, maybe?), she remains in the public eye through gracious deeds such as this.  It’s incredibly refreshing to focus some attention on a celebrity that isn’t drugged, in rehab, traumatizing her children, or spending some time in prison.  God bless her heart!

Perhaps a good example for young, hot, Hollywood, no?