The Implications of the Increasing Number of Superhero Movies

I am among those who anticipate the release of big superhero films. I am not a fan of superheroes and I have never read comic books that will give me an idea of the movies’ storylines. I like watching this kind of movies because of the amazing experience that they can give.

Superhero films are filled with special effects that are pleasing to the senses. They also bring a different kind of thrill and excitement that other movies cannot give. I guess this is among the good points of the increasing number of superhero movies – these movies give viewers value for their money. They have special effects, death-defying stunts and unique plots that other movies cannot give.

Despite this upside however, I think there are a lot of negative effects that this kind of movies bring. One is the idea of normalizing acts violence and another is the provision of the wrong representation of men, especially among children.

The storyline of superhero movies usually revolve around the need to stop a villain from destroying mankind. They usually involve intense fight scenes and the use of special powers that don’t really happen or exist in real life. These movies may give people the wrong impression that these situations are acceptable. They may also encourage aggression, sarcasm and other negative virtues.

Superhero movies highlight less stereotypical masculine behaviors that may not give an idea of good male role models for young kids. These movies may also disrupt the idea of the society of what a good man should be.

American psychologist Sharon Lamb said, there is a big change in the way superheroes are portrayed these days. They are no longer the ones that people should look up to or idolize. I agree with this statement. Superhero movies these days do not promote the importance of good values such as respect, patience, and understanding. They are not like the superhero movies and cartoons that I used to watch as a child.

All in all, I think the number of superhero movies will continue to increase in the future because of the positive response they get from the society. Although watching this kind of movies may bring advantages and disadvantages, their effects on people should still be upon each viewer’s discretion. Each of us should be responsible audiences.

12. 치장하다.

I must go and make myself presentable before the guests arrive.

감사하는 마음, 그것은
자기 아닌 다른 사람을 향하는 감정이 아니라,
자기 자신의 평화를 위하는 감정이다.
감사하는 행위, 그것은
벽에다 던지는 공처럼 언제나 자기 자신에게로 돌아온다.

- 이어령 교수

The Two Sides of the Oil Price Collapse

Oil prices dropped to their all-time low for the first time in decades.Starting June 2015, the price of a barrel of crude oil dipped to less than 30 U.S. dollars from 110 U.S. dollars in 2014. This significant decrease in oil prices is said to be caused by the booming shale gas industry in America. Shale gas is retrieved from sedimentaryrocks through the process called hydraulic fracking. It is a natural gas that can be used as an alternative energy source, and the increased production of such gas lowers the demand for crude oil.

Analysts explain that the ones that get the most benefit out of the lower costs of crude oil are the motorists who buy the product in retail. Also, major importers of petroleum products for industrial purposes, namely China, Japan and many countries in Asia may have economic gains from the lowered oil prices. India, a country that imports more than half of its petroleum and is highly dependent on oil subsidies, may also benefit a lot from this.

However, major producers and exporters of crude oil like Russia and Saudi Arabia are those that suffer much because of the lessened demand and value of oil, to the point that some oil companies are drowning in debt and facing the brink of bankruptcy.

For Russia, the collapse in oil prices recently caused its economy to shrink by more than 0.5 percent. With the country’s ongoing dispute with Ukraine topped by this decrease in national revenue brought by lowered oil prices, Russia is pushed towards an economicrecession. Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members are asked to lessen their oil production so that the lessened supply will push oil prices back up but some countries do not show willingness to do so as it already proved to be an unsuccessful move in the past. 

Major oil exporting companies like Chevron, Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell made their worst quarterly reports in the past decade.Smaller oil companies have resorted to cutting payrolls of employees, lessening cash expenditures and selling assets just to stay in business. They claim that although the lowered prices can benefit their consumers, they might not have enough return of investment that will allow them to continue providing products to the public.

Some analysts say that oil prices may continue to fluctuate until the end of the year, or maybe even longer. Although the IMF expects a possibility of a billion-dollar loss for the oil industry, it is predicted by some experts that supply and demand may balance out by the end of 2016, and this will result to slowly stabilizing oil prices.

11. ~ 머리모양을 하다.

She wore her hair in braids

ponytail : 말총머리, bob : 단발머리

[도서]근시사회 폴 로버츠 저/김선영 역 민음사 | 2016년 01월 내용 편집/구성 충동으로 하루를 살아가는 현대인들에게 따끔한 일침을 주고 탈 근시사회를 위한 해법을 제시하는 책

이 책의 원제는 THE IMPLUSE SOCIETY로 ‘충동사회’라 번역되어야 하지만 ‘근시사회’가 책 전반을 관통하는 문제의식과 더 적합하다는 판단으로 <근시사회>라는 제목으로 번역 되었다고 한다. 여담이지만 번역본의 제목을 결정하는데 원작자의 동의를 얻었다는 점도 인상 깊은 책이다. 책이 다루는 전반적인 주제는 미국 사회의 시장경제와 관련된 패러다임의 변화이며 과거의 노동자가 이제는 철저한 소비자가 되었으며 시장과 정치가 결탁하여 소비자를 더욱더 철저한 소비자로 만들고 소비지향의 사이클을 끊임없이 돌리고자 하는 것을 비판한다. 현대사회는 사방에 충동이 만연한 사회이다. 누구나 부자를 꿈꾸고 누구나 새로운 것을 원하고 누구나 개인화된 소비를 즐기는 사회. 이러한 사회는 겉으로 보기에는 효율성을 추구하며 끊임없이 발전하는 것으로 보이지만 사실 소비의 끝은 파괴라는 점에서 충분히 경계해야 할 문제라는 생각이 든다.

효율성을 외치며 삶의 질을 개선하기 위한 새로운 제품들은 하루가 멀다 하고 끊임없이 쏟아지는데, 정작 우리의 삶의 질은 그에 비례하여 개선되었다고 볼 수 있는가? 우리의 소비 행위는 우리의 자유 의지로 이루어지는가? 효율성이 파고든 우리의 일상에 편리함이 자리하고 인간성을 몰아내지는 않았는가? 이러한 질문들에 대한 배경과 답변을 이 책에서 찾아볼 수 있다. 무서운 것은 우리 모두 무언가 찜찜함을 느끼면서도 그 원인조차 인지하지 못하고 있다는 것이며 과거와 달리 개인화된 조직들도 그들 본연의 기능을 수행하지 못한다는 것이다. 사회는 점점 세밀하게 분열하고 있고 종내 개개인 만이, 아니 개인마저도 분열될 수도 있을 것이다. 이러한 현상들에 대한 분석으로 현대사회의 병폐와 그 원인 그리고 대안을 찾으려는 움직임을 거꾸로 개개인으로부터 시작할 수 있게 만들 수 있을 것이다.

정치에서부터 소비자 선택에 이르기까지 우리 생활전반에 걸쳐 극도로 근시안적인 성향을 보이는 현대인들은 그들도 모르는 사이에 그들의 가족, 공동체 더 나아가 국가에까지 심각한 피해를 입히는 지경에 이르렀다. 이러한 성향의 배경에는 효율성 이데올로기를 원동력으로 삼은 정계와 재계가 있으며 현대인들이 자각하고 바꾸어 나가기에는 그 한계가 분명히 보인다. 다른 미래학자와 통찰력 있는 석학들의 분석과 대안대로 이 책의 저자 폴 로버츠는 근시사회의 병폐를 고칠 대안으로 건강한 공동체를 위한 공간의 창출을 제시한다. 신중함과 화합 계획성과 준비성을 칭송하던 사회로 회귀하는 것이 그 근간일 것이며 이를 수행하기 위한 행위로서 소비를 통한 효율성을 지양하고 화합을 위한 비효율성이 강조되기도 한다. 가령 바쁜 시간을 쪼개어 가족간에 식사를 하며 대화를 나눈다던가, 식사는 외식대신 집에서 손수 만들어 먹는 다던가, 식사 후에는 드라이브 대신 산책으로 기분전환을 한다던가 하는 비 소비지향적인 행위들 말이다. 단순하지만 이미 소비를 통한 효율성(사실 냉정히 볼 때 효율적이지 않을 수도 있지만)에 중독된 현대인들에게는 담배나 마약 같은 끊기 힘든 달콤한 유혹일수도 있겠다. 하지만 충동사회가 우리를 조정하도록 그대로 내버려 둘 수는 없을 터! 개개인이 자각하고 스스로 빠져나올 수 있도록 두 눈 부릅뜨고 정치와 시장의 행보를 주시해야겠다.

Online Film Censorship

The Central Board of Certification of India filters all new movies before their release. This is to make sure that each film will not feature nudity, violence and other scenes that are offensive to religion and politics. Filtering is also done to distinguish the type of audience that will be allowed to see each film. India’s film regulatory body is strict in implementing all its limitations hence making some film producers resort to under the table transactions and illegal deals just to make their movies pass the standards. 

To put a stop to the continuing increase of unlawful acts involving the censorship of Indian films, the regulatory board plans to do the whole censorship process online by 2016. With the use of the Internet, there will no longer be a need for film producers to physically be present at the board’s office to have newly made films reviewed. The online process will be done to promote absolutetransparency and lessen the possibility of malpractice and illegal transactions like giving of bribes. 

This plan, as seen by an ordinary film lover like me, has its good points and bad points. Using the Internet may expedite the review process of Indian films. The regulatory film body may create a more systematic and efficient system that will hasten film reviews for censorship. 

However, this does not address the problem on film producers still making films that feature unwanted content. People’s principles and beliefs may have changed drastically because of the increasing influence of modernization. However, this should not change the fact that all movies should go through a proper process of censorship. The Internet may help ease the process of checking the content of new films produced but it does not solve the bigger problem that film censorship is facing. 

Using online film censorship is a good move but it is only a small part of a bigger intervention that needs to be done. Taking advantage of the advancements of technology will add to the quality of service that the Indian film regulatory body can give in reviewing movies for censorship but it is not enough to restore, if not maintain the good quality of the Indian film industry. A bolder plan of action is needed as this may be the groundwork for the improvement of the film industry, not only in India but in other countries as well.