Not Full from “The Hunger Games”

I just got home from seeing “The Hunger Games.” I will definitely be in the minority by saying this, but I wasn’t overly impressed.

I am all for dystopian, Orwellian fiction. George Orwell’s “1984” and Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” are two of my favorite books, painting images of state-controlled future worlds. I ultimately feel like this film is just inconsequential. It was definitely gripping and kept my sharp attention during the span of 2+ hours, but I have difficulty surmising any solid concepts, themes, or morals after it had ended. Sure, there were subtle suggestions of the importance of loyalty to loved ones and friends via “tributes,” and slight mentions of individuality, but they were drowned out by the overall bleakness of the overall “lethal lottery” concept. Yes, the plot and its supporting details are imaginative, but the film missed several opportunities to make any substantial commentaries on human behavior within the extreme circumstances in which the characters find themselves. I’ve been told I just need to read the books to fully enjoy it, and that’s definitely a fair suggestion. But based on what I’ve seen, I don’t plan on rushing to Barnes & Noble to buy them.

Furthermore, and let me preface this by saying that I’m not a conservative person, but I’m a bit shocked the film didn’t receive an “R” rating. Heavy subject matter aside, I felt like the film had too much graphic violence for a PG-13 rating. If I had kids, I wouldn’t take them to see it. I’m actually surprised there wasn’t much more of an uproar from parents or conservative “family values” groups around the country regarding this rating. What is interesting to me, though, is that a film like “Bully” is initially given an R-rating due to a few uses of profanity, but a film in which teenagers are brutally murdering each other is permissible viewing material for children. Forget the topic of real-life bullying, these kids are brutally murdering each other. It’s bullying to the most extreme degree. If I were to play conspiracy theorist, I would say that the movie studio must have given the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) some kind of financial incentive to give the film a PG-13 rating. That wouldn’t surprise me, as that organization is no stranger to shady business, as evidenced in the documentary “This Film is Not Yet Rated.”

I’m still hungry, but I probably won’t go back for seconds.

Tagged: ,

Published:
April 3, 2012 – 11:00 PM
Author:
By Steve
Categories:
Comments:
None

My Quick Take on Facebook’s Changes

Last week, Facebook unveiled significant new changes to its platform at its annual conference, F8. Check out this recap on Mashable for a nice succinct summary of the new changes. Essentially, they are:

  1. New “Timeline” profiles
  2. Verbs instead of “Likes”
  3. Larger app presence
  4. Menial info now in the Ticker
  5. Multimedia opportunities

Facebook is certainly no stranger to change. Sometimes, those changes are initially met with hostility from the public, which then later morphs into acceptance and the status quo. I have a few thoughts on the changes, as they pertain to user experience, as an actual Facebook user with a pulse, and as a social media marketer. Click below the fold to read more.

Read More »

Tagged: , ,

Published:
September 26, 2011 – 7:54 PM
Author:
By Steve
Categories:
Comments:
None

What to Make of Google+?

By now, you’ve likely heard of Google+, the new social network by Google. Some call it the “Facebook” killer, in that it may soon become the dominant social network online. Others disagree, and have yet to be convinced that it is a game-changer.

So, where do I stand? Check out my post on ChatterBlast Media’s blog here, and see for yourself!

Tagged: , ,

Published:
August 10, 2011 – 12:06 PM
Author:
By Steve
Categories:
Comments:
None

The Essential “Do’s and Do Not’s” of Social Media Marketing

I recently wrote a guest blog post for Bad Rhino, a social media agency based here in Philadelphia. In this post, I discuss some of the critical rules businesses and companies need to keep in mind when executing social media marketing campaigns and engaging with their online community of customers. Read the full post here.

Essentially, I outline four chief rules:

1. Don’t: Be corporate. Do: Be personable.

2. Don’t: Annoy your followers. Do: Practice discretion.

3. Don’t: Waste your followers’ time. Do: Give them a reason to care.

4. Don’t: Expect magic to happen. Do: Set expectations.

Sure, there are tons of more rules brands need to follow, and they vary by industry and company size, but these guidelines are universal rules to successfully navigate a social media marketing campaign. What are some of your important rules? Leave a comment below!

Tagged: , , ,

Published:
April 11, 2011 – 11:01 AM
Author:
By Steve
Categories:
Comments:
None