The Pew Research Center’s annual State of the Media Report underscores recent developments which suggest that American journalism is in the midst of a seismic transformation. Much of the discussion surrounds the ways in which people consume news, and the need for news producers to be able to respond to increasing consumer demands if it […]
Are we heading for Judgment Day? Whether you believe it or not, some very powerful people are doing everything they can to bring about the end of the world. It might come sooner than we think if recent events in the Ukraine and the Middle East are any indication. Do we need to prepare for […]
My wife and I have been married for 32 years, and we have remained childless by choice. We decided long ago that we did not want to bring any children into this world. I realize now that not having a child is one of the most radical acts of defiance one can commit in our […]
You gotta hand it to Bibi Netanyoohoo: his genocidal policies toward the Palestinians sure have made his country more secure, haven’t they? You betcha! He should be real proud of himself for making everyday life so safe and secure for the people he pretends to care so much about. Yep, Israeli citizens can sleep safely […]
I never understood the arguments against gay marriage. What’s the big deal? My wife and I will be married thirty-two years in October and we both agree that anyone crazy enough to want to get married in this day and age should be allowed to do so. Why should gays be denied the misery of […]
The Comstock Law, passed in the United States in 1873, was part of an ongoing – to this day! – campaign to legislate public morality in the United States. The Comstock Law was initially meant to stop the trade in “obscene literature” and “immoral articles,” particularly through the mail. It was named after Anthony Comstock, […]
King Henry VIII was the first Monarch to take legal action to control the press in pre-Enlightenment England. His methods were simple enough: he required all printers to pay licensing fees in order to be allowed to print anything. This concept became known as ‘prior restraint’: preventing the distribution of controversial materials before they are even […]
Mad Men is a perfect example of a serialized historical melodrama that permits viewers to re-evaluate the past. The show was created by Matthew Weiner, a co-writer and producer of The Sopranos, in 1999. Mad Men arguably tells us less about the 1960s than it does about the current desire for collective nostalgia for the […]
Effective celebrity activists use their fame and fortune to bring attention to important issues and to give credibility to legitimate representatives of social movements. Internationally-known celebrities can help expose and highlight problems which would normally get little or no news coverage without their involvement. But does celebrity involvement really make any difference in what people […]
Recreational drug use is a part of life. Experimentation with illicit substances can be very enlightening or it can be incredibly destructive, depending on the circumstances – and the individual. Like most things, moderation is a key component to leading a healthy, normal life. Adults should be able to make their own decisions regarding what […]
Jason Darensburg's Blog-o-rama 