Hollywood and religion, can they coincide?

Many would think that the two completely contradict each other, but yes, if you dig deep enough you will find that Hollywood and religion can exist together. For my COMM 336 class (a.k.a. Mass Media Writing) I have chosen two of my favorite topics, celebrities and religion, and tied them together to create four blog entries filled with religious views, scandals and controversies. Hopefully you enjoy them as much as I did, and maybe learn a thing or two.

Scientology

Scientology is a religion that has become quite popular with today's celebrities. Everyone knows (especially after watching the "South Park" episode, "Trapped In The Closet") that Tom Cruise is an extreme Scientology activist. But he isn't the only one. Celebrities such as: John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Kirstie Alley, Katie Holmes and Will Smith have also jumped on this religion bandwagon.

In 2005, when Scientology was becoming more than mainstream, being the naive 15-year-old that I was, I thought Scientology was new on the scene. Little did I know it had been around long before Cruise of Travolta. After doing more research I realized that Scientology was founded in 1952 by L. Ron Hubbard.

Scientology is defined by the Church of Scientology as a religion in its highest meaning, as it helps bring man to total freedom and truth.

In 1955, Hubbard launched "Project Celebrity": a project with the goal of spreading the world of Scientology. Hubbard created a list of 63 celebrities that he recruited to help in the conversion. Of these celebrities was former silent-screen star Gloria Swanson and jazz pianist Dave Brubeck.

With myself being a Southern Baptist and being raised in the "Bible belt" I don't agree with the religion nor understand all the hype over it. But for those that do follow the beliefs of Scientology there are eight Celebrity Centers across the US; the largest being in Hollywood. These Centers are designated for celebrity followers but it is open to the public as well.

For more information on Scientology visit http://www.scientology.org/.

Purity Rings

During the 2008 MTV Music Video Awards, host Russell Brand, poked fun at the Jonas Brothers for wearing purity rings and bashed their idea to wait until marriage for sex. The boys, more mature than most, handled the situation well. Brand was later harshly criticised for his remarks and he properly apologized to the sibling trio.

Middle brother, Joe, in an interview on Larry King Live, has stated that their rings symbolize "a promise to ourselves and to God that we will stay pure until marriage."

Nick, the youngest brother, comments to People Magazine that the rings "are just one of our ways of being different than everybody else out there [Hollywood]."

The JoBros claim to abstain from alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in addition to sex. Kevin 22, Joe 20, and Nick 18 are loved by little girls all across the world and are loved even more by the little girls' mothers because of the Jonas' positive message and respect towards women.

Much like the Scientology situation, the creators of "South Park" have taken it upon themselves to jab at the Jonas Brothers. The hysterical episode features the boys singing the unrealistic lyrics "I've got a ring on me finger to remind me what I'm not to do." Later in the episode Joe Jonas is shown getting his face bashed in by their boss Mickey Mouse.

Hip-Hop artist Jay-Z has also just reportedly released a new CD with a song ragging on the brothers. The lyrics of his song titled "Real As It Gets" reads "No I'm not a Jonas, I am a grown up, no I'm not a virgin, I use my cahoonas".

What I like best about the JoBros is no matter who dishes about them and what is thrown at their way they always have enough dignity to rise above the situation. Never do they sink to their enemies "level". They have always remained silent and carried on as though nothing has ever been said.

The Passion of the Christ

The violent Christian film "The Passion of the Christ" debuted to the public on February 25, 2004, which is also Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent). As we all know, "The Passion" received much attention because it was co-written, co-produced, and directed by the popular actor, Mel Gibson.

Many film critics were disturbed by the extreme violence Gibson portrayed in Jesus' crucifixion and strongly recommended that parents don't take their children to watch.

According to christianitytoday.com, Gibson has been recorded saying, "I think that my first duty is to be as faithful as possible in telling the story so that it doesn't contradict the scriptures. Now, so long as it didn't do that, I felt that I had a pretty wide berth for artistic interpretation, and to fill in some of the space with logic, with imagination, with various other readings."

I was in the 8th grade when "The Passion" was released. My church was offering to pay for the movie tickets for any member that wanted to attend a showing. I remember my friends and I debated on rather or not to go because of the fear of not being able to handle the violence; but in the end we decided we could not pass up the opportunity. I remember crying constantly throughout the majority of the film. When it came time to nail Jesus to the cross my best friend and I actually left the theatre and stepped out into the hallway.

Gibson definitely portrayed the death of Jesus in a gruesome way, but he did it truthfully and by the book [the Bible]. When reading the story of the crucifixion in the Bible it is easy to overlook what all Jesus Christ had to bare, but seeing it on big screen, clearly in front of you, it hits you on a much deeper level. In the movie you will see images that will never leave your memory.

Gibson is now being strongly criticized for his actions since the release of "The Passion." Since 2004, Gibson was caught in a DUI scandal with police and has recently divorced his wife and had a child out of wedlock.

Madonna - Like A Prayer

In the year 1989, pop sensation Madonna gave birth to one of her highest-selling hits ever, "Like A Prayer". Shortly after the dance hit was released on radio MTV featured Madonna's controversial music video.

The questionable video was directed by Mary Lambert, who had previously teamed up with Madonna to create videos for Madonna's hits "Borderline" and "Like A Virgin."

"Like A Prayer" music video features Madonna witnessing a white man stabbing a white woman in an alley. The white man runs away and a black man quickly runs to the rescue. Shortly after the black man arrives, so do the police. The black man is wrongly accused and arrested. This violent scene causes Madonna to literally run to church and pray about the situation.

While praying at this church, Madonna walks up to an African-American wax figure that is believed to be Jesus. She softly kisses his foot and the figure comes to life and instantly starts brushing her shoulders and consoles her.

The lyrics play "Just like a prayer, your voice can take me there, Just like a muse to me, you are a mystery, Just like a dream, you are not what you seem, Just like a prayer, no choice you voice can take me there" as she dancing with a robe-dressed choir.

The music video is controversial because it later displays Madonna dancing in front of several large crosses that happen to be set aflame. Burning crosses are largely connected to symbolize the hatred of African-Americans in the Ku Klux Klan. The video also shows Madonna asleep in one of the pews being awakened by the Jesus figure kissing her on the lips.

Obviously all the controversy made the video more popular to the viewers as it went on to be recognized by MTV as one of the "Most Groundbreaking Music Videos Of All Time."

Media Review - Boys Like Girls "Love Drunk"

On August 22, 2009, the punk pop group Boys Like Girls debuted their sophomore album "Love Drunk" (RCA) to the public. After the popularity of their first self-titled album in 2006, many questioned if the boys in skinny jeans could bounce back with as much fame.

BLG's first album (holding five hit singles) was completed with a collaboration of melodic lyrics that created a seamless transition from track to track. On the other hand, their second album "Love Drunk," attacks its audience with its explosive, energetic beats. The only trait that the two albums share is the lyrical themes: love, drugs, sex and heartbreak.

"Love Drunk" starts off waking the listener up with "Heart Heart Heartbreak," a poppy track about getting into a rocky relationship that is destined to end in failure. With the catchy bridge followed by a strong guitar solo BLG gives off a new forceful vibe.

The first hit from the album, ironically titled "Love Drunk" is almost an identical copy of the group's first-ever hit single "The Great Escape" from their first CD. Both songs have an upbeat tempo, based on the theme of love which makes it hard to resist for their teenage audiences.

Throughout the entire album this is an evident common thread of being "under the influence" of love. The first account is found in the hit "Love Drunk" with the chorus line "I used to be love drunk, but now I'm hung over, I loved you forever, but now I'm sober." The second account is found midway through the album in a catchy song titled "Contagious." "Contagious" unknowingly forces the listener to nod their head along with the beat while it tells a story of a boy that is falling for a girl because she is so extremely infectious. "Chemicals Collide" is the final piece to the puzzle, explaining that being in love is similar to being under the influence of drugs. Much like the effect of drugs, the song can't help but give the listener a worry free, feel-good feeling.

BLG did not collaborate with other artist on their previous album, but on "Love Drunk" lead singer Martin Johnson teams up with country pop start Taylor Swift in the love ballad "Two Is Better Than One." Together these teen sensations sing about the joy of new found love in a slow acoustic number, backed by a string section. The song has a more mature edge and should be widely popular because it reaches out to both ends of the spectrum touching Swifts country fans and BLG audiences.

After listening attentively to both Boys Like Girls CD's it is safe to say that even though the proper genre category is titled "punk pop" these boys lean more towards a pop sound than punk. Unlike punk bands like Blink 182, Sum 41 and Good Charlotte, BLG appeals more to the female fans which makes up a large contribution of the pop musical genre.

BLG, without a doubt reminds me of the 1970s group, The Cars. With hits like "My Best Friend's Girl" and "Just What I Needed" The Cars attempted to reach out to a punk rock audience, but were instead categorized more properly in the pop music genre.

The pop sound is clearly evident in the finale of the "Love Drunk" album with the slow tempo track "Go." Johnson's voice is extremely monotone throughout the final song creating a dull, almost lullaby vibe that will quickly put the listener to sleep. If BLG feels the need to continue their use of slothful tunes they can surely count on their fan base to drop along with their album sales.

Oct. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

What do you think of during the month of October? Most would answer goblins and ghouls, Snickers and jawbreakers, or black and orange. According to cancer.org, 11, 638 women across the world are currently diagnosed with breast cancer and 2.5 million are survivors. To this group of women Halloween doesn't even cross their minds. These women are occupied with thoughts of determination, survival and the color pink.

This October Brest Cancer Awareness will be celebrating its 25th anniversary. According to nbcam.org, Breast Cancer Awareness Month started in 1984 when the founding members on the Board of Sponsors, the American Academy of Family Physicians, AstraZeneca Healthcare Foundation and Cancer Care, Inc. hosted a week-long event. At this event they distributed brochures, spoke to news reporters and testified before a U.S. Congressional committee about the desperate need for nation-wide access to mammography.

The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month organization is no different today. It is still embodied by numerous national public service organizations, professional medical associations, and government agencies. Together they have partnered to raise breast cancer awareness and to spread information about access to free breast cancer screening services.

The NBCAM website lists several events taking place in the United States this October to help promote breast cancer awareness.

The Many Faces of Breast Cancer is just one of the many fundraisers being held. It is taking place in five different locations across the US: Chicago, Seattle, Houston, St. Louis, and Atlanta. The Many Faces of Breast Cancer has made it their mission to educate women about the risks they are facing, providing information and creating support groups for those that have been unfortunately diagnosed with breast cancer. Also, a selection of medical experts will be present to confront the ones who have survived this awful disease. They will advise on the issues of psychosocial needs, nutrition and diet, recurrence and the latest treatment research.

Another popularly recognized event is the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. This event is split into two different locations this year in Austin, Texas and San Diego, Calif. According to komen.org the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is the largest series of 5K runs/fitness walks in the world. It has successfully pulled in over one million participants since 2005. The Komen Race for the Cure Series raises significant funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer. The race also celebrates breast cancer survivorship, and honors those who have lost their battle with the disease.

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is a significant event because in 1990 it is where the first pink ribbon was spotted. That year the race was held in Washington D.C. and the foundation handed out pink visors randomly to the participants. Some of the 8,529 walkers wore pink ribbons. The next year, at the race in New York, the foundation instead handed out pink ribbons to the participants. From then on the pink ribbon has become the official symbol of breast cancer.

Events are being organized to help promote breast cancer awareness all around the globe, but University of the Cumberlands has put in their helping hand as well. At the football game against West Virginia Tech, on Oct. 24, 2009, the coaching staff from UC wore pink arm bands while the players had an assortment of pink accessories; from pink athletic tape to pink shoelaces. The cheerleaders at UC have also teamed up with the school's Health Education Committee to help promote breast cancer awareness and the 12th annual Lee's National Denim Day. According to denimday.com, Denim Day participants are asked to wear jeans to work on Oct. 2.

According to cancer.org every 1 in 8 women (12.6 percent) will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer is defined by the National Breast Cancer Foundation as a disease that is made up of malignant cells that form in the tissue of the breast.

Stephanie Hamilton, a breast cancer survivor from London, Ky. was 36 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was Nov. 2002 when Hamilton, in the shower, discovered a lump under her left armpit.

"I was only in pain that one day" she said. "I was taking Advil every four to six hours."

Hamilton had thoughts in the back of her mind screaming breast cancer, so she thought it best to go to a medical expert to find answers. The doctor brushed the lump off as a calcified node that would have to be removed.

"No big." she thought. Her doctors scheduled her biopsy for Feb. 10, 2003. Once waking up from the surgery Hamilton was informed that her lump was indeed cancerous and she did have a strand of breast cancer.

"The sheer shock was indescribable." she explained. "It wasn't a hormone-based cancer like most breast cancers are," she said. "The key phrase for me was it was aggressive." Her doctors recommended that she have a mastectomy and breast reconstruction, and to follow up with chemotherapy.

Hamilton's doctors also suggested that she participate in a clinical trial using a drug called Herceptin, which was showing promising results against her specific strand of breast cancer. In June 2003 Hamilton learned that her name had been one of the few that were chosen to participate in the clinical trial.

"It was like, for me, winning the Powerball lottery," she said. "I could never and would never ask for anything more or haven't since. I hit the big one."

Compared to the chemo, Hamilton said the Herceptin was a "cake walk". Herceptin has since been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. In February Hamilton will be celebrating seven years of being completely cancer free.

While Oct. is recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the fight should not stop here. Promote breast cancer awareness year-round by purchasing pink breast cancer products or donating to organizations such as National Breast Cancer Foundation by visiting the website nationalbreastcancer.org. The money donated will help provide thousands of women with proper screening methods in order to detect cancerous cells at an early stage and save thousands of lives.