Salem's "Strength Is Not How Much Muscle You Have" Post: I completely agree with what you're saying. Concrete stereotypes don't do anyone good, and they leave each of us feeling isolated and alone in our suffering. However, it's hard to escape the stereotypes. A lot of people feel like they cannot break down the walls that the media has used to confine them without ostracizing themselves entirely. The dynamic feels very much like it is confined within the lines of "either/or." It's hard to watch my male friends wrestle with their masculinity, just as it's difficult to watch my female friends struggle with defining their femininity. I also have friends who don't identify with any one of these categories, and defining what exactly that means to them has proved very difficult. Everyone wants to feel like they belong, but no one wants to feel like their have to sacrifice their authenticity. Because of this, we feel an intense, frustrating se
While this experience has been interesting and provided me with an opportunity to explore ideas that I wouldn't have acknowledged otherwise, it has left me with a greater feeling of cynicism and lack of hope for our future. I realize that the intent of this project was to make my peers and I more aware of media and the ways in which media conglomerates aid companies in manipulating us. I think it served that purpose. However, the sheer amount of media we are exposed to and the desperate attempts by media companies to grab our attention has resulted in our living in a world practically made of marketing. And I can't see it getting much better. As a result of this project, my media consumption habits have not changed, but my mindset while consuming media has. I am still willingly exposing myself to the marketing on Youtube and Netflix, and I still read news online, where ads from various sponsors dance in small squares along the margins of the text. The difference is that n