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A Reflection On Media Blogs


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 now I ask myself, "Are the values represented by this company aligned with this show/story?" and, "What are they really trying to tell me when they say ______?" I am more skeptical of the motives behind each advertisement, and I will continue to be cognizant of the implicit messages I might be absorbing from each individual ad and ads in general. As I grow older, and I inevitably become less flexible and more set in my ways, I hope I err on the side of skepticism and caution than on the side of gullibility and blind acceptance. I also hope I can maintain an open mind and not rely on preconceived notions and the ideals imprinted on me by media  to make my decisions.

My priority in consuming media is that I have the skillset necessary to take in information and distinguish what's worthy of fact-status and what's false. Media literacy is important (now more than ever) because of the overwhelming amount of information that's available. Not only do we have various biased perspectives on a singular topic available at our fingertips, but profit is driven by eliciting an emotional response and inciting interest from an audience. It is important that we are able to avoid "news" that's presented in a tabloid manner because it's designed to be the most emotionally appealing and therefore the most false. Not only do we have the freedom to choose what we believe - we also have the freedom to share whatever information we like. Because we have the ability to influence what others hear and read on social media and information-sharing platforms, we cannot afford to be blind the the implicit messages in the media we're exposed to. Such negligence could result in the spread of misinformation and the perpetuation of ignorance.

It is also vital that we are educated as consumers. Not only is it dangerous to fall into the trap of spending money for personal fulfillment, it is important that we maintain a dedication to genuine personal connection. If parents believe that they can foster connection with their children over material items or they can save their children from humiliation because of the status associated with their possessions, then we risk losing the ability to teach our kids what love and connection are. If we show love in our romantic relationships with gifts or items that are ranked in value according to their cost or shininess, then we will lose the ability to love fully. Consumers should not only be concerned with the items they're consuming, but the messages that accompany those items and the brand that distributes those items too.

Through keeping this blog, I get an opportunity to think deeply about the media I encounter in my day-to-day life. I also get a fair dose of frustration and boredom, but the opportunity to explore details and ideas that I would otherwise ignore has been interesting. Most importantly, I have gotten practice in applying the concepts associated with media literacy, and I feel better-equipped to process the implicit messaging in media and guide others in my life as they do the same.


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