Reflection

I had fun diving into media, because sadly it has a big role in my life. Its everywhere I turn, I see media on the streets, I see it on the big screen or the little one in my hand. I even hear it in the lyrics screaming in my ears. Before I just got really annoyed with commercials, but now I love to watch them and see how they are selling the product. There have been many occasions were I will see a commercial and are like "Nice try with that glittering generalities." I would definitely say that I have become more media literate and determining the message being sent. I can now see how companies have been advertising in TV shows, movies, and in sporting events. The other day while watching the Steelers and Bengals football game, the Allstate logo was imprinted on the net of the goal post, so that every time a field goal was kicked you got to see the Allstate logo. Not only have I become more aware, but also smarter about how too much media time can effect me. Through the movies we have watched in class and some of my own blogs, I see how much control media has over us. It has control over what we think, say, do, and wear. In a way it also controls what we don't do as well. Many of us, primarily teenagers, spend so much extra time on our phones that many of us either don't do homework until very late or not at all. Media is a huge distraction, but is very addictive as well. I don't think I can survive a day without my phone, because I mainly need it for music but also Twitter, Snapchat, and Trivia Crack. I know it sounds awful and I'm definitely not proud of the daily dose of media I need, but now at least I understand what I'm seeing and hearing on the daily basis. Before I would have never known that companies are so interested in understanding their consumers so much and the weird jobs that are involved in collecting that knowledge. Out of every thing I learned about these companies the most concerning part is how they use our insecurities and weaknesses to get us to buy their products. Instead of mirroring their consumers, they multiply the way the average person looks and acts like by like. Only to get a hot and "better" version of the consumer. It is really important that people become better educated consumers so that they see are aware of this. Many people are not aware of this mirroring, so they compare and judge themselves against the models and actors used in commercials and movies. I am glad that I have become an educated person on what companies are doing, but at the same time I will never be able to just watch TV or movies the same anymore. I have to over analyze every little bit of media now. However, I still appreciate my new knowledge about the thing that has a big role in my life.