After analyzing media in the world today I realized that it impacts my life way more than I previously thought. The media which I consume daily on my computer, my TV, and especially my cell phone impacts my values and what I perceive about reality. I realized that I probably don't have one original thought in my head, whether it is about how to achieve greatness, or how to be fashionable, etc...because all companies that market, have monopolized these ideas in pop culture and sell them as a package with their product. Recently I went shopping for a birthday present, and I got two items for my friend. I knew she liked flowy types of cardigans so I got her a kimono. I had trouble pairing a cute item with it, but ended up getting a floppy hat to match it. This look as marketers sell it is called "boho" and is a very fashionable style presently. I started to realize the main reason I think these two items went well together was because of how this "boho" style is advertised on attractive women models who have handsome men around them, and who look like they have a fun carefree life.
My interactions with the media have changed quite a lot. I am definitely more media literate. Whenever I see advertisements I think of the multiple advertisement techniques the company uses with its ads. I see who the target audience is and think of the appeals that might attract the target audience. I can also see now , especially for clothes and shoe brands, what appeals to me and how they make me feel. I realize that it is all just a trick and that buying specific types of clothes won't make me any cooler, because if I want to be fun and social and live life carefree, I have to change my character, not the clothes I buy or the shoes I wear.
I have always been a frugal type of person who like to window shop and look at new products through a window, but now instead of feeling a hopeless desire to attain all these products I don't actually need, I question my intentions on why I want the product so badly. It always leads back to the implicit and explicit messages that the companies send through their product. Sometimes seeing the unrealistic ideals paired with, for example a bracelet or, a shirt, I am able to talk myself out of wanting something, just long enough for me to escape an NOT buy useless items. This example is why its IMPORTANT TO BE AN EDUCATED CONSUMER! In short you wont buy too many useless items.
This blog was really fun and I really learned a lot from scrutinizing media messages to society. I hope that I can continue to use the traits of a critical thinker even after this log is over.
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