Media and Media Literacy
What I think it is :)
All the different types of Media
What is Media and Media Literacy?
Media is the communication and entertainment resources for people. There are many different forms of media now. A few examples of media are newspapers, billboards, magazines, TV, internet, and flyers in the mail. In this modern world, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google + are forms of media as well. This is because people can learn up-to-date information of the latest things that are happening. In fact, it’s so fast that murder news might appear on Facebook and Twitter before the victim’s family is even notified. Also, news channels use Facebook and Twitter to update their own information. (In simpler words, Media is us. We are media. There is no combination and there is no separation.)
Media Literacy is the understanding of media – how it is produced, who it is targeted to, how is it organized, and how to use it. A media literate person understands media and how it is being used in his/her life. In this generation of the world, a lot of people rely on media to provide them information. Little kids learn about life through media. Our world has been sucked into the facade of media – and with no way to escape. Since the modern world is so fast and busy, media plays an important part for the people to gain access to what’s happening in the world. Whether the information is true or not, people believe it. Because of this, people can be easily swayed into doing or buying things that they might not even actually want. That’s the influence of media. Luckily, a media literate person understands all these complications and trickeries. The media literate person uses the media with caution but still gains all he/she wants without being manipulated. (In other words, a media literate person uses common sense!!)
Brain Control!
Media has a heavy influence on little kids. Research has proven that kids have brain development problems due to TV exposure. Furthermore, babies are always developing eye problems because of constantly watching the monitor.
Wordle!
Everywhere you look, media is there. Media is the new IT!! Media is the heartbeat and soul of the modern world. We function around media - it is our home base. Many jobs are centered around technology and the 'show biz'. Without media, our modern society would go through a genocide.
Feed Me!
Media is the new modern 'drug'. It controls your mind and actions.... and gives you a healthy dose of your daily vitamins!! Media is extremely addictive and hard to break free from. Everyone has this problem - yet no one thinks its a problem. Why? Because there is no physical evidence that its causing you to be dumb. All the damage is done to your brain - the part where logical thinking happens.
Further Information
The link below provides more information about Media Literacy. This website opened my eyes on this entire issue of media.
Media in Action
Superbowl Commercial Analysis
In the commercial “Empowering Us All” aired during the 2014 Superbowl Game, Microsoft - the company that “helps people and businesses throughout the world realize their full potential” – advertises technology and the great prosperous good it has brought upon the souls of people. Microsoft illuminates its concept by using real life examples of how technology has helped people still stay in touch with their passion (Hal – the old man who couldn't paint anymore – paint with pixels on the computer), connect with their loved ones and the world (Sarah – who is deaf – hearing her children for the first time), and simply help them live life (surgeons can provide better surgeries for people, NFL star Steve Gleason – who can’t talk – connecting with his daughter by typing out what he means to say). Using examples from real people, Microsoft “celebrates what technology can do” (in the words of Steve Gleason) in order to emphasize that technology is the future for good and enhancement of the brain and our life and culture on this earth; in other words, Microsoft uses the ageless deception of transfer and bandwagon in their advertisement to get their message across. Microsoft address everyone by using heavy pathos and logos inspirational tone where the ad itself creates a fake emotion of happiness and satisfaction for everyone watching it in hopes to convince everyone that technology is only good for society, but the target audience is the upcoming generation because they are the ones that will be taking this society to the next level.
Steve Gleason
Hal Lasko
Sarah Churman
Ignorance and Media - My Rant :)
IMPORTANT! Students raise money for a good cause!
By: Shree Varshenee, Fashion Police
The goal of these teenage angelic hotties is to provide this very thoughtful advice in order to raise money for their trip -- well, this money will help them get ready for their trip to Africa. Using this very hard earned and faithfully raised money, these beautiful birds can get their hair and nails done so that they can look spectacularly fabulous in front of thousands of impoverished kids in Uganda. "We want those kids to know the true meaning of true, inner beauty and why they can never achieve it what we have achieved through self-confidence," said Laquisha Wannabee the third, who is the captain to the dream team. "We want, above everything, to let the desperate teenage students know that they are getting mentally abused by us for a good cause."
This advice happens every day of the school week except on Wednesdays. When I asked Fifi Trixibelle, another member of the dream team, she replied, "Umm, well, umm Wednesdays are our pink-out days, you know? Anyone who is, well, ya know, smart, knows that Wednesdays are our pink-out days. So, like, we like to honor that code and take a day off, I guess. In fact, our mentors - the Mean Girls - came up that Almighty rule. We always do what's best for our community, ya know? We are all for one and one for all, like totes!"
The teenage beauty queens also went on to talk about how their parents and other adults in their family and community feel about this very valuable fundraiser. Aquanetta, the bubbly member of the dream team, said, "Well, my parents knew my destiny the minute I was born yo! They named me after the Aqua Net Hairspray! It's like totes cool, if you know what I mean! But above all, if you get it, I think the community should like be proud of us, totes. We are raising money for a good gucci cause! It's like totes all GUCCI! [Translation: It's very totally all good!]"
1984 - My view on the legandary piece of literature (cause I'm like totes qualified to write a review about a legacy)
1984. It's a really unique name for a book that takes place in the year 2050 in a world where there are only 3 superpowers: Eurasia, Eastasia, and Oceania. These three superpowers are always at constant war with each other - neither of the sides actually gaining or losing power. The only victims are the people and the people and the people and the people. (Did I mention people?)
Before I go to on to say anything, I have to mention how George Orwell is the greatest fortuneteller that has ever existed in this great universe. His guess about how the world would be in the future is spot-on with many aspects (and not-so spot-on with many other aspects as well – but who cares? The man was a genius!). In our world today, we have child soldiers who are just as corrupt as Orwell makes them to be. In the book, children are indoctrinated into this psychologically messed-up from a very young age – they are turned into spies who are trained to turn their own parents in if they say anything against Big Brother. Child soldiers are taken away from their families at a young age and are taught to kill and torture in order to survive; they go into villages and shoot at their own parents and family members without a single remorse in their hearts. In fact, in Orwell’s dystopian society, children are more “innocent” per say than the real world children of this modern age.
Also, Orwell was spot-on about the corrupt political system. In 1984, the party ‘Big Brother’ had control of everything and kept tabs on everyone’s personal life through these devices called ‘telescreens’. The party can never turn in off and were always under strict security and scrutiny. In the modern world, our government can tap into our phone conversations without our permission and even use it court against us. Furthermore, all our phone texts, internet searches, and data can be hacked and searched – pardon me, it has ALREADY been stored on their big data collecting computer and can be used against us at any time. Everything we do – from saying ‘howdy ya’ll!’ on the phone to peeing in a public bathroom at the national park can be pinpointed as to location, time, and elevation. If this isn't creepy enough, new information from the CIA reveals that there are torture chambers like the one Winston went through around the US for war criminals that we use to get information out of. The government funds this atrocity and keeps in hidden from the public. My only conclusion to this is that Orwell went time-travelling to the future in order for him to have written this book so correctly and precisely about the future.
As smart as the man was, he did get a few things wrong (but, of course, humans aren't perfect – Einstein made mistakes as well). One thing Orwell predicted that went a total 180 degrees was the concept of the 'telescreen'. We, in the modern era of entertainment, LOVE to be on the 'telescreen'! We find loads of amusement watching it - in fact, we build our lives around all this 'show biz'. Even though it was used to spy on people in 1984, in 2014, its all about providing a connection and creating a homely feeling. Little kids watch it to learn more about life and how to behave while teenagers watch it to gain more education on what's popular and what's not. Likewise, adults watch it for the pure rush of gossip (if you're a woman) and thrill of sports (if you're a guy). I think, as a logical guess (cause you know, I have a PhD and everything...) that Orwell would have LOVED the 'telescreen' as if it used in this era - hey, maybe he could have gotten more ideas for his books!
Everyone (I MEAN EVERYONE) knows that 1984 is the work of literature that was descended upon this earth by the gods! Seriously though, it is a masterpiece. However, I would have wanted it to end differently. Maybe a more romantic ending! Winston and Julia escape and run away and be successful in life! They have them some babies and all that holly jolly bumbling things of life. Yet, I understand why Orwell ended the book the way he did. Though I'm still very confused as to whether Winston ACTUALLY died or not, the ending was very intriguing. In the end, Big Brother wins - the last man on Earth has been corrupted of all the evils done by Big Brother. (On a side note: I wonder how Big Brother honestly looks like. For instance, is he smart and good-looking or old and a perv?) Anyways, Big Brother won and Julia and Winston lost - this is what would have happened in real life. Why? Because the world is a dark place where justice would never come to light.
Computer Me!
Global War
Mind manipulation
A look back... A really looooooooooooooooooong look back
Boy, BOY, was I wrong! This class has taught me a lot of things - things that I didn't even know had potential to be learnt. All in all, I have no regrets taking this class. Through this class, I was made more aware of what the media can do to a person (harmful and helpful)! There are many things that happen around us. Yet, we are never in the moment to capture it and live in its beauty. Why? We are so absorbed with that Facebook page on our phone, wanting to Instagram the moment instead of feeling it and seeing it. After all, your eyes are the best camera.
Every year (year after year after year) we sit in a language arts class where we read a book in a detailed way where half the stuff doesn't reach my head (I mean if the curtains are blue, maybe the author just wanted them blue? Not everything is about a detailed connection to the emotions of the character. If that's the case, then I guess I can never write a book because that would be a lot of work!). We have weekly vocab quizzes and daily grammar practice and more and more and more. However, in this class, its more about gaining knowledge of what is going around us in the world and having discussions about the repercussions for some actions. I love the Ted talks we watched and the schoology discussions that took place. I got a chance to voice my opinion and be part of a bigger cause.
As perfect as this course is (and as perfect as my teacher is), it might be best for everyone if there was a few changes. For example, I wish we had more discussions on schoology! I loved those! Maybe you can post a Ted talk and we can have a discussion about that? Or even the students can find interesting articles about current events that have to do with the government invading our privacy and have discussions about that! Another thing is having more research to do - we are seniors. We are (mostly) heading off to college where research papers play a huge part. So in preparation for that, we should have more exposure to that. Something I would change is the amount of smore we do because I wish we did more. Each smore is something different and interesting. A smore is our own page where we can just go off and rant or explain our view on something - it gave me a feeling of having my own world in this class.
Even though at times the class may drag, I always had fun (when I here at school and not at home being sick). This was an amazing first block to have and I'm very sad to be leaving such a great school. (Another suggestion! Maybe we can have more interactive class activities? Especially in the morning?) I loved all the books we read and gained loads of knowledge this second semester. Media literacy was not the class I expected it to be - and in a good way! :)