Media Analysis
Daily Life with Media
The amount of time I spend with media related activities including, being on my phone computer and TV, would be around 6 1/2 to 7 hours a day. I was surprised at the amount before I thought about how many things I have at my disposal throughout the day that allow me to engage with something relating to media. I have my iPhone with me throughout the entire day at school. I check it frequently in small bursts consistently. On my phone I text friends, go on Twitter and Tumblr, play Candy Crush, and watch YouTube videos and Vines. I also listen to music during many of my classes and I often use pictures in my phone as resources for projects. I get home around 2:30pm and I am usually on my phone until 4:00pm until my parents get home. Throughout the whole day I use my phone for 3 1/2 hours. I also use my computer and watch TV from 7:00pm until 10:00pm. Normally I use a few devices at the same time. I say that continuous partial attention is a huge factor in my daily life. I always have two things going on at once. I don't remember the last time I watched a movie without having my phone in my hand looking at something else. I've noticed more and more how I now need something going on in the background at all time. I find silence very distracting and I can rarely ever actively focus on one thing at a time.
Values from Media
- Beauty
- Humor
- Liberal point of view
- Relevance
- Creativity
- Authenticity
- Intelligence
- Honesty
OVERALL
I have grown up with media every step of the way. Before this class I never really tried to analyze the things I was seeing every day. Now however, I like to think that I can more easily point out when an ad is using a weaselly word like maximizes or I can spot when a reality show uses certain types of music to make me feel a certain way. It's very interesting and I sometimes feel like I have special glasses that help me to see the way things really are and how most people's true intentions is mostly money ($$$). I am also realizing the HUGE amount of time I spend on media related activities. I feel like from the second I get home until I go to sleep I am on my phone, my computer or watching TV. A large part of me likes doing all those things because I get to see a huge amount of content and be entertained and never have to think hard about anything or worry or stress out. The only problem is that more and more I'm going on my phone when the sun is out and then the next time I look up from my phone it's nighttime. I have only gotten my phone this year and it is the first cell phone I have ever had. The sheer amount of time I waste on that thing has caused a big dip in my concentration and a huge increase in my procrastination. I love media and I love analyzing it and deconstructing the things that we use everyday. I'm just learning that sometimes it's better to take those things in moderation and as much as I want to watch every single AmazingPhil video again instead of work on my Biology homework I know that I will feel horrible afterwards even though it feels so nice forgetting my responsibilities for a little bit. This summer I am definitely going to try to spend more time outside and consume my media in moderation. The first step is always admitting you have a problem right?