The Onion called Media
Media and Media Literacy
Media and Media Literacy
Media is the way people worldwide communicate with one another. Evolution has allowed multiple routes of media for a range of ages. Years ago, before technology, the only media available was through newspapers. Johannes Gutenberg, commonly referred to as the inventor of the printing press, revolutionized the way the 15th century people communicated by his invention. The printing press made it possible to make multiple copies of a piece of information for everyone all around to see through an ink press machine. We’ve kept this same method onto modern day, but really made the most impactful change world wide was technology. When the radio was invented in 1895, people were now able to know the most recent news, literally as it was happening. Since then the forms of media have blossomed and have become more accessible and more convenient by being able to b accessed through newspaper, magazine, radio, television, and plausibly the dominator- the internet. The internet is now accessible through desktops, laptops, video games, but even more conveniently- smartphones. Through these phones people are able to go on popular websites like Myspace, Facebook, and various dating websites whose soul purpose is to talk to other people and get connected. Something else that smartphones are known for is the App store. There are more than one million apps of which society can search through and download on their phone in the press of a button, or nowadays, the touch of a screen. Commonly used apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. are so popular its practically guaranteed to at least be on every young person’s phone. However, being said, like every generation the lingo changes, so society has to learn how to be media literate, or understand the way people on social media speak. For example, “lol, tbh, brb” or the use of emojis.
Media
The Big Picture
Media Literacy
24 Hours
Rob the Zombie Did What?!
The latest news. The 411. I noticed people just hear news and instantly believe it. Why would hit songs like "Rumor Has It- Adele" be made? Nevertheless, I'd be a pot calling then kettle black if I said I'm guilty of believing these claims either-at least some of them. Heavier metal.net posted an article on February 28, 2016 titled "Security Detail Tackles Homeless Man On Oscars Red Carpet, Turned Out To Be Rob Zombie" about a suppose homeless guy, or just some guy who looked ill-fitted and suspicious on the red carpet was tackled and said to be possessed as he was yelling phrases. As this was happening a pack of cigarettes fell from his pocket and security realized it was famous heavy-medalist Rob Zombie and he was yelling lyrics from his song Dragula and security apologized. Now as this story sounds quite exciting a number of people would automatically believe it. However, an article on snopes.com, "And the Nominee Goes To.." posted February 29, 2016 said this whole event said to be false. Its defense was that heaviermetal.com was the only website to mention this event ever happening. Also, and the probably most effective argument, for an event this elaborate and attention grabbing to happen at an occasion like the Oscars, it would be posted and talked everywhere. Being said, I don't always fact check everything. Really the only times i fact check is if the "fact" is something i find really interesting or helpful. Everything else I kind of take my own judgement on the matter and be about my day. The only times a conversation would spark up about some fact found is when i know for sure its a fact and I think its cool or if I know that the topic of the "fact", true or not, is relatable to the person I'm talking to.
1984 Smore
Are Our Leisures Controlling Us?
The passage reflects society today by relating to how we don't focus on what's important in the world. Social media, sports, TV, etc. play a part in "controlling" society, by acting as a involuntary distraction to the important subjects/issues in the world. For example, instead of worrying about Kim Kardashian's new hair color, a number of people in America don't even know about North Korean leader, Kim Jung-un wants to have nuclear weapons on stand by because he's skeptical that the US and South Korea are conspiring against him. The difference between our real world and 1984 is that in the book the government purposely wanted the people to not think about any "issues" in the world because there were no issues- they lived in a "utopia". To them, there was a problem when someone thought otherwise. However, in real life, I don't think our leisures are necessarily meant to "control" us but more to simply entertain us; be an outlet for our daily stresses. Not as a purposeful way to distract us from what's happening in the world. Matter fact a lot of the impactful news is posted in social media and TV and people talk on the matter. Awareness over the Travon Martin case, for example, gained 100's of support by spreading the concern on social media. Multiple sports athletes wore his hoodie in support of his case. Basically, social media, sports, TV, etc. is not a hindrance, but benign if not helpful.
The Warsaw Uprising
The Warsaw Uprising was plausibly the most famous Jewish uprising against the German Nazi's. Although there were multiple rebellions against the Nazi's, April 1943, Warsaw, Poland was the largest. Hundreds of Jews revolted towards thousands of Nazis, fighting valorously and desperately, even while knowing their fate of loss because such unbalanced odds of quantity, training and weaponry. Though they were out-weighed in the eyes of resulting victory, they had the upper hand of a burning passion to fight for their people. Hundreds of thousands of Jews were being deported and murdered by the Germans in the Warsaw ghetto. These deportations were orders to the Treblinka killing center and forced labor camps. Thousands of Jews went into hiding in the ghetto and some were part of underground self-defense organizations: ZOB and ZZW. These groups allied together in efforts to battle the Germans. They came in contact with the Home Army and became equipped with mainly pistols and explosives. Commander Mordecai Anielewicz, of the ZOB organization, ordered the attacks of the uprising during the first ghetto assault, killing a slim amount of Nazi soldiers. However, though had some effect, it overall was irrelevant in terms of winning the battle because the Germans then gained a new tactic- destroy/burn down the ghetto building by building; by this all the Jews in hiding were forced to come out into the open where they could then be targets the Nazis. Nevertheless, even though the Jews lost the battle, the fighters of the Warsaw Uprising saw it as they were finally able to stand up for themselves and proved that with unity and spirit they have a powerful voice and that they died for honor.
Edward Snowden
Winston, O'Brien & Snowden
Winston And O'Brien live in a detoxified world where everyone, minus a few, and blind robots because of their controlling government. They are two of few that realize this and understand how twisted the system is. O'Brien acts to defy it by forming the Brotherhood, an organization that's anti-Party, and joining more members to his group with the common idea of being against the government. Winston not only joins this organization but takes it a step farther by wanting to expose the truth about the Party's corruption to the citizens- much like Edward Snowden. Edward felt that the citizens had a right to know the ugly truth about the government which, ironically, is suppose to be making them feel safe but its the government that the people should be worried about. Snowden released to the public that the NSA was trying to tap into peoples devices and activate the camera and mic without the person known; Because the thought the government taking his privacy by this sneaky tactic, he felt his rights were violated and everyone needed to know about the corrupted controversy at the head of their country. The main difference between Snowden and Winston is that Snowden actually acted upon his mission and succeeded his goal which was informing the public of the truth of what's happening in their government.
1984 Theme
Due to the controlling and brainwashing aspect of dystopian societies, O'Brien was both a victim and a villain of and for the government. Sounds kinda of confusing, but let me explain. He was a villain of the government because he betrayed the Party, which made him viewed as a villain nation wide. The twist was that he was a victim of the government because he aloud the Party to brainwash him into all the other loyalties, and lose his own personal views. To lose his humanity. Eh then became a villain for the government because the Party used him as a weapon to have Winston think he had O'Brien, one of the people of the inner party, on his side. They used O'Brien as a tool to give false hope to a revolution. Then doing the extra step into brainwashing Winston as the Party did to him, and O'Brien being Winston's personal torturer.
Winston was also a villain and victim of and for the government. Winston was a villain of the government through most of the book because he was a rebel who was against the Party. However, as if simply having moral views against the Party wasn't bad enough, he also wanted to start a revolution rebellion against the Party. He then became a victim of the government when he was tortured day in and day out by O'Brien into becoming honestly loyal to the Party. Then he became a villain for the government because just as everyone else brainwashed by the government, anyone who is an outlier is at risk at being caught by yet another minion of the Party- Winston.
Autocorrect Humanity?
In this song, Prince Ea is urging the generational issue that we are losing our humanity due to our technological devices. He states, "...how these touch screens can make us lose touch," in attempt to expose the irony month initiative purpose of technology- to connect us. By this he is saying that ever since this outbreak of social networking, people have been more busy looking at a screen instead of the world in front of us. To ensure that this doesn't become reality we each need to first actually realize how disconnected we are with our surroundings. Then, think about the times before these technologies were invented. Ask ourselves "What did they do for fun or in their past time?", and actually give-it-a-go for a change. We might actually end up liking it.
Now, the main culprit from technology are these generationally new routes of communication that overpowered traditional mail or email- social media. From Myspace and Facebook to Instagram and Twitter, these hot-spots are notorious for stealing hours of time and attention from millions a day implicated the claim that we, as a whole, are unhealthily addicted to it. Some people worry if this is an addiction that we'll be able to overcome. I think that this societal problem can be controlled. Coming from experience, I found that a quick, simple way to help ween off social media is to simply delete it. Since everything is on our phones now, we are constantly seeing the temptation to continuously check all the apps. However, if the apps aren't in sight, there's nothing tho check, nothing to have on your mind, and you start to realize those were more of a waste of time and waste of you actually living your life. It kind of goes with the old saying, "Out of sight. out of mind.".
To ensure that I use social media for good and not become a slave to it, people use it to spread the word of news in pretty much every category. This helps society stay updated with what's going on in the world .For example, the first time I heard about the bombing in France was through Instagram. It's also used to spread motivation from any and all ages on all problems they might be facing whether you know it or not. One can use social media as a weapon to help and support others. Its when all of your time and attention morning to night is used watching Cat Fail vines is when you have become a slave to it.