1F25 Blog Response 1: Media Impact on Others

Class Creates Confidence

     

     In my last post, I stated that my opinion of the media was that it had dominating control over our thoughts and behaviours.  I also encouraged my readers to act freely, and not rely on the media for their sense of direction.  As I began reading through the blogs of my classmates, it was apparent to me that many of us have the same beliefs about the media - that it has impacted everybody both positively and negatively.  In Patrick's blog, he discusses how the media can have a positive affect on our everyday living (1).  He suggests that the media is inspiring people to live a healthier lifestyle and influencing them through shows like "The Biggest Loser" (1).  People who have a desire to lose weight are encouraged through television programs like this one and can begin to change their own bodies for the better.  This is one of the few times that I think the media is helping society.  Obesity is a very prevalent issue in North America and should be addressed.  I agree that this area can be beneficial, but there are more important issues to discuss.  On the topic of body image, the media also has assembled their own version of what a perfect woman looks like.  This can sometimes force women to a point of serious tribulations, such as bulimia or anorexia.  Karley writes in her post that if women today don't look or behave like the women the media portrays, the woman may look at herself with disgust (2).  Every woman is special, and should not feel compelled to fit into a false ideal portrayed by the media.  Speaking from a man's perspective, women who starve themselves are not attractive.  Therefore, the girls seen in shows like, "America's Next Top Model", do not appeal to me, and should not be publicized as perfection.  Finally, in Jada's blog, the concept of media's constant appearance is clearly expressed.  Jada feels like the media provides a voice for anyone who may be lost or confused, and also establishes guidelines for us to follow (3).  I personally don't agree with this.  I think that the media does provide guidelines, but we should not necessarily agree with every rule they establish.  I believe that everyone should be allowed the follow their own beliefs, to some degree, and that the media should not be in complete control of our beliefs.  In conclusion, I was encouraged by the blogs that I read.  Most people seemed to have common ideas about the media and its power.  What I did not see what the need to be aware of this power and be careful about what we allow to control our actions.  While some may be motivated to lose weight due to shows like "The Biggest Loser", they should not feel compelled to fit a certain form.  Everybody should be allowed to be themselves, so that we don't have a nation of identical robots.

(1)http://patrickn0112.blogspot.ca/2013/09/patricks-blog.html
(2) http://karleymclean.wordpress.com
(3) http://jayl95.wordpress.com

Impact Of Media On My Worldview

     Media Manipulates Many

     I believe that the mass media can impact people’s worldview very much because of the way that the information is presented to them.  Regularly, I witness the thoughts and actions of others are being motivated because of what they have seen in the media.  The content that I see expressed through media will often act as my initial interpretation of a topic or story, but I occasionally find that the media withholds pivotal facts from me and everyone else watching.  For example, in many films showing the daily lives of high school students, the actors and actresses are never the appropriate age of a high school student (13 - 18 years old).  When I watched "Mean Girls" for the first time as a 10-year-old boy, a then 25-year-old Rachel McAdams, playing Regina George, set the standard for my visions of what girls should look like in high school.  I was deeply distraught to discover that all girls in high school did not look like 25-year-old movie stars.  I was a helpless victim of the promoted visuals presented to me from the film, "Mean Girls".  Also, this film had an effect on girls heading into high school as well.  Not only did boys expect girls to live up to their expectations, but also girls felt that they had to reach our unachievable ideals.  Because the film misrepresented what high school is like, all of our views of high school were distorted drastically.  The media is also responsible for people’s actions and behaviors.  Sometimes, I catch others acting as a shadow of someone that is popular in the media.  Right now, there is a current dance that many people do called, “Twerking”.  This dance gained a lot of popularity after singer Miley Cyrus performed it at the VMAs last month.  Because of that, girls across North America have been posting videos of themselves partaking in this dance as well.  Miley Cyrus obviously had an undeniable impression on these girls, or else they would not be sharing their dancing with the world.  Obviously, the media has had an impact on my worldview, and the worldview of others.  It suggested that a young girl's beauty should be at the same level as Rachel McAdams, which causes them to stress over their appearance and has harmful affects on them.  The media also pushed this idea of "Twerking" so much that girls everywhere are taking part in this dancing movement.  Media has made us their puppets as they dictate our every move.  I would encourage my readers to cut the strings and act and think for themselves.

I am in CPCF 1F25 at Brock

Welcome to my blog.  I am taking the course CPCF 1F25 Media and Culture at Brock University.  I will be writing awesome posts throughout the year.  Feel free to read along.

 - Hunter