Reflection

In writing this blog, I have been able to put into action what I have learned in class over the last semester. This course has really opened my eyes to how much the media affects they way that I see the world and how it ultimately shapes our popular culture. I really enjoyed being able to express my opinions through this blog even though not very many people will ever see it. Maybe especially  because not a lot of people will ever see it. But, my views are still out there and it feels good. 

I know that the media has a very firm grip on today's society. Previously, I wasn't sure about where I stood in that equation: whether I was just another mindless consumer or a buyer with healthy skepticism. But now, after expressing my opinions through these blogs and learning about media messages,  I feel more confident about my ability to tell the difference between what I want to think and what a company wants to make me believe. Though the distinction can still be incredibly difficult sometimes, I now have the tools to analyze the hidden messages in the media I see every day. Since writing these blogs, I have been paying more attention to the advertising I see in my every day life. I often find myself trying to apply what I have learned in class to Instagram posts or even billboards in order to uncover a fallacy or other sneaky marketing technique I hopes of finding something to write my next blog about. I hope that writing these posts will push me to continue to be skeptical of the media that I am constantly bombarded with and not fall into the trap of believing the false realities I see in advertisements or television shows.

Overall, I found this assignment to be very useful in my personal development as a critical thinker. When I began my blogs, I was in a "complicated" relationship with media. I especially resented social media for dragging me into its sticky web because I didn't really feel like I could stop using it without  compromising my relationships with my friends. Also, Instagram was beginning to bring down my self esteem. But, after doing these blogs I have learned that I cannot believe anything presented to me in the media without careful analysis. As I scroll through Instagram, I put more though into what I am looking at and realize that no one social media presents their true selves in their posts. I have always known that but I feel better now that I can recognize exact techniques that companies use to make posts like these make us want a particular product. Finally, I am more comfortable spending less and less time on social media because I know that face-to-face conversations are much more valuable in the long run.