Thursday, October 31, 2013

Wanted: The Media That We Need

           There are many media opportunities available to the public today.  In we live in an “I need it now and I want it now” society.  Luckily for us, it is easier than ever to access up-to-the-minute news from all over the world.

In my last blog I talked about the popular question; “Do we get the media we want or do we want the media we get?” and I wrote in favour of us wanting the media we get.  But after reading several of my classmate’s blogs it seems many disagreed with my stance and said that we get the media we want.  I am not surprised with the amount in disagreement as if it weren’t a widely disputed topic it wouldn’t be still talked about.  My classmate’s raised some very convincing points.

            In Shannon McGinnis’ blog, she sided in favour of us getting the media we want.  She spoke about television shows and how shows are being made to please the audience and speak to their wants.  She wrote, “Television and movie producers are constantly trying to accommodate to their viewers needs”.  She also went to say that the success of television shows is solely based off of viewer satisfaction and ratings.

            In Tyler Nakamura’s blog, he talked about the mass volume of media available to us; this was the point in his blog that convinced me.  He wrote, “Clearly we have the media we want, because I don’t see how someone could ask more from their media resources.”

            In Sam Dixon’s blog, he agrees with my stance on the issue.  His main argument point was our reliance on the media is inconceivably high.  “We want what the media is giving us and that we could no longer function without it.” Which is an extreme way of saying that we want the media we get.  Although it is extreme, it is true, we would be entirely lost without the media surrounding us constantly.

            Despite very convincing blogs from Shannon and Tyler, I still feel we want the media we get.  It is an interesting topic and will continue to be widely disputed for the for-seeable future.
           
Blog URL’s
           
Shannon McGinnis’ Blog: http://www.sm13hm.blogspot.ca/


Thursday, October 24, 2013

The Media We Want?

A question arises when the topic of media and society is discussed.  It’s whether we get the media we want, or want the media we get.  In my opinion, we want the media we get.  A word comes to my mind when I think of media and the people, that word is brainwashed.  The media almost always surrounds us, in the form of social media, , technology, language, and advertising. When we are not involved with media, we crave it whether we realize it or not.

Especially is true when dealing with social media, we are constantly distracted or glued into our social media websites.  It has transformed from a convenient online tool to a full-blown obsession.  It is intertwined with the theory of us wanting the media we get as we constantly want to be engaged in social media whether we know it or not.  Just by simple observation I notice humans can no longer sit still and enjoy what’s around them, instead they have there eyes down and focused on their device between their legs, constantly checking and updating their social media accounts and pages.

We even want the technology we’re given.  We all desire to get the hot new apple product of the year.  “Technological determinism is the belief that technological innovation reshapes social change.  Technology determines how society functions, rather than society determining how technology should be developed or used” (O’Shaughnessy, M., & Stadler, J., p. 116).

Our learning of the world through news and other sources is regulated by language. “We know and understand the world through language, through representations.  This is not to deny that the real world exists- of course there is reality- but it is to say that all our learning about the world is mediated by language” (p. 75).

No matter what we wear, no matter where we look, no matter what we watch, advertising will always surround us.  You can find a brand name or logo on almost every article of clothing, including almost all objects, which have the manufacturing company visibly displayed on the object.  When we watch TV we are bombarded by ads, this doesn’t just include commercial breaks during our favourite shows, our favourite shows have product placement in them.  This goes along with the theory as well because if it were the reverse, and we get the advertising the media we want, then there would be no product placement in our favourite shows, and there wouldn’t be so much effort to appeal to children.

When we think about the media, we want the media we get, instead of getting the media we want.  This is proven through social media, technology, language, and advertising. 

O’Shaughnessy, M., & Stadler, J.. (2012). Media and Society. 5th Ed. South Melbourne, Oxford University Press.


Thursday, October 3, 2013

1F25 Blog Response: Media Impact on Others

            After reading several blog entries from my classmates, it is evident that the mass media affects our worldviews significantly and our lives as a whole.  Some of the people had a positive view on the mass media while others considered mass media to be pointless and even a nuisance to society.

            In a blog written by Tyler Nakamura, he listed negative aspects of the mass media.  One of his arguments was that although it may be convenient to be able to view newspaper articles from across the world, there is no way of knowing if they are reliable.  He talked about a conversation he had that was evident to his claim, “I met a guy from Toronto, and he had told me that Canadians have a false perspective on the people in Somalia because of the newspapers articles that we see are filtered by their government.”  Another negative he talks about is the distraction factor that mass media creates.  He talks about his personal experience with mass media and distraction; “it took me an hour longer to finish this blog because I got distracted by Facebook while doing my work”.  One other negative he talks about is that it affects kids in a poor way, as they are so obsessed with the social media that they are becoming lazier and not reaching their daily exercise minimum.

            I noticed a significant difference in views on the mass media while reading other students blogs.  In a blog written by Sam Dixon, He really focused on the positives of mass media.  He mentioned how we can use mass media to help those in need, “With the introduction of mass media we are capable of sympathizing and offering aid to many of those around the globe that are less fortunate than ourselves.  We are capable of talking about these issues in a safe and controlled environment, but through the media we can feel more connected to the rest of the world.”  He also spoke positively about mass media in the aspect of him being able to communicate with his family back home.  “Approximately four years ago I emigrated from England and through the use of mass media I was able to keep in touch with what is happening back there.  I could communicate with my family more easily and effectively, which has made the transition manageable.” He believed the mass media was a very important and necessary aspect of today’s culture.

            A different opinion came from Ernest Coetzee’s blog.  He pointed out that the mass media is everywhere and involved in each and everyone’s lives.  However, he was very skeptical about the mass media and said, “Going through our everyday lives, what we currently think the world is right now through the window of mass media.”  What that means is that he believes the mass media doesn’t depict the whole picture, and that it only shows what the media wants us to see.

            Reading through the blogs of my peers it became clear that mass media is in fact a part of each and everyone’s lives, however, not all had a positive outlook on it.  Some of my peers agreed with me in saying that mass media is a good thing that is an improvement to the way we live, while others viewed it as a bad thing that just gets in the way and is ultimately unnecessary.  Despite whether it was viewed positively or negatively, it seemed that we could all agree that it is a huge part of our lives.

Peer Blog Links: