Reflection

January 15, 2020. Hey blog. The amount of media I consume impacts my life because if you consume too much media, it can be hard to escape it. There is a point where the amount of media you are consuming becomes unhealthy and it can cause you to become almost numb from real life events. I once had a friend who watched a lot of murder TV shows and once we were watching a news cast where 6 or 7 people were shot and it had a very small effect on her. Being aware of the techniques used by advertisers certainly changed my interaction with media. Over Christmas break, I was at a movie theater and I saw an ad for AT&T. Instead of ignoring it like I should, I recognized that it was targeting adults with children, because it focused so much about family values. I actually enjoy the commercial part of TV shows much more than the actual show, because I try and point out which techniques are being used and which audience is being targeted. I also am able to understand that it is never just an innocent commercial or a fun ad, there is always a company behind it with the goal of making money, even if it seems innocent and sweet. My media consumption has changed, in that I watch a lot less TV and movies, and alot more ads. I find it interesting to watch different ads for companies, especially the ones that you never know what the product is until the end. It is important to have media literacy because it never hurts to be knowledgeable about the media around us and what they are trying to persuade. Being an educated consumer is important because we may be better suited to be bombarded with media then others and know how to handle it. We are also more knowledgeable about how to see through the many lies companies are always insisting on us. Through keeping this blog, I learned how to dig deeper and deconstruct the hidden messages that companies are showing us. I also learned how to see through the bluffs of the companies. I think that it is really important for everyone to understand these concepts, because it allows consumers to be knowledgeable and understand that most brands are just empty promises full of readily available disappointment.