MIDTERM REFLECTION: MEDIA BY THE THROAT

Kelsey Hanrahan's midterm reflection:

1. After studying media for eight weeks in this class, what have you learned? Please be specific.

I have learned that media is an extremely powerful source in our society. The way information is skewed and used to manipulate totally blows my mind. It's such a huge part of our everyday life that there really is no way around being bombarded with media ploys. I've never really noticed how media is always trying to persuade me. It is a mind control device almost, it really try's to determine your next move for you.

2. What is the most important thing you have learned about yourself as a critical reader, a writer, and a thinker in this class so far?

I've learned that Postman was right about me. Sitting and reading a book really doesn't hold my attention like it used to, unless it is a book that I'm choosing to read on my own. With this class I know I need to read the material or I won't be able to keep up in class, so it has shown me that I am capable with a lot of focus, which can be extremely difficult.

In terms of my thinking, I believe I've started to notice a lot more about media in my day to day life. I've gotten in a lot of conversations about media and how it is shaping the society we live in; wondering how our kids will turn out in the next 20 years. It's really making me look into the future more and trying to decide on how I'm going to cut some of the media garbage out of my life.

3. What's one thing YOU would do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?

Quit my job so I have more time to concentrate on this class. I feel like I have no time at all. I have passed in some late blog posts just because there's so much going on day to day that I can't keep everything straight. If I could start over, I would be more organized and find more time to concentrate on the important things.

4. What's one thing you would like ME to do differently this first half of semester if you were to take this class again?

Maybe go a little easier on the reading assignments. Even if you give them just another class' worth; like a week and a half instead of just a week. It's just so much to think about when you have a bunch of tasks to do, they get lost in the jumble of everything else then before you know it you need to have a whole book read in 2 days.

5. Please comment on the usefulness of the power tools, our quizzes, the course blog, your personal blog, our films, and our books (AMUSING, FEED, MEDIA/SOCIETY) as learning tools.

POWER TOOLS: Our power tools are super useful because it makes our minds think about the different messages being presented to us by the media. If we didn't know the techniques that they use, it would be that much easier to brain wash us into thinking they we're the way of the word.

OUR QUIZZES: Our quizzes are wonderful because they make us memorize the power tools. Once we can call out the power tools that we see, we will begin to understand the context of the commercial, TV show or news cast.

THE COURSE BLOG: Lot's of work and sometimes I forget about it because its on the internet; I'm not really the best Angel checker or online checker of things. So it's a little forgetful at times, mostly on my part because I try to avoid using the internet as much as I can. But, overall I think it's a good tool because it gives us a chance to see everyone's work and gain ideas and insights from my classmates.

MY PERSONAL BLOG: I like my personal blog, it represents me in the cyber net world, which is cool. I enjoy receiving comments about pictures and other posts I've done it's rewarding in a way.

OUR FILMS: Our films are cool too because it just, yet again, opens up my eyes to the media and how their techniques are really attempting to brain wash us into believing that their word is how things really are. Like REEL BAD ARABS the truths revealed about some of the things our country has portrayed about Arab people when it isn't the truth at all. It's really scary to think that our country is using media to plot masses into thinking that all Arab people are a certain way.

OUR BOOKS: Our books have been pretty cool so far. It's given me a glimpse into what the future may be like if we continue to ignore our power tools and give in to modern media society. It could turn into a crazy mind chip robot run world.