Media and my Day

Though it doesn't really feel like it, outside of my friends and family (who are also affected by the media) the media has probably been the biggest influence on how I think and feel about just about everything.

To have an opinion on something you have to have knowledge about that subject (ideally). Where does that information come from? The media. Not just in the sense of TV and newspapers and other large media sources but other things like the teachings of those around you who have been influenced by the media and the people around them who have also been influenced. Media means so many different things and it touches our lives in so many different ways that it is near impossible to really grasp what is original thought and what is a bi-product of media stimulation. I appreciate qualitative over quantitative thinking, so for me at least, it's not something that can be neatly summed up in some "this happened, causing this" type of statistic or chart. Media is too broad a term to be pinned down and examined.

How does the media influence my everyday life? How doesn't it? From the shampoo I use to my after class activities the media is a driving force behind my daily activities and life goals.

Video Games are the Devil

Playing video games myself, I know that I am already more prone to disagree with whatever negative comments about gaming come my way like in the videos we watched in class. However, I don't think I am an unreasonable person and if they had put forth some acceptable criticisms backed up by credible evidence I think I would have accepted their point. This did not seem to be the case however. I think a large part of that was that their argument was far too broad. Saying that video games create violent behavior in players would mean that everyone who plays video games would be more prone to these violent tendencies and those who don't play games wouldn't, and that is just not the case.

I think a lot of these criticism's come from a misunderstanding of gaming and gamers that has gone on since video games became popular. People see video gamers as the weird nerdy guy who smells bad and sits alone at lunch and then shows up with a gun one days and goes on a killing spree. Especially with the development of modern gaming this stereotype just doesn't hold true for the majority of gamers. Playing video games has become an incredibly social event. These days most games come with online play where you communicate and collaborate with other players either playing with or against each other. With the invention of online play, gamers social and communication skills have only improved over the past several years. And gaming has never been a solitary act. From Pong to Dungeons and Dragons, you need more than one player to make the game fun or to play at all. Games are designed to be social. It's unfair that a couple of people who were mentally unstable to begin with just happened to play video games and suddenly video games get a bad reputation. They stated in one of the videos that video games put you into a state where you are more susceptible to learning and what you are learning is violence. Well, if that's the case what about those people who get into that hyper active state watching sports? Sports are violent but nobody attacks them because they are part of mainstream popularity. People use these few examples of bad people who happen to game as tools for their own personal agendas. Of course there is no such thing as bad publicity so to all you uptight over protective moms who should take more responsibility for your child's upbringing than some video games,as someone who hopes to be in gaming professionally eventually, for the sake of the gaming industry please keep it up and keep games in the news and on peoples minds, thanks.

So back onto my main idea, despite the criticisms of those in the videos, games are extremely helpful developmental tools. They improve social skills,reflexes, reduce stress, stretch your imagination, and are just something to enjoy. They are far more beneficial to developing your mind than TV is and it's just as violent. All I'm really trying to say is that this isn't a black and white subject that can be proven with quantitative thinking and statistics. These things might impress a general public who doesn't have an understanding of the gaming community, but if you talk to anyone who does, I'm sure you'll find they would also disagree with these methods.

sources-

Media Studies Reader, "Talking About Videogames" pg. 464

NBC Archives, McGraw Hill Higher Education, 2004

Music and the Media

Music is such a big part of our lives and a big part of our media that they are practically inseparable. I really notice this whenever I'm watching a movie or a TV show and they don't have music playing in the background. The fact that I notice when there isn't music in something instead of when it does tells me that I have become both addicted to it and at the same time numb to the experience. I know I'm addicted because watching something that doesn't have music just feels wrong to me anymore. Like it's empty or something is missing.

I don't listen to a lot of radio because I find most stations will play one or two songs I like, then a gratuitous amount that I don't. I know this isn't the radio stations fault because they just play what will be most beneficial to them. But that means I get hooked on new music via friends or the internet. Who in turn get there music from their friends and the internet. But where does the cycle begin? To get music out there you need someone to plug your songs, that's where a professional plugger comes in. Plugging new music might not sound too hard but to be any good you have to be completely dedicated to your job and go the extra mile for your clients. I tend to be pretty fickle when it comes to my music and I probably wouldn't be very good at pretending to like something that I really didn't just to get it played so it's probably not the job for me.

My point in all this really is thank goodness for pluggers that get new music out there for people like me to enjoy.

Psychographics

Psycho Graphics....

Yea, that's pretty much what I thought of when I heard the word. But it turns out psycho-graphics is not only an awesome name for a tattoo parlor but it is actually a sort of analysis of how, why, and what you spend money on and though it looks a lot more boring than my original mental image...

it is actually a very interesting study. After taking a sort of survey like test I got to find out where I fit into the psycho-graphics chart. As it turns out my primary result was "Experiencers". Which is defined as follows:

Experiencers are motivated by self-expression. Young, enthusiastic, and impulsive consumers, Experiencers quickly become enthusiastic about new possibilities but are equally quick to cool. They seek variety and excitement, savoring the new, the offbeat, and the risky. Their energy finds an outlet in exercise, sports, outdoor recreation, and social activities

Experiencers are avid consumers and spend a comparatively high proportion of their income on fashion, entertainment, and socializing. Their purchases reflect the emphasis that they place on looking good and having "cool" stuff.

Which is largely true for me. Almost any extra money I have that isn't spent on practical or essential things is spent on clothing and video games. Aside from the whole sports and outdoor activities part this is me to a "T".

My secondary result was in the "Innovators" catagory. and it is defined as:

Innovators are successful, sophisticated, take-charge people with high self-esteem. Because they have such abundant resources, they exhibit all three primary motivations in varying degrees. They are change leaders and are the most receptive to new ideas and technologies. Innovators are very active consumers, and their purchases reflect cultivated tastes for upscale, niche products and services.

Image is important to Innovators, not as evidence of status or power but as an expression of their taste, independence, and personality. Innovators are among the established and emerging leaders in business and government, yet they continue to seek challenges. Their lives are characterized by variety. Their possessions and recreation reflect a cultivated taste for the finer things in life.

Which is very flattering but unfortunately a little more untrue than the last. It would be mostly true, if I had the financial recourses it claims I do. However, I don't flatter myself to think I would be a great leader. Though it is true that I love new ideas and technology. Trust me when I say, if I had the money you bet I would be spending it on "the finer things in life".

This test was a fun way of delving a little deeper into myself and seeing some things that I had just never thought to look for about myself. People don't usually think to themselves "why do I buy the things I do and what does that say about me in relation to others?" but it sure is fun to find out. This could also help you if you maybe have some financial problems as I do, to figure out why that is. Maybe you're waisting too much money on that second vacation you don't really need or that third BMW to show up your neighbors new Audi. Or if not, it's kinda cool anyway just to see where you fit on the scale.

Interpretation of an advertisement.

Pretty amusing huh? I thought so at least, but if you're anything like me, advertisements for goods just sort of roll off your back and don't really affect your judgement...or do they?!

Lets face it advertising companies know people don't really pay attention to ads, at least not as much as they would like. So companies have been coming up with new ways to make you want stuff for as long as people have been selling. This particular ad seems straight forward but there are so many things going on that we, the casual observers, don't even register at a first glance. It caught my eye because I found it humorous which is probably what the creators were going for to catch your eye long enough to receive their message. I instantly recognized the product they were selling and why I should buy it. Pepsi is a huge part of American culture. They even use the colors Americans identify most with, red, white, and blue. Even though I used to consider myself immune to advertising, his ad has already worked on me.

This particular ad creates an upbeat and playful atmosphere by using bright colors (that are emblematic of their product) and the eye catching image of a straw coming to life and refusing to be used in their competitors product. Even though they don't use the Coke name, lets face it we know what it is. Removing the label does more than what you might think though. By removing the label the can is left plain and boring making their Pepsi can look even better in comparison already. This also adds to the ad's overall simplicity. It gives us straight forward symmetrical images with recognizable labeling. You just get it in a second, which is probably about as much time I would spend on this ad if I were flipping through a magazine. Little space is lost and all the blank blue space in the background just serves to direct your attention more fully onto the products themselves.

There is little written words in this advertisement because there doesn't need to be. People don't take a lot of time to read ads so this Pepsi ad kept it short sweet and to the point "the joy of Pepsi". most of the words are practically lost to small type and the ones they emphasize are "joy" and "Pepsi" because that is all the people glancing over this ad need to know. Pepsi goes hand in hand with joy.

Advertising has become such a part of our lives that advertising companies have to constantly evolve to catch the consumers off guard and slip under their radar. It has become a huge game of who can outsmart who first, though I suppose that sounds a lot more cynical than I actually feel. It might ruin commercials forever for you (or not if you're into this sort of thing) but next time you see something being advertised just take a look at all the tiny details put into these things and how every facet has been planned out and what that really means to you as a consumer.

Blog use motivations: An exploratory study

The internet is a huge powerhouse in the world of media. More people in our generation probably use the internet more than they watch TV. So in using a blog you instantly start reaching a huge audience not just in your city or state or country, but world wide. Blogs are also much more versatile. They are cheap and easy to create. One person can get across the same information as a team of people for little to no cost. The only limit to blogging is your imagination and only the future will reveal technologies true potential. Who knows what we could accomplish in the future.

War is hell. I know I remember hearing that over and over again through out my life. But what would we know about war without the media? I don't think anybody really enjoys being a part of a war but at this time in our society wars seem to be a necessary part of our culture and media is a necessary part of war. Without the media we as the general public wouldn't know anything about wars, why we're fighting, how we're doing, what are we going to do next, these are all questions the media answers for us.

It's hard to be neutral when writing about war, especially if your country is involved. You want to paint your country in a light that makes it seem like you're in the right. But as a journalist you also want to present news in an unbiased manor. You are responsible for what the people know and how they view the war.

Neutrality in media is a very difficult thing to achieve but it is vital. And as the media becomes broader and broader it influences more and more people. That is a huge burden and one that shouldn't be taken lightly.

Once again, I have NOTHING to report in my media diary! I had planned on setting aside a little time tonight to watch some anime on the net, HOWEVER, I then remembered the huge pile of reading I've been putting off in favor of other work.

So it is now my new goal to find some time this weekend to just kick back and watch some TV or read a book (for fun!) and that is pretty damn sad.

I, honest to God, have had zero media stimulus outside of school work for the past two days. UHG! I have two exams this week, a paper due, and a project to work on. The extent of media contact has been using audio books on my iPod so I can keep up with my reading. I feel like such a loser going to the Ram's Den with my headphones on looking like I'm being all cool and listening to music, and on the inside I'm actually listening to crappy volunteer voice actors read Pride and Prejudice while I'm waiting for my food.

Well as soon as I have something to write about I will. Until then I shall remain out of touch with the world.

Media Diary

Okay, so I admit I absolutely HATE snow. Or rather I did until it got me out of school for a week, but my rapture quickly turned back to contempt after spending an hour digging my car out of the snow with a couple of old Tupperware containers. But on the bright side, I had a lot of free time!...to do my homework... To be honest I haven't had the time to watch TV or just surf the web or anything like that. The only thing I have been doing outside of homework to keep myself sane is playing Persona 3!

And It. Is. Awesome. Not as good as the newer Persona 4 but worthy of writing an analysis for.

It is an older game for the PlayStation 2 and before you think it I do play the PS3 but it's just fun to go back and play older games sometimes.

This game is such a great RPG it's one of the very few that really sucks me in and makes me feel like I AM playing the role. It takes you to Japan and puts you in a Japanese school where you take test, make friends, participate in extra curricular activities all between fighting monsters called shadows with your other self called a persona in an alternate setting called Tarturus that appears during the dark hour when everyone turns into coffins... yea during my high school years I suffered through acne and bad hair, but I guess the Japanese are a different culture.

But aside from all the crazy, it really is well done. The story is well written, the translation was amazing, and it gave me a genuine Japanese high school experience which is pretty cool for a video game. Of course it has it's flaws but they're all game based and don't have much to do with media so I won't go into them.

In any case, Persona 3 and 4, great games, PlayStation 2, great console, video games, WONDERFUL MEDIA.

Also watched: Hairspray the Musical(DVD)

Spongebob Squarepants (Nick)

Chowder (Cartoon Network)

Samurai Champloo (Internet)

Learning Styles

Did you ever realize the night before a big test was coming up that you had put off studying for way too long and now you're screwed?

...Yea me too...

But there is a way to help give you the slightest edge when it comes

to studying.

KNOW YOUR LEARNING STYLE.

Knowing how best you learn will help you study more effectively and

let you know how best to absorb the information presented to you

during class.

If you don't already realize what your learning style is,

there are a ton of test online that will tell you. I recently took

one myself.

ACT X REF

11 9 7 5 3 1 1 3 5 7 9 11

<-- x -->

SEN X INT

11 9 7 5 3 1 1 3 5 7 9 11

<-- x -->

VIS X VRB

11 9 7 5 3 1 1 3 5 7 9 11

<--x -->

SEQ X GLO

11 9 7 5 3 1 1 3 5 7 9 11

<-- x -->

These are the results I got. And while I already pretty much knew what helped me the most I did find out that I was more intellectual than sensual and that surprised me. What that basically means is that I prefer to be given facts rather than work on it hands on and I always thought it was the other way around.

Knowing how best you learn will not only help you through your entire school career but also into the work force and through the rest of your life.