Summary

Our world is completely different from the one that our great grandparents/ grandparents (maybe even parents) grew up in, if that isn't already extremely obvious, and the older generations see this dependence on technology as "stupidity"...but is it? We no longer have to memorize everyone's phone numbers, read a physical map to navigate, but what I feel they aren't taking into consideration is the knowledge and skills it takes to learn how to use this technology efficiently and to the greatest of its ability. If I put a computer or an iphone in front of them, they would have no idea how to use it. I feel that their generation and my generation are just as intelligent as the other, but the difference is what we use our intuitive minds for. Instead of memorizing phone numbers, we memorize web addresses, learn how to understand concepts like "links" and "attached files" and the difference between someone's Facebook page and a personal blog such as this one. This blog will show you through five days of my personal experience with the media via my cell phone, computer, TV, music, and anything else pervading throughout my life. What I have learned from blogging about my daily interactions with media is it seriously cannot be escaped. In order for someone to escape the media, they would have to relocate to the middle of a forest with no connection to the outside world. When I am at dinner with friends, I look around and notice how everyone has their phone sitting on the table next to their plates of food. They look up for conversation, then look down to deal with their social media. Is this bad? Are we losing touch with communication? I don't want to think so but it is possible. But are we making up for it with all of the cyber communication we have? In my opinion  you can get to know someone's deepest thoughts on the internet. For example; whoever is reading this likely doesn't even know me. Yet here you are, knowing the details of my thoughts on this subject. Kind of crazy, huh? ... ... ...

Post #5

Today my interactions with the media were pretty much the usual. I woke up and immediately was on my phone looking at any facebook/twitter/instagram notifications I may have had, responding to people, and I checked the weather on my iphone. Being the last day of spring break,  I decided to make use of every second of free time that I possibly could. I went to netflix.com on my laptop and I watched the movie "Big Fish" as I ate a bowl of cereal for  breakfast. I had originally seen this movie a few years ago when it came out. I think I was too young to understand the concepts, and I may still be, but now I can recognize the beauty in this production. After taking some film classes, I can truly appreciate the camera work and storyline of this film.

I later made a trip to WalMart and was bombarded with advertisements for easter clothing and candy; an explosion of pastal pinks, yellows, oranges and purples blurring my vision. I will admit that I bought a small chocolate bunny...I honestly don't really care for these chocolate bunnies, but growing up my parents would always get them for me, and I simply miss them. I figured it would be a good reminder of home to eat a chocolate bunny. I then came across the usual magazines as I went through the checkout line with my bread, milk, eggs, orange juice, and other typical food stuffs that I get at the grocery store. These magazines are always plastered with pictures of women who are half naked or cars, bright homes and anything else that may be visually appealing to people interested in that specific magazine's niche. We don't even really notice it, but everywhere we go, we are surrounded by advertisements and media. Billboards hover over the roads and buildings, every car has the emblem of the company that made it, people wear T shirts with Nike symbols and quotes and sayings for endless companies. I saw a girl wearing Puma shoes as I was in StarBucks to get hot chocolate. There was a TV on in the corner of starbucks that was showing the local news and newspapers on the rack in the corner of the room with headlines and advertisements. I went home, drinking my StarBucks hot chocolate, walked in my door, and flipped on my Sony TV. I don'y always turn it on just to watch but when I am home alone I like a little background noise. Even though I wasn't paying attention, there were likely many advertisements playing, news clips, etc. There were likely previews for new movies about to come out. Regardless of whether I want to hear and see those things or not, if you have TV, you will be forced to experience them. Today I posted on Facebook, I tweeted on Twitter, and I posted a GIF on an app called GIFBoom which I talked about in a previous entry. These are all social media apps where people can post things about their lives for their friends and anyone on the internet really to see and learn about them. In my opinion, certain people don't need these apps. They get on and end up making some kind of announcement about their body wash or hair style. Honestly, I DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR BODY WASH! :)