Media Blog Reflection

         Media, like nearly everyone else in our society, plays a significant role in my daily life. Without it, my life would be drastically different, in both positive and negative ways. In general, media plays some kind of role in every aspect of my life. For example, in school, I utilize media to complete typed homework assignments, watch videos or look up information to clarify difficult concepts, research information for papers or writing assignments, send teachers emails, take pictures of information presented in the classroom, and much more.

         In this instance, media has positively benefited me by making different aspects of my life more convenient and efficient. Outside of school, media plays a prevalent role in communication, entertainment, and awareness. For example, communicating with friends and families is significantly easier and more efficient with an iPhone, as well as staying aware of the events in the world around us, and spending free time watching YouTube or playing video games.

         The media blog project allowed me to become significantly more aware of the endless amount of media and advertising around us, and the motives of corporations behind the facade. For example, when I watch commercials on TV, I am able to look past the superficial messages they portray to the viewers, and how desperate advertising companies are to sell their products. For example, I see a lot of commercials trying to sell medicine products, using weasel words to attempt to draw in an audience to buying their product, since for “some” users, it’s “effective.” In this instance, weasel words, hasty conclusion fallacy, magic ingredients, and simple solutions are all techniques and characteristics of these kinds of ads I am now able to understand. Writing my media blog posts allowed me to analyze these techniques used more deeply, including more specific techniques from The Persuaders including Lovemarks, Madison and vine, guerilla advertising, and data mining.

         I don’t think my media consumption habits have changed much over the course of the semester. I still use media for the same amount of time I used previously, and I still consume media in the same ways, with my iPhone, television, computer, and the advertising world around us. The only way in which my habits have changed are that I am more aware of the techniques used by the companies that promote different products, videos, websites, advertisements, etc. This Skill of media literacy that I’ve learned through the media blog project and the critical thinking class is essential for anyone in our rapid progression towards a technology based society.

         In such a complex and in-depth world of technology, it’s very easy to get lost in the sea of media we are living in. Believing everything in the media world that is fed to us, from magazines, tv commercials, advertisements, billboards, etc. will result in an extremely skewed perception of reality that can cause us to live in a world of ignorance, blindness, and misunderstanding. This media blog project definitely put me on the right track towards avoiding this mindset, and gaining a small glimpse into the vast world of media that is vital for us to consume in a healthy and responsible manner.

Media in Disneyland

One of my favorite childhood destinations to visit almost annually was Disneyland. Since I was two years old, I’ve been traveling to Disneyland many times around Christmas time, for my eighth grade graduation trip, and a few times for Valentine’s Day. I haven’t thought about it much until this semester and our discussion of media, but now I realize how much media plays a role in the Disneyland experience.

Without technology, media, and iPhones, in my opinion, going to Disneyland would be a vastly different experience. First, the Disneyland app is such a vital asset to walking around Disneyland. The app provides wait times for every ride, the current time slot for FastPasses, and what time the ride opens. In addition, it allows me to know whether or not the ride is closed for maintenance or whether or not the ride is even open for the day. Without this app, going to Disneyland would be much less fun, since the order of rides I go on depends entirely on the wait times and what time I can obtain Fastpasses. With the efficiency of media today, a new system at Disneyland allows visitors to purchase a “MaxPass” for ten dollars a day that allows visitors to obtain FastPasses for rides without having to walk up to the machines that dispense them. There are many other features on the app, including a map of Disneyland, all the hours and menus of every restaurant and snack bar, daily events such as photo opportunities with Disney characters, and the ability to even order food. Media has significantly enhanced the Disneyland experience, making it easier and more efficient than ever to enjoy the various rides and attractions the park offers.

Media is also a crucial part of the rides at Disneyland. With the development of recent technology, the rides have been more advanced and detailed than ever. Disney has also provided a photo system that takes pictures of visitors on the rides in special spots, such as the top of splash mountain or at the end of California Screamin, which has been refurbished in the past year. Visitors can order the pictures or get the, sent to their phones, and share them in social media with friends.

Finally, media has allowed me to keep up with the recent changes being made to Disneyland, especially Star Wars Land. I’ve been reading news articles this past year about the development and progress of the land, and the details of the rides—the millennium falcon—and the different characteristics and Star Wars artifacts of the surroundings. I’ve been able to see countless pictures of the land without even visiting the park at all, and I’ve been seeing all kinds of social media posts, comments, tweets, etc. about the recent opening day on May 31st.

This new kind of life media allows us to experience is prevalent in many places outside of Disneyland. Media vastly increases the efficiency and conveniency of our daily lives, and it allows us to connect and be more aware of the world around us. Going to Disneyland would not be even close to as exciting of an experience without the presence of media all around the parks.