Reflection

Do we shape the media, or does the media shape us? I have asked myself this question dating back to the beginning of the media unit, and keeping this media blog has certainly helped me to come to an answer.

Modern culture is crammed with messages spread by mass media. Whether we like to admit it or not, the media's constant nagging and advertising blurs our perception and understanding of the world and our immediate reality. The media shapes our conception of reality because it is responsible for our general understanding of what reality is like. Ironically, while we rely the media to warp our perception of reality and our perception of ourselves, the media relies on us as a means of generating profit. In this sense, we are our own worst enemy. Ok, that may be a bit extreme. After all, isn't it our responsibility to use the media carefully and at our own risk? Whether the media sends out positive, accurate messages synonymous with reality is beyond our control. However, we can control whether or not we choose to listen and accept these messages ... right?

The media is undoubtedly everywhere, this I cannot deny. I consume media all day long, just about everyday; driving to school, at school, listening to the radio, watching TV, and many more. Arguably the most common source of media I am exposed to on a daily basis is social media. This media assignment has allowed me to stop and observe as people sit immersed in the world of technology rather than enjoying the moment. This has seemingly become the societal norm for people my age. Everywhere I go, there are countless faces droned into a virtual world. I am responsible for such behavior as well. For instance, I can't go to sleep until I have checked my Twitter feed and my Snapchat story is up to date. Social media dominates the social lives of myself and society as a whole. It has become and abused platform, and instead of making people more social, as the name implies it should, it has caused an immense amount of antisocial behavior. In addition, the messages that we are exposed to by way of social media certainly add to our tainted understanding of reality. This is just one of many examples portraying the media's influence on us as individuals and as a society.

The same can be said of our perpetual exposure to advertisements, which are meant to shape our personal thoughts and feelings in order to cater to the advertiser's wishes. Because we are so susceptible to the messages we hear in the media, it is incredibly easy for advertisements to lure us into buying their products. The concepts I have learned in class this year when dealing with media have allowed me to recognize the possibility of schemes in advertisements, and has therefore made me a smarter consumer. Now, I know that many things in advertisements are said in a way that makes them appear better than they are. Deals and bargains that seem unreal often aren't real. And many things that the media makes you feel are necessary, are not really necessary. Most importantly, this assignment has allowed me to identify the messages ads are sending my way so I will not be vulnerable to them.

This log helped me see many flaws in media as well as many smart aspects of it. It has also helped me to realize modern media's tremendous potential to influence culture. Advertisers know what their target audience wants, and will do anything in their power, even if that means manipulating consumers, to generate the most profit. That's the bitter truth about the media. This unit gave me the ability to analyze and evaluate the media so that I will not be susceptible to the shrewd messages the media relays to me.

No, Not Another One!

DJ Khaled, a long-time DJ with several hit records has recently soared to new heights in terms of popularity because of his "inspirational" snapchat's. Snapchat is an application where users can take photos, record videos, add text and drawings, and send them to a controlled list of recipients, or in Khaled's case, millions of people. Khaled's claim to fame came in 2009, when he became president of the record label Def Jam South. Khaled later became CEO and founder of We the Best Music Group, and now he is living the life in his Miami home. However, Khaled has recently experienced a new surge of popularity, something completely out of no where. I like to think that I was the first one who noticed Khaled's snapchat's, and that I was the one who got them popular. But it seemed as though just when it got to be a major topic of conversation within my friend group, people all over the world were hopping on the DJ Khaled bandwagon. Before I knew it, Khaled was all over Twitter, Instagram, and even SportsCenter. I was shocked by how much media attention one man could get in so little time, but just like anything else that gains popularity to fast, it's bound to get to the point of simply annoying, and it has.

If you're wondering what all the fuss is about DJ Khaled's snapchat's, I'll be the first to say that his snapchat's are completely meaningless and stupid. At first, myself along with everyone else thought they were funny, because this dude's talking about "the keys to success" being "more pillows, coco butter, opening doors that close on you, etc." Khaled's snapchat's were just something that me, my friends, and social media altogether just made a huge joke of. But, because it got so big so fast, it seems to have died down quicker than when it got big. I know I'm not alone when I say that now Khaled's snapchat's are simply annoying, and I'm probably not the only one who recently unfollowed him on snapchat because nobody really cares anymore, the joke is seemingly dead. This supports the idea that trends can only be cool for so long. What makes a new trend "cool" is that it's exclusive and unique; however, as the trend gains popularity it is no longer exclusive or unique, making it no longer "cool". DJ Khaled is one of the many trends which our culture has consumed only to spit back out shortly after, and then to be followed by "Another One". This can also be credited to the mass use of social media in modern society.

The Future is Fast

Nike football advertisement

I saw this advertisement just the other day as I was watching football. I thought that it was very well done because it sends out a good message that Nike stands for. This advertisement, like many other Nike advertisements, is meant to bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world. In addition, that if you have a body, you are an athlete. The ad effectively puts across this message by using kids from different backgrounds and circumstances to take the role of professional football players on the big stage. By doing this, Nike is giving every kid the opportunity to dream big no matter where they came from or the environment they grew up in.

This advertisement also inspires kids to achieve greatness by allowing them to be their hero. When I was a kid I used to imagine myself as a superstar athlete, one that I admired and looked up to, and I would put myself in their shoes. For instance, I used to go out in my backyard and imagine I was Wilt Chamberlain, and then I would take as many shots as it took me to get to 100 points (because he set the all-time record for points in a game at 100). All the same, Nike allows kids to imagine themselves in the shoes of their idols, and to believe that they can become great just like the athletes they aspire to be.

I found it very interesting at how subtly Nike products were actually promoted in the advertisement. The first time I saw this ad, I had no idea it was done by Nike until the very end when I saw the famous swoosh. I had to watch it several times to actually realize that it did in fact use Nike products. I think the reason for this is because Nike is trying to sell a message rather than any particular product. With that being said, it is important to note that the swoosh is without the word Nike on top of it, because with or without the word Nike on top of it, the general population will see the swoosh and associate it with Nike. The Nike logo is so renowned that it has become synonymous with the organization's actual name. When people see this message followed up by Nike's signature swoosh, they immediately identify greatness with Nike. This is what makes Nike so effective in terms of its advertising, because to kids who see this ad, Nike is the central key to greatness.

Mountain Dew Kickstart Commercial

"Powerstance" ft. Russell Westbrook

Very few professional basketball players are also fashion icons, and Russell Westbrook is one of the few. The Oklahoma City Thunder's Allstar point guard has been recognized as the "king" of fashion in the NBA, to go along with his passionate and electrifying style of play. Westbrook's most recent attempt in advertising features an extremely odd commercial for Mountain Dew Kickstart. Knowing Westbrook's eccentricity in terms of fashion choice, why would one expect anything less than an advertisement presenting him in a lime green suit, perpetually gliding while drinking the marketed energy drink?

This Kickstart advertisement uses testimonial as well as wit and humor to appeal to the audience. It begins with Westbrook in the kitchen of his home wearing comfortable clothing. Supposedly all it takes for Westbrook to get out of his Oklahoma City Thunder sweats is one sip of black cherry Kickstart. Then, just like that, he's gliding across his kitchen floor and into the world wearing that exclusive green suit and those lens-less green glasses. Kickstart gives Westbrook enough power to glide straight through the wall of his home. The world is clearly not ready for the star point guard decked out in green. Women, pickup basketball players, and even cab drivers stand no chance, as Westbrook is the color of envy in their eyes.

This isn't all that surprising considering Westbrook is known for having very unique pre-game outfits, and he wears vibrant clothing and lens-less glasses often. This commercial is so effective because Westbrook plays this role so perfectly. But could Lebron James or Blake Griffin take on this role? Probably not. The choice to use Westbrook for this particular role is what makes this commercial so funny and effective.

"Miss Representation"

The media plays a major role in modern society being the main source through which we receive information. The media is highly influential and shapes our lives through its messages. Women, in particular, are largely impacted by the media because they are exposed to extremely degrading messages. Women in America are still forced to endure misrepresentation and public abuse as a result of the medias horrifying portrayal of women. Despite making massive strides towards equality in a seemingly one-sided society, women are still pressured to conform to men's ideals and this perfect standard that they're incapable of reaching. The media puts women in boxes where they feel limited in terms of intellectual integrity, ambition, and overall worth. As a result, women feel less inclined to follow their dreams or to stand up for what they believe in. As the next generation, it is our responsibility to change the messages that the media lays out to society, and to guarantee a fair and honest representation of women. This is what I was able to take from MissRepresentation, an inspiring documentary about just what I have mentioned thus far; the negative impact that the media has on women.

Gender is a social construct just like race and ethnicity. It defines and restricts the roles, rights, responsibilities, and obligations of men and women. It just so happens that in today's society which evidently caters to men, women are given no reason to pursue their aspirations. Media is the basis of gender inequality. In order to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women requires transformation in the distribution of power, opportunities, and outcomes for both men and women. But apart from fundamental change, it also requires the support and encouragement of women to achieve their goals despite the hindrance of media. I think more than anything, the reason that women are so discouraged from ensuing ambitious positions is because there are not too many women they can look up to or aspire to be; and the women that do obtain clout positions are constantly scrutinized or judged on their appearance. In order to change this, it is up to us to support these women rather than to judge them, only then will the future generations have hope.

The media relies on us, like any other business, to generate profit; not the other way around. The real problem lies within the way people, especially women, are treated by the media as objects rather than human beings. As long as the we allow the media to objectify, dehumanize, and discriminate against women, we will never achieve gender equality. Today, we allow the media to define us, and it is our job to change this reality.

"Just being white, you will win"

Thai beauty advertisement

I came across this advertisement on the news pretty recently. This new Thai beauty ad has unleashed extreme criticism worldwide, and it is not hard to imagine why. The advertisement bolsters damaging, racist ideas, that lighter skin is crucial to success. "Just being white, you will win." This is the controversial message the Thai ad puts across to its audience. Without the advertised pill, "the whiteness I have invested in, will just vanish," the actress warns. The actress then becomes depressed as her skin becomes black, and promises the product, called Snowz, will help your skin remain light.

I thought that this commercial was extremely repulsive, and I was absolutely shocked that it was aired in Thailand. But as I looked further into it, I discovered that Thai companies in particular have been criticized in the past for ridiculing women who have dark skin. In Thai culture, dark skin is associated with a lower-class group of people, i.e., farmers, or people who have been darkened by the sun. Whiter skin symbolizes a higher status and beauty standard. This trend, where a pale complexion is considered the standard of beauty in the media in Thailand as well as many other Asian countries, has caused women to resort to whitening creams and pills that promise a brighter tone but damage their skin. This ad represents a larger issue in today's society, our narrow conceptions of beauty. We are constantly striving to fit society's description of beauty, largely thanks to our culture being crammed with degrading messages spread by mass media. The message that advertisements are sending out is that people are equivalent to the products they purchase. This turns a person's identity into a product, and consequently strips them of their humanity. Unfortunately, as long as women's bodies continue to be neglected rather than celebrated by the media, these negative affects will persist.

Cast a Vote and a Smile

Demarcus Cousins for 2016 All-Star Video

For the first time last season, the dominant Sacramento Kings big man, Demarcus Cousins (who I think is secretly my father) made the All-star team to compete in the All-star game. For those of you that don't know the All-star game is basically an exhibition game hosted annually by the NBA, featuring the leagues most dominant players. It's kind of a big deal. So through this blog, I'm not only going to talk about how wonderful this commercial is, but also why you should definitely vote Cousins to 69622 everyday if you a real one.

Through this commercial Cousins is campaigning to make a return to the game this season. Paying homage to the 1979 Coca-Cola commercial starring Mean Joe Green. Here is the original commercial from back in 1979:

Coca-Cola Classic ad: Mean Joe Green

Of course seeing this commercial campaigning Cousins' return to the All-star game for the first time at Sleep Train Arena, I had no idea that it was a remake of a commercial from 1979 until I was informed by my father. But apparently the Mean Joe Green advertisement is one of the famous Coca-Cola commercials in history. Given all the Coke advertisements I've seen in my lifetime alone, that must be a tough list to make. But that is one reason why this commercial campaign was so successful, because it appeals to the older audience who grew up seeing the legendary Mean Joe Green Coke ad. However, it also appeals to the younger audiences who have no idea that it was a remake, because its use of humor. Besides who wouldn't want Boogie's sweaty head band?? You're a fool if you wouldn't. Remember, Cousins is the best big man in the league, so vote Cousins to 69622 or instagram/tweet Cousins #NBAVote. Let's get Boogie to the All-star game!