Reflection

I have learned so much over this semester, especially in this unit for Critical Thinking. I discovered how much media really impacts our lives, opinions, and point of view. 

The amount of media we consume is very surprising to me. I had no idea that we consume such a large amount. The media impacts the way we think, and what our opinions are on what the media is telling us about. The media has a narrow view on certain subjects, and if we consume that narrow opinion, it will become our own opinion, too. For example, our perception of "beauty" is what we see in the media -- skinny, tan, perfect skin, etc. We have these opinions because the media imposes them on us, and we accept them. 

The fact that I know much more about marketing and advertising techniques has definitely changed how I view the media. I am able to identify what the advertiser is trying to target, and how they may be distorting my perception of their product. I can see that the media can easily influence and distort our perception of things, and I am more aware of that. I think more about what I see in the media, and know that there are other sides to the story or other opinions on the subject, besides what the media is telling us.

I definitely consider myself more media literate than I was at the beginning of the unit. I may not be completely literate in every area, but I feel much more knowledgeable on the subject. I think I have learned how to determine the messages, appeals, and techniques in an advertisement. I think this skill is very useful because I question the media's messages, and know that they aren't all honest. 

I'm not sure if my media consumption habits have changed this semester.  I am definitely more aware of what is portrayed in the media, but I am unsure of a way to limit my intake of media. Although the amount of media I consume may not have changed, the way I perceive it, and the way it affects me definitely has. 

It is very important to be media literate. Many people don't realize how much the media affects them, and their perception of the world around them. It is important to know when advertisers are being honest, and to know that the media's view on a subject is not the only view. It is also important that people know that they don't always need to listen to the media, and that the media often twists the way we think - not for the good. Being an educated consumer is just as important as having media literacy. When taking things in from the media, it is important to know how honest the media is being. Consumers should know that the media easily manipulates our opinions. and the way the media portrays things is not always the only way it's viewed. 

Keeping this log kept my mind aware of all the advertisements and techniques used in the media. It helped me see how much the media really affects us, and how specific audiences are targeted, as well as specific appeals used in different advertisements. This blog also showed me how a consumer can perceive an advertisement as one thing, but it is actually saying something else that the consumer may not notice. 

I found the documentaries we watched about the media in class very interesting. It really opened my eyes to how deceitful the media can be. For example, the way the media portrays women, from Miss Representation was very eye opening. I never realized how unequally women are treated/viewed  compared to men, consciously or subconsciously. I also think it is very  interesting the way the media affects us subconsciously. For example, in one of the films we watched, they talked about the "reptilian effect", which was what subconsciously compels us to buy things. I think it is important to have media literacy to realize these effects that the media has, and this blog has helped me do that. 

Beauty?

It's strange to see what really goes on behind the scenes to make the "perfect woman", and thats exactly what this Dove Film shows. How can we compare ourselves to women in the media, and be unhappy with ourselves, when what we are seeing isn't realistic itself? 

Women are set to such high standards, and are criticized when they don't meet them. But, it is impossible to meet them all. We see in this video that the media completely distorts our vision of beauty. How can we consider the image at the end beautiful, when it is just a digital creation? Not many people know how completely photoshopped the media can be. The woman at the end of the clip is absolutely nothing like her actual self. This is why it is unrealistic to compare ourselves to the women in the media, but of course, we do it anyways. 

Society's expectations for women distort what we see as beauty. Not only do women feel self conscious because of the media's influence of what we should be like, but other people judge women compared to these images of beauty in their minds. In Miss Representation, we can see how people criticize women compared to what the media's expectations for them. Women are so objectified, that even in powerful positions, women are constantly criticized on looks. For example the newscasters in Miss Representation. The women are talked about based on their looks, men are talked about based on what they say. Why? Because the media makes us think that looks are all that matter for a woman. 

Lucky Charms

This Lucky Charms commercial targets kids, and uses aesthetic sensation and curiosity. 

In the advertisement it shows children around the Lucky Charms Leprechaun and seeing whats in the cereal. All of the colors and "magic" from the shapes of the cereal and the leprechaun would intrigue young watchers. All of these shapes, colors, and magic gives the children watching the impression that if they eat the cereal they will feel magical and see leprechauns too. 

The colors and magic in the commercial would also make the kids watching very curious about the cereal. At the end of the commercial, the kids and leprechaun hop on a rainbow and start to go somewhere...but where? This would spark a kid's imagination. It gives them the idea that if they eat the cereal the leprechaun will take them imaginary places too. 

I think this commercial is effective on kids, especially because the leprechaun tells what shapes and flavors are in the cereal. If a kid hears marshmallows are in cereal, it means sugar, and of course kids are after sweets. Lucky Charms are also referred to as "magically delicious" and the overall commercial gives kids that Lucky Charms are magical. This commercial is definitely effective on kids.

Dior- "Midnight Poison"

This advertisement for Dior's "Midnight Poison" perfume appeals to curiosity and the need for aesthetic sensation. 

When a consumer first looks at the advertisement, they see all these dark, twisted colors with a woman almost emerging from them. We don't know what the colors are; they could be clothes, they could be outer space, who knows. The important thing is that it doesn't matter what it is, as long as it grabs the consumer's attention. The word "poison" in the name also would grab the reader's attention by making the product attractive in an edgy way, because poison has a dangerous connotation to it. 

 A connection could be made through the sparkles within the dark colors near the woman. The word "midnight" in the name is  shown because these shiny/sparkly things look like stars, and make the background look like the midnight sky. "Midnight" can also have an edgier connotation to it because its dark and could be portrayed as somewhat scary for some people. The dark colors in the advertisement reinforce the dark, edgy tones the creators set for this product. 

I think this advertisement is very creative and appeals to people looking for "edgier" tones in their lives. This advertisement definitely grabs a consumer's eye, but I'm not so sure it convinced me to buy their product.