Reflection Post

My first answer to how much media I consume would have been something like, "I think that I'm pretty much consuming media at all times of the day except for when I'm sleeping." I layer thought about my answer a little more and I decided that sometimes, even when I'm sleeping, I dream about my phone, twitter, or certain brands that I want to buy clothes from. This observation really makes me realize the media culture we have in society and how we can't really get away from it. In this way, I'm saying that the amount of media I consume is pretty much infinite. I don't think that the media has completely and fully shaped my personality, but I'd definitely say it has had an impact on my life choices and how I decide to do some things based on what I see in the media. 

I think this class has helped me realize and understand the media and advertising techniques, but I also think I taught it to myself over time. When I was younger, I wanted to wear everything Lizzie McGuire (Hillary Duff) wore or buy everything advertised on TV. As I get older, I realize this stuff is mostly junk and that I really don't need it. 

It is important to have media literacy because without it, we would believe everything advertisers told us. If we believed this, we would just buy in to everything and we would have no space for personal thought. Educated consumers realize how to pick out what and what they shouldn't take away from the media and advertisers. 

Throughout these past few weeks, I've really started to realize the hold that the media has on our society. It's pretty crazy! I've really enjoyed this assignment because it has lead me to really think about what is delivered to us on the daily by the media.