It’s 8:30am and my alarming is furiously buzzing for my attention. I quickly dress and grab my bags as I head downstairs waiting for my taxi to the airport. While in the cab I listen to The Shins, one of my favourite bands on my ipod something I do frequently while travelling whether it is car, train, bus or plane. Once I boarded the plane I consistently listen to my MUSIC the whole trip only stopping when it is mandatory to turn off all electrical devices on the plane. Music is such a part of my every day life that I can’t imagine life without easy access to it through programs such as itunes that I use too listen to music for hours a day. According to Media & Culture (79) “by 2008 iTunes had sold more than four billions songs and had become the No. 1 music retailer in the USA, surpassing Best Buy, Target and Wal-Mart.”
After checking in at Burlington Airport I have time to waste at the gate so decide to watch Californication, which is a TELEVISION show that can be found on Showtime, on my laptop on a DVD. “Nearly 90 percent of American homes today are equipped with VCRs and/or DVD players, which are used for two major purposes: movie rentals and time shifting” (Media & Culture 166). This is one of my favourite shows and although I have seen all the current seasons I am now re-watching them all in anticipation of the new one coming out in January 2011.
When I finally get to my Dads apartment in New York City no one is there so I decide to go on to the INTERNET and of coarse check my Facebook account. While browsing through the countless pages of my friends Facebook pages “Facebook grew at a rate of more than two million global users a month, and by 2008 had sixty million user” (Media & Culture 53) I stop to turn on my Dads itunes music. Unfortunately my Dad does not have wireless Internet so I was stuck using one of his computers, which bothers me as I am so attached to my own MacBook. After I have spent a sufficient amount of time wasted browsing pointless websites on Stumble I decide to preoccupy myself with something else.
I spot The New York Times on the kitchen table and decide to have a quick browse. I don’t usually read NEWSPAPERS but considering I was bored it was something to do. I found it odd that my Dad even had a hardcopy of the paper as he usually relies on his Kindle to read the paper. I only get to the first few pages before I am bored, as I prefer to read the latest headlines online like many others as I feel its straight to the point and I don’t have to flip through pages and pages of articles that I have no desire to read. According to Media & Culture (274) online newspapers are truly taking advantage of the flexibility the Internet offers. “ Because space is not an issue, newspapers can post online stories and reader letters that they weren’t able to print in the paper edition.”
As I get into the Taxi I realize I have forgotten my ipod, which I find incredible annoying as I am stuck listening to the boring RADIO station the driver has on. I don’t usually listen to the radio that much as im never really in a car and whenever I am I always just listen to my ipod as I hate that radio stations play the same few songs over and over again as well as have endless amounts of radio advertisements “About 8% of all U.S. spending on media advertisements goes to radio stations” (Media & Culture 136).
Later in day I find myself in the supermarket with my Dad and like always I have to the front to pick up a magazine to read as I follow my dad around. These particular magazines are often referred to as gossip magazines or “supermarket tabloids push the limits of both decency and credibility” (Media & Culture 301). I personally don’t usually purchase MAGAZINES I think they are a waste of money and if I am going to read anything it has to be a book but I love having a quick browse to pass the time.
I didn’t actually have any experience with a BOOK as I was on break and avoid them as much as possible during that time, which is probably not a good thing I was once an avid reader. According to Media & Culture (324) the average college student spent between $921 and $988 on textbooks and supplies”, with that kind of figure its no one wonder I am currently avoiding all non required reading for a while.
Textbook google.com products
After a long day I decide to watch a movie but my choices are severely limited as my Dad only has a few that I am interested in. I decide on Knocked Up as I have not seen in ages and it’s always a good choice. This movie is classified in the comedy genre and according to Media & Culture (223) “a genre or category, in which conventions regarding similar characters, scenes, structures and themes recur in combination.” If my Dad had wireless Internet I probably would have just watched an instant play on Netflix on my laptop but unfortunately I was out luck.
Knocked Up Trailer Youtube.com/watch?v=xlBR-T8gdFo
It’s hard to comprehend what the world would be like without media. It’s absolutely crazy to think just how much modern society relies on it and how much it has taken over everyone’s lives. By taking Media and Society I now realize and understand the power of media much more than I did previously, which is something I am very happy about as I think it will help me a lot in my future.
google images mass media
Good final MEDIA MEMOIR, Taylor.
ReplyDeleteDive a bit more deeply in your analysis - wonderful embeds here, and a neatly laid-out blog.
And a very good personal blog for the semester, as well - we must get you more followers.
Keep blogging after the course ends, and keep me posted.
Enjoy your holiday!
Dr. W