Music is my freedom.

What is my relationship to the media you ask?  Well, common! Press play already the lyrics say it all, theres more but just listen first =)

Media is my wake up call. It is my source of knowledge, my connection, my power, my freedom. If it weren’t for TV I wouldn’t know half the things I know today good and bad. Chatting online and checking my email obsessively is how I remind my family and friends that no matter the distance, I remember, miss, and love them. I’m only a click away. I have a say and my voice counts. This blog is my own words thoughts and feelings, and anyone can see it. If I had an account on youtube.com which I don’t but easily can have, anyone would be able to see well almost anything I’d show them. The are so many ways to send a message, voice a concern, make an announcement and so much more. Music, what would I be without it? I can’t imagine a world without music let alone sound. Music has the ability to make me feel a certain way, for example hip-hop, makes me happy and makes me a bit more upbeat, and with slow maybe sad music it’s the opposite. If I had the option of having music with me anywhere and everywhere I would take it in a heartbeat. There is always a song somewhere in the world that someone or everyone can connect to. In my opinion there are only two types of music, good and amazing. Even if I don’t like a certain song someone must and it is the artists expressions so who am I to judge?

How much am I influenced by the media? Don’t get me started! Too late. Well here’s the funny thing as a child I was either always watching  TV or listening to music. I think all my love for music is because of my dad. I’m just like him he’s my hero (mommy I love you too otay). My dad used to play piano and he sings and he’s always listening to music, just like me! I learned to play piano by ear when I was really young, no I’m not great or even too good but hey, a skill is a skill. I can pick up almost any instrument and fiddle for a while till I get a tune, it’s sad that I can’t read music but it is something I do want to learn.  Not only am I a musicaholic, but I love TV and movies as well. There’s a home video of me at the age of six, and I made my own TV show! I even had a commercial break where I advertised candy. I know what you’re thinking, why didn’t I upload it onto my blog like duh! Well first of all..I don’t know exactly how to do that because it’s on a DVD (transferred somehow from cassette to DVD technology is so cool), I’ll learn later, and second I think I’ll save myself from that embarrassment. I grew up listening to every kind of music there is, my all time favourite singer is Jennifer Lopez. I remember back in the days when I was a child, so care free and naive I would take my purple CD player with me everywhere singing and dancing to Jlo. Those were the days… Anyways back to the point. I have always and always will be influenced by the media, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There is so much more to being influenced by the media then dressing a certain way or believing something, the truth is media presents every side and it is up to people as individuals to pick and choose what they think is right and when to fight. I think I do get influenced a little bit by the stupidity on the web and on TV but most of the time I realize I have to be media literate. Media is a high influence in my life because when my dream careers are either broadcaster, singer, or actress.

<< < < < Jennifer Lopez

What media do I consider most important and for what reasons? Good question, can you guess? Without it I would always feel empty. It is my soul food. Music is the best thing ever, it’s sounds put together to make a melody a rhythm it’s amazing. With music there is words, instruments, noise, expression, feeling, emotion, movement and so much more.  Music can be admired and created by anyone. A simple song can bring tears or joy. Music can send any type of message because of lyrics, but even instrumentals have a way into the mind, tone, speed, volume can play on emotions and thoughts. With music, imagery can be created to fit, words can be changed or newly created, movement can be made. Music is an influence and the base of creativity. Anyone might disagree there are many arguments that can be brought up like TV shows news and brings awareness of issues from all over the world, I can’t argue against that but personally music is the center of my universe. Music can express view about something that may not always be great but again media literacy know when to say no. Music can be a problem like any media for expressing strong views and what not, but it is also a solution. I bet everyone in the world has a song they can relate to, weather they have found it or not, it exists. With every emotion and every occasion there is music. That is the way I work and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

What media am I most critical about…hmm. I think it would have to be the web. Because just like I am doing right now anyone can put anything up and make it easy to believe. With the web growing so huge and everyone getting into things like facebook and what not, identities and personal information are just thrown around. Personal views and freedom of speech I think are exercised the most on the internet. People can make an account on almost anything as anyone. You can be whoever you want online and say whatever you want.

What the media does to create ideas about gender? It’s sad but true women are still objects and undervalued in some media like music videos. Most music videos have women dancing half naked and it’s disgusting. Women’s roles in the media have changed from being strictly housewives to anything. Men are still typically dominant, and stronger on TV but women are smarter. Take the Simpson’s for example, Doh! And how about family guy? Peter isn’t the brightest crayon in the box not that Louis is but she is smarter. But I still think women in every type of media, magazines, billboards, TV and so on are objectified more than men. Women on TV most of the time are thin and flawless. In other words unreal. Natural beauty is undervalued in media. Men are shown as either buff, smart, or funny, they even get to be mixes of those, women have mixes as well but thin and beautiful is the most common. Can Beyonce (as an example) keep all her clothes on, have a little weight and still be considered sexy?

The effect of women being shown this way is, to put it in simple terms “monkey see monkey do”. Some girls would do anything to look like their favourite celebrity and so girls get obsessive over how they look, what they wear and all those things. They got lost in a superficial material world and forget who they really are. Men are also effected because they are given the wrong impression of women and create high expectations and standards for the women they date. Again this doesn’t apply to all men and women, everyone has different values. I try not to be influenced by these things more than anything I know it’s important to just be myself for who I am and how I am.

What role in the media do I see myself in? What a question…I have to pick just one!? I see myself in many. Broadcasting, television, and movies because I have good communication and presentation skills. Radio and singing for my voice which I don’t think is too bad, if I do say so myself. There isn’t really an area in the media where I don’t see myself. I’m a very social and creative person and  the media makes my world go round. I’ve been exposed to it for so long that being a part of it in any way would make my life complete.

Phew…what an entry. This assignment is finally done. I have a blog wow I just took that in, I feel special. I think I’ll keep posting even though this is done. Working on this blog = totally wicked!

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~ by Rish on January 9, 2008.