Over the past month, we've discussed many of the different ways that media affects the way that people see the world around them, and even shapes society itself. Whether we are referring to simplistic things such as the movies that we watch, or the food that we eat, all of the things around us contribute to our perspective in life, and determine the way that we not only see the world, but also the decisions that we make on a daily basis. October was a month full of many deep topics, and I will discuss just a few of them.
The main idea that was first introduced, and had a bigger impression on me specifically, was the idea of co-construction. Essentially, when using this word, one is referring to the idea that as we use and create media, media uses and creates us in a similar way. This can be seen in many aspects of our culture. An example from class is the documentary we watched, called Mickey Mouse Monopoly, which discussed the way that Disney films have created a culture within the world that many people might have not even have been aware existed. While many people consume this media that Disney puts out, and perhaps believe that they are shaping their own world through the decision to go see a specific movie for example, Disney is also shaping the peoples' view of the world through their messages. This movie discussed a few different theories, and how a movie monopoly most likely has shaped the average citizen's view of gender roles, race, and economic standing, among other things. This idea of co-construction creates a more complex view of what many might take to be as simply watching television.
Another aspect to co-construction, and the way that we see the world around us, is in the food we eat, which can describe a culture much more than one might initially believe. Let us take a personal example from my life. I once believed as a child that Thanksgiving was a day that was pure, innocent, and only constructed of family, fun, and food. This was the only experience that I had had as a young child, and the food I ate, combined with the family stories and traditions that were held, shaped my view of Thanksgiving, the idea of what it means, and how it connects with the rest of the world. Essentially, this holiday created a part of my own identity, whereas I might have thought that I was simply taking advantage of some good food. The point to be made is that no matter how we view what is around us, and the effect that we are making on the world, an effect is being had on us at the same time.
The effect of our culture that surrounds us on the world and ourselves is not to be taken lightly. Whether we are affected in a positive or negative way, we have learned that we a certainly being affected in either one way or the other. If we can see that then we can more easily see the motives behind the message that is affecting us, and perhaps use it to reevaluate whether we need to change our perspectives.
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