Celebrities - it seems as if the American culture has been overtaken with them. We all want to be celebrities. We all want to be rich. Jim Carey once said that everyone wants to be rich and famous. Although everyone knows it doesn't bring happiness, they still want to try it. Carey says, "Don't try it. It isn't worth it." Interesting statement coming from one of the richest and more famous actors in Hollywood. Then I had to think of that book we were reading about Bill Romanowski. He claims in there that because of the melodramatic themes that are portrayed in movies, the American people have lost touch with reality. Professor Rudd says that it is important for us to be taught media literacy so that we can discern as Christians what these mixed messages are really saying.
I'd like to tie these three thoughts together and say this....
For myself, in my setting, in my childhood........I did not have a lot of media literacy teaching.........
BUT
I would like to argue that the training that my parents gave me was still an adequate training that helps me discern media. For instance, my dad always told me that if something is too good to be true than it's too good to be true. I really believe that today, which helps me to be cautious when I hear advertisements saying all kinds of great things about a product. My parents never like lies of any sort.......so, i was taught that tv lies and that santa claus does not exist. This helped me to understand the world of television and storytelling. They simply aren't true. Books aren't real life. I've always had a cynical view of melodrama where the hero always wins. I've been taught by my parents that life isn't always just about me. In fact, they've taught me to think about others my entire life.
However, I'm really glad that I had this class because I really did learn a lot, but I also realized that in a strange way, the teachings that my parents taught me have prepared me to take in a lot of the propaganda from the media. My parents didn't necessarily have media in mind, but the concepts that they taught me can be applied to media. This class has really taught me a lot and helped me to realize how important it is for us to use culture and media to relate to the world. I want to be a difference maker and an opinion leader.
3 comments:
i think that wanting to be a celebrity goes away with maturity. When you are little all you want to be in a famous person, but i think as we grow up soemthing are out of reach and cannot obtain. when we mature we just want to live comfortably and happy.
Oh, Dane and I definitely have something going on. ; )
"I would like to argue that the training that my parents gave me was still an adequate training that helps me discern media. "
I concur. Thos are all good valuable lessons to concur when experiencing media texts.
And concerning Beaner, Re: "i think that wanting to be a celebrity goes away with maturity. When you are little all you want to be in a famous person, but i think as we grow up soemthing are out of reach and cannot obtain. when we mature we just want to live comfortably and happy."
I disagree. I think that people get older and still obsess over celebrities. I see tons of adults who buy magazines and watch E! all while talking about and copying everyone they see on camera.
Maybe they don't realize it, but I think those people defintely have a desire to be the people they see in the media.
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