Bon Voyage! Adios! Shalom! Vaarwel!

This is the final note in the song that is this media blog. I know, I know, y'all are probably crying because you're so upset. It's going to be okay- you will get through this. Trust me, I am even louder in person, so this isn't the last you'll be hearing from me.

After examining all the details and intricate workings of the media, I notice my consumption of it more now. Before this assignment, I was aware of the media and I vaguely knew how it affected me, but now I examine commercials automatically. Even my dad can examine certain parts of commercials because of what I have shared with him. Now I can look at an ad and nitpick it in my brain to identify the implicit messages. This fact proves that Mr. Starace has done something right again. He has spread his seeds of knowledge upon us little birds (it's getting late, it's finals week, give me a break with my descriptive language). Because I can now identify advertising techniques, I feel an "a-ha!" moment when I catch what an advertiser is trying to get me to do or feel. Even if I am feeling that emotion they want me to feel, identifying the cause of the emotion is a good step in the right direction of warding off the media's affects.

Having media literacy is very important because ignorance is not bliss and it's always better to know what's really going on behind the curtain.

Like in the Wizard of Oz, the man behind the curtain has been there, controlling and tricking people. Just like in the movie, people who discover this man behind the curtain are at first offended at their deceit, but then move past that to a better place where they can really think about why that man is there. Now, the Wizard behind the green curtain isn't quite the same as advertisers today, but the concept is similar.

Having this blog has given me a nice platform to speak my opinion and to really examine issues I don't usually look at. It's also given me an opportunity to view others' opinions on unique topics and specific media subjects that I hadn't even considered. Just glancing at one of our media blogs can give you a great glimpse into what each and every one of us believe and are like. No matter our personal intent with these media blogs, we have each attached part of ourselves to cyberspace through them.

So, as this comes to a conclusion, I would like to thank whoever is reading this. It was nice knowing you. And one more thing before you go: