Stemming from the original question of “do we get the media
we want, or want the media we get” it is important to note that there are so
many forms of media and media sources.
I would like to begin by quoting a classmate “A want is defined as a
wish, need, crave, demand, or a desire (Dictionary Reference, 2013). With the topic in mind of whether we “get the
media we want, or want the media we get”, the definition of a “want” reappears
within my mind” (http://cassandragrahamblog.wordpress.com/). I think examining the definition of want and
applying it to the context makes the way you think about media shift a little
bit. I personally do not like to watch
the news for the typically daily source of news based media. I feel there is way too much negativity and I
do not want to start or end my day
with stories about murders. I do not want to be surrounded by sadness.
I am a
very go with the flow kind of person and when it comes to my source of media I
tend to revert to google.com to get the information about the stories I may
hear around me or I see mentioned on social media sites such as facebook. This way I feel a sense of distance between
myself and what the world wants me to know and believe. “The media will cater their message to the
desires of their target audience. This
is a pivotal method of trickery that the media employs on us today” (http://lunterhackey.blogspot.ca/). I could not agree with this statement
more. I feel like we do not actually
have as much to say in regards to the media we get as we would like to
believe. With our generation being
raised in a way never seen ever before with the introduction of all the
technological devices and grown dependencies, I have determined that the claims
of “brainwashing” are true. The youth of
today are surrounded by different forms of media telling them how to look, how
to act, who to like, what to watch, what to believe, and are being directed
through life step by step in the way the media sources want them to. They are simply being trained to be mass consumers
from the get go and media sources are taking advantage of every form they
can.
A
similar belief is shared by someone who posted the quote “the media is tricking
people into thinking that they are getting what they want, when really it is
the media that makes all the decisions” (http://melissasblogview.wordpress.com/). I believe that with the evolution of quality
of life or life expectations, the question of “do you have a cell phone?” no
longer applies. The more realistic
question nowadays jumps straight to “what is your cell phone number”? I do not think that we truly have an option
to go without them anymore. When you watch commercials on TV they make it seem
like you have the option to purchase an iPhone for example, or not, when
really, it’s the option to have an iPhone or another brand of smart phone. The
decision of “you need a smart phone” has already been made by the media and you
simply feel like you have a decision as to whether or not you do because you
are provided with numerous smart phone options that all tell you what you want
to hear.
In
conclusion, I believe that commercialism controls the world and we will never
necessarily get what we want, but more what we think we want.