One Web Day

The Internet has not changed my life rather it is a part of my life and my life would be changed if it were gone. I rely on the Internet every single day for a countless amount of things. The Internet is literally taking over. You don’t need TV anymore because everything can be watched online at any time that is good for you with no commercials. You don’t need to go to the theatre anymore because you can watch illegal movies online and not have to pay the crazy $10 a movie. You don’t need the newspaper because all news and weather can be looked at online much faster and easier. Talking to friends has never been more convenient with facebook, skype and msn; you can even get internet on your cell phone so you don’t even need to be at a computer to be on it. You can also get free music, I haven’t bought an album in years and I should… What I’m getting at is that the internet is becoming so unbelievably overwhelmingly convenient that if you wanted to, you could not leave your house for a very long time, just get things delivered and truly survive. Its not like companies are missing out either, they get theirs adds shoved in all around web pages just about every chance they get. We are overexposed and overwhelmed by the Internet and what it is capable of but we are used to it and would be beyond doubt lost without it. It is helping us out with endless things such as access to what we would have never dreamed of before, it is a really great invention and is only going to get bigger and better so embrace it, be knowledgeable of it and be excited for what is to come.

Magazine Image

This is an ad for a new perfume by Victoria and David Beckham. It just shows what everyone already knows, that sex sells, and I know for a fact that these perfumes will sell. This is a very good ad even though I’m sure it didn’t take much thought at all. It’s a classic example of showing people that if you buy this perfume, you will be as gorgeous as them and find someone to love and be as happy with and look as good as they seem and look together. It plays upon societies self consciousness and lack of self confidence because you know that there are many more people out there who are dying to be like them than there are people who are already look like them and don’t think they need the perfume because they cant get any better. This ad is also good because it is unisex and sells to both males and females, it is dark and masculine for the men and shows that they can get a woman like her and it is fun and flirty for the women because of her position and the color purple. It wouldn’t even matter what exactly the perfume smells like, when buying a perfume no one really analyses the smell and how it smells on them as much as they do who made it and what the bottle looks like. On the ad they really look like they are having a good time and it seems as though it is all because of what they smell like, it seems like you will have a intimate time just like they are publically displaying if you buy their perfume and wear it out at night. I personally would choose a perfume by Posh and David especially with an ad like this, anytime over a perfume by lets say Danielle Steel ( which she does have) even if Danielle’s perfume smelt better. 

A Day in the Life

At the end of my day of observing my exposure to media I was not surprised at all with what I found. Like every other day my life and the majority of what I do and what I see is based on the media. Unlike many however, I don’t think its a bad thing, I think that basing your clothes in the morning according to what you think will look good for that time and listening to certain music as you take the bus to the mall where you see hundreds of ads and brands everywhere is an exciting and interesting thing. Yes it’s overwhelming to some but to others they embrace it and love what the world has become, a more exciting, interesting place to live in than when everything was monotone and boring.  There is action, events and fascinating things all around us and everyone is unique and different even if they try and fit in and even if they think otherwise. Even on a daily basis it can be overwhelming but its not always bad, you just need to know what to let in and what to ignore.  We have to realize that media may be all over the place with slogans, commercials, billboards etc. and when you let a bit in its okay and can be very remarkable and inspiring. Personally I have to make sure it doesn’t consume me because I can very easily get caught up in it and forget about other great things in life. I do simple things like make sure that I watch my favorite shows and keep updated on the weather and important events in the news, and its not difficult to do either because its absolutely everywhere and I’m okay with that but I also have to sit back not get lost in it all. 

Public Journalism

Setting up a blog and actually writing my own ideas down is a very open and revealing process. It’s hard to think that anyone can read what I am saying with no trouble at all. This is my first blog ever and I have never even seen someone else’s blog before. I never knew how popular they are and how convenient they can be to share ideas and thoughts and get feedback and new ways of thinking. I am a very hidden person in a sense that I do not like to share many of my thoughts or feelings except to people who are close to me, which defiantly does not include absolutely anyone who feels like reading my blog. Setting up a blog made me feel like I was automatically exposed to the internet world and once my first posts were up I instantly felt the urge to take them down right away but I didn’t because I need to open myself up to new experiences and things if I want to improve in life. Once I had started this blog I wanted to go blog exploring and check out many different people’s blogs that are out there and I found it very interesting. I didn’t have even the slightest idea how big the blogging world is and it feels good to get into new things no matter how different they may seem at first.

The Ecology of Media

I just got a free iPod touch when I bought my laptop and what it can do fascinates me. When I was a kid we had dial up internet and I was only allowed to go on it at certain times and to think that my little brother can now take his iPod and go on the internet from any room in the house is just crazy. To not need to lug out a laptop or go to a certain room to go on the Internet is a breakthrough. I was once lost and all I needed to do was drive slowly past houses in a neighborhood until I could connect with someone’s wireless internet that didn’t have a password to be able to get onto map quest and find my way. If I had this back in high school I would have been really happy, I could act like I was looking at songs but really be on websites at the same time. It has taken communication and convenience to a whole new level like being able to go on 411 and yellow pages, as long as you can connect to wifi or a wireless internet source, you are able to access so much. I think it is one of the best inventions and most convenient things in a very long time and now to think that there are even wireless earphones so if you have long hair people wouldn’t even be able to know you are listening to music. Technology has come so far in such little time it is baffling to think of what it will be like in another five years. The iPod touch, or just internet on a phone or small device in general was made to create convenience and has not only done that but has turned into something that many people have a hard time living without, which is good for some but bad for others. 

Buy Nothing Day

Buy nothing day seems like it could quite possibly be one of the most interesting days of the year…if everyone actually did it which I don't think they will. Yes maybe a couple hundred thousand people may go about that day not buying anything at all but will it make a difference? I really don’t think it will because 1.Not nearly enough people will be informed about the day to make a difference and 2. Not nearly enough of the people that are informed will be able to control themselves enough to not buy anything that day. We are so surrounded by things to buy that it is very frequently unavoidable. You would literally have to not leave your home to not be tempted…that is if you don’t get hungry for something that’s not in your house. It seems like a great idea and a great day but the sad fact is that our society is just too greedy and needy to ever be able to accomplish what should be such an easy thing to do. Take earth day for example… we were all suppose to turn out our lights from 8-9 p.m., an extraordinarily simple thing to do that would make such a difference but when I went onto my porch to look at my view of the Toronto skyline with all my candles lit inside all I saw was what I see every other night… the sky bright as ever with the endless Toronto lights. This just goes to show that even though someone may come up with a great idea to help the world… the world cant be bothered to try it out even for just a day… or an hour because even though it’s a great idea and could teach society a lot, society is too fast passed to even stop and learn just for a moment.