As discussed in the first blog, keeping touch with friends and family members through media is what is most important to me. However, another large part of my media use is keeping up with worldly happenings, and maybe some not so important happenings. I get my information from the internet, being that I don’t have cable at my house. I thought this would restrict my flow of information but it really hasn’t. It’s really only forced me to look for information on my own, but its information that I choose to research.
The news that is important to me is that of local content and news from Paris and Tokyo. Not only does Tokyo have innovative technology, architecture, and a plasma screen in downtown Tokyo named the “Super Lisa”, but my only sister lives there! I had no desire to stay informed on Japanese news until I had a connection to it through my sister. Keeping in touch with Tokyo’s news and culture makes me feel a part of my sister’s life. Without the internet available to research their culture, I would have no understanding of the everyday life my sister’s experiences. That would be a very disturbing feeling; not knowing what kind of place my sister lives in. On the same note, I do feel guilty when I don’t keep in touch with my sister often. Like if I see pictures of her that have been online for a week or two that I haven’t seen, I feel really guilty for not seeing them the first day.
I also stay informed with Parisian news. I studied abroad in Paris and absolutely fell in love with the country and the city itself. I enjoy reading in French to stay up to date with local events and happenings. This makes me feel as if I’m still there living the Parisian life. I also like to read in French to keep my knowledge of the language. To get a really warm and fuzzy French feeling inside, I rent movies in French, normally a sappy love story set in Paris. I enjoy seeing the different neighborhoods of Paris, and listening to the language. The media connects me to Paris in ways that aren’t possible unless actually there. I can kind of understand when people say that they don’t use media often because they’re not thinking about the computer, or internet when sitting in front of it, they’re thinking about the images and text in which the media displays and what that means to them. You don’t have a direct connection with the media equipment itself, but what the tools can produce for you.
Monday, February 2, 2009
A Day in the Life
Being a communications major, I am no stranger to the addiction of media. I myself am no exception either. Indulging in media throughout my daily routine is normal of me and most people I know.
My day starts off with waking up to my alarm, which is my cell phone with a personalized ring tone, Justin Timberlake of course, but that’s a whole other subject. Then I check my phone for missed calls, texts, or events that I planned in my phone. Usually, I hear my phone ringing so I don’t miss many calls and I know this but I still check it anyways, out of habit of course.
Once I realize I check my phone habitually even if I know it hasn’t rang, I start to think how my life would be without this one connection to the world. The cell phone—correction, MY cell phone—only offers me two way communication with people I want to talk to. It doesn’t necessarily give me vital information about the world, or anything of substance. It simply connects me to the people I love, which in a sense is very important. The phone itself is nothing but what it connects me to is very important, so with a day without it would be very odd just because I’m so used to having it by my side. I’m definitely addicted to my cell phone, which I think most young people my age would say.
Another daily routine of mine is to go online. I check my email first and catch up on the news sent to me from NY Times and delete the ridiculous emails my Mom sends me. Then I normally check my Facebook, yes I’m addicted to this as well, to check up on my sister who lives in Tokyo. The internet is how I keep in touch with her mostly so without that I would be completely out of touch with her.
Then, I stop to think that I use both the phone and internet to mainly connect me with people I care about. I think this says about me that I want to stay in the lives of my family and friends across the world. Don’t get me wrong, I’m leaving out a big chunk of my media using, but mainly I use media for that purpose. I do have many guilty pleasures of media, but my first instinct of its use is to connect with family and friends.
My day starts off with waking up to my alarm, which is my cell phone with a personalized ring tone, Justin Timberlake of course, but that’s a whole other subject. Then I check my phone for missed calls, texts, or events that I planned in my phone. Usually, I hear my phone ringing so I don’t miss many calls and I know this but I still check it anyways, out of habit of course.
Once I realize I check my phone habitually even if I know it hasn’t rang, I start to think how my life would be without this one connection to the world. The cell phone—correction, MY cell phone—only offers me two way communication with people I want to talk to. It doesn’t necessarily give me vital information about the world, or anything of substance. It simply connects me to the people I love, which in a sense is very important. The phone itself is nothing but what it connects me to is very important, so with a day without it would be very odd just because I’m so used to having it by my side. I’m definitely addicted to my cell phone, which I think most young people my age would say.
Another daily routine of mine is to go online. I check my email first and catch up on the news sent to me from NY Times and delete the ridiculous emails my Mom sends me. Then I normally check my Facebook, yes I’m addicted to this as well, to check up on my sister who lives in Tokyo. The internet is how I keep in touch with her mostly so without that I would be completely out of touch with her.
Then, I stop to think that I use both the phone and internet to mainly connect me with people I care about. I think this says about me that I want to stay in the lives of my family and friends across the world. Don’t get me wrong, I’m leaving out a big chunk of my media using, but mainly I use media for that purpose. I do have many guilty pleasures of media, but my first instinct of its use is to connect with family and friends.
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