Skip to main content

Posts

Long-Distance Media Use

My sister lives out in Maryland with our one and only, famous nephew. My parents, siblings, and I are totally obsessed with him and are so upset that we can't be close to see him grow up, but we FaceTime them often individually and at family gatherings to stay close and connected. What a great blessing that is! My husband and I have plans to move next June for medical school and I've pondered about what it might be like when we are away from family and starting our own family. Sometimes I am sad when I think about the fact that we won't be able to be physically close to them or be able to go to family gatherings; however, I am grateful for technology and media these days so we can stay connected and allow are kids to get to know our family personally. I'm grateful specifically for FaceTime for allowing for (almost) face to face contact with family.
Post a Comment
Read more
Recent posts

Television

This week, the media that I've used the most (next to my phone) has been TV. Honestly, even though I know that overindulging and binging in TV is not good, it has been a big help to clear my mind and destress me at the end of each night. Projects, papers, and presentations are in full-force right now and finals are just around the corner. I'm always grateful for a 20 minute episode of a funny TV show at the end of the night to calm me down a bit. ;)
Post a Comment
Read more

Media in NYC

This past week for Thanksgiving, my mom, sisters, and I went to New York City for a couple days. It was such a blast and is always so fun to see during Christmastime. This wasn't my first time there, but I am always surprised at how materialistic the city is in general. It is crazy how much money goes into the adds that are shown on the big screens on Times Square--they literally never shut off all night. It made me think of how media is such a large part of our modern day existence. Advertising for material things is so common and if we use our social media accounts to "advertise" for positive things such as the gospel or family, we can make a difference. It may be smaller of a difference than those ads at Times Square but it will be more important and lasting.
Post a Comment
Read more

Christmas Music!!

I loooooove Christmas music--always have. During Christmas-time (meaning after Halloween in my family), we would almost always have Christmas music playing around the house. It always brought such a good, happy spirit to our home and somehow brought a lot of comfort. Maybe it was the tradition and consistency that brought be comfort, but the music itself played a large part in my joy about the holiday season. I've already begun listening to Christmas music wherever I go and I love it! The familiar songs and singers bring back so many good childhood memories. It is something I want to continue in my future family so my children can enjoy the joy of Christmas music. Luckily, I married a man who likes to listen to Christmas music right after Halloween also. ;)
Post a Comment
Read more

Music and Running

I don't have much to say about media this week--I was so swamped with homework and work that I didn't have time to engage much. However, as I went running and as I've tried to run farther and push myself harder each day, music has played a huge role in my ability to run. For some reason, I just CANNOT run if I'm not listening to music! I think it has to do with the fact that it keeps me on pace and keeps my mind off of the fact that my body wants to stop. So this week I've been grateful for music and its support in my fitness.
Post a Comment
Read more

Troy

This past week in class, we discussed the effects of violent media. I'm pretty sure my husband feels like he's taking this class right alongside me because every day after class I become a jabber-box about what we learned and can't stop explaining to him the crazy things we discuss. I just find it all so interesting! Anyway, we watched Troy (an edited version) with some friends this past weekend because my husband just read the  Iliad  and was really interested in the story. I found myself more effected by the violence in the movie than I typically would be just because my senses were heightened to the negative effects of violent media after our class. I'm definitely more inclined now to be an ACTIVE consumer of media and be selective about what I watch/consume as I now know that it does indeed affect us--whether we think so or not!
Post a Comment
Read more

"Fitspiration"

Today in class, we discussed "fitspiration" and how it has become a large, recent trend in today's social media sites. Instead of focusing on becoming thin, this movement seeks to make women desire to be "strong--not skinny." Earlier this year, I began working out 4-5x per week and have continued and loved this habit, even today. I've come to enjoy what my body is capable of and love to see new lines of muscles where I had never seen them before. As I developed this habit, I began to follow more and more social media influencers who were strong, beautiful women whose feeds were inspiring to reach new physical heights and abilities. I wanted to be like them--I still want to be like them. But after talking about the effect that this kind of feed has on women (it has the same effect as women encouraging thinness), I took a step back and thought about how I have really viewed my body in the last year because of this influence. I wouldn't say I am obsessed wi...
Post a Comment
Read more