Presenting Neil Postman

In the second class we started talking about media in the culture and which one determines the other. Four theories were mentioned.

1. Culture determines the media.

2. Media determines the culture.

3. There is no relation between culture and media.

4. They mirror one another; what happens in media happens in culture and vice versa.

I think that the media determines our culture in more ways than one. Media is becoming our culture. Media takes on so many different forms that it's nearly impossible to get away from. We view and use media everyday in every form: television, radio, movies, advertisements, and even when we try to get away from media it is thrust upon us because ads. are everywhere. This is what Postman believes as well. He explains it all in his book Amusing Ourselves to Death. Postman talks about how news programs only show short, thirty second clips which means viewers don't have to concentrate for long periods of time. This is causing a lot of people to develop attention deficit disorder. Although I think media determines the culture, I also believe that once in a while, culture determines the media. Sometimes consumers create a demand for new technology and media which in turn changes the culture. I have been influenced by the media throughout my life. It has influenced me to live the way I do. The media has taught me what is socially acceptable and now I live that way. Some people think that media effects culture in a negative way while others, who are few, think it effects culture in a positive way. I think it affects our culture negatively and positively. Kids are being influenced by the media to become more violent because of the amount of violence on television, in movies, and most predominantly in video games. The media also creates a false outlook of women. It is constantly turning them into objects and using them to sell products by forcing them to pose in sexually provocative positions. The majority of the population would consider these to be negative but I view them as positive. I think that beautiful women and violence have helped shaped who I am. I recognize that this is just the media's view of how women should be treated so I know I shouldn't treat women like that. I also realize that violence is an easy way for companies to sell products because it is popular but I know that just because it is in the media, doesn't mean I should go out and be violent. Basically it has taught me how I shouldn't act. Whether the media has a negative or positive impact on a culture all depends on the viewpoints and beliefs of the people that culture.
There was a part of the class that I didn't enjoy so much. In another class on Monday we got to take a fifteen minute break and I hate not being able to take a break in this class because it is mentally straining due to the fact that so much is discussed in a short amount of time. Even a five or ten minute break would be sufficient.
I wasn't looking forward to the third week because of the presentations. I hate presenting anything in front of a large group of people even if it is only for a couple minutes. When I get up to present I usually get really red and my voice becomes very monotone and that was in high school when I only had to present to 25 or 30 other people. That is one of the reasons I decided to make a video; I would only have to talk for a short amount of time. I'm sure I'll be fine.