amelia's blog!!!

One thing we discussed in class this week were the myriad instances of movies influencing trends, fashion, and habits of modern culture. This reminded me of a controversial, ongoing debate regarding whether violent movies and the prevalence of violence in the media, video games, etc. has an influence on the actions of youth being exposed to it. I do not have a particularly strong opinion about this, but I do believe that although (violence) has dramatically increased with the technological advancement of weapons, a large part of the increased violence rates can be attributed to social media. Social media as a mass communication outlet is a huge part of our generation, which has both positive and negative outcomes. One of the negative outcomes is the lost self-esteem that comes from constantly comparing to others, which can lead to depression, mental health issues, internal conflict, and therefore violence among youth.

As we started to discuss how magazines developed a national identity for our country, Mr Miller also mentioned that prior to this time, the US was mainly recognized as a country with the adaptation of various aspects of other cultures. Our sense of identity is much more developed today than it was in the 1700s, however I do believe that our nation should still pride itself and recognize that we are made up of such a wide variety of cultures. This lesson reminded me of the current views upheld by our president and his followers, and the actions in effort to homogenize the citizen population. Many of his followers agree with motives to drive out those who worship, look, believe, or think differently. What these people don't realize is how much the diversity contributes to our economy, international reputation, and identity as a free country. The variety of ethnic, religious, and all other groups that have been able to maintain individuality as well as be a part of a shared culture is...

Seeing all of the news about hate crimes, and later discussing it in class, led me to delve into motives for hate crimes. I have trouble wrapping my head around disliking a certain group because of their religion, race, political party, etc. that one would go as far to take lives. Reality is, this is all too common, so I think knowing more about what causes these tragedies is definitely the first step in preventing them. Our class discussion that was devoted to the past news cycle made me really appreciate being in a school and a magnet that acknowledges things like this. I think some of the most important lessons that teachers can teach are those that students really will be able to apply and use, regardless of their profession or career beyond school. When we are older, will it really matter if we had a perfect score on that worksheet? Of course knowing various skills and material is important, but work is not the only aspect of life. Leading class talks and probing discussion about ...

Recently in class, we have talked a lot about the general origination, evolution, and dynamics of the music industry, and music as a mass communication device. Since entering high school, I have grown a strengthening relationship and appreciation for music. I have realized that music is a very powerful influencer of mood and attitude, almost regardless of the situation. After class on Tuesday, I realized how much our generation takes for granted the on-demand, and individualized facet of modern music. I started to think about why music is so powerful, and I came to the conclusion that music gives us a sense of place when we otherwise might feel lonely, because, as conveyed through the lyrics,  it lets us know that other people feel that way. To me, the most impactful music is relatable, and can influence my attitude in any circumstance. I have never come to a circumstance that has not been able to be aided or related to with some type of music, whether the purpose of it is to allow...

As our class discussed how the immersive experience of going to a movie theatre is not yet a reality that is commonly manipulated, I started to wonder how long it would be before society did reach that point. It's a little crazy to think that only a few decades ago, many people didn't even have television in their homes, much less cell phones. While I recognize that still many, many people still do not have easy access to these commodities, it is also crazy to think about what it will be like just a few decades in the future. Will our grandchildren marvel over the fact that we didn't have home cinemas? Will they not know a world without autonomous cars? Do we need to shift our focus on making basic needs more widespread in less developed countries before moving on to futuristic innovations? Maybe, the fact that movies have prevailed as a popular attraction and communication resource despite the internet, pop music, etc. suggests that they will continue to do so through doze...

After our joint class discussion today in class regarding the past 72 hours of hate crimes and tragedies throughout the nation, I walked away feeling empowered by the words of my teachers and peers. Realizing that we are only a joined class of 48, it made me think about the influential power of those around us, and the power in the people as a unit. I remembered going to March For Our Lives and hearing the chant, "ain't no power like the power of the people, 'cause the power of the people don't stop..." It really sank in that even though we are encouraged (and very much able) to use our individual voices to speak up and defend our beliefs, we are much more likely and much more enabled to speak up as a whole, knowing that as a group, we can defend each other. I think this sense of place really combats the issue that Mrs. Palmer astutely brought up about the fear of the cynic that will always have negative feedback. Being in a group gives many the voice that they ot...

As a branch off of my last post, I wanted to touch on the positive aspects that come from society being influenced by movies. Just as easily as hate messages and messages of violence can be spread, so can positive messages- encouraging self-love, confidence in youth, etcetera. Many recent films, such as Hidden Figures, send empowering messages to all viewers, especially minorities. Although I wish they were more common, these productions still influence society in a similar manor that violent productions do, which is good. Because movies have factors such as an immersive experience that keep them around, my hope is that the positive impact they have on society will also be kept around in the midst of a world where positivity has become increasingly rare.

One aspect I noticed about the news source I have been studying- The Courier Journal, is that they did a good job acknowledging the victims of the recent shooting, rather than over-focusing on the perpetrator. I think this should happen a lot more often, because it gives people a chance to recognize that all of those killed were someones parents, sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, etc. That being said, I also think that it is important to respect the families of the victims, while still being able to gather accurate information when compiling each profile. The balance of these two things (proper recognition and respect) is hard to achieve and journalists must be careful in doing so, but from what I know and have read, the Courier Journal did a good job balancing both. The quotes of friends seemed as if they were given openly, and glad to be shared. In the second article, it said that "...the family has declined to comment..." but is followed by information and memories from fr...

Another thought that was sparked by our joined class discussion, and more specifically the thoughtful student input- is just how pivotal our generation is to the progression of our nation. The things we are thinking of and doing at this age is something that no other generation has ever thought or done, and that is in large part a result of the environment that we are growing up in. Unlike previous generations, I would not be crazy to say that every single teen today has seen, experienced, been impacted by, or recognized inequity, and with that said I would also not be crazy to say that a number of us have spoken out about it in some way, whether passively or as a leader. These circumstances and actions have already established the power of our generation across the country and across the world. I do think that whether those in power acknowledge it or not, they definitely recognize our pivotal generation, and many probably feel threatened by it. Recognition or not, as displayed in toda...