“Media, Self, and Society” pertains to the holistic nature of media studies, and properly represents the subject matter of the program. Throughout the colloquium courses, we were given the opportunity to analyze and reflect on our own media behaviors, including our consumption of news media and our levels of user engagement. This fulfilled the self component of the program title, as we explored the functions of media through a personalized lens to promote self-growth. Along with this individualistic approach, we equally studied media on the large scale of society. For instance, we discussed the implications of media ownership and the ideological associations of media, both of which are impactful issues that touch on societal power structures. The combination of intimate consideration and broader contemplation allowed for a meaningful understanding of media.
Over the course of the past 3 semesters in Media Scholars, my perception of media has changed in its entirety. As an incoming freshman in fall of 2019, I primarily understood media in terms of its social media uses and platforms, such as Instagram and Snapchat, as these are the applications I was directly exposed to throughout my middle school and high school years. It was interesting to grow from this point, as I now understand the all-encompassing essence of media and see that its purpose is much larger than to post pictures. Media ultimately serves to connect people. Whether this be from a news outlet to its audience, a fan to their favorite influencer, or simply between friends and family, media serves as the channel for this connectivity.
Over the course of the past 3 semesters in Media Scholars, my perception of media has changed in its entirety. As an incoming freshman in fall of 2019, I primarily understood media in terms of its social media uses and platforms, such as Instagram and Snapchat, as these are the applications I was directly exposed to throughout my middle school and high school years. It was interesting to grow from this point, as I now understand the all-encompassing essence of media and see that its purpose is much larger than to post pictures. Media ultimately serves to connect people. Whether this be from a news outlet to its audience, a fan to their favorite influencer, or simply between friends and family, media serves as the channel for this connectivity.
An example of media content that I have witnessed as a college student that could be harmful to any viewer is that which feeds into the romanticization of eating disorders in society. This issue has been prevalent on social media for years on end and is constantly being revived through new means that are increasingly problematic and alarming. Currently, there are trends on TikTok that highlight and glamorize blatant undereating. In the comment sections, thousands of young girls lament about their bodies and seem to compete with one another about who eats less in a day. This culture is dangerous for anyone to witness, as it promotes unhealthy eating behaviors and insecurity in body image. However, it is particularly threatening to those who have recovered or are in the process of recovering from eating disorders, as these types of videos or comments can easily trigger a relapse or inspire such thoughts. On the other hand, there are videos on TikTok that have an opposite effect, as they serve to uplift users and advocate for loving oneself and one’s body. They seek to boost viewers’ confidence and spread healthy messages about body image, which is exactly the type of content that all users, particularly adolescents, should be consuming. My experience in Media Scholars gave me a firmer grasp on the effects media can have on audiences, which allowed me to better understand this situation. Ultimately, our minds and our habits are vulnerable to our media intake, making the content that pops up on our feeds more significant than we might presume.
To me, a critical consumer of media is characterized by the breakdown of content. This is executed by inquiring about the piece’s purpose, context, intended audience, accuracy, and more. While a passive consumer might accept content on its surface level and understand it for its direct meaning, a critical one seeks a deeper level of comprehension that, instead, challenges the piece. When considering my media behaviors, I believe that I fit into the role of a critical consumer, as I tend to question the content I come across and always incorporate source reliability into my analyses. I am particularly critical when it comes to news media, as news outlets are often either directly or subtly supporting personal agendas through their pieces. I am always on the lookout for signs of bias in the diction, presentation, and tone of media content, and I generally seek out a multitude of sources on issues that I care to explore. These practices demonstrate that I am a critical consumer of media, as I have an inclination to contemplate the content I spectate and acknowledge its complex and intricate functions.
Being in Scholars challenged my opinions about myself for the better pertaining to my creativity. Prior to college, I always carried some insecurity in this area because I never found myself particularly imaginative or creative. For instance, I excelled in art when it came to copying images, as I could imitate lines and dimensions considerably well, however I had no proficiency for creating my own images or embracing my originality. The creative assignments in Media Scholars proved me wrong, as I thoroughly enjoyed designing presentations, ads, and the ePortfolio website, as well brainstorming innovative ideas for projects. My other coursework at UMD so far has been on the practical and technical end, so I am grateful that Media Scholars gave me the chance to discover my own creativity, employ it, and now, appreciate it.
Being in Scholars challenged my opinions about myself for the better pertaining to my creativity. Prior to college, I always carried some insecurity in this area because I never found myself particularly imaginative or creative. For instance, I excelled in art when it came to copying images, as I could imitate lines and dimensions considerably well, however I had no proficiency for creating my own images or embracing my originality. The creative assignments in Media Scholars proved me wrong, as I thoroughly enjoyed designing presentations, ads, and the ePortfolio website, as well brainstorming innovative ideas for projects. My other coursework at UMD so far has been on the practical and technical end, so I am grateful that Media Scholars gave me the chance to discover my own creativity, employ it, and now, appreciate it.
My learning was definitely improved by interacting with fellow Media Scholars. This was augmented by the fact that the nature of College Park Scholars builds communities within each program. I was living in the same residence hall as the students that were present in my colloquium courses, which developed a sense of familiarity that boosted the comfortability in the classroom. I loved getting the opportunity to hear so many interesting perspectives among the Media Scholars within our weekly discourse, and the variety of opinions shared broadened my understanding of some of the issues we covered. For instance, in light of the 2020 presidential election, we viewed and compared the candidates’ campaign videos, and I found my group members’ comments about the stylistic choices for each to be very interesting. Also, the discussion we had about the social issues mentioned and the strategies of each campaign was enlightening and educational, especially with election day growing near. It is this kind of dialogue that supported the spread of ideas and encouraged us to learn from one another.
Although my time on campus was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I am grateful to say that I had the opportunity to contribute to Media Scholars and participate in meaningful experiences for our program. The field trip that stuck out the most to me was when we visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C., as I learned about the role of media during the times of slavery, African American representation today, and so much more. The experience was incredibly educational, thought-provoking, and moving, and I am thankful for the chance to have attended the museum with my fellow Media Scholars. Furthermore, I was also able to make a difference in the community during my time in College Park Scholars. For Service Day, I volunteered at Food and Friends in the Washington Metropolitan area, where I packaged food bags for those suffering with illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, and more. As someone who is passionate about volunteer work, this experience was fulfilling for me and made me glad to be a member of a group that similarly values community outreach.
My experience in College Park Scholars: Media, Self and Society is sure to inform my future in terms of the rest of my time at the University of Maryland, my professional career, and my personal life. In my upcoming coursework, I will likely make use of skills I acquired during my time in Scholars including, but not limited to, source analysis, critical thinking, and website and ad design. As someone studying business and planning to enter the corporate world upon graduation, knowledge of media theory and an understanding of its applications to real-world situations are competencies that I will employ when considering business matters and decisions. Finally, my time in Media Scholars will encourage personal growth and wellbeing in my media habits and mindfulness, as I now have a stronger understanding of how to critically assess media content and monitor my usage.