On Digital Media

Despite compulsively in with Facebook on a regular basis, I usually selectively pick certain notifications to check. This time, I took the time to check each of my notifications on my computer, including those about events that I might not be able to go to, or pages for groups that I am not actively involved in. The intent of these notifications was to bring attention to the various activities that were either happening online or around campus, and I was engaged by reading the information.

Being a bit of out-of-touch with world events, I saw a post from a Facebook friend, sharing a link to a comic depicting turmoil in Syria. While sometimes I usually save such reading material for a later time, this time I decided to have a good look out it. After all, it was a comic, so it didn't really take that much time to read. However, usually schoolwork or other distractions get in the way of my careful reading of current events.

Normally, I will take a casual glance at my RA's door about events as I make my way out of my apartment building. This time, however, I took a good look at the posters, reading about various events around campus or Pittsburgh, from leadership training to church services.

Coming out of my apartment building, I had a nice walk along Craig Street. On my way, I consciously noted some of the many signs, reading their messages. I was not sure what the phone sign meant - perhaps you can make a call from there? Many of the signs did not really apply to me.

Craig street is also full of ads/displays, from official boards to paper tacked onto street poles. I observed the artistic looking books on display at the Caliban book shop, and I read the ads for music and arts events, for housing around the area. The ads/displays are there to inform the public about goods and services that are present around the area.

I also saw a lot of small displays of literature and art, from a vandalized mailbox to a statue near a restaurant. Typically I won't give too much thought in observing for these works of art, unless I am waiting around for something. Their presences are probably meant to capture the attention, to appeal to the aesthetic senses of nearby viewers.

While I was watching Attack on Titan with friends, I had to watch these Hulu commercials, including a funny one for an online supermarket, Adam & Eve. Usually, if I cannot skip these ads, I will open up a new window on my computer and read or work on something else as to not waste time on ads that I usually find as having no relevance to me. The intent of the Hulu ads are meant for their viewers to purchase services or products from their vendors.

As I began noticing various sources of media over a day, I learned more about my relationship with media. On Facebook, I made the effort of checking the notifications that I normally glaze over, and I became more informed about a more diverse selection of events that was going on at school as well as my hometown. However, I feel like much of the information had no relevance to me, and that my habit of filtering out certain pieces of information can be beneficial as it allowed me to focus on my interests while also helping me to conserve time.

I also feel like sometimes media must be more prominently presented in order to capture the attention of a greater audience, especially when the advertised goods, services or messages do not directly relate to the viewers. For example, while watching anime on my friend’s laptop, I had to watch commercials on Hulu, including one for a website that sold promiscuous adult toys. Normally I would ignore them by opening another window.

However, despite the loosening in my filtering of various media, I realized that such focus has contributed to my more meaningful consumption of media, increasing awareness of my surroundings.