Midterm Mania.

Q1: After studying media for eight weeks in this class, what have you learned?

A1: I have learned an entirely new/ different wat to critically analyze media. Thinking about media from numerous different aspects has allowed me to enjoy my media experiences on a new level. The persuasive techniques have enabled me to see how closely related and intertwined the are w/in all media. Their relationship to shifts and trend never ceases to amaze me.

Q2: What is the most important thing you have learned about yourself as a 1. A critical reader; 2. a writer, and 3. a critical thinker in this class so far?

A2: I have learned that I’ve had the skill set to make an effective critical analysis, but wasn’t using it to it’s full potential. Now whenever I consume media I am more mindful of not only what is being said but how and why it is being broadcast to me.


Q3: What's one thing YOU would do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?


A3: If I were to retake this class I would blog (on my blogger account) more often. I had a ton of media experiences I wish I documented while they were fresh in my mind. I also wish I kept up with my peers individual blog posts.

Q4: What's one thing you would like ME to do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?

A4: I have enjoyed every aspect of this class thus far. I feel it is a fair amount of work with a well balanced curriculum. The only thing I would have liked to do is use my class blog as my personal blog (ie Tumblr). Although, I must say, Blogger has grown on me.

Q5: Please comment on the usefulness of the course blog, your personal blog, our films and book as learning tools.

A5: Course Blog: I loved having the assignments and requirements up online, on a reliable site. This was my first experience with a course blog but I wish more professors would adapt the method; it allowed for a lot of un-facilitated P2P discussion.

Personal Blog: Each students personal blog allowed for in depth individual expression, something important in a class such as this. I was able to see my fellow students opinion and get to know them on a more persona/ intellectual level.

Web 2.0: Showed us a great example of pacing and how impactful silent (non-speech) media can be; basically how the limbic brain effects our overall perception.

The Persuaders: Allowed a lot of people in class to view advertisements critically. Enforced the "don't trust everything you see or hear" trend. Exemplified most, if not all, the persuasive techniques as well as trends and shifts.

Reel Bad Arabs: More serious and dark than most other films. Took us to a dark side of media we should all be aware of. Brought up controversial issues and allowed for intense class discussion.

Propaganda Model of News: Pointed out the bias that lies in most media. Started a discussion on how the bias of media isn't a problem unless we don't acknowledge its existence. Introduced us to the hierarchy of media and why it is important.

State of the Union: The one piece of media we used that wasn't directly commenting on media or the media producing industries. Allowed for real-life applications and in depth analysis of an important event from a critical mindset.

Tune in Tomorrow: Allowed us to see just how far radio has come and why it's still popular. Getting back to the roots of broadcasting news gave us a glimpse into VTs history.

MEDIA MEDITATION: He's Bo, Yo.

This Saturday I ventured to Higher Ground to see Bo Burnham. He's a young comedian from Boston, MA. Bo isn't a typical stand-up comic. He's exceptionally clever and uses plenty of word play to keep his audience on their toes. His one-liners are accompanied (most of the time) by a piano or guitar melody that he has written himself. Atypical topics are a favorite of Bo's; he "raps" about things such as math, Shakespearian literature and the Ku Klux Klan. Often controversial, Bo's jokes started off as just videos on YouTube, now he's on a national tour with a Comedy Central Special under his belt. To give you a taste of his style here's New Math.



His quick wit forces the audience to really puts one neocortex to work. Clever word play keeps the audience on their toes. Without the neocortex one wouldn't be able to understand likes such as "What's Santa Claus multiplied by i? Well I guess that makes him real." Because most of the lines have one using their rationalization skills and logic the key to Bo's success in comedy rests in our neocortex. However, the limbic brain lends a huge helping hand. The guitar and piano melodies lighten the mood of the songs. Some of the touchy subject matter he has to do something to assure people what he's saying is pure satire. The upbeat melodies reassure people that all of this is in good fun, never to be taken seriously. Take the song Cookout for example:



Without the upbeat guitar (and disclaimer), Bo's comedy might strike people as serious, and extremely offensive. Fortunately, he manipulates the limbic brain in order to make his comedy more effective.

As for Persuasive techniques, he uses a few to keep up hooked into his music. He is extremely blatant with his methods. At the beginning of one of his YouTube videos he pretends to be talking to the ghost of Dr. Martin Luter King Jr. Quoting the ghost as saying "Go buy Bo's new self-titles EP off iTunes and if you pirate it you'll get AIDS." That is an extremely out-of-the-box testimonial, but a testimonial none the less. He also uses rhetorical questions quite a bit. In the song "3.14 Apple Pi" Bo asks the question "All yo little thugs wanna mess with me?". In his live show he asks the audience questions such as "Who wants to hear some haikus?" or other things like that to transition form one part of the show to the other. He doesn't want/ doesn't care abou the answer, the show would go on as scheduled regardless.

With most live comic shows, Bo interacted with the audience quite a bit. This created a personal shift. He went from talking at us to conversing with us. On-the-spot material based on the reaction of the audience give the show a personalized feeling and give Bo a chance to showcase his talents. A political shift is presents but sightly less obvious. Much of his act is based on poking fun at social norms and pushing political boundaries. In his live show he said "I had a tough time growing up, both my fathers were gay. Not gay, gay, you know... like stupid." This made fun of the common use of "gay" as a synonym for "stupid". Pushing a political hot button.