Emily Morris
March 9, 2015
RTF 305

Reflection 1

Best Post This article discusses the many different ways the different types of media influence youth and children. It identifies that different media have different ways of influencing children in the areas of: learning, violence, nutrition, sexuality, alcohol and smoking, and advertising. Children are so much more easily influenced by media because of their developing minds and the fact that they are still learning about social norms of the world. Things portrayed to children in the media are thus perceived as social norms even though they are often the most extreme behaviors our society exhibits. It is important for parents and guardians to monitor their children's exposure to media or at least guide them in their understanding of what they are seeing/hearing/reading/etc. As our world is becoming more and more technology based and more and more heavily influenced by media, cutting out media exposure is not practical or realistic. Media does not only influence children in negative ways, however. Media can also have positive influences on children's developing minds. Because of this, well-monitored media exposure can be beneficial for a child's development when used in moderation. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2792691/ (Links to an external site.)

Best Post Analysis This post was one of my best posts because I in depth discussed the affects of media on the development of children. In addition to that I discussed the roles that parents can and maybe should play in monitoring their children’s exposure to media. This post also addressed how media can have both negative and positive affects on the development of children. This post could have been improved by my writing, which was unclear and at times wordy. My thoughts could have been explained and articulated more clearly. This would have offered a better exploration of the influence of media on children.

Rewritten Best Posting This article, “Impact of media use on children and youth”, addresses the many different ways that media of all types can influence youth and children in both positive and negative ways. From the article we learn that different types of media have a variety of impacts on children in areas such as learning, violence, nutrition, sexuality, alcohol, smoking, and advertising. Children are still developing their minds and perceptions and understandings of social norms. They are like sponges; ready and eager to absorb no information and thus very easily influenced. Because of this, behaviors portrayed in the media are perceived as social norms often regardless of their extremity. Even if certain behaviors are the most extreme that our society exhibits, with frequency of exposure, children can perceive them as social norms. Parents and guardians have the important opportunity and responsibility to monitor their children’s exposure to media. This monitoring should at least include guidance in children’s understanding of what they are hearing/reading/seeing… etc. As our world is becoming more and more technologically dependent, cutting out media is not a logical or practical expectation to make of guardians and parents. Studies have indicated that media exposure does not only have negative affects. It can also have positive influences on a child’s developing mind. Media has been increasingly incorporated into education, arts, politics, as well as entertainment. This presents the need for children to learn how to properly navigate media to be able to engage in these many important parts of society. This means that appropriately monitored media exposure can be positive for a child’s learning and development.

Worst Post Music has been incredibly important in uniting social groups, and communicating feelings and emotions. Music can be looked at as documentation of styles, social issues, oppression, and class levels through out history. It shows emotions. It shows values. It is an important avenue for honest expression. Music has been important for social issues. We see that is still true today. Music has also been a means of connection for different art forms such as, poetry, dance, and film. It is universal in its value and impact and capacity to be enjoyed. It is unique in that almost all people enjoy music whether or not they know how to create it. http://www.teenink.com/college_guide/college_essays/article/300582/Effects-of-Music-on-Society/ Worst Post Analysis This post was rather vague. It would have been better if I had supported my points with evidence and examples. This is also a post that I could have included personal experience in, as music is a huge part of my own life. Outside of the lack of examples, I still feel like this post was an adequate explanation of what I learned about the impact of music.

Rewritten Worst Post Music is impactful in more than just the ways that it moves its listener artistically. It has been incredibly important in uniting social groups, and communicating feelings and emotions. We have seen examples of this through out time, especially with specific genres of music such as soul. Much of modern music today, such as rap, rhythm and blues, and jazz find their roots in soul music. These genres tell the history of slavery and other forms of oppression of minority groups. It is uniting in the sense that everyone can listen to this music, be moved, and learn. Music, like soul music, can be looked at as documentation of styles, social issues, and oppression through out history. Music communicates emotion and values, which unite all human beings. Music has also often been a valuable medium for honest expression, such as rock and roll music during the 50s and 60s. It allowed an outlet for the voices of many to be heard. Music has also been a means of connection for different art forms such as poetry, dance, and film. It is universal in its value and impact and capacity to be enjoyed. Music is unique in that almost all people enjoy music whether or not they know how to create it. Music has been in incredible part of my life and my upbringing. I started taking classical piano lessons from the age of 5 and it taught me how to think in a new way, be creative, and be open to art. These things that I learned from music led to my development as an open-minded citizen with an appreciation for art and the important stories that it tells.

Self-Reflection Writing and rewriting these posts made me realize the interconnectedness that media and art have with each other. Music is such a huge part of all forms of media, and as such an incredibly powerful medium of art, media provides endless channels for the impact of music to spread. It hadn’t truly dawned on me the ways that each of these topics enhances the others; where would media be without music media? And where would modern music be without the dispersion channels allowed because of media? One question that was raised the more I thought about these topics and their connection was, Has music lost some of its historical value due to the rise in technology? Music from our past used to tell something, have social and moral meaning and impact. Now music is largely created and driven by media demands and technological innovations. When our children look back on our time, what will our music say about what mattered to us? I don’t know if I like the answer to that question. My discussions could be so much more than just whatever the first thing that pops out to me in the articles I read are; I could let what the articles say have impact on my understanding of the topics and then develop my ideas from there. Music and media are both such huge parts of my life. In my discussions I should have reflected on their impacts in my own life to deepen my discussion. This is something that I will be sure to do in future discussions.