The media is strong. Its been shaping the innocent minds of Americans for decades. Along with family, it is a main part of our developmental stages. We use it to learn our roles in society and to find our own identity.
I grew up watching cartoons and listening to hip hop music. I was like an Afrocentric Charlie Brown with a gold chain and some shell top Adidas sneakers. I still remember going to Sam Goody to buy that new Naughty by Nature cassette tape. Just the single, the whole album was a bit pricey for a nine year old. Those were the good old days when people still payed for music. We've come a long way since then. I used to wait for days to hear my favorite song. My mom would be driving me to school and If I heard 30 seconds of that song on the radio, it would make my day complete. Its far too easy now a days. I might have 7o,000 songs downloaded to my computer, legally of course. The new world of file sharing is changing commerce forever. I'm sure all of our outstanding citizens want to pay for their music deep down, but its so hard when all these websites and programs practically throw all types of free media in your face. The internet is probably the most important aspect of media for me. I enjoy the freedom. You wouldn't believe how many times I've seen people watch shows that they don't like because their bored and nothing else in on. Happens to me sometimes. I know I don't like The Hills, so why have I seen it more than a few times? TV is powerful. TV makes me watch things. If your not careful TV can also brainwash the mess out you. When i was living in Senegal, I tried to explain to my buddies there that not every American lives like the super sweet sixteen girls and those corny rappers they see in music videos. I found it very interesting that the only Americans they show on French MTV are super sweet sixteen girls and corny rappers. No wonder America has such a bad rep. The media taught the world that were all spoiled rich girls or we spend our days in mansions pouring champagne on girls heads.
The power of media is massive. I hope to keep up with new technology in the future. I don't want to be one of them old heads who are lost and confused. I just hope the new generation can still find time to sit down and read a book and not let too much of that fake bonanza get to their brains.
