What is the media? What does it represent? What is the connection between the media and reality? These are all questions that have many different answers and every person has their own interpretation of them.
The media itself is a universe of very complicated laws which combine our past, present and future. Through media we obtain a better understanding of the surrounding world and we learn this subjective critical thinking, which is the most important tool in media. Why critical? Probably because throughout our lives and experiences we discover that not everything is what it seems to be, that the truth is somehow hidden from us, somehow ‘bent’.
It is crucial for the critical thinking to always look what is beyond the text, beyond the word. What is the author trying to say? Why did he or she say it this way and not the other way around? Inseparable questions for a person with a critical mind. Moreover, this does not apply only to the media, it is also a part of our everyday communication and interaction with other people, which is one of the connections between media and reality.
Another major relationship between them is the information people get. The quantity we encounter everyday is consisted of thousands of news, articles, interviews etc. whether on the TV, on the radio or in front of the computer. Everywhere we are thrown tons of information. Of course, when speaking of quantity, we have to consider quality as well. This is where critical thinking steps in again. In order to read trustworthy news, you have to pick a reliable source, because most of the times, especially in social media, the ‘junk food’ is just too much. It is almost impossible to believe the information that is presented online. I believe it is important to always have back thoughts on the material you are reading or listening to. Use the critical-analytical skill to find what is behind the curtain. Is it true or not.
If we fail to acquire this tool, then we leave the media to be manipulated and deceiving to people. And if media is polluted, so are we.
Lets ask ourselves once again why study the media? Though we still cannot give a specific answer, we know this: we study it because not only it delivers information to our doorstep, or even nowadays to our bed, but because it develops us as human beings. It directs us to make the correct choices and take the right paths. Though it is quite difficult to study, we become more critical towards ourselves and more analytical towards the world.
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- Why study the media? - February 19, 2016