Reflection Blog

DTC 356, at the end of the semester had taught me a lot about the complication of information. Creating, distributing and modifying work became more complicated as society struggle to find the right balance. Data and information embedded themselves within our technology and bolster our thirst for knowledge. Author Marshall McLuhan stated, “Media is an extension of our faculty, psychic or physical.”(McLuhan, 26)We cannot avoid media in the modern world. Everything we see, hear, and read in some way alters our views and perception. Through many situations, these media plays with our emotions and senses to fulfill their goal. In today's world, what you see isn't necessarily true. More often, what you see in today's media are exaggeration or an alteration of facts to persuade the viewers or receiver to think a certain way. Both, facts and visualization are rhetoric techniques that are part of today's advertising and marketing strategy to reach to consumers. As a student, I see so many of my peers take technologies such as Face book, Google, cellphones, and movies all for granted. They use those things everyday but never really expand on the effects of those technologies. Education follows a path, a blue print of instruction that teach the student ideals but not to think and discover for him or herself.

I'm well aware of the changes the media has on me as an individual and also to society. I have now realized that we cannot avoid media and the emotional and rational effect it has on us, because it is going to happen – viewers will questioned and make assumptions about what they read. However, I am optimistic that we can conquer the fear of new technology and promote new discoveries by tapping into each individual's senses and creativity to work together on improving society as a whole.

McLuhan, Marshall, Quentin Fiore, and Jerome Agel. The Medium Is the Massage. New York:              Bantam Books, 1967. Print.