Mid Semester Recap!

Smack dab in the middle of my second semester of College, specifically inside the context of my mass media class, I have many things to reflect upon. So far in this class, we have talked about many different topics and ideas that apply to the media we consume daily, how it affects us, and how we categorize it, along with many other things. Some of the things we have talked about include THE SEMIOTIC DOMAIN, signifier vs. signified, paradigmatic vs. sytagmatic, film shots, Semiotics, The Merchants of cool video, the Hollywood Simulation, and the list goes on. I am very happy with how the class has been going so far this semester.

Going into this class, I didn't really have any idea as to what I was getting myself into. I had heard from a guy on my floor that the class was really cool, and a lot of fun, but that was about all the more exaplaination I recieved. After the first couple of days in class, I had fallen in love with the ideas we were discussing, the ways we approached topics, and the many actual life ties that were uncovered. For me, taking an idea, and thinking in-depth about it and actually tying real-life experiences to it, is a very effective learning tool. I think that is why I love this class so much. With each idea or topic we discuss, we have real life connections that we make. Whether it be talking about slippage from first level significance to second level significance in the case of the yellow ribbon around a tree, or actually naming movies that fit into each of the "Mythical" Categories that we discussed, there is always a connection being made that is different from any learning I have ever done.

In mass media, we strive to get away from the traditional types of learning, or as I like to say regurgatation. In many classes, you study out of books, and from lecture notes, and the regurgatate the information on a test. In mass media, we make these real life connections that allows actual LEARNING to take place. Because of that, I am able to sit here, without looking at any notes, and name all of the different things that we have talked about thus far in the semester. I absolutly love that about Mass Media. I think that is how many if not all classes should be designed, as much as possible while still sticking to standards that are in place.

I am excited about what is still yet to come in the second half of the semester. New topics to be examined, and many more connections to be made. Also, I have to opportunity to investigate whether or not video games have an effect on teenagers, and if yes, how do they affect them. That is my topic for my final paper for this class, and I am very eager to begin in-depth research on the topic. Overall, I am very pleased with this class, I love everything about it, and I can't wait for what is in store for rest of the semester!

~DeLiRi0uS~