While I have never really thought about it before, it is important to look at how media integrates into my life on a daily basis. I think because I have always grown up surrounded by so much media, it goes unnoticed as to how much of an effect it actually has on my life.
"In everyday
life, media are always there and, indeed, everywhere, as they have become part
of the very fabric of culture and society... They provide possibilities for
interconnectivity around the globe, they compress time and space... Besides
structuring the daily agenda, media have become constant mobile companions'.
- Kaun and Schwarzenegger 2014.
After reading
this quote in one of the Media Audiences lectures, I can say that I truly agree
with what this quote is saying. I have never looked at media as a 'companion',
but when I actually think about it in that way, I would definitely say it is.
My reasons for this are purely because I know I would be completely
bored, unsatisfied and lonely if media was to be taken away from me.
It sounds bad, and makes me sound like someone who 'needs to get a life', but
unfortunately it is the way I have grown and evolved as a person - media makes
me who I am.
While
conducting my 72-hour media log, I have chosen to mark down media which I am
actively involved in on a daily basis. I have therefore chosen to exclude
adverts from this, unless I am utilising them myself (for example, clicking on
an advertisement that comes up on the side of my screen). This is simply because we are constantly surrounded by advertisements everywhere, it would be very difficult to log them all down. I also
have decided to not include setting my alarm and checking the time and date on
my phone, as I believe this is more technological than media related.
I have chosen
to log the 72 hours during the week, as I would describe a weekday as a
'typical day' in my everyday life in which I don't necessarily have any
plans apart from attending university. I feel this will be particularly
interesting seen as though I am likely to use more media throughout these days
as oppose to on a weekend (in which my time may be taken up by work, or
spending quality time with my family).
Regarding the 'genre' column, I have decided to replace this with 'type of media'; this is because I don't believe every media has a genre, and this would only be applicable to media's such as television programmes and music. Additionally, I have added a 'technology' column as I personally find the relationship between media and technology interesting and would like to know how much technology I am using while engaging in media.
As I won't be
able to log everything straight away, I am going to make notes throughout the
three consecutive days on my iPhone 5s; this will include when and where I have
used media and at what times (and yes, by doing this I am using media but I
haven't noted this down in the log as it would be too complex).
I think it will be very difficult to note down when and exactly for how
long I am actively using social media, as I am a
self proclaimed social media addict and never seem to stop using it.
I think it will be challenging to go about my everyday life, without thinking
about the fact that I am having to log every single time I engage in media.
Looking at it from a psychological point of view, it is difficult to say how
well this media log will reflect my everyday life. This could be due to demand
characteristics occurring throughout my study, in which I will
be subconsciously altering my behaviour as I know it is being
analysed, and conforming to my
own expectations of how much I use media in my everyday life (Cherry, 2014) .
Throughout studying
my everyday usage of media, I do expect to find results which make me feel
guilty. I say this because I spend an awful lot of time using media, especially
social media. I have been writing my own blog for two years now, which consists
of utilising social media in every single way possible - I use Twitter and
Instagram every day of my life and I can't go to sleep until I've scrolled
through all my social media feeds and seen every recent post. I know I will
find that I am addicted to my phone, take way too many photographs and spend a
large quantity of my time messing around with Snapchat filters and messaging my
loved ones.
I have always been
pro social media, and have never frowned upon it (one of the reasons being is
that its a massive part of my job so I can't exactly hate it). However, I do
feel this media log will make me want to take a massive break from the internet
and enjoy life without being consumed by media every minute of the day. I'm
already looking forward to going away to the Peak District in a couple of weeks
with family members I haven't seen in a long time, to enjoy the fresh air and
just breathe.
I do reckon I will find I use media throughout 95% of my day, which I am prepared to acknowledge - but its still pretty worrying knowing i'll find out just how much media is incorporated into my everyday routine.
No comments:
Post a Comment