jenan's blog

     There are many ways advertising has infiltrated our day to day lives. One tactic that is often used mixes advertisements with movies and TV shows, having our favourite characters work in a Subway or use the brand new Lamborghini .      Just today, when I was watching Endgame, I noticed many ads positioned throughout the course of the movie. You could see Tony Stark riding down to Captain America in his fancy Mercedes, or watch Hulk eating Ben & Jerry's. It is very common to encounter this type of ad, because they are very effective for companies.    When we have an established emotional connection to these characters, it make s us inclined to want to purchase the products they use. So, by placing their products within big movies, companies are able to emotionally connect themselves to us, making us more susceptiblele to buy from them.       I remember when I was little I would always want to do what my favourite characters on TV were doing, so why would that be any dif

     On my recent trip to New York, I spent a good amount of time in Time Square. When I first walked into that vibrant, loud, chaotic space, there was so much that hit me all at once. Ads for clothing brands, the Disney store, and TV shows all incessantly competing for my attention, hoping that I will buy into their brand.      But once that initial awe settled in, I took a good look around, and I came to notice many things.  I realized that they were all subconsciously placing their brands in the back of our minds, trying to plant a seed that will continue to grow until we remember their name the next time we want to buy a purse. They are searching for ways to be remembered, to stand out from the muddled noise and blurred colors of the endless amount of signs.       I had never seen so many ads all concentrated in such a way. This caused me to wonder which type of advertising is most effective: a heavily concentrated group of ads, or having them consistently distributed th

     The words which we use when describing things come with the connotations our society has attributed to these words. Take, for example, "scent" or "odor." When I think of "scent," I think of light smells of lavender or vanilla. When I think of "odor," I think of rotting banana peels or moldy yogurt.       Certain words can paint negative or positive pictures in our minds, and this effect is often used by news outlets when describing current events. These words can negatively or positively frame a situation, whether or not the connotations are factually supported.       I examined the language used by The Huffington Post and Fox News in articles concerning the impending release of undocumented immigrants into sanctuary cities. The first contrast I could immediately see was the difference in describing the actions of President Trump. The Huffington Post used words like "declared" when describing Trump's announcement, while

    We all have those songs that instantly transport us back to early childhood. Those shows that remind us of Saturday afternoons with the whole family. Those books that bring us back to leisurely summers with no summer homework.      Just yesterday, I was almost brought to tears by a song called "Upside Down" (mind you, I was running on very little sleep). This song is from the Curious George movie. I hadn't heard it in quite possibly 10 years, yet it still has such an emotional attachment to my mind.    It got me thinking about the fundamental impact the songs and shows we were surrounded by in childhood have on us, especially in this age where this type of media is very apparent in our lives. These episodes and lyrics all shaped the unique way I view the world, and were a big part in the development of my personality.     It intrigues me how this song, and many others that I have rediscovered recently, bring back a sense of my old houses, old cars, old pets.

        As a kid of the early 2000s, I have had my fair share of exposure to the media. Since childhood, I have been constantly surrounded by TV shows, music videos, news outlets, and more recently, social media. These all have had a great influence on how I view the world, and how I act within it.        Despite this, I believe I have kept myself from becoming too reliant on these forms of entertainment and news-sharing. I have easily gone days without checking my phone, and the vast majority of my friends are constantly annoyed by the fact I never see their texts. This is something I would like to maintain, because I see how phones and social media are heavily impacting my friends and peers. Many of my friends have shared that they cannot envision themselves living without social media, which is not a reality I myself would like to partake in.        Beyond these negative effects of media, I have found it is a great platform to share opinions, and also become more aware of the worl