More Than Media: How Media Influence Our Lives, Our Relationshps and Our HumanityUncategorized – More Than Media: How Media Influence Our Lives, Our Relationshps and Our Humanity

Freedom of Speech is a Two-Way Responsibility

admin — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 22:08:51 +0000

On August 16, 2018, more than 350 newspapers across the nation are publishing editorials in support of Freedom of the Press. Some will say this is an attack on President Trump. Others will say the papers are giving the president just what he wants — a show of unified media antagonism.
Whatever your political perspective, our Freedom of Speech is absolutely essential for democratic republic. The history of this nation if full of ugly cartoons, editorials, and opinionated reporting. What we need is a citizenry that thinks critically about both sides of an issue — and one which looks in more than one place for information, especially one which tells them what they want to hear.
So before we get mad at these newspapers, think about the principle fundamental to their arguments. Free speech is vital to America, but responsibility goes two ways. Media creators and media users must be responsible. Ideas are not about entertainment; they are pillars upon which our past, our present and our future are built. Real ideas are more than snark, memes or easy answers. They demand our attention and our critical evaluation, not just our emotional reactions. That goes for you and me, and for the president of the United States.

For more information (and differing viewpoints) see the article from Poynter : http://go.pardot.com/…/230e0036e0d7f7d749a192a1e06f7e047874…

We Boldly Went …

admin — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 19:50:58 +0000

The Official Start Trek Convention, Las Vegas, 2017 Part 2

The first day at a Star Trek convention involves registration, figuring out where everything is, seeing the vendor room and booking photo ops. Once those things are settled, we really enjoy the wide variety of activities. I especially like the programs about the writing and production in the franchise. Michael Westmore did two interesting ones on design and makeup for cast members and aliens. Others focused on costuming and production design.

There were interviews with series writers and show-runners and lots interesting interviews with celebrities from the series and films. We were lucky to see Patrick Stewart because he doesn’t often make the conventions.

Cast interviews are big part of these conventions, especially in an anniversary year. William Shatner, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, Patrick Stewart and most of The Next Generation cast were there. It’s lots of fun to see the actors, hear their stories and see how they interact with each other.

Attendees also have the opportunity for photos and autographs with cast members. William Shatner and others use this to raise money for the charities they support. Last year, at 50^th Anniversary Convention, we met Michael Dorn and Brent Spiner. This year, we had our picture taken with William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols. These pictures are on my office wall along with the picture Patrick Stewart autographed.

A large exhibit featured the costumes, sets, props and make-up in the new Discovery series. The detail on all of these much more elaborate than previous series. Some were designed and produced using 3-D printing technology.

I used Star Trek in my classes since I began teaching more than 30 years ago. I filled a small notebook this time with information about the creation and production of the new Star Trek series, Discovery.

There were lots of people in costume and fans from all over the world. There was a sense of comradery, respect and belonging that felt more like church than a fan convention. These were people who share a vision is positive, diverse, expansive and exciting. Respect is foundational. At times there were crowds, lines, and complications, but only once in five days did I hear a cross word.

There are lots of interesting displays at the convention including a collection of art celebrating Star Trek: The Next Generation. One of my favorites was the restored set from the original series.

My husband Randy is not a Trekker. He would never choose a Star Trek Convention as vacation destination, but I would love him to go with me some time. It’s such a unique experience, and I’d love to share it with him. (Don’t hold your breath….)

I’m not sure when Chris and I will make another Star Trek trip, but I know there’s one in our future someday —maybe even with a next generation of McMullen Trekkers. Now that sounds like a plan!

August 12, 2017

Why “More than Media” ?

admin — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 03:48:21 +0000

...Because media technologies change our lives in ways most of us don't understand, and we need to talk about it.

We live with screens.

We learn from them. We are entertained on them. We connect with friends and family on them. We conduct business on them. According to Nielsen Company (July 12, 2017) the average person spends nearly 11 hours per day in front of a screen. That’s up from 10 hrs. 29 minutes in 2016. That much time with anything is going to change us.

The question is how? Does it matter?

I have addressed those questions in my college media classes for more than 30 years. The screens have changed, the questions remain. They ask how sex and violence in media affect our children, the role of pornography and video games, and how media influence how we see ourselves and the world.

These were serious concerns when our screens were limited to a specific time or location. Now that media are digital and mobile, their impact is magnified and inescapable. Media content changes our expectations, our relationships and even how our brains function. Movies, TV shows and video games provide the mythology of today. Like any mythology, these modern narratives tell us what our society deems important, what it considers right and what is wrong (if anything) and who we are in it.

My Communication Theory, Media Writing, and Media Criticism courses at UNA explore these topics, and we have some interesting discussions —-especially after a big news story or significant event. Often when that happens, I’ll get emails from former students saying, “I wish I could have been in your class today, Dr. Mc…”

I’m writing this blog, not to lecture online, but to open the discussion. Former Federal Communications Commissioner Mark Fowler said that TV was just another appliance, implying that it had no more effect than a “toaster with pictures.” While we may see our media devices as just another useful tool, his statement is no more true now than it was in 1983. We can’t treat our screens as just an another appliance. If we do, we’ll risk ignorance, altered relationships, and manipulation we’d never have chosen had we been thinking clearly.

I don’t presume to have all the answers, but I do know we don’t get the answers if we don’t ask the questions.

Sources:

Howard, Jacqueline (2016). “Americans devote more than 10 hours a day to screen time, and growing.” CNN.com 12:48 PM, ET 6-30-2016. http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/30/health/americans-screen-time-nielsen/

The Nielsen Company (2017) “The Nielsen Total Audience Report: Q1 2017” http://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/corporate/us/en/reports-downloads/2017-reports/total-audience-report-q1-2017.pdf