Reflection Post

It is crazy to think how fast this semester has passed. I'm writing my last media blog?? EVER?? This is crazy.

Media blogs have allowed me to created, I think, a healthy understanding of the world that surrounds me day to day. Much of that understanding is learning it in class, but media blogs have definitely contributed this thought. They are like the field work of critical thinking--it's our data.

I have noticed throughout this semester when collecting my "data," I realized this bond and new connection with media was forming. I felt incredibly proud of myself, not only for 1) recognizing this bond, but also 2) even creating this bond. It created this feeling like, "I have now developed the same tools that analysts use everyday when analyzing the media. This is cool." I liked feeling this new bond over media, as if I had conquered something, as if I finally found the "true meaning." Writing this blog now, I know I haven't ascended to new heights with my media blogs or transcended this earth with my amazing critical thinking skills. But I believe media blogs have definitely allowed me to create a new outlet, a new perspective.

Before media blogs, I consumed a lot of data. After media blogs, I still consume a lot of data. However, just because my consumption hasn't changed, that doesn't mean my awareness has either. My peers and friends and I have definitely become more aware. On the way to and from San Francisco, we were bombarded with billboards, so why not call out advertising techniques. When I'm out with friends and we see a really horribly obvious ad, we'll point it out. Just through scrolling Instagram, I can point out little things here and there. I think my media literacy has definitely gone from 0 to proficient. I actually think my classmates and I can say our media literacy improved. No one in that class came in knowing the subject matter (I mean unless someone did, you rock dude).

Even though media blogs may have been a pain in the butt sometimes, I'm really glad we had this assignment. It has allowed me to create a new outlook on our hectic, media-filled life, and even though we live in a world where media influences everything we do, there's not another world I'd rather live in.

PEACE OUT GIRL SCOUT

Can We Talk About Deodorant for a Sec

I was at Rite Aid with my mom a couple days ago getting regular household things (toilet paper, deodorant, the usual) and everything seemed fine until my mom suddenly stopped and just stared at all of the deodorant, both men's and women's. She stood there just staring, and I was starting to get worried. She would look at the men's, then at the women's, then at the men's again. After my questioning, she finally said something extremely simple but would honestly change my armpits' life forever. "Men's deodorant is cheaper than women's." 

At first, I didn't think about the remark, I just thought she was being weird. But after a while, she and I compared almost all of the deodorant brands, prices, and sizes, concluding that not only does men's deodorant come in a larger size, it is cheaper. For example, Secret's Smooth Effects Conditioning Solid Antiperspirant/Deodorant is $7.37 for a 2.6 oz container. However, Arrid XX sells men's deodorant for the same exact size for $2.00. Since when was this ok??

I mean look at the difference!! Men's for 2.7 oz for 73.5 cents every ounce. The women's deodorant, however, is only 2.6 oz and is $1.28 every ounce. This is atrocious. 

Also I am now just realizing I dedicated my entire last blog post to deodorant. Sometimes I really hate myself.

Just a Blog Post About Tevas

When someone says Tevas, what do you think? Do you think old hippie or a young, urban millennial? Do you even think of those at all? What comes to your mind when you hear Tevas?

Well, in my case, I think of a young adventurer, someone who maximizes their weekends for day trips along the coast, and travels across the U.S. during the summer. Why in the world does this picture come to mind? Well because all of their ads universally look like this: 

Walking around my urban town!!

Having a great ol' time jumping off a rafting boat!!

Having fun on da beach!

Jumping off a boat with my fellow adventurers!!

We can all agree they have a similar theme. But why does Teva gear towards this target market?

Well first of all, Tevas are practical to this type of lifestyle. They are durable, waterproof, and they float. They're comfortable and small enough to take up minimum space in a bag or suitcase. They overall make sense for this type of adventurous lifestyle. But the way they actually market their product is only within two stereotypes: the urban "hip" crowd setting themselves apart from the rest, and the young traveler in need of a new adventure wherever possible. Seriously, try to find one ad that doesn't fit either of those categories. 

Teva, in turn, has now created this aura around themselves making this new class of hipster, the hipster outside of the hipster (one of my previous blog posts talks about this as well!). It almost uses the technique of avante garde, but mostly appeals to the need for autonomy. 

(Lily if you ever read this thank you for the Tevas. You inspired this blog post. Shout out to you <3)

Unknown and Terrifying Obsession with Jolyns

If anyone is really close with me, they know I have a slight problem with Jolyns. What is a Jolyn you ask? Well let me fill ya in!

Jolyn is a swimsuit brand the specializes in fitness and exercise for girls who swim, play water polo, dive, lifeguard, you name it. Jolyn is extremely appealing to water sports and water activities, but of course people buy them because they're cute and want of new bikini. 

However, it seems as if Jolyn has taken over not only me life and banking account, but most of the young, female population in Sacramento. It has gone to extremes. During swim practice and water polo practice, I see nothing but Jolyns (myself included! I'm not trying to be a hypocrite!). Girls of all sizes wear them, and to be completely honest, they look confident as heck. Now, this isn't to say Jolyns appeal to all of women's sizes, because they don't. They are appealing to fit, strong, small young women. However, I look around, and I see all of my teammates as strong, fit, beautiful young women. I know people say Jolyn isn't an appropriate swim brand in the way where they are appealing to a very small proportion of women, but I honestly have to disagree. My teammates all look amazing and strong and confident in their Jolyn. I believe Jolyn has the ability to make women feel good about themselves rather than belittle them and make them feel like they're not good enough. 

In all seriousness Sacramento might need a Jolyntervention (Jolyn+Invertention...I'm not even sorry).

Merchants of Cool: 2016 Version

Ah, yes. The early 2000s. What a time to be alive. Of course, I was 1 or 2 years old, so it wasn't extremely the prime of my life. It was, however, a great time to document teenagers and the atrocious way of life they created.

But, who am I to judge? I wear Birkenstocks and have a passion for yoga and flannels. I tell myself I'm different from everyone and I'm unique "in my own way." Really though, how different am I compared to everyone else?? 

Merchants of Cool addressed the idea that there are those that desire to be on the outside, those that are cooler than the cool. They attempt to be their own brand, to be the fish out of water, but make it (in their view) awesome. Even though painting your face to show your devotion to a band is an extreme, this idea is extremely apparent even today.

We all are fully aware of what I (and many other people) call "hipster trash": flannel wearing, beard growing, Ray-Bans loving characters you can find at any bar downtown. They have somehow created this aura around them in which, well, everyone wants to be like them. Which brings up the question, if everyone wants to be like them, which culture is "cool" culture? Pop songs and flirty dresses? Or is cool culture the hipster path, which can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbZzfZQQuro 

If the new cool is hipster cool, is that going to disintegrate and become the cool that no one thinks is cool? And then, what will the "odd one out" type of cool become if the hipster cool is the boring cool? What even is cool??