#great class

Looking back on this semester, one of the biggest things I’ve learned is that media does not only reflect reality but it actually shapes how we understand it. One idea that connects a lot of what we covered is Marshall McLuhan’s idea that “the medium is the message.” The main point is that how something is shown matters just as much as what is being shown. Film and media control what we see and how we interpret it, so the format itself changes the message without us always realizing it.This connects to the idea of spectacle that came up throughout the course. A lot of media turns real situations into something people watch for entertainment. When that happens, the meaning can get lost and everything becomes more about the image than what is actually going on.

This also ties into representation, since we looked at how different groups are shown in media and how those portrayals are not always fair or accurate.The films from the last few weeks helped connect all of this. For example, “Nope” shows how people become focused on capturing things on camera even when it is dangerous. It shows how the image itself can become more important than reality, which connects back to McLuhan’s idea. It also connects to the larger idea of media turning real situations into something to consume and how it can often consume us.