Oh...we're halfway there, Oh oh, we're livin on a prayer - Midterm Reflection

It's hard to believe we're already at the Midterm point of Media and Society. I've come across a lot of interesting pieces of media in the last eight weeks like Reel Bad Arabs and the radio film. We're supposed to answer five questions as half our midterm so here I go :

1) After studying 21^st century media for eight weeks in this class, what have you learned? Please be specific.
      I think one of the most important things I've learned so far is that nothing having to do with media is as it first appears. Everything has a deeper meaning. I've also learned that media and technology has gone through gigantuan changes in the last fifty or so years with no signs of slowing down. Everything is converging (haha , vocab) into one powerhouse.

2) What is the most important thing you have learned about yourself as a critical reader, a writer, and a thinker in this class so far?
a) As a thinker, I've learned that I am a bit naive. I'm still attached to a happy-sunshine view of everything and that isn't always the way to look at things. For example, I knew about the racism in Alladin but I still sor t of see it as just a Disney movie that I love.

"Where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face...It's barbaric but Hey! it's home".

     b)As a writer, I've learned that I can be brutally and candidly honest if I see fit to be. I learned this after posting about my account of my mother living with MS.

     c) As a critical reader, I need to learn how to grasp the big picture a little better, instead of going after inane facts.

3) What’s one thing you would do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?
      If I were to take the class again, I would study the powertools a little more. I didn't do so well on the last few quizzes because I didn't study enough. I probably would've picked a shorter Blogger URL too.

4) What’s one thing you would like me [Rob Williams] to do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?

I think more in-class discussion would be good. The start of the semester had a lot of discussion but it seems to have dwindled. Discussion, for some, is an easier way to get an opinion out than by blogging. (Side Note: Bring Diki more often!! He's too adorable not to include!)

5) Please comment on the usefulness of the power tools, our course blog, your personal blog, our in-class quizzes, our films, and our book(s) as learning tools.

a) Power Tools - The power tools are useful for the quizzes but some parts like the trends and principals can be difficult to understand.

b) Course Blog- THe course blog is awesome for homework. It's useful but we never seem to look at peoples answers much in class. I love it though.

c) Personal Blog- I love my blog with all my technologically related neocortex/limbic brain.Blogging is so much fun!  It was useful to me, personally, when I needed to get something off my chest.

d) Quizzes- The quizzes are fair. They're useful in keeping us on our toes. We just need bigger index cards (although apparently there is a method to the Williams madness as of Thursday).

e) Films  - The films are useful in getting us thinking. I spend a good chunk of time thinking about them. For example, I've had "TV- the drug of a nation, breeding ignorance and feeding radiation" stuck in my head for about a week and a half.

f) The Book- I honestly don't find it useful.  I just don't find it worth the trouble of getting it and reading it. I really only use it for what is required.

Well, there's my meditation. Namaste.