Baraka.

This blog is dedicated to my Media Appreciation class. We are required to blog about our classes every week. This week, we have watched a non-narrative film called Baraka. It was amazing how you could understand what they were trying to imply without any narration. That is if, you paid close enough attention. 

Picture taken from  http://www.dvdloc8.com/images/dvdcover/14048.jpg

You had to pay really close attention to the film, to understand what they were trying to show you. If your eyes left the screen for a slight moment, you wouldn't have the slightest hint of what they were showing you. The first part of the film was about the world when it was pure and untouched by men. Then, gradually it shows all the destruction done by mankind to nature. Finally, the film shows what is left of our world and it's beliefs.

The one scene which will stay etched in my mind, is the scene where they filmed the concentration camp. The sound effect was so eerie and spooky, it made the scene so real. It sent chills down my spine. It's as if you could still hear their screams as they were being tortured. It was disturbing for me to watch it, but some how i got so absorbed into the film.

That's all for now.
Cheers xx

Media Literacy

I was out the other day with my housemates. We couldn't help but over hear a conversation between two children not more than ten years of age talking about how their hand phones work and how much it costed. When I was their age, I used to be young and innocent. I was running around playing catch or hide and seek.

After further thought about this, I have come to think that the media plays a big role in forming the personalities of people. As children, we have watched cartoons and we imitate their behavior. Even now, we use catchy phrases we hear from films. Those children talking about hand phones, have watch so many Disney films showing young teenagers with hand phones talking to their friends. My guess is that they want hand phones because they want to be like the teenagers they watch on tv.

Media has such a big influence on society today. All the advertisements we see, actually influences our decisions even in the slightest way. Maybe one day you are and you see a huge McDonald's billboard while driving and immediately, you start craving the McSpicy Deluxe meal. Or, when you're watch the famous series How I Met Your Mother. A lot of people use phrases and try to reflect a character from the series.

To understand the media is a simple thing, but to actually perceive the messages the media is trying to convey is another whole perspective. What the media shows us is like an onion, it has many layers. It could bring so many different meanings, all depending on what someone has been through. Think about it, maybe the media isn't just trying to show you what it's literally showing you. Maybe it's trying to show you something more.