Media Memoir

I was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, tucked way up in the top left hand corner of North America. Although I lived in the city, we were very isolated from the rest of the country. When I lived there the city was very spread out. Being a city of 300,000 we had most of what other cities had to offer; shopping, grocery stores, movie theatres and arcades. Most of what I knew was not different from that of most other children throughout the United States, but there was one thing that stood out to me; the culture. The culture almost acted as a part of the media. Most commercials on TV had to do with some part of Inuit culture, such as totem poles, Inuit clothing, whales etc. In fact, one of the biggest celebrations each year is Fur Rendezvous which is the start of the Ididarod. It is a week long event with a variety of activities such as snow sculpting, native dance demonstrations, and a native market for anyone to purchase items made from seal skin and caribou. I really think that media shapes us and the media that was shown to me through this culture definitely helped mold me into who I am today. I do have Native American blood, however, my parents don't practice Native American beliefs, but growing up in an area rich in its own culture has led me to appreciate our differences. Now as I have gotten older I have been able to further research other cultures very easily via the internet. While I know longer live in Alaska, I am able to purchase Native products through the internet, which is something that would have never crossed my mind when I was younger. I first got the internet when I was 12 years old. I knew a little bit about computers from taking classes in grade school, however, the internet was a whole new exciting concept. I remember sitting at my computer for hours listening to music from my favorite artists. The concepts I was able to research seemed endless. And they are endless. In fact now I think they are so endless that I almost get bored. Often times I sit down at a computer and after I check my e-mail and facebook I draw a blank. It's as if I have too many options I am unable to limit myself. While I can't imagine not having the internet and it has played a huge role in my college career (I am sure no one can deny that. What would we have done without it?) I have started to drift away from the internet and many other sources of media/technology. I have realized that as much as it has shaped my life and changed our society in a tremendous way, I don't need it as much as I once thought. TV now contains too many reality shows and endless amounts of commercials, the internet shows too many pop-up ads(using it might ruin your computer forever), and the radio never seems to play music!!! The media has taken over. Everything is media now. You can't get away from it, which is exactly why I am taking this class. I want to understand it in a way that feels less harmful and perhaps maybe even appreciate it a little.