Sydney Craig Media Effects

This week we talked about media violence in class. Someone made a comment that got me thinking and bothered me just a little. They talked about how after their family watched a PG-13 movie that they started fighting, almost blaming the movie for the fight. Now the movie may have been a factor but I promise that it didn't start that fight on its own. I think sometimes we jump to conclusions too quickly. That's like saying that anyone who watches PG-13 movies is going to get into fights and the righteous that don't won't, which we know isn't true. We also learned in class that some people are more susceptible to the effects of media than others. I personally watch PG-13 movies. However, I'm still picky about the movies that I watch. I don't just watch anything. I like to look up movie content and see what it's about and how it's been rated and why. Not all PG-13 movies even contain violence. We are told to be thoughtful about the media we con...

This week I thought a lot about our lecture on gender in the media. One of my favorite actresses of all time is Alexis Bledel. Many people know her as Rory on Gilmore Girls. When thinking about why she is my favorite actress it struck me that she seems real. The character she portrayed was a normal high school and college girl that I could relate to. I never even realized that she was part of the "skinny ideal" because she was always conservatively dressed. Don't get me wrong, Alexis Bledel is a BEAUTIFUL actress. But they started her out on the show as plain and conservative and as she grew up she obviously started wearing more make-up and fashionable clothes, while still being conservative. I think that the show did a great job of making you more aware of Rory's personality rather than her body, hence why I never even noticed how skinny she was. But something I did realize is that I have tried to look like her. I've tried the middle bangs, and trust me I did...

This week was SO busy! I barely had time to catch my breath. My media intake was definitely a lot less than usual, aka no Netflix. However, I spent most of the time on my computer this week. I had a lot of projects and work that took a total of about 20 hours. I didn't realize how much time is actually spent on the computer that I don't usually count as "media." But I did notice a difference this week because I had more trouble falling asleep. I know that using my computer is necessary and important, for both school and my job, but I want to spend less time on my computer closer to the time I go to bed. It's also so tempting to surf the internet late at night because there's nothing else going on. I think this will help me not only spend less time on it but also get a better night's rest.

This weekend was amazing! General Conference is something that I look forward to every six months. This time was no different. I received so much inspiration that I really needed. And sometimes I think I take for granted the fact that General Conference is broadcast live and that's really one of the few ways we can all hear the prophet's voice. Listening to President Nelson speak always gives me chills. I had a quote that really stuck out to me from this morning. Elder Uchtdorf in his talk said the following: "discipleship is not about doing things perfectly, it is about doing things intentionally." What a profound statement! I think sometimes I worry too much about being a perfect disciple that when I mess up I almost want to just give up rather than keep trying because I won't be doing it "perfectly." But I was reminded this weekend that the Lord cares about our efforts and that we keep trying. He is cheering us on and He will guide us home if we ju...