Critical Thinking: Evaluation

Prior to taking critical thinking I was oblivious to the media, advertising, and the way it shapes our world. I have developed many skills that allow me to process media messages in a more rational way. Using healthy skepticism and tentativeness daily have altered my way of thinking and has resulted in a completely different opinion on the media.

As I flip through the channels, my T.V. is flooded with advertisements telling me I need more. I settle on a show where the main character is drinking a Pepsi conveniently placed toward the camera. I need a break from the T.V so I flip open a magazine, my brain is overwhelmed with beautiful women that I strive to look like. I hop into the car and drive to Target. I drive past 10 billboards all advertising different things. Before this class I did not see anything wrong with advertising everywhere I turned. However, now that I'm more aware and I notice these messages. I regret all of the years I fell for what the media has told me I need and have to look like. As I'm writing this I am looking around my room and have stumbled upon little things. Do I really need 20 pairs of nail polish? Did I buy it because the media made me think that natural nails are ugly? Do I only love these colors because advertising has told me I should love them ? Although, I have spent many years set on the idea that having the next best thing will ultimately make me happier, developing critical thinking habits are definitely a step in the right direction to rewiring my brain to rationally react to the media.

Researching companies and their ultimate goals through advertising has shown me that 90% of companies lack logos. Businesses will do whatever it takes to sell a product even if that means corrupting people's thoughts. No, Nike cannot make you a better athlete, McDonald's cannot give you love, and Pepsi will not create adventure. This form of advertising causes people to rely heavily on products in hopes that they will do so much more than what they realistically are capable of. People are drawn to products because they want to fill an internal gap. Sure, this gap may be temporarily filled, but will it last long? No. This creates a constant desire, making it almost impossible to be content with what you have. Being aware of this sneaky advertising will help me decipher what I choose to believe and how I let it effect me.

Critical thinking has also made me more aware of how the beauty industry has effected me throughout my teenager years. Beginning in middle school, I developed this idea that I was not good enough. That my pale skin made me ugly, that my curly hair was not beautiful, and simply the way I was created was not good enough. I would look through "Seventeen" and think that maybe if I wore  a shirt like the one in the magazine that I might look as pretty as the model. I never did look as pretty as that model because I was not that model. I could not photoshop myself in real life, I could not have my makeup done everyday, and most importantly I could not be anybody but myself. After, watching Miss Representation and analyzing beauty advertising I have been able to distinguish that it was the media that instilled this perfect image in my head. Now that I am aware of everything that goes into advertising I can train my brain to put things into perspective and realize all that goes into a picture.

Critical thinking has impacted me in such a big way. I am so happy I took this class because it has  helped me develop as a person and provided me with thinking tools that I will use forever. Although, I have grown to strongly dislike the media and what it has done to me as I've grown up,  I now have the skill set to decide how it effects me. For that I am very grateful, thank you Mr. Maxwell.