Looking at my iTunes, it is easy to see that the music I listen to is very conducive to my personality, as is probably anyone else’s. I have music that will just about suit any mood I could possible feel.
I use my music for a variety of purposes. Most frequently I will use it as an escape. It is easy for me to just put on my headphones and listen to my favorite song in order to block out something I don’t want to think about.
I feel that through my music I gain whatever I need from my music at that moment. If I need to calm down, I have music to do that. If I need to psych myself up for something, I have music for that as well. I will never underestimate the mental healing power of music. I believe it is one of the most powerful mood elevators that you don’t need a prescription for.
I don’t have a specific genre of music I like. I only have one specific type that I don’t, which is country. I can’t really explain it, but it really bothers me. I tend to like really calming music that I could practically fall asleep to, but I also have a lot of pop and rock music that tends to energize me. I usually prefer old songs, but then again I have plenty of newer music that I enjoy also. I also have a strong collection of musicals that I can’t help but sing along to every time I hear them.
Despite my love for music, I am almost never find myself becoming a fan of a band. Instead I become a fan of songs. The only band I can truly call myself a fan of is Coldplay. They are the one band that I would go out and buy the new album of without hearing a single track. I think I am drawn to their music because it is very subtle yet powerful. They use unique instruments and beats that I can’t help but be drawn to. I feel like their music is subtle, and doesn’t feel a need to use shock value to draw in listeners, which I admire.
I think I am drawn to this kind of music because its calming nature allows me to reflect on things while I’m listening to it. That doesn’t mean I don’t use it to escape, but I think that sometimes it puts me in a frame of mind that helps me to better understand that aspects of life that frustrate me. My music affects me because it can change my mood so strongly. When I am feeling sad, I almost need Tracy Chapman to commiserate with, or when I am happy, I need to celebrate it with music from Mamma Mia! Overall, I am drawn to the music because I can relate to it, and because it speaks to how I am feeling.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Escaping
Rarely a day will go by when I don’t use the media as a way to escape from reality. My addiction to the media goes far beyond what is necessary to function in the world. My focus on the media is primarily entertainment and I for one am not ashamed of it.
I think that different aspects of the media provide a great opportunity to escape from the realities of life. I personally use the internet, magazines and television for entertainment purposes. I check websites like people.com daily for the latest news about celebrities. Letting myself get involved in the glamorous lifestyles of the rich and famous makes me forget about my own problems and focus on theirs instead.
I also go to websites like overheardinnewyork.com, where people post the crazy things they have heard people say around New York City that day, which is always good for a laugh. I do the same with gossip and fashion magazines life US weekly and Cosmopolitan. Finally, I let myself become engrossed in the dramas of various television shows, like The Office and Grey’s Anatomy.
I use these mediums primarily to escape from doing things I don’t want to do, like homework or exercising. It’s very easy to put off the work for an hour and let myself get distracted by the media. It’s desirable to escape because it takes the pressure of even thinking about the things that you don’t want to do. You can just pretend your problems don’t exist and relax. Unless the work I am trying to escape from is very worrisome, it is easy for me to escape from my problems this way.
I feel like this form of escapism is probably something I shouldn’t do as much as I do, but I am now to the point where I don’t know how else to relax. Without this release stress would probably eat away at me night and day (I am an avid worrier). I often feel like there are more constructive things I could be doing with my time, but I don’t really see anything wrong with using the media to escape. The only time it truly becomes a problem is when people let themselves waste away in front of the television to the point where it stops them from living their lives. I think that as long as I can complete my work, see my friends and go to class, then my media escape is not unhealthy.
I think that different aspects of the media provide a great opportunity to escape from the realities of life. I personally use the internet, magazines and television for entertainment purposes. I check websites like people.com daily for the latest news about celebrities. Letting myself get involved in the glamorous lifestyles of the rich and famous makes me forget about my own problems and focus on theirs instead.
I also go to websites like overheardinnewyork.com, where people post the crazy things they have heard people say around New York City that day, which is always good for a laugh. I do the same with gossip and fashion magazines life US weekly and Cosmopolitan. Finally, I let myself become engrossed in the dramas of various television shows, like The Office and Grey’s Anatomy.
I use these mediums primarily to escape from doing things I don’t want to do, like homework or exercising. It’s very easy to put off the work for an hour and let myself get distracted by the media. It’s desirable to escape because it takes the pressure of even thinking about the things that you don’t want to do. You can just pretend your problems don’t exist and relax. Unless the work I am trying to escape from is very worrisome, it is easy for me to escape from my problems this way.
I feel like this form of escapism is probably something I shouldn’t do as much as I do, but I am now to the point where I don’t know how else to relax. Without this release stress would probably eat away at me night and day (I am an avid worrier). I often feel like there are more constructive things I could be doing with my time, but I don’t really see anything wrong with using the media to escape. The only time it truly becomes a problem is when people let themselves waste away in front of the television to the point where it stops them from living their lives. I think that as long as I can complete my work, see my friends and go to class, then my media escape is not unhealthy.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Keeping in Touch
When trying to keep in touch with what’s going on in the world, all I can think is Thank God for the internet. The internet is the way that I get all of my basic news, without which I would be lost. I go on the internet typically to look at different news sources to see what’s going on in the world. I like to check out people.com, cnn.com, worstpreviews.com and facebook. These are my most visited sites, but there are many others as well. I like to look at Hollywood and film news, but being a com major, I like to keep in touch with what’s going on in the “real” world as well.
To look at current events, I like to watch television as well, but I most definitely rely on the internet way too much to keep me up to date. I use it not only to keep up with world news, but to keep up with persona news as well. I use Facebook in particular to keep up with friends from home. Without it I would probably never know what is going on with old friends because I am awful about calling people on the phone. The internet also keeps me up with what is going on at school. Thanks to Flagler email, I am kept up to date on classes, school programs and even the Wednesday Morning Coffee Break (although I never actually go, it’s comforting to know that they will always remind me that I can).
Hollywood news is an addiction of mine. I like to see what’s going on with Hollywood on People.com. It’s hard to explain why I actually care, but regardless I always find myself checking it. I also like to read trashy tabloids, but I don’t fool myself into thinking that they are true, so I mostly consider what I find in them to be fiction. To look at what is going on in films, I look at Worstpreviews.com. It keeps me up to date on the films being shot, who’s working with who, and the movie releases I am waiting for.
As a COM major, I also make sure I see what is happening in the other aspects of the world, but admittedly I do so with much less depth. I check CNN.com for general news and often assume that if it doesn’t pop up on the top of the page, it’s probably not that important.
The only aspect of news that I don’t immediately rely on the internet for is family news, which I depend on the phone for. My parents let me know the highlights about what’s happening with my extended family.
I think the fact that I use the internet as my primary source of news shows that I am a product of my era. The internet is the quickest way to find out about the news. The internet is fast, environmentally friendly and full of resources. I enjoy many aspects of using it, and frankly, I can’t imagine getting the bulk of my news any other way.
To look at current events, I like to watch television as well, but I most definitely rely on the internet way too much to keep me up to date. I use it not only to keep up with world news, but to keep up with persona news as well. I use Facebook in particular to keep up with friends from home. Without it I would probably never know what is going on with old friends because I am awful about calling people on the phone. The internet also keeps me up with what is going on at school. Thanks to Flagler email, I am kept up to date on classes, school programs and even the Wednesday Morning Coffee Break (although I never actually go, it’s comforting to know that they will always remind me that I can).
Hollywood news is an addiction of mine. I like to see what’s going on with Hollywood on People.com. It’s hard to explain why I actually care, but regardless I always find myself checking it. I also like to read trashy tabloids, but I don’t fool myself into thinking that they are true, so I mostly consider what I find in them to be fiction. To look at what is going on in films, I look at Worstpreviews.com. It keeps me up to date on the films being shot, who’s working with who, and the movie releases I am waiting for.
As a COM major, I also make sure I see what is happening in the other aspects of the world, but admittedly I do so with much less depth. I check CNN.com for general news and often assume that if it doesn’t pop up on the top of the page, it’s probably not that important.
The only aspect of news that I don’t immediately rely on the internet for is family news, which I depend on the phone for. My parents let me know the highlights about what’s happening with my extended family.
I think the fact that I use the internet as my primary source of news shows that I am a product of my era. The internet is the quickest way to find out about the news. The internet is fast, environmentally friendly and full of resources. I enjoy many aspects of using it, and frankly, I can’t imagine getting the bulk of my news any other way.
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