Friday, 28 September 2012

Theories, Theories And more Theories..

We were recently being taught on 'The Theories and Effects of Mass Communication' during a lecture in our media appreciation class. In this chapter, we learned about the seven different categories of the limited effects theory of mass media. I would like to focus and discuss on one of the classifications which is the Uses and Gratifications Theory.This theory is divided into 4 main forms: Cognition, Diversion, Withdrawal, and Social Utility. In this post, I would like to emphasize more on the factors of Cognition and Diversion.

My recent days in university are constantly loaded with tons of never-ending assignments and homework. Only a minimal time is given to us to finish up all the projects which are always piling up the tables until I have gotten so sick and tired of it at a certain point. But, thank heavens for the Internet. With it I am able to access to websites such as Wikipedia, Thesaurus and Dictionary to search for sources of information which are useful to assist in my assignments. On the other hand, The Star Online Paper serves as a great info site for me to obtain the latest news and to keep myself up to date. I would like to stay knowledgeable at all times and wouldn't want to feel ignorant to the current happenings of the world. This defines cognition. When a person is using the media to gain news and information, he or she is using the mass medium in a cognitive way. 




Sometimes no matter how hard I try to focus on my studies and fight through the laziness in me, I would have to give in to tiredness eventually. I would make use of the mass media as a diversion to relax myself both physically and mentally. Websites like Youtube, where i will be able to stream countless videos and movie clips regardless of its genre. Watching videos releases stress and relieves me of the pressures and burdens I face from my studies. Reading magazines and novels stimulates my emotions along with the ability to increase my general knowledge too. Fun sites such as 9gag, which contain hilarious posts and pictures but mainly internet memes never fails to give me a good laugh.



Social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Google plus, Myspace, Flickr, Blogger, Tumblr and others serve as a portal for me to express out my thoughts and feelings along with connecting friends and relatives through a simple click of a button. By accessing Facebook, I am able to browse through pictures and statuses of my friends and get in touch with them in order to maintain our friendship. Through Skype, free video calls are accessible thus giving me the opportunity to video call my out-stationed family to keep each other updated with our current lives.
FACEBOOK


TWITTER


SKYPE

All in all, mass technologies helps to refresh and rejuvenate my mind. Mass media plays a big part in my life and I could not even bear the thought of living a day without it. 

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