Over the course of four consecutive days, my media log has revealed the various ways I interact with the world. Collectively, I interact with various magazines, social media such as Instagram and Snapchat, and music. Through my consumption of social media and magazines, it can be concluded that I quickly move from one to another without acknowledging or determining the meaning of what I am consuming. In context, however, my culture is rapidly shifting coinciding with my rapid media consumption at this point in time due to emerging identities and the environment in which I live at Agnes Scott and the greater Atlanta area. To fully understand the impacts of consumption I must take a position of an outsider looking in. As discussed by Douglas Kellner and Jeff Share in their piece, “Critical Media Literacy, Democracy, and the Reconstruction of Education”, I will use critical media literacy to unpack the influence of my most consistent media object, music. In retrospect, my music consumption consistently takes on active and passive roles while oscillating between the same media platforms revealing habitual habits.

     Daily, I listen to a collection of playlists that often coincides with my mood or intentions for the day. Out of the four days of my log, the two most prominent playlists were Miki Ratsula’s Every Shade of Blue extended play and Khalid’s American Teen album. My heavier work filled days included more time listening to Khalid and days that required less focus featured Rasula’s music. I utilize these playlists to block out other distractions while working, cleaning, or preparing mentally for a meet. Despite the fact I listen to them passively, I actively choose to do so to increase my productivity which reveals I am aware of my ability to be distracted and the measures I can take to prevent it. Interestingly, I utilize media to block out media demonstrating the media-saturated world we live in.

     Additionally, the music I choose to listen to is used a form of comfort. Three weeks ago, I had broken up with my girlfriend of the time resulting in a shift of my music. Previously, my music consisted solely of themes of exploration, seeking to know one’s self, and connection to nature; however, this major life event shifted my music to consists of themes of love and its effects. Looking at my two most listened to songs, “Radiant Warmth” by Ratusla and “Therapy” by Khalid, lyrics include, “Something that you’re doing has me falling all the way/I’m tripping off your love”, “We could still be lovers”, “She has this soul, a one of a kind. And no one deserves it, we need to preserve it” (Khalid – Therapy (Chords), Miki Ratsula – Radiant Warmth (Chords)). In turn, my media consumption revolves around my emotional state and life events as a form of coping with how I feel.

     Despite shifting themes and emotions, my music follows specific compositions. While not I am not limited to one genre, both artists feature simple chord progressions, 4/4 time signatures, and sharp keys. Comparing both songs in relation to guitar chords, “Therapy” follows a chord progression of Am, G, C, Dm, Am, G, F and “Radiant Warmth” follows C, G, Am, F, G, C, C, G creating an ambiance of soft, passionate melodies (Khalid – Therapy (Chords), Miki Ratsula – Radiant Warmth (Chords)). Albeit the instruments used to create this mood differ greatly between the genres of R&B and acoustic pop-folk, the deep bass lines of R&B are replicated through fingerpicking and strum patterns in acoustic music. Consequently, my future music will most likely take on similar characteristics as I shift to a new flux of major emotions.

     In light of my analysis, my media consumption reveals to me that I actively choose the themes that run throughout my music, but the arrangement of the songs and attentiveness while I listen takes on passive roles. Interestingly, I find myself to be a person who often shelters my emotions failing to let them influence my daily life in my art or conversations; however, it is clear to me now that my emotional state heavily influences my song selection. I contribute this to my traditional southern upbringing. As a child, I was taught to be reserved and present composed at all times; however, southern folk music my grandfather would play for me on his guitar was filled with stories of hardships, love, and difficult emotions. It would seem I cannot escape the very way in which I was raised as music has always been a release for strong emotions. I can only question how does media exposure at young ages shape the media we consume and enjoy as we grow into adulthood as mine has clearly done to me.

(September 2017)

Works Cited

Kellner, Douglas & Jeff Share. “Critical Media Literacy, Democracy, and the Reconstruction of

     Education.” Media Literacy: A Reader, edited by D. Macedo & S.R. Steinberg, Peter Lang Publishing, 2007, pp. 3-23.

“Khalid – Therapy (Chords).” THERAPY CHORDS by Khalid @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com, Ultimate

     Guitar, 18 Mar. 2017, tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/k/khalid/therapy_crd.htm. Accessed 23 Sept. 2017.

“Miki Ratsula – Radiant Warmth (Chords).” RADIANT WARMTH CHORDS by Miki Ratsula @

     Ultimate-Guitar.Com, Ultimate Guitar, 16 May 2016, tabs.ultimate-         

     guitar.com/m/miki_ratsula/radiant_warmth_crd.htm.  Accessed 23 Sept. 2017.