Throughout the past semester, I focused my project on the prison industrial complex and how it’s population has grown exponentially over the past three decades. The materials and resources that were available to me for this massive undertaking allowed me to manipulate already existing content for other purposes. For example, our first project using Adobe Photoshop I incorporated images from The Shawshank Redemption and 12 Years a Slave to form a parallel between contemporary prisoners and antiquated slaves. By using examples from mainstream media to convey a new message, it allows people to be informed about the current plight of over 3 million Americans.
I used current media that had been produced by corporate giants to create my own meaning and to convey my own understanding of issues; in other words, I used media to create media. In terms of Media Literacy 2.0, half of my projects relied heavily on the convergence aspect of Contemporary Youth Media Practices. I, instead of being the consumer, became the producer of media. I no longer became an observer but instead a participator. This idea was also extended to wards my video remix, where I split up bits used by popular media—like talk shows and documentaries—to discuss the ludicrousness of the current prison system in an honest fashion. By using media that my audience—honestly any American who would look at it—was familiar with I was able to engage in a conversation with them. I tried to reach across the medium to answer a question that the audience had yet to think about: Does our Prison System Work? The answer, at least my answer, is that it has indubitably failed the American citizen.
But that was not all, I also had to emulate traditional forms of media to deliver my message to the audience as well. Through my infographic—an original image providing statistics and information—and Vox pop—an audio file of local opinions—I was able to convey to people who believed that something was amiss, that they were correct. And to those that had no idea, I believe that I was successfully presented a new issue before them. My audience had to consume and reflect on the media that I had produced, before they could interact with it and allow it to influence their media identity. If my audience could take anything away from my creations, it is that they can convey messages too. The majority of my work, although it has a strong and powerful message, is somewhat amateur in respects to modern media practices. But practice makes perfect and as I continue to add to my portfolio my forms of media will become better, sharper, cleaner, and more direct with my message.
In the beginning, I had no idea what to expect for this class. I knew that it would show me how to use some of the various Adobe programs that Annenberg offers to its students, but I had no idea that we would be learning about how to operate in the world’s new media landscape. Things that had come up in the news, which occurred frequently thanks to our commander in chief, was suddenly vital to understanding how these new channels were being solidified within the mainstream news cycle. Everything was slowly coming together, and suddenly I saw that each person could potentially influence this grand, large news cycle. All with just a few words and a click of a button.
Thomas Lopez 