Susie Keobounleuang
Lauren Servais
English 100
04/21/2011
The Power of Media
Media plays a big role in all of our lives. We are influenced by the many entertainments that surround us. In some ways, it pieces us together and makes us become who we are and why we are as we appear to be; it invents our personality and lifestyle. We sometimes become bored with ourselves or have low self-esteem, so therefore we view the media for inspiration. We gain desire to be just like an idol or to have hopes for what we don’t have in our own lives, and to believe that one day maybe we can have the same.
In the chapter “Happy Endings” from the book Wild Meat and the Bully Burgers, media had played an important role for Lovey, especially when she watched Shirley Temple movies. Lovey envied Shirley Temple for her happy endings and tears of joy. Shirley was like her idol, her hero, her reason for tears every Sunday. “We weren’t good enough for the kind of love that Shirley had every Sunday, the kind of love that makes the bottom lip quiver and mothers rush through crowds to hug you at the end of the movie” (Yamanaka 4). Lovey wanted those same happy feelings for herself in her reality. She felt that being the person she had grown to become wasn’t good enough to be worthy of the same love Shirley received. At this point in reading, it appeared that she was a young girl with low self-esteem, and watching someone else being happy was something she looked forward to for well-being.
Another occasion concerning Lovey and comparing herself to the media was when she was getting her hair permed by her mother. In hopes of having her hair to look like an angel, it turned out the opposite; horrific. It was not like Farrah Fawcett nor Angie Dickinson, or Shirley Temple’s for that matter. The end result turned out to look like an Oompah Lompah’s hair from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
“Everyone laughs now, including my mother, who made me into a home permanent wave monster. My father shakes his head but I see him laughing too” (Yamanaka 62). Being teased about looking like something or someone she didn’t hope for made herself feel even worst. Who wouldn’t feel that way right? No one wants to look like a hideous orange little person with green hair. She would have hoped to look like Shirley Temple, with perfect curly hair, pink cheeks, big bright eyes, and pouty lips.
It seems as though Lovey’s life was shaped by the media in seeing what she wanted to be like or look like, and what she did not want or wanted to have. She was influenced by what she had seen in watching movies and other Entertainment such as The Checkers and Pogo Show where she wished she was the Merry UnBirthday girl so she can be in the spotlight. The media had soared her imagination beyond her reality.
When I was a young girl, I can describe myself very much like Lovey. Although I wasn’t someone with low self-esteem, I always wanted to look like my favorite celebrity or Idol that I had seen from watching television. I would shop for the coolest and most updated styles around and wear makeup so that I can look older; everyone always told me I looked like I was only twelve when really I was fifteen. I felt that if I could look like a celebrity and dress like one I can hang with the cool kids and be popular just like them.
One of my favorite old time movies that influenced me to try to act and talk like I was cool was the movie Clueless starring Alicia Silverstone. I bet most girls can agree that they probably didn’t start using the word “Whatever”, “As if”, or “Loser” as often as they did before they got to see the movie. Dancing was also one of my favorite things to do. I use to watch all the popular music videos and the dance moves. I would dance in front of the mirror the same time as the video plays just so I know I got it down right. I would practice until we had a school dance so all the kids would think that my dancing was the best.
The Media is a powerful influence to the human mind. Television is like an entertainment and educational tool because the mind is still learning, especially if it’s something newly introduced. It can originate the personality or change a lifestyle. Either it’s a positive or a negative effect; it all depends on the choices made. It can be the reasoning of how our lives are shaped. Imaging a world without television and other media entertainment, how will we live like today?
1. What is the writer’s thesis? Can you find the statement? Is it the main point the rest of the essay works to develop?
ReplyDelete"Media plays a big role in all of our lives. We are influenced by the many entertainments that surround us. In some ways, it pieces us together and makes us become who we are and why we are as we appear to be; " This is your main thesis.
2. What evidence is cited to prove and support the writer’s thesis? What pieces of evidence are cited from the readings and/or the writer’s observations to support the thesis?
"In the chapter “Happy Endings” from the book Wild Meat and the Bully Burgers, media had played an important role for Lovey, especially when she watched Shirley Temple movies." This was the main focus of the essay. Explaining the significance of media and the relationship Lovey had with it.
3. Is the writer’s reasoning/critical thinking provided to explain how the evidence proves and supports the thesis?
Yes you did a very good job at explaining the significance of media. I liked when you said: " It seems as though Lovey’s life was shaped by the media in seeing what she wanted to be like or look like, and what she did not want or wanted to have. She was influenced by what she had seen in watching movies and other Entertainment such as The Checkers and Pogo Show where she wished she was the Merry UnBirthday girl so she can be in the spotlight. The media had soared her imagination beyond her reality." I agree that she was influenced so heavily by media that it was what she wanted to copy and be like.
6. What’s strong about the essay?
I liked how you analyzed what you were talking about. I wasen't bored while reading it and it had a good flow to it.
Susie,
ReplyDeleteYour words flew right out of you. This is easy to understand. The only thing I felt that may need improvement is at the end of your paragraphs make sure to put in a sentence that sort of wraps it up so the next paragraph opens up new. It was like you had left out what you were trying to say but kept going. Your thesis is clear. I liked how you talked about who were are in your intro and then started brought Lovely in.