BG MSC* of Our Lives

How do we compare the music then and now?

It cannot be denied that in other countries, US most specially, music has far greater development now in contrast to before and in our country.

Music helps us cope up with any problems in life because as simple as listening to them, we can relate to the lyrics. Whatever mood we are in at the moment, we somehow choose the music that goes along with it - something we can call background music of our lives. It greatly affects us, or me for this matter. On the point of view of listeners or audiences, it provides inspiration. On the point of view of the artist, they profit, promote the industry, and express themselves all at the same time.

If music before relay messages that people want to convey, they do more nowadays because people tend to be liberal because it is in their culture. They tell more stories about sex as what I have noticed, a bit worse and worrisome because the topic is not pleasant to the minds of the young people.

We have a lot of variation to choose from (genres as we call them) but as users of this kind of media, we still have to be careful.

"...Music makes the people come together..."

-Madonna

------------------------------------------------------------------

*BG MSC - background music; abbreviation used in scripts

AB3: .hack// Another Birth (vol. 1//INFECTION)

Akira, who hates role-playing games, still enters an online fantasy game called The World to be able to discover the mystery to save her younger brother who lost consciousness while playing.

It cannot be denied that the young generation today is hooked with these kinds of online games. Parents can describe this as a different kind of addiction - an addiction because kids choose it over study, over meal, or even over sleep. Even though they are just in front of a computer, they communicate with other players who are playing at the same time as they are.

Internet, which is considered as the new media, takes over all forms of media that we know of. Somewhat, it can be identified as a package or all-in-one. While others preserve the traditional media, this new media still has negative effects just like the others. In social media, cyber-bullying exist and identity theft. For gaming, it is like the new gadgets that comes out because people can already play just by sitting down, unlike before wherein you call your friends to play activities that involves one’s presence physically like tumbang preso, patintero, sekyu-base, piko, mataya-taya, and others.

.hack// Another Birth is a series that calls our attention to remind us of the thought that “too much of something is bad.”

AB2: PLEASE DON’T COME BACK FROM THE MOON

This is a story about Michael Smolij who lives in a neighborhood wherein fathers just left one day leaving a note that they went to the moon. He was just a teenager at that time and guess what? He hated his father for what he did. Father figure is important while a child is growing up.

He doesn’t like it but he has to move on. When he was asked by his mother what did he like to he answered, “A writer, I guess.” and thought it had just occurred to me, but suddenly it sounded right. It was what I wanted to do.

He pretty much knew what he was doing even though sometimes he feels lost, doing adult stuff even at a young age. Nonetheless, he knew what the basic principle is when you are in a radio station: “Dead air was the mortal sin of radio broadcast.”

He is a smart kid. Though he did some bad things in his youth, drinking and other vices, he grew up to be a man and became a father to his family. He did not leave his town because inspite of all, there is still happiness in Maple Rock.

AB1: MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

Nicholas Sparks is known for his spectacular works about love. His third book is entitled "Message in a Bottle."

The story runs around Theresa Osborne, a divorced woman with a son. One day, as she was spending time alone in a beach, she found a bottle washed ashore. In it, she discovered a letter written by Garrett Blake, a man who lost the love of his life in an accident.

Theresa is a writer for Boston Times. One idea of this profession (journalist) that pretty much applies to the real world is the concept of "Her years as a reporter had taught her to take nothing for granted, to make a plan, and to do her best for anything." Another thing that can be used from the story is the importance of one language skill, also a tool of communication, i.e. writing.

Sparks believes in the lasting power of love and in this story, the characters were connected through the letters. This one had a special twist in it – it used bottled messages – to give more value to its worth, to make it more special.

Before technology advanced as they are nowadays, there was just snail mail. However slow it may be, as long as the message was sent, it was all that matters. These kinds of letters can be kept and their importance will never fade because they will always contain the feelings and message being expressed, as well as the effort dedicated to accomplish the output. This kind of story wants us to once again appreciate the worth of letters.

“The immediacy, accessibility, and simplicity of pen and paper are indispensible.”

(Reader's Digest January 2011: Cyndi Freiman)

Annotated Bibliography Special Series

Media Studies is a good subject for media practitioners to take because it analyzes all possible tools of communication and how they are utilized in different forms every day. Knowing that each one is powerful in their own ways alone, what more if they are combined with the others? Furthermore, a lot of stories can be derived from them in film, advertisement, print, and the likes.

Print, the focus of this entry, specifically books, is a product of the need to communicate and relay messages or lessons – be it non-fiction or fiction. Academic books, for example, educate by discussing different topics that are applicable in real life. Fantasy on the hand, entertains by revealing a story that narrates the life of the character. This is just one genre. Fiction has different genres that an individual can choose from depending on his interest. In this kind of print, authors use a combination of various communication tools because it can the profession of the protagonist or s/he uses them for any reason (it cannot be denied that anyone uses at least one form anytime and anywhere).

This series will talk about three fiction novels.

WRITING/PRINT:

Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks

BROADCAST/RADIO:

Please Don’t Come Back from the Moon by Dean Bakopoulus

ONLINE/INTERNET:

.hack// Another Birth (vol. 1// Infection) by Miu Kawasaki

TVC*: Television Change

What do you think are the changes and challenges of television?

Since its beginning, television in the Philippines has changed a lot. Many challenges came but it helped in the development. However, as a student of mass communication who became media literate who have been studying this particular medium for quite some time now, it improved not entirely for the greater good.

Listening to the group reporter's discussion, the main reason for its acquisition is to channel educational programs. Television really has a great power in influencing; it has great potential if it is maximized to its full capabilities. Nowadays, yes, it still does educate, but it's more on the business sector. Networks give audience what they want, not entirely what they need. That much I know is the result of change as time pass by. It just can't be denied that it really became beautiful as technology became more advanced.

Presently, we have to be careful in using different kinds of mediums. We have to remember that "we use it," not "it uses us."
------------------------------------------------------------------
*TVC - an acronym for Television Commercial

Dear Reader

I was not born as a writer - that’s what I believe. I became a writer because I became interested in it and I went through years of training as I grow up. On a physical aspect, many people tell me that I have a beautiful penmanship using cursive writing. But really, I like writing to express myself. Without further ado, I would like to present my answer to one question in an exam in Media Studies. I hope the people will learn again to appreciate this simple form of communication and a form of art.

What field of media is used in the movie as an interest of the main character? Explain.

Among the different mediums available nowadays, in the movie “Boy,” the field of media used is creative writing. It is the interest of the main character that helped in getting the story going because he expresses himself through literary pieces, specifically through poetry. Words, when used beautifully to create a piece, relay a wonderful message that is the power of writing. The main character did not stop doing what he likes most – his passion. What he did also added flavour to the creative execution of the story because it used figures of speech and it was used to end the movie and present the tile.

Which comes first, L or M?

In today's learning environment, what is more important,

LEARNING or MORALITY?

In today's learning environment, I believe that learning and morality are equally important. However, if it is really mandatory to choose only one, I would pick learning. Learning is a process of acquiring knowledge, both basic and advanced, and it is also through learning that morality can be developed. There would be times that people are moral but was not properly educated, but I think it is better to understand it by starting in the beginning and taking the first step.

Just to add, the idea of what is right or wrong sometimes depend on the value and character of a person. What may be right to one may be wrong to the other. That's why in some movies or films, it is depicted that people experiencing poverty point out to other people that they may not be educated but they know what is right. So, morality is important. But I will still stand on choosing learning even though I don't so much trust education in the Philippines yet, hoping that one day it will be better.

Remind Me (1)

I, Eric Pastor, a current LPU Manila graduating student, taking up AB Mass Communication with specialization in Broadcast Communication, because of my journalism background in high school newspaper, do hereby solemnly promise and write this document to take an oath to fully commit to the field I chose, by balancing my academics, extra-curricular activities, and outside and social life using my elective “Media Studies” by watching television at least 30 minutes a day or 1 hour if possible; by reading news either printed or online whenever I have vacant time, when in school library, or when visiting social media site or surfing the net; by analyzing commercials and billboards or any form of advertisement and taking note of details; by listening to radio, both FM and AM, as much as possible while travelling (through phone or stereo) or at home during weekends and rest days; allowing anyone who reads this to bother me and remind me of my duties and responsibilities and whenever I read this again, it shall serve it purpose to prove that I shall abide to this agreement to ensure my success by achieving my goal.

Media Autobiography

At one point in my life, I believe some people will question why I am here. I wrote this for people to know my answer. To be honest, I did not or was not able make it a habit to read newspaper and watch television daily even though Broadcast Communication is the field that I chose. I can really say that it is one of my weaknesses.

It is very ironic for me to be a writer of our school paper back in high school if from that moment up until now I do not read newspaper consistently. Journalism was my basis to take this course yet, why did I also choose this field if I do not watch television on a regular basis? At present, I am thankful that I have gone this far but I am really bothered because I do not make myself updated of the latest events from time to time; it is only random. I know it will hit me one day without knowing.

Why do I choose international films over local? If we talk about local, why am I more interested in independent films over commercial? In advertising, what makes me choose a product if no commercial convinces me? In the internet, where anything or everything is available, why do I only open and access it to socialize through Facebook or Twitter?

Even though most are automated nowadays, I do not choose to visit sites that are necessary in my life like the online version of newspapers. Being busy with academic subjects and extra-curricular activities has factor why I am like this. To temporarily solve the concern, I maximize my academics... I use them as a tool to get to know everything, to be at least updated at a certain period of time. If asked what my long term solution is, I really think that I have to write a contract myself to remind me that I have to do this because this is what I chose to become, I committed myself to this. Hence, I finally wrote one. Thanks to Media Studies.