Final Post

Well since my first term at the UO has concluded, which means i am now finished with the J201 course, this will be my final post. Throughout the year in J201 there i have been presented with a plethora of information about the media, the messages media sends, and everything one could imagine pretaining to the media. I would have to say that their are two components of the course that stuck with me the most, and that i know realize during my everyday life. The first would be the power of the media. The media is everywhere, almost to the point that it is unavoidable. Everywhere you look there are signs of media, even in scholary places like classrooms. I notice media advertisements more than ever after taking this class and now see the effect it can have when being shoved in your face daily. the second thing that stuck with me most is the power of convergence. For example this weekend i was watching the finale to the Ultimate Fighter, which is a program put on by UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) a professional MMA(mixed martial arts) league. I was watching one of the fighters Kimbo slice attempt to fight one of the all time greats of UFC in his UFC debut. It then occured to me that Kimbo Slice would be a nobody if not for youtube.com. Kimbo Slice became publically known and followed because of his great succes on youtube.com. Kimbo would accept street fights from anyone, anywhere. Through his power on youtube.com he got to attend the Ultimate Fighter show, get trained by some of the best mma trainers in the world, and then got a contract to fight in the most competive mma league in the world. This was all made possible thanks to youtube.com. What i have learned in j201 will stick with me through my years and has forever opened my eyes to the vast power and capablility of the media.