As a child I was obsessed with media, specifically movies and television shows made by Disney. My sisters and I would envelope ourselves into the manufactured worlds and spend all of our free time imagining what it would be like to fly on that carpet, find a secret twin, or have a pet alien. Movies like Mary Poppins really piqued my imagination as I envisioned myself jumping into a chalk drawing or cleaning my bedroom in a snap. Musicals, like Newsies, tuned my ear to the importance of music, self expression, and performance. Jackass, both the show and the movies, taught me a lot about my absurdist sense of humor and gave me an outlet for risk taking while remaining safe in my own living room. The Office taught me a great deal about what I find funny as well as training me to find the joy in the monotony of day to day life. I would not be the person that I am today without the media I inhaled consumed as a child. My world view has been shaped by my imagination, musical expression, and ability to find humor in the grizzly, absurd, and dull.

I find this class intriguing as I have always had an intense obsession with and a near constant exposure to media but have had little to no knowledge as to how it is made. I hope this class will aid me in providing some perspective of the effort that is put into making media and give me greater appreciation for the final product that I am so heavily reliant on.

Any and all free time I have is spent with headphones on, scrolling through social media, or watching something on a screen. I developed a very personal relationship with certain texts, have fully incorporated them into my personality, and hold them as vital to who I am as a person.

First is Harry Potter. This series has touched millions of people but struck a very personal cord with me. I had to move schools as a middle schooler, which is pretty much the worst time to relocate. The social groups are fully formed, the inhabitants are horribly judgmental, and everyone hates the new kid. I took solace in the Harry Potter movies and books as the main character resonated with me. I was in no way an abused child with magical powers, but I was suddenly pushed into a new, unfamiliar world and had something to prove. I wore my obsession with the series on my sleeve and used it to my advantage. It led me to friendship with others who liked the series while also placing me on the radar of others as the “Harry Potter girl.” The series gave me an immediate foothold in the foreign territory. The series has also become important to me later in life as I struggle with depression, a disease aptly displayed in the series as dementors. Lifting the weight of depression is not as simple as thinking of a happy thought and waving a wand, but the dementor metaphor is comforting as it is a reminder that something can be done to lessen the weight and that everything can be made better with chocolate.

Next is Vista Kicks, an indie rock band that has completely changed my appreciation for music. I have always been an avid music listener, but this band took my love for music to a new level. Their sheer talent is amazing and awe inspiring. Their attention to detail and innovation in recording gave me a peek into the amount of effort that goes into music making. Their second album, Booty Shakers Ball, is full of songs that inspire resilience and perseverance through the hard times. This is a lesson that I often struggle to remember, but I am reminded of when I hear their music.

"Don't you know the best thing about tomorrow: no matter what the sun is gonna rise"   - 'Put on a Face,' Vista Kicks

Here is a video of Vista Kicks performing live at a ‘Kickback Session,’ a private concert for members of their exclusive club (I’m a member!). I love this video because they sound even better live than they do on the album, but they also have so much fun doing what they love. In the video, they take time out of performing to enhance the enjoyment of their audience. These boys are really all about letting loose, having fun, and shaking their booties. They are a constant reminder to me to release myself from the tight little ball that I keep myself wrapped up in and have fun.

Finally is SourceFed, a YouTube channel that specialized in telling news stories in a comedic way. Personally, I like to steer clear of news as it is frequently depressing and disheartening. This channel, however, allowed me to stay informed while also having a chuckle. Comedy is the most important thing in the world to me and this channel has molded and solidified my sense of humor. I consider what I find funny to be my defining characteristic. As such, I truly don’t think I would be the person I am today without the influence this channel had on me.

This video does not feature a news story but rather the people who work in the office and star in the news videos as they attempt to go under a table without touching the floor. I adore this video because it showcases the community that the company built and employed. One of the people attempting the challenge struggles immensely but the entire office stops to cheer her on and give her a standing, screaming ovation when she makes her way safely back to the table top. These people did what they loved with people they loved and had a blast while doing it. Sadly, SourceFed ended two years ago, but the people who worked there have all started their own independent projects (The Valleyfolk, Dynamic Banter, Sugar Pine 7, Only Stupid Answers) that all have rooted beginnings in SourceFed and continue to influence my sense of humor. Despite the fact that this channel has been inactive for years, I still watch their videos frequently and get a lot of joy from them.