BLOG POST: WEEK #8

We live in a time where media has never been more accessible. From iPhones to large flat-screen televisions, media is always just one click away. When looking at media, we must understand media in context, including the notions of space and time. To start, it is important to understand that “contexts refer both to a place and a web of interpersonal relationships and interactions that occur within space” (Sullivan, Ch. 7). The notion of time is an important part of this definition since we “engage with media at specific moments during our day--sometimes planned, sometimes opportunistic” (Sullivan, Ch. 7). These three elements (in which are space, social environment, and time) “situate our media reception experiences and shape their meanings for us” (Sullivan, Ch. 7).

When it comes to social and situational contexts, “whenever we encounter media texts, we are engaged with them in a particular moment and space” (Sullivan, Ch. 7). First, it is said that media consumptions “always takes place within a particular spatial or physical context--that is, the concrete, physical dimensions of the location” (Sullivan, Ch. 7). When it comes to the influence of spatial context on the reception of media, it is “inseparable from the role of social contexts in our media experiences” (Sullivan, Ch. 7). It is said that reception spaces are “partially defined by the people and relationships that are found there” (Sullivan, Ch. 7).

When it comes to time and media use, “the concept of time has multiple dimensions” (Sullivan, Ch. 7). First, there is our daily schedule and routines. It is said that media reception “always occurs at specific moments in our day, whether it is listening to the radio in the car on the way to work during rush hour or watching a rerun of an old television show late at night, right before we go to bed” (Sullivan, Ch. 7). Although we are all busy people with jobs to attend and things to do, “we fit media exposure into the busy structure of our day (by filling in gaps with media use--when we are tired, waiting for someone or something, or simply taking a short break)” (Sullivan, Ch. 7). However, since there are so many forms of technologies and platforms, it is said that audience members are “more frequently time-shifting their media exposure” (Sullivan, Ch. 7). We can choose to watch our favourite shows and movies at times that are most convenient for us on whatever media platform we choose (computer, video games, iPhones, iPads, Kindles, etc).

It seems like time is something we all lack, yet we set aside specific time for consuming our favourite forms of media and content. As mentioned above, it is a common occurrence for people to fit media exposure into their busy life schedules. Media has had such an influence on my life, that I do set aside a specific time to consume the media in which I choose to engage with. Before I wake up and start my day, consuming media is already on my mind. I set my alarm a little bit earlier in the morning so that I have enough time to catch up on social media and the things I missed while I was sleeping. Most times I get carried away and can spend hours laying around scrolling the web if I am not keeping an eye on the clock. After brushing my teeth and changing into my workout clothes, I then consume more media by engaging in my daily workout videos. These workouts can be pretty time consuming, seeing as some videos can add up to one hour per day that I set aside to consume media which will improve my health. After my workout, I consume even more media by listening to my favourite songs while showering. After my shower, I continue to consume media by surfing social media sites or listening to more music while making breakfast. Throughout the day I either work on completing school work or working at my day job or both. The end of my day always ends by relaxing in my bed while consuming YouTube videos and then surfing social media sites to see what I missed out on throughout the day.

Listing my daily routine and habits as an audience member truly surprises me because of how much media I truly consume. I am always extremely stressed out with the amount of school work, assignments, and shifts that I have but it is clear that I have a lot of time but need to prioritize what is important to me. As mentioned before, audience members are extremely busy yet we still make time for consuming media (maybe a little too much time). Consuming media is extremely enjoyable, but is also extremely time-consuming at times. My daily routine as an audience member has led me to realize that I need to continue focusing my time on higher priorities, possibly consuming fewer media within the morning to make more time for my studies. Below I have attached some tips that have been helping me manage my time when setting my priorities and refraining from wasting so much time on social media.

Similarly enough to my experience, Dorothy Hobson (1980) interviewed housewives with similar experiences concerning mass media. Many of the women she interviewed “made a special point to listen to specific radio programs during their morning routines, which involved child care, and other domestic responsibilities” (Sullivan, Ch. 7). Listening to music and entertainment-oriented radio programs helped these women alleviate feelings of isolation (Sullivan, Ch. 7). This is understandable seeing as in past weeks we have learned that media can often function as companionship for many lonely people.

Although media is an amazing thing, within Hobson’s research she was able to reveal some working-class gender roles surrounding women consuming media. Hobson found that: several women expressed the opinion that viewing television was a waste of time and that they felt guilty if they were not somehow engaged in other household chores during their screen time” (Sullivan, Ch. 7). I am sure almost all of us can relate to this same experience as an audience member. Often as I am trying to enjoy some leisure time while watching YouTube videos at the end of the night I feel guilty, as if I should be doing school work, meal prepping, or cleaning my room/house although it is the only true leisure time that I get. Sometimes I do not even get that leisure time.

When it comes to media and everyday life in the domestic context it is said that “our media choices and interpretations can be shaped by our immediate physical and social environment” (Sullivan, Ch. 7). When looking at a person's immediate physical and social environment, it is important to research their rituals. The concept of ritual is important within anthropology because it is a “significant tool for understanding the meaning behind everyday human behaviours in different cultural contexts around the globe” (Sullivan, Ch. 7). In one sense, “ritual can simply mean your regular, habitual activities--you may make it a “ritual” to eat your dinner in front of the television and watch the 6:00 news every evening” (Sullivan, Ch. 7).

As an audience member within the 21st century, I believe it is safe to say that technology has influenced how I live my life. My daily routine reflects how consuming media has become a daily ritual of mine, but even within more rare occasions, I have rituals related to consuming media. As a University student who is not currently living at home, I only see my family when I make the two-hour drive back to my hometown. Even though it is rare that I see my family in person nowadays, I still engage in media rituals with my mother. When I visit, it is an unspoken rule that my mother and I watch television together before we go to bed. I always make sure I am home before she goes to bed so that we can enjoy some leisure time together by watching our favourite shows together while scrolling the web on our phones (usually discussing online purchases or her milestones in her career). Although it is an unspoken ritual, it is a meaningful ritual nonetheless. This ritual just goes to show that although rituals can happen both daily and rarely as an audience member.

Sullivan noted that technology can often be detrimental to family time and face-to-face relationships, but The Influence of Sports Viewing Conditions on Enjoyment from Watching Televised Sports: An Analysis of the FIFA World Cup Audiences in Theater vs. Home slightly challenges this idea by demonstrating how sports viewers often come together to view sports games and celebrate their favourite team wins. This study originally took place to demonstrate which viewing platform sports audience members enjoyed more (theatre vs. home television), but also demonstrated how media can also bring people together. The results of analyses “showed that the viewing condition (theatre vs. home) influenced audiences’ sense of presence when watching mediated sports, which, combined with the attractiveness of the game, would determine the suspenseful nature of the media experience, as well as the subsequent enjoyment” (Sullivan, Ch. 7). Although one can enjoy sports alone, after reading this study it is clear that audience members enjoy watching sports with other audience members. This offers both companionship and face-to-face experiences. Sports viewers come together to watch games so that they can have a good time and celebrate with friends and family that also enjoy watching sports games. Take the Super Bowl, for instance, people from different cities will all come together with the sole purpose of companionship and viewing media. I do not even enjoy watching my sports in my free time but love a good super bowl party due to the good company and good food.

Although the introduction of many types of technologies drives us apart as a society, it is safe to say that they can also bring us together. iPhones, iPads, computers and laptops may often distract us within our daily lives, but apps such as messaging, Facetime and Skype bring us back together where we need to be.