Unit #2 Reflection

Being visually literate is essential in today’s world. The unit caused me to realize the extent to which underlying messages are conveyed through the media. Before the unit began, I believed that visual literacy was the ability to understand images. While this is true, I now know that being visually literate allows an individual to make claims and argue a specific point from a visual. Because of the visual literacy unit, I began analyzing many of the commercials and advertisements in my surroundings through a different lens. Although my essay focused on the representation of sexuality in the media, I have made an effort to notice how other groups of people are depicted. It is critical to understand the inaccuracies in the media so that one can make more informed decisions. We regularly see models who are polished to “perfection,” but in reality, nobody is flawless. People constantly try to weed out inaccurate information, but sometimes it is not enough to get a fully accurate story. Before the unit, I knew that people’s physical appearances are photoshopped, but I didn’t think about how detrimental it is to their well being. Now it’s depressing, everywhere I look, I realize has been edited and made to be “perfect.”I have become literate in music, through entrenching myself in written and performed music. I have to convert songs into emotion in order to fully appreciate them, otherwise it’s just noise. I became literate in music by listening to a variety of artists and genres. I equate listening to a variety of music to talking to a diverse pool of people. In order to have the most interesting experience, you have to mix it up. Second to listening, I learned to play the trumpet. Expressing myself through song has allowed me to further analyze emotions and goals of composers. This type of “musical literacy” is a constant work in progress, which is only made better by constant practice. The use of my newly obtained skills in visual literacy have been useful in my journey to find the right college. Each of the colleges that I have visited are trying to “sell” themselves to me, a prospective student. With this in mind, it has been easier to determine which schools are trying to make themselves sound better than they actually are. I have asked more effective questions, while not letting myself become too cynical. Since I’m considering studying audio engineering, it is crucial that I fully understand the outcomes of students from various schools. The unit helped me gain the skills necessary to consider if I am being hoodwinked in a situation, regardless of whether or not it pertains to the media.