Is this real life?

Reality... is a tricky thing.

One might argue that it is impossible to express, and is only available by living it.

Existentially speaking, we cannot create reality; we simply are in it. Although, I am making the assumption that, my reader, exist (which has to be taken on faith, I'm sure).

Why bring up such an existential problem in this blog? The answer is this: When we create media, we are referencing reality. Even ideas that come to us in dreams, fantasies, etc, are based on reality (perhaps in that they are not "as things should be" that is, they seem unreal).

More often than not, when creating media, our aim to to go beyond referencing reality... We are attempting to create something that expresses a truth about reality. This often comes about in the guise of "seeming" real; creating a work of art that resonates with the "image"(1) of the thing itself.

Flip it around:

Here's the catch: We forget what we are watching. In reading this far into my post for today, you may have forgotten that you are staring at a computer screen. I don't say this to seem "far out" or deep, I merely wish to point out that learning about media changes that way you see media (2).

In creating media, one is forced to move from criticism to expression; and this move cultivates an awareness of how unreal the medium is. A painter may be filled with emotion while creating a work, but feel nothing afterwards, save an echo of the emotions when present when the work was created.

I often find that, since working at a television station; I can no longer look at live television the same way... I am too familiar with the processes that are going on behind the scenes to simply watch television (3) as I used to. On a side note, this annoys my friends and family to no end when I pick apart details of a show while they are trying to watch it.

Final word:

Knowledge comes with a price. Ignorance my not be bliss, but neither is knowledge.

If you are to become a media critic, know that you will have to give up the way you once looked at the world. But then again, things are pretty cool on this side too...

Source cited: Williams, K. "Why I [still] want my MTV: Music and Aesthetic Communication"

1 - As Williams notes, in most criticism of Music Television, the visual side is emphasized sometimes to the exclusion of the aural side of a music video. On page 134, Williams notes that music more closely reflects the mental "image" of an object or scene than sight does.

2 - This happens in expression and criticism, because you take the position of a creator instead of a consumer; which is a more active role. This holds true not just for music video, but for media criticism in general. (I don't have a specific source for this, I just feel that this holds true)

3 - On page 144, Williams cites Zettl who draws attention to the fact that a directors job is to direct attention. When you study to become a director, you become aware of the tricks used to direct your attention.