The Audience (and thanks)
There are many things you say as a teacher; ‘Stop Talking’, ‘Yes, you can go your locker to get that thing that you should have come to class with.’ And, ‘Deep breath.’ Although that last one is more internal commentary, although I have had to utter it aloud quite a few times.
There are also many things I say as a Media teacher. And one of the things I most often muse on, is the idea that if there was no audience to interpret a media product, does the product exist.
This is often to assert the value that studying media has, and to reiterate the importance of the analysis we are about to do. Analysis, that can often be frustrating for students who loathe to believe that everything in a media product MEANS something. But another thing I often allude to, is that often what is left out is just as important as what is left in.
Social media’s value relies on engagement and likes. Streaming service success relies on streams (obviously) and many other platforms rely on a plethora of ways to know that the audience is paying attention such as, downloads, shares, saves, likes, reposts etc. I recently discussed my complication with social media in one of my therapy sessions. Mainly because the use of social media feels so intrinsically tied to ideas of success, and at times the idea of success when it comes to my writing career. My therapist was very quick to try and reframe how participating in social media would be good for me. Not good according to the platforms, their metrics and what they deem as ‘good’ but good in my complicated, can’t see the point, works full time, is embarrassed, context.
The reason I bring this up is not only food for thought but because this is the second last issue of The Middle Part for the year. An undertaking that has great value for me in the act of writing it but is enhanced by your interaction with it. So for that, a huge thank you.
This Friday you can expect a round up of Media in 2021. If you think there is anything that should be added to the list, please let me know.
Also, if you have enjoyed The Middle Part this year, I would really appreciate if you could share it with one other person. Word of mouth and in this case eWom (electronic word of mouth) is really important to seeing this thing grow.
So thanks again and speak soon.
Natasha