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The most compelling thing I have learned this semester is “Audience Commodity” specifically because I wrote my essay on this topic so I got to have a deeper understanding of this concept. By looking at how the media markets things to us and how hidden they can be shown unaware people can be of what is happening in the media. I found it very compelling because I showed myself how unaware I am of the things I am consuming and how I am constantly being influenced by social media. By look at all the different ads I see without realizing it on a daily while scrolling through social media. I have become more aware of what I’m being influenced by while I'm scrolling through social media or the ads I watch while waiting for my YouTube videos to load.

Yes, the content that did challenge me was the Media policies. I did not think they were so important and didn’t find much value in them but turns out I was wrong about that. Looking at all the different ways media policy has affected the Canadian identity in the media was one of the ways that it has affected the different ways Canadian identity is portrayed in the media. By allowing this to happen Canadian identity has not been over by other views because this type of media has been focused on to carry on the Canadian culture. This allows people to still consume some Canadian media to make sure that part of Canadian society hasn’t been lost.

Yes, this course has allowed me to look at the different ways media try to influence us without us realizing it. We should focus on what information we are consuming and how it changes our view on different views of things. When looking at the way this course has affected my personal life by making me more aware of the ways I was being influenced by social media. This could be to buy things that were being advertised to me by influencers or random ads on social media. I feel like I have learned to not spend as much time on social media and being aware of what is being sold to me.

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When I’m looking at the news that I consumed over the week I only saw whatever news I looked at over social media. Specifically, I looked at Instagram as my main source of where I get my news but I follow specific new outlets on Instagram that are credible. So I wouldn’t think that the pages I get my news from are credible but if I were looking at random posts on Instagram I would say that it is not credible I only look at credible news outlets that post on Instagram so I think that every news article I consumed this week is credible.

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Media policy is important because it plays a very important role in shaping the media environment and influencing the way information is produced, disseminated, and consumed. Media policy has several purposes such as including safeguarding democratic values, promoting cultural diversity, fostering national identity, and ensuring fair competition in the media industry.

When looking at media policy in the Canadian context, has served many different purposes throughout the years. One of the main objectives of this was to protect and promote Canadian cultural identity. Canada has a very diverse cultural landscape, and media policy has been instrumental in supporting the production and distribution of Canadian content to counterbalance the dominance of foreign media. The main goal was to preserve Canadian stories, perspectives, and languages and it ensures that they are adequately represented in the media.

Media policy in Canada has also aimed to foster a democratic media environment. It has also made sure that media outlets provide accurate and diverse information, promote freedom of expression, and uphold journalistic standards. Along with this media policy has played a huge role in addressing issues that concentrated media ownership and promoting fair competition in the industry.

Overall, media policy in Canada has the purpose of protecting cultural sovereignty and promoting democratic values. Along eight hsi is creating a diverse and inclusive media landscape that reflects the country’s unique identity and values.

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The concept of a “panoptic society” is the idea of constant surveillance and the internalization of societal norms, which is explained by the philosopher Michel Foucault. This is a perspective that suggests that individuals regulate their behaviour due to the pervasive nature of surveillance, which would lead to the normalization of certain behaviours. Whether or not one perceives society as “panoptic” depends on the extent to which they believe surveillance influences and shapes societal norms and individual behaviours.

When looking at whether we live in a panoptic society this week is when I truly realized how much of people's lives are being watched and monitored. When simply looking at things on one's home such as your phone everything that is being done on it is being tracked and watched for a bigger database apps collect. When looking into how much information social media apps take specifically Instagram, because that is the one I use the most, it states in the contract people sign that their information is taken and everything they are using the app for is put into a bigger database to push out more content that grasps your attention to keep you on the app for longer. Along with this if we simply look at GPS tracking whenever I sit in my car and start it I always get a notification giving me directions to where my phone thinks I’m going.

So yes I do believe we live in a Panoptic society from how much everything we do is being surveilled and potentially being used for or against us.

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This is a cultural jam against Starbucks and how expensive the coffee is. By replacing the words Starbucks and showing the words six bucks it shows consumers that they are paying for six dollars. It would make people aware of how much money are spending on coffee every day which can add up to a lot of money over time. Looking at the culture jam it shows that people should become more aware of where they are spending their money and how much a daily expense can add up. Overall this culture jam shows the acceptance of how people are willing to spend this much on money coffee every day.

I chose this culture jam because I relate to it and how much money I spend money on coffee and how over time I don’t realize how much money I have spent over the years on a simple coffee. When someone is going every day they would think oh it is just $6, but over the years it will add up a lot of money just by saying oh it’s just six dollars every day. Having a bigger shine on the Starbucks crown on the logo shows Starbucks over-glamorizing six-dollar coffee to show people that this is a normal thing.  Overall I related to this culture jam because I find reason to buy such expensive coffee when I don’t have to just because the brand is so over-glamorized.

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The “No Logo” (2003) documentary shows a critical examination of what has impacted the advertising and brand culture for the contemporary side of society. The documentary looks into the persuasive influence of advertising as a cultural force, an economic system, and an ideological tool that serves consumer capitalism. It raises thought-provoking concepts from the reading, such as the idea of advertising as a privileged discourse, the audience commodity, and the normalization of consumerism in public spaces. Along with this, it highlights the role of advertising in shaping cultural trends, values, and social attitudes, as well as the extraction of profits from households by media industries.

One of the most interesting parts of the documentary is its exploration of the “audience commodity” concept”, which was discussed by Dallas Smythe in 1977. It talks about how media companies base their production decisions on projected audiences, and it emphasizes the commercialization of media content to attract advertisers. This concept sticks with the reading’s discussion of advertising as a cultural force and it influenced the way [rotional messages and new ad campaigns to cater to consumer capitalism.

The documentary also wants people to reflect on the evolution of brand culture since its release. The core principles of advertising and brand culture may remain consistent, but the landscape has undoubtedly evolved with the rise of digital and social media. The proliferation of online platforms, influencer marketing, and personalized advertising has transformed the way brands engage with consumers. This shift has led to new challenges and opportunities in brand culture, impacting consumer behaviour and the dynamics of advertising. Therefore, while the fundamental concepts may persist, the execution and impact of brand culture have undoubtedly evolved in the years since the documentary's release.

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The Harry Potter Alliance Announces Rebranding Campaign. Fandom Forward &gt;. (n.d.). https://fandomforward.org/pr-6821-the-hpa-announces-rebranding-campaign

The political activism of Harry Potter fans is a very good example of how media different media consumption can lead to real-world action. The slides, talk about Henry Jenkins and how he talks about the passionate attachment people have to media text and how it can inspire them to create their content and engage with his activism. When it comes to Harry Potter fans they have used themes of the series such as fighting against oppression in standing up for what is right and this mobilizes attention and action on social justice issues. An example is the Harry Potter Alliance a fan activist organization that uses series themes to promote literacy, equality and human rights.

This phenomenon can be explained through the lens of reception studies that want to understand how audiences interpret and use media texts. Rosenberg discusses in her article how some pop culture tests have inspired fans to engage in real-world activism because they have a framework for understanding and addressing social issues. The reason why fans feel so strongly about specific texts is that they can identify with the characters or the themes in the text and see parallels between the fictional world and their own experiences. This connection can lead readers to have a sense of empowerment and desire to take action in the real world.  Along with this fans provide a supportive environment for activism, allowing individuals to connect with people who are like-minded and this can help them work towards a common goal. Overall, the political activism of Harry Potter fans demonstrates the power of media to inspire and mobilize individuals towards social change.

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One of the theories that I relate to the most is the Limited Effects theory. The theory suggests that media has only a weak or indirect impact on audiences and tends to have existing ideas and beliefs rather than drastically changing people's opinions. I relate to this perspective because it acknowledges the agency criteria; and thinking abilities of the people who view content. This is better than taking in information from a passive perspective in the media messages.

An example that supports the Limited Effects theory is the study conducted by Lazarsfeld, Berelson, and Gaudet in the 1940s, known as the "Erie County Study." This study found that media had limited effects on voting behaviour, with interpersonal communication being a more influential factor in shaping political opinions [Gasher et al., 2020, p. 92]. This shows how the media messages did not have a strong impact on individuals, supporting the notion of limited effects.

Along with that, the Limited Effects theory takes into account the social and cultural factors that impact how audiences interpret media differently. This aligns with my perspective as it shows the diversity of audience responses to media content, acknowledging that people bring their own experiences and beliefs to the interpretation of media messages.

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The first meaning one can get from this ad is reading it literally and seeing that it is celebrating all types of women. When looking at the different models in this campaign they are of different races and different ages which shows that the ad wants to include all types of women to show that the brand L’oreal wants to celebrate all different types of women. By including all types of women it shows that this brand wants to be inclusive when it comes to all women and not just focused on looking at perfection in the models that they choose. I think that they included an older woman shows how just because a woman gets old doesn’t mean they lose their beauty it shows that they are showing a different type of beauty that is slowly made through the years of their lives. This ad shows celebrating all women no matter what age or race and how long the brand has been supporting this view.

The second meaning this ad shows is that all women are worth it. This is another straightforward meaning in this ad but it shows that this brand has been celebrating this view for 50 years by adding the number with the text in different colours and making it bold. The deeper meaning of this 50 is that L’oreal has been supporting this view for a very long time and it is not just a recent thing that they joined because it has become a trend (bandaged onto the trend). It shows that the brand wanted to start with the vision of including women of all types colours and ages to make every women feel worth it. L’oreal wanted to focus on wanting women to feel worth it by having beauty products that work for everyone

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Colonial media systems had a significant role in Making specific Canadian identity. Two ways that this was achieved were colonial media systems helping promote national unity and identity, and colonial media systems helping make a specific vision of “Canadianess” which was aligned with the British colonial government.  According to 22 colonial media systems had a significant role in the way that Canadians have a distinct identity.

Two ways this was achieved was first through colonial media systems that would help people feel a sense of national unity and identity. This was through disseminating information and news that would get to people all across the country. This was very important in the early days of the British colony When communication and transportation networks were very limited. By providing a common source of information and entertainment, media technologies such as newspapers, telegraphs, and radio helped to create a shared cultural experience among Canadians no matter what their location is.

Secondly, the colonial media systems helped to promote a specific vision of “Canadianness” that would align with the interests of the British colonial government. This was one of those visions where it would be exclusionary and wanted to erase or marginalize the cultures and traditions of indigenous people and many minority groups. An example of this would be the early Canadian literature and art often depicted indigenous peoples as “savage” or “uncivilized,” this would lead to teh idea that European culture was superior. Similarly, early Canadian radio and television programming was often content surrounded by American influence which would lead to the concern of erosion of the Canadian cultural identity.

Overall, media technologies had a crucial role in shaping Canadian identity in the early days of the British colony. However, it’s very important to see that this identity was constructed in ways that were exclusionary and harmful to indigenous people and other minority groups.

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From this course, I would like to learn about the spread of information between different countries. Last semester while taking COMS 203 we talked briefly about how in different countries they would change information from movies and media to better suit the cultures in that country. I found this topic very interesting and would love to explore it more in this course. This course is interesting to me because I love learning about how information is spread between people and how it can change depending on who is talking about specific topics. While I was looking at the course schedule, I saw that we would be discussing advertising and brand culture. This sounds interesting to me because it is so relevant in the way everyone is influenced by advertisements and specific brands.