This is It

I was going to continue blogging about blogs, but I just got back from seeing Michael Jackson, This is It, and couldn't stop thinking about our digital media culture. Earlier this week, I did the Marshall McLuhan reading assignments and watched "Growing Up Online," and I'm beginning to realize just how the human psyche is affected by media. I agree with McLuhan's observation about there being both positive and negative effects from any new media. I'm sure that the issues shown in "Growing Up Online" are just as alarming to today's society, as was the music and media surrounding the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in 1969, or the introduction of Impressionist Art in the 1800's. What is consistent is that everything evolves and changes. Also consistent, is the social reaction to change.

Whether media be print, music, art, or via computerized format, it has, and always will be a means of societal communication and individual creativity and/or expression. Personally, I have a Love-Hate relationship with media. I do love the fact that I have the option of picking and choosing what to ingest. I always wonder why other people don't realize that they have that same choice. Yes, media can be quite a scary or quite a wonderful thing; hazardous or harmless. A quote from the movie, A Field of Dreams describes media perfectly; "If you build it, they will come," and good or bad, people always come.

I suppose you're wondering what Michael Jackson's, "This is It" has to do with any of this. It was one of the most compelling, creative, and artistic pieces I've seen in a long time. What made it work so well was its authentic extension of self from a true creative genius. Not to mention that he left us with an incredibly powerful message. Definitely a good choice of media for me! Check out the trailers.....if you choose.

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810109568/video/15558738/20090914/150/15558738-100-flash-s.93160672-,15558738-300-wmv-s.93160664-,15558738-300-flash-s.93160674-,15558738-700-flash-s.93160675-,15558738-1000-flash-s.93160676-,15558738-700-wmv-s.93160669-,15558738-1000-wmv-s.93160671-,15558738-100-wmv-s.93160663-,15558748-2700-qtv-s.93160680-,15558748-6800-qtv-s.93160681-,15558748-10300-qtv-s.93160682-