THINKING MORE DEEPLY ABOUT THE MEDIA I’ve CONSUMED RECENTLY
As a journalism student, it’s become second nature for me to reflect on the media I’m consuming and analyze the ways it’s shaping me. Why do I choose to engage with certain content? What effects does it impart on me, whether big or small? I believe that media – TV shows, books, movies, music – shapes our personalities, views and interactions with the world, at least to some degree. Especially in the time and space we live in, we are constantly consuming. There is no break. That’s why I find it so important to consider my choices and think about what each late-night binge or early morning podcast adds to (or subtracts from) my life, my opinions and my well-being. Here are just a few of the things I’ve been consuming en masse recently.
1. Beach girl vlogs
Like the media-obsessed Gen Z that I am, I like to have something playing while I get ready in the morning. Lately, it’s been weekly vlogs from Greta Wilson, Natalie Zacek and Hanna Noelle. Seeing these women living their best beachy lives, complete with best friends for life and flourishing businesses, helps me start each morning with a smile. Watching these vlogs allows me to envision a life like that for myself. In watching them, I am not idly consuming but actively envisioning the joyful, community-focused life I see for myself.
2. emily in paris
While I usually start my day with vlogs or public radio, I like to end it with something lighter: bingeable, romcom-coded TV. Right now I’m watching Emily in Paris, a delightfully ridiculous show about an American woman building her life in Paris. Beneath the show’s chic fashion, gorgeous French views and dramatic Paris faux pas is a deeper message about imperfection and forgiveness. I love to see characters that are so flawed, that hurt each other again and again, remain capable of forgiving each other and finding happiness.
3. REALITY TV PODCASTS
This spring, I’ve been loving long walks around the lake accompanied by podcasts on mental health or reality TV. Especially in the wake of season four of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and all the drama surrounding it, podcasts interviewing the women have been fueling my interest. Jessi Draper on Call Her Daddy may have been one of the best days of my life. Apart from the drama and scandal, I’m drawn to the psychological aspect – learning about the mental health struggles and behind-the-scenes relationships of people living lives so different from my own. I love that podcasts like Call Her Daddy and Kaitlyn Bristowe’s Off the Vine allow viewers like me continued exposure outside the confines of a scripted, scheduled show.
4. OLIVIA DEAN’S MUSIC
My walks to class and bus rides lately have belonged to Olivia Dean. Her gentle, soul-deep voice somehow lets me feel calm and joyful at the exact same time. Her sophomore album, The Art of Loving, captures every intimate moment of love in all its forms. The upbeat track “So Easy (To Fall in Love)” makes me feel hopeful and optimistic about my own worthiness and capacity for love. The sweet, sentimental “I’ve Seen It” reminds me of quiet, joyful moments sitting around the table with friends and family. In Olivia’s music, love feels less like something to wait for and more like something that already surrounds me in every moment.
5. ARTEMIS II CONTENT
Like everyone else and their mother, content from the Artemis II space mission has filled my feed recently. I find it incredible how NASA has taken the opportunity to market and provide content for the everyday person. Through sentimental moments and silly videos, we are all being invited into groundbreaking scientific moments as they unfold. How amazing it is that we are all consuming this content together, on the edge of our seats to see and hear more about four people we never knew existed a few weeks ago. Every video I see gives me just a bit more belief in our shared humanity and goodness. In a world that feels increasingly fragmented, it’s comforting to see so many people interested in the same extraordinary mission.
6. ACOTAR SERIES
I’ve always loved to read, to let myself escape into other worlds and view the world through other people’s eyes. Right now, I’m on the fifth book of Sarah J Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses series and though I wasn’t sold at first, the magic and emotion of these novels have drawn me in. Seeing depression, female friendships and deep love portrayed through the lens of a fantasy world is so meaningful to me. And it’s exciting to be invested in something so expansive! Joining the party to wait for books six and seven feels like being part of a shared anticipation, where we are all holding our breath to re-enter a world whose ending has not yet been written.
7. TIKTOK MORNING ROUTINES
Though I really try to limit my social media consumption, I am very guilty of the daily TikTok scroll. But instead of shaming myself, I try to pick content that feels good to watch, and build an algorithm that leaves me inspired rather than drained. As a result, I’ve found myself on the morning routine side of TikTok. I love to watch college and post-grad women getting ready for their days, whether they journal, hit the gym or whip up delicious homemade coffee. These short, lively vlogs give me ideas for habits I want to add to my own morning. And even when I’m feeling lazy or unmotivated, I feel almost productive as an extension of their productivity. I’m glad I’m able to engage with social media in a way that brings me joy and fulfillment.
As a journalism and marketing student, an avid reader, and a young adult in this stage of life, I feel as though I do nothing but consume. My feed never ends, my algorithm knows me well and my library card never declines. As concerning as that may be, I find so much joy in the sheer volume of art, content and ideas I’m exposed to. Each and every thing that I see imparts some wisdom or perspective on my life and how I see the world. When I stop to consider this, the constant intake starts to feel less like passive consumption and more like a steady, ongoing shaping of how I think, feel and move through life.