When we innocently take pictures of our kids playing in the park, are we worried that people around us might suspect we’re up to no good? In our relationships with each other, do we take people at face value, or do we make judgements based on the way we think they should be? When we desire consumer goods, why is that exactly? Why do we want things? How does that happen?
The best metaphor for media studies is the idea of “introducing fish to water.” To become aware of the mediated world is to have the veil lifted from our eyes, to see the world in sharp focus.
We get soundbite politics – because of the media.
We get personality politics – because of the media.
We learn to act the way we do – because of the media.
We learn to talk the way we do – because of the media.
We get turned on, we get excited, we get angry, we laugh and we cry – because of the media.
We became convinced that Gordon Brown wasn’t up to the job – because of the media.
We panic about vaccines, medicines, food, drink, sunshine – because of the media.