A dream is a wish your heart makes… Media Meditation 2

video clip of a scene from Beauty and the Beast


Alright, so I know I’m not really a kid anymore, I’m a college sophomore. This post, and the video you just watched explain a media experience that everyone should have at some point in their life.

Disney movies, especially the movies with the princesses were always my favorite as a child. About a month ago I saw a commercial on TV for Disney Princess Classics on ice. This is something that I have always wanted to see, so why not see it now! The warm fuzzies got to me and brought me back to my childhood.

Once again, thanks to convergence, and our 21st media culture, I was able to watch clips on youtube that people posted from the shows they went to. Watching those were a little disappointing because what I saw was not what I expected the show to be like. But I went anyway, and to my surprise, the actual show was completely different than what I saw on youtube.

The show was about 2 hours long, and it was basically a summary of all the Disney princess movies, much better than what the clips on youtube looked like.

As I was watching the show I thought about how all of the performers had to use their limbic brain and neocortex because of all the multitasking they had to do. They were skating, singing, talking, and dancing, all of those activities take a lot of concentration, especially on the ice. Even being part of the audience took a lot of work from the brains just to watch all the movements, listen to the songs, the different voices, and to understand the story that was being told.

The production techniques were amazing! Fireworks would shoot out from the castle, Cinderella’s fairy godmother floated through the sky, and all the colors and lights set the stage for the stories. During The Little Mermaid section of the show, the lights they used made the ice look like the bottom of the ocean.



example of the production techniques
making the ice look like the ocean floor

Even as a college student I thought this show was amazing. One more thing to cross off my bucket list!
I never thought so much about the power tools while watching a show on ice before! It’s amazing what the media does to your brain!


all of the performers together at the end of the show

A magazine to feel good about

Self magazine's logo




SELF is a magazine about creating a better self. The October 2010 issue has articles about working out, eating healthy, being happier, beauty tips, tips for success and many more.


video from self.com
behind the scenes of a photoshoot


This magazine has a monthly print issue that can be found in stores, or mailed to you if you subscribe. It also has an online site with similar articles, recent tweets, and links to blogs that are related to the magazine.

Reading this magazine takes work from both the limbic and neocortex brains. There are a lot of pictures in the magazine, which require the limbic brain to process them. Since it is a magazine, there are many articles to read which is what the neocortex is used for; higher level reading and thinking.

The 21st century media culture has changed the way we read magazines. Not only can we read the print version, but the personal shift gives us the opportunity to visit the magazines website from iPods, iPads, their blog pages, and their tweets. The aesthetic shift and convergence also make it possible to visit the online version of the magazine from anywhere using our phones, iPods, and other new technology.

The production techniques for SELF magazine and Self.com are important because the style makes it fun to read. It’s different than a newspaper because it’s not all black and white. The magazine has bold, colorful fonts, lots of pictures, and interesting articles. Their website contains tabs for different sections of information that can be found. It’s organized and is easy to navigate.

SELF magazine uses bribery as a persuasive technique to encourage readers to subscribe to their magazine by offering free gifts. This month it’s a free tote bag, and 5 workout booklets. They also have a page of products you could enter to win each month at self.com.



picture from Self.com of a vacation prize that can be won


picture from Self.com of all the prizes that can be won this month

SELF is a unique magazine because it is all about creating a better self. With articles on fitness, health, and beauty, the magazine is for someone who is interested in being active, healthy and fashionable.