How To Survive In A Media-Driven World

Survival Skills in a Media Driven World

The media is capable of getting closer to us and our daily lives than any scripture or sermon; it stimulates our five senses and touches our emotions, surrounding us in our everyday environment. In an ideal world, all our media would be a reflection of true universal values, but we don’t live in that world yet—all the more reason why the really great content stands out so well against the sea of mind-numbing entertainment.

We shared pieces of pop culture which express elements of the Divine Principle, uncovering some pretty cool examples in books, movies, music, television and online media. These examples show, as Reverend Moon himself observed, that “people think that politics moves the world, but it is culture and art that move the world. It is emotion, not reason, which strikes people in the innermost part of their hearts.”

The media is a fascinating cycle: it is a reflection of our culture, but it also has the ability to influence and change our culture. It’s a give and take, and the more interaction we have with the good stuff, we not only lead richer lives, but we enable others to do the same. Here are some pointers for taking ownership of the media we consume, to help bring God’s values out of the darkness and back into the spotlight:

Become a more conscious consumer.

Now that we live in a digital, image-driven society, we need the skills to analyze images, understand the message being sent within the content, and decide whether we accept that message; this is an area of study known as Media Literacy.

Try breaking down the content you are consuming. Ask questions such as, Who is producing the content? Why they are producing it? What do these producers hope to gain from it?

As much as we like to think that media producers are benevolent, the sad truth is that the main motivation for most producers is making money, and not our personal well being. While it might not be evident on the surface, lots of media content actually tries to make us feel incomplete and inferior unless we buy into a certain idea or lifestyle.

Messages like these define our culture, and create our concept of normal. Take the time to listen to words, to break down the story, and to understand the message being sent, and go from being a consumer to a connoisseur!

Go Deeper.

Applying the Divine Principle to the process of Media Literacy takes it that much deeper, as it compels us to examine the media we consume. When we choose to practice Principled Media Literacy, we can ask questions such as: Do the shows we watch actually invite God into our lives? Does the music we listen to express our core values? Do the books or magazines we read show us how good the world could be, and inspire us to begin realizing that goodness?

We cannot ignore the messages our media contains. If something does not feel right, how effective is our choice to shrug our shoulders and just clap along to the beat? Being able to consciously recognize when good values are not being presented is just as helpful as seeing when they are, and, by choosing to not consume certain media, we create the space for more content that is real, good and true.

Create something new.

Remember that cycle we were speaking about earlier? The people who create the content are the ones who navigate that cycle. What we believe and what we interact with guides what content we produce, so if we focus on creating positive content, that is precisely what we bring into the cycle.

We live in a time where it is easier than ever to produce and market content. With things like Youtube and self-publishing available, our messages can reach the world in a powerful way. So why not raise your voice? When we produce our own media content, we just might be offering something the world has been waiting for!

We have a clear sense of what we would like the world to be like, but as the wise Dr. Marian Wright Edelman once said, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” The media holds incredible power in guiding our world’s choices, and yet the media is always the product of somebody’s choices. We, as consumers and producers of media, can choose to uphold God’s values. By consuming consciously, reflecting deeply and creating boldly, we can become a force of hope and positivity that’s unstoppable!