How do we find out what's going on with the world?

Media as you know it are everywhere. We are fond of expressing our feelings through art. Art has many forms and ways to reach out to deliver the message- media. A medium is like the bridge between the messenger and the listener. A lot of things happen as the message travels to the listener. In any symbol, be it language, text, image or sound, people have different interpretations of its meaning for we have our own biases shaped by physical, cultural, social, spiritual and political factors. This is why art becomes subjective depending on the perspective of the spectator. Art comes in different media, and one popular form, (a product of globalization) television.

If you just heard one word from a stranger, many images pop out in your mind. You would wonder why this person would say such a thing. You then would want to guess if he is a threat or if he is just plain crazy. After knowing at least the superficial motive, you would want to know what he was trying to say. The fact the he only used one word may mean something. A careful study of what he looks like or what he is wearing may help you tell what he was trying to say. You could also examine his gestures and actions (like eye contact). The surroundings or the environment can help you derive meaning from the unknown and lastly, the time.

As rational beings, we want to find meaning in anything. With one word alone, it is torture to think and decode what the true meaning is. There are too many meanings associated with one word. What more if it is a sentence or a paragraph? It will be doubly hard if words (through text or sound) merge with image with the help of television.

In the past, it was harder for man to pass on information to another. The most efficient way was to orally pass on information. An example is the oral tradition of singing stories of their ancestors and their challenges to build the foundations of their society. This served as an informative tool to know the roots and history of their people in order to give them a sense of identity. It also served as a guide for proper action when another dire situation occurs. But with oral tradition (passed on to generation to generation), there is no direct connection between the messenger and the listener. The sequence of the story may have changed over time or the words used may have also changed even though they intend one meaning. But later generations may interpret it in a different way.

With the aid of globalization, somehow the connection between the messenger and the listener (or addressor and the addressee) has become more direct since we get raw information real time and right in the comfort of our living rooms. One example is the news. But with emergence of 24 hour news stations, we have never been this close the action.

Ever since the birth of television, it has been easier for us to get familiarized with the world. We get to see stories of different cultures and be aware of different issues. It has given us the chance to understand and know what is going on with the world. However, like any other forms of art, we can derive different interpretations of its meaning.

Since things are more accessible to us, we take things for granted. Speed is the key in the world today. Sometimes we just receive information in megabyte speed without thinking twice. Instead of having a platform of understanding, it might create more misunderstanding. Images may be misleading and might trigger something in our subconscious. Art has many ways to deceive and create illusions to keep the mystification. In most cases in the modern world, art steers toward popularity for profitability which takes advantage of our emotions. If media can effectively get into our emotions, we are doomed for most of us, feel rather than to think.

Our emotions can be our biggest enemy for it can consume us if not manipulate us. We usually do not find the most sound judgment without proper pondering and deep thought. We become incapable of weighing options and probabilities that might occur in each probability. Without careful study, we expose ourselves to risk; thus, harming ourselves. This is why we must practice the art of deduction and critical thinking. We should not limit ourselves to the box equipped with sounds and colors, we sometimes have to experience things for ourselves to know the true meaning. We must also step outside and observe what is really going on. We must see things in our own eyes to at least eliminate most of the biased perspectives or point of view of a writer/film maker/news caster and see how things are interconnected. What might be happening in your backyard may be related to what is happening on the other side of the valley.