Pop Culture- Reflection

     Media messages are constructed using creative techniques, but the construction process is invisible to viewers, readers, and listeners. The audience who are exposed to constant streams of advertisements/other media messages are often un-informed about how they were strategically created. Corporations have groups of professionals who strategically decide on such media choices, in order for their content to be spread to large audiences. Such as, media messages are manipulated to suit current trends, are posted at certain times, are curated for specific audience values, etc. The audience is however left blind to this long process, and are only exposed to what is presented on their screens. This creates a large gap between the brand and consumer, which the consumer is often unaware of. This creates "Synth culture", as it is an unauthentic representation of current societal values. 

     Media messages are representations of the world. We depend on the media to understand our world and different cultures. Information which is projected through various media platforms often contain current trends/events etc, which originate from the country that the 'message' was sent from. As well, since these media messages are created and broadcasted from around the world, they contain international values and help people understand different cultures. However, ideas that are projected through media are simplified and only show small portions of very rich cultures. This limited information which is projected creates stereotypes and lack of global understanding. If one only relies on media projections to create an understanding of the world, it can be assumed that their global values would be corrupt and incorrect. These media messages are useful in seeing what differentiating values countries have, through which one can view cultures through the use of various platforms. 

     Media messages have economic and political purposes and contexts. Mass media industries sell audiences to advertisers. The vastly broadcasted media messages are heavily used for political reasons, such as the spreading of current state situations, government health, etc. Opinions on current political situations are as well heavily spread throughout the internet, through various media platforms. As well, economically, these media messages are part of corporate 'culture', as they are used to expand consumer bases and further connect with their target consumer groups. These large corporations and brands are able to understand specific values of their target audiences through virtual profiles, which they can then sell to advertisers. Advertisers often try to connect with and use current political events within their advertisements in order to show relevance. The public is as well further able to relate to current content. 

Individuals create meaning in media messages through interpretation. These media messages are often left to the individuals interpretation, which can create controversy over simple ideas. However, what the individual pulls away form these messages shows their values and what they understand form what they are exposed to. Often simple messages can be given deeper meaning through individual interpretation, such as through simple images or simplified text. A community's joint values are shown through what they choose to express through these media messages.