Friday at the MMSS

We probably talked about a few of these ideas in class already, but the Mormon Media Studies Symposium presentations that I was able to attend brought up a lot of interesting subjects about Media and Digital Culture. 

A few thoughts I gathered from "Mormonism & Media Literacy: Intersection of Media and Education in LDS Theology and Culture" Panel:

Every time we are introduced to new media we still hold on to our old media. Making us double- and triple-booked. How are we supposed to properly manage our time when we double-book ourselves. This leads to the frustration of trying to do too many things at once.

I can definitely relate to this. Sometimes at work I feel like I am trying to do ten different things at once. I'm trying to post about the Museum of Art on the blog, on Facebook, and on Twitter, I'm trying to post about all of the departments in the College of Fine Arts and Communications on the blog, on the Facebook page, and on the Twitter account, I'm trying to write articles on news, I'm trying to keep in touch with Museum officials about correct credit lines and event information, I'm texting my boss or my boyfriend, I'm talking with the people in my office, I'm trying to update the running awards list I have going, and I'm trying to edit articles and pictures that come through my email. And this is just at work...at home I'm trying to do all of my computer stuff on top of exercising, making meals, eating, sleeping, and receiving phone calls. This isn't all media stuff. But it's definitely following the same pattern of adding one thing on top of another.

The electronic age led to a social disconnect and individualism, whereas the digital age leads to connectivity and collaboration through the internet. The internet is our global village, our collective identity.

I thought this was brilliant! I know we've been talking about this in class, but I love how they broke this down into stages of the digital age. Whereas TV and other electronic devices on their own led to separation, the use of the internet has led to a new connectedness. We don't have to waste time in front of the TV. We can connect about what is on the TV through the internet. We can build positive relationships and create content on the internet. 

Another good point that was made, was that although we have all of this information, just at our fingertips, we cannot assume that this access to information means access to truth. We still need to use the Holy Ghost to determine truths.

Very sound advice. We cannot assume that everything we read on the internet is true. What a wonderful symposium. I was glad that I could listen to so many presentations and learn about how the Church is involved in the current media.