17. l) Media inventory.
a) List all the media yon observe in an hour or two in the following places:
1. in the community in general — in the shopping centre or downtown area that you use the most, in the supermarket or grocery store, in any clothing or department store, at the cafe where you stop for meals or snacks. Include signs, billboards, posters, magazines, displays, radios, TVs, and public address system. 2. at school or college/institute, in classrooms, in general areas such as the cafeteria and hallways. (Don't include the library. We all know how loaded it is.) 3. at home — in your bedroom, living-room, kitchen.
b) Bring your information to class; sort the material into groups and compile your information. Write a list of categories, such as TVs, radios, newspapers, magazines, signs, posters, displays — whatever you discovered — and record the number of each, regardless of where you noticed them. When yon have completed the whole inventory, add the number in each category, then add them all for a grand total of the media in your life.
2) Discussion While you were compiling your inventory, answers to the following questions no doubt presented themselves. Now is a good time to share them with the whole class.
1. Was it difficult to remember to notice each medium? 2. Did you find more than you anticipated? 3. Where did you find the most? 4. Which medium predominates in your inventory — print or electronic? 5. What general conclusions did yott reach about media?
3) Written Work/Assignment/Task
Respond to the following situation either in a short story using dialogue and description or in essay form. Without using any escape device like running away to a deserted island or the middle of a desert, describe how, within the context of your normal life, you could or could not screen or seal yourself from all media messages. (The tone can be either serious or satirical.)