Who do you think YOU are? o_O ~Autumn

Starting Early 2011-7-30 Sedona, Arizona

Thu in Vietnamese means 'Autumn', that mixed season of warmth and chills. I think I represent my name's meaning to a certain extent. Autumn is a season of change, a season of color...and leaf raking. Although my personality doesn't necessarily encompass these characteristics- my life experiences certainly do. After all, I am what I am due to the things I've seen, done, and learned. 


My leaves: my ideas, personality, and passion- through the assault of time they change. Sometimes resulting in a beautifully aged piece that I would preserve and keep for the rest of my life. Sometimes, just thoughts and experiences that deserve to be on the floor, stepped and muddled on. Whichever the end result, these leaves are always going to sprout again. New ideas, new experiences, even renewed passions and traits. It's simply a never ending cycle of change, something that certainly requires an open mind.

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To me, media is power. It's this source of infinite strength. It can teach, it can change, it can influence... 

With television/film pieces specifically, I acknowledged it's power at a young age. My immigrant family from Vietnam learned to speak Cantonese from watching Chinese dramas. Not only was it entertainment, it was a portal to learn through characters living their lives in Hong Kong and Ancient China (FYI, places they've never been to). At a difficult time when you've left your home, your family, your friends... your world- a mental escape through a show or movie is a phenomenon that is often over looked due to it's less than sophisticated appearance. After all, it is just a box flashing images and sounds at you, yes the "idiot box". My point is, these scripted stories and staged occurrences are very influential in teaching and inputting ideas into a viewer's mind. I hate to admit it, but it's probably true for most: probably more than half of what we know is due to the things we all pick up from the media, whether it be reality shows, documentaries, Sesame Street, etc... the power of media is amazing, and confusing since there is no real truth at what is being put out there. It's all subjected to the creator and viewer. 

Entertainment Headline Shade 2010-10-03 NY, NY

I am currently addicted to Korean pop culture. Their music, dramas, movies, and gossip. I've never been to Korea, I don't speak the language, and I really have no interactions with the culture other than food and through the internet. Yet through these few things I can dedicate more than five hours a day watching their shows with subtitles, and go through with tracking concert tickets for musicians... musicians who sing in a language, I again- don't know. The internet has put media all in one place- which explains why it's so easy to input so much time into browsing and searching. After immersing myself in their culture just through the internet, I found myself wanting to try more Korean food, travel there, speak their language, and support their idols through their international expansion. 

Okay, consider me a loser if you will- but I'm not the only one who's experiencing this overwhelming addiction. The Hallyu wave is captivating crowds all over the world, and this is all through media on the internet. Can you imagine how much profit they're raking in from silly fangirls like me ordering CDs from the other side of the globe? ...a lot. Their tourism bureau is also receiving benefits from this craze... create addicting/viral media and you change the surrounding environment around you, and then some. 

It's influential enough that I went to a parade for glimpse. BTW, I don't do Parades. 

The reason why I want to create media is because of this immense power. I can't even describe this phenomenon accurately without going all over the place, and that's because media essentially touches upon all categories of life. If I can have a grip of that power and create media that is meaningful and truthfully educates viewers on subject matters that need attention, I think it's safe to say that the job of a media creator is just as crucial as our law makers, and teachers. You can heavily influence children, family, heroes, and villains...essentially, the world with media.