Final Portfolio Reflection: Becoming a More Critical Media Thinker
Hello Everyone!
Over the course of this semester, my approach to media criticism shifted from something that felt neutral and opinion-based into a much more structured, reflective, and intentional practice. At the beginning, I tended to react to media based on whether I liked it or found it effective. Now, I find myself asking deeper questions about how meaning is constructed, whose perspectives are prioritized, and what ideologies are being reinforced or challenged.
One of the biggest changes in my critical development has been learning how to slow down and really analyze media rather than just utilize it. In my earlier blog posts, I focused more on surface-level interpretation what was happening and how it made me feel. As I began applying different critical frameworksmsuch as , (Queer Analysis and Cultural Analysis). I started to notice patterns I would have otherwise missed. Media texts became more complex, layered, and sometimes even conflicting. This shift made media criticism feel less like giving an opinion and more like uncovering something.
The different frameworks pushed me in different ways. Some approaches felt more natural, while others were more challenging but ultimately more satisfying. For example, frameworks that focused on representation and identity made me more aware of how media shapes perceptions of race, gender, and social roles. These approaches changed what I paid attention to. Since being in COMM 433-001 , I began noticing who was centered in a narrative and who was absent or oppressed. On the other hand, frameworks that dealt with ideology and power required me to think more generally. At first, it was difficult to identify underlying assumptions or dominant values, but over time, I became more comfortable questioning what a piece of media presents as “normal.”
What surprised me most was how each framework didn’t just add something new , it reshaped how I interpreted everything else. The same media text could look completely different depending on the lens I applied. This made me realize that media criticism is not about finding a single “correct” interpretation, but about exploring multiple possibilities and understanding how meaning is influenced by perspective.
Refinement also played a major role in my development. Looking back at my drafts, I can see how my ideas became more focused and intentional over time. Early on, my writing sometimes lacked clarity because I was still figuring out what I wanted to say. Through feedback and revision, I learned how to better organize my thoughts and support my analysis with clearer reasoning. Revision wasn’t just about fixing mistakes , it was about deepening my thinking. In some cases, feedback pushed me to reconsider my assumptions or expand on ideas that I hadn’t fully developed.
Another important takeaway from this course is how closely media is tied to power and culture. Before, I understood that media could influence people, but I didn’t fully grasp how deeply it is connected to broader systems of ideology and identity. Now, I see media as something that both reflects and shapes cultural values. It can reinforce dominant perspectives, but it can also challenge them. This awareness has changed how I consume media in my everyday life. I am more critical of what I watch, read, and engage without being in a negative way, but in a more thoughtful and questioning way.
I also became more aware of my own role as a viewer and critic. My interpretations are shaped by my own experiences, assumptions, and perspectives. Recognizing this has made me more open to other viewpoints and more careful about making generalizations. Media criticism, I’ve learned, is not just about analyzing texts it’s also about reflecting on how we interpret them and why.
Overall, this portfolio represents a progression from basic analysis to more subtle and reflective criticism. I’ve become more comfortable working with theoretical frameworks, more confident in my insightful voice, and more aware of the broader cultural implications of media. While I still have a lot to learn, I now approach media with a stronger sense of curiosity and a more critical mindset.
This course has shown me that media criticism is not a fixed skill, but an ongoing process one that has to continues to evolve with practice, reflection, and exposure to new perspectives.
