Brainwashed

Read Seth Godin's “Brainwashed” on http://changethis.com/

Connect: Godin makes a valid point regarding social media; it's what we make it. It can be a place to solely waste time, or it can be the intermediary between us and the rest of the world. Social media offers a chance to make connections with all sorts of people, and allows us to learn from others in a way that otherwise would be impossible. If we once lived in isolation, social media lets us live in harmony, allowing our voices to be heard all across the world. More importantly, however, is having a voice that reaches people through its ability to touch or change them. The people with a voice that's heard, consequently, gain influence, authority, and power.

Acknowledge the lizard: Godin makes another valid point regarding “the lizard brain” or the part of the brain that worries about safety and expresses anger. The lizard brain is sensitize and shuts down our creative capacities when it is laughed at. This shut own is referred to as “the resistance,” because it forces us to be complacent, like, for instance, when a teacher gives a student a set of directions and he or she follows them. Artists, however, have overcome the resistance, realizing that it obstructs their creativity and subsequently, their work. The only way to overcome the resistance is to acknowledge it. Only once we have acknowledged the lizard brain can we learn to ignore it.

Both of these layers of reinventing oneself are connected to the blog I am creating this quarter. Firstly, I am “connecting” with others through my blog, which acts as an intermediary between me and the rest of the world. Secondly, my blog is helping my ignore my “lizard brain,” because even though I may be ridiculed for my blog, posting helps me acknowledge the resistance and the consequent restraints it puts on my creative abilities. These exercises make me a better artist and student for the very reasons described above. For example, making connections—and a lot of them—is indispensable in a media-related environment. My blog facilitates “schzmoozing” and making new connections from all over the world. Additionally, media students must be in touch with their creative sides and not be afraid of trial and error. Acknowledging your “lizard brain,” and overcoming “the resistance” are the first and second steps toward solidifying your creative potential.