Jonathan Boomgarden

One concept, or ethics concern, I came across during this class (Intro to Media JMC-1013-020) was that of small-town pastoralism. The concept of small-town pastoralism is that people who live in lower-population towns are nicer than people who live in big cities, or that people who live in middle America are truer Americans. Basically, those living in small town America off coast and more towards The Great Plains are considered more American and have better mannerisms and respect. The term is definitely subjective, as “small-town life” varies by the person, and the region of the United States as well which is why the stereotype of small-town pastoralism should be abolished or defined properly. A “small town lifestyle” would typically be a slower pace of life with more blue-collar relying on industries in a community that is bonded together and with each other and nature. On the other hand, the city or urban lifestyle would resemble close to the opposite. This type of lifestyle would likely be a lot more fast paced and business-oriented and would likely include less of a community feel. While both have their perks, it is important to consider which types of media would do well in each. Videos and magazines would likely be more effective in the city as people are on the move and could watch a video on their phones and pick up a magazine at city stands. Outlets such as the local news would do well in small towns as a lot of Americans trust local outlets more than national outlets, which might do better in the city due to the publicity and reach. An article I viewed from medium.com analyzes small town outlets and why they are typically more trustworthy than national outlets. These are for reasons such as a larger percentage of the desired audience would read it, because national news can go unrecognized by a lot of citizens, while a small-town publishing would likely be read by the whole town. Another reason is that there is likely to be less views based off of solely controversy. In many scenarios, national outlets will get a ton of views without its desired purpose. For example, a national site putting out an article on a controversial topic can get a lot of views, but not quality views as they will be going viral for wrong reasons. Ultimately, I think small town pastoralism is not a huge issue and will continue to be a stereotype in heads of Americans. I think there needs to just be better acceptance for the varying lifestyles, as both have advantages and disadvantages and value their media in different ways.

Although media is not about dating, I have attached a pros and cons list of living in a fast-paced urban environment and a slower paced rural environment. I think this chart does have some useful information for advertisers and media such as there are more concerts and more young people in cities than small towns which can provide details of where to schedule or advertise certain events.

I chose to go into advertising, without being fully committed, because of the creativity aspect and broad range of job options. In High School, I completed multiple graphic design classes, as well as marketing and business classes as well. I feel like advertising gives a good platform to work in the business world but allows much more creative freedom than other business jobs such as finance or accounting. With a lot of experience with photoshop and learning the ability to market and sell products through high school classes, advertising puts me in a good position to create my own products and market/sell them, or just help with someone else’s product. The advertising world goes across many different platforms. Restaurants need advertisers, influencers do, professional sports teams do, even colleges like the University of Oklahoma does. As just a freshman, I am not sure which of these aforementioned realms I belong in, while I do love sports and advertising for a professional team would be pretty cool, I have not been able to weigh all the options. However, I am well aware of the Gaylord College and its reputation amongst OU and other colleges in the nation so am hopeful and confident that the school will put me in a position to succeed.

10. Hersheys Bar

While many would consider the Hersheys Bar a Halloween staple and a classic candy, it is boring. Just plain chocolate is a necessity for any Trick-or-Treater, but the plain bar does not deserve to be any higher.

9. Hershey Kisses

Hershey Kisses, although just plain chocolate like the bar, deserve a spot on the list for staying relevant and fun after many years. They are preferred to the bar due to the simple but fun design and how easy it is to get lost track eating these small chocolate treats.

8. Snickers Bar

Another classic Halloween night candy is the Snickers bar. Although not as popular as some chocolates higher up in the rankings, many enjoy the caramel and nut bar much more than any plain chocolate such as the previously ranked Hersheys products

7. Nerds

While many editions of Nerds have been released over the years, such as ropes, gummy clusters, and big chewy nerds, the classic Halloween pass out of the brand are the small boxes of the classics. Even though they are not a chocolate, many still love the classic tiny box in their Halloween sack.

6. Crunch Bar

The Crunch bar slots in at number 6. Although Nestle and Crunch does not have the recognition and brand power of others like Hershey, this bar is beloved by many and features a good crunch in every bite, making it much more appreciated than a plain chocolate bar. This candy is also very good refrigerated!

5. Starburst

Starburst is another Halloween classic that is plain and simple, yet very tasty. While the king sizes of any candy is always preferred, you will usually find these candies in small packages of two. The small chewy cube is packed with tons of fruity flavor and the most preferred colors are Pink and Yellow.

4. Skittles

Skittles, like Starbursts, pack a huge chewy and fruity taste while being tiny enough to lose track of how many you’ve been eating. The variety of flavors and satisfying break of the candy-coated tiny ball make it one of Halloween’s most beloved candies.

3. M&M’s

The tiny, candy-coated chocolate disks are beloved by many come Halloween time. Appearing in kid’s Halloween pails in all sizes and flavors. Fun size, normal size, and share size. You can also find variations such as peanut or peanut butter rather than the classic.

2. Sour Patch Kids

Sour Patch Kids are beloved by everyone, a perfect mix of sour and sweet that come in fun size or king size packaging. Like the tiny candies, a smile is guaranteed while eating these. While not number one, these take the crown for the most beloved non-chocolate candy, which is impressive.

1. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Sorry peanut allergens, but the Reese’s peanut butter cup has been voted the favorite candy by more states than any other and it seems like tradition for kids to receive more of these than any other candy on the 31st. These take the title for not only the most popular and beloved chocolate candy, but any candy. Reese’s can also be found as Reese’s Pieces, similar to an m&m but with a more Reese’s taste.

Happy Halloween and have a great time enjoying all of these candies no matter which is your number one!

Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer is a story about the fascinating life of Chris McCandless. A young man, fresh off of receiving a college degree, decides to abandon ordinary society and try a life on the road and in the Alaskan wilderness. Although I would have never read this story if not assigned to me during my junior year of high school English class, I am glad it was due to the level of knowledge and understanding perspectives I gained.

McCandless decided to abandon his family, friends, and future career to make his way from the Southwest region of the United States, all the way up to Alaska. With little money or material belongings, he hitchhiked or walked until he reached his destination. Many people considered him dumb and selfish for leaving his family and future behind just to go camping, which ended up killing him, but I saw it differently.

Another aspect of life this book helped me realize is self-discovery. The importance of setting your own standards and living by them is something that I was not great at as a 16-year-old high school kid but think I have dramatically improved on it. Chris’s decision to leave the comfort of society, although frowned upon by many, was the best decision he ever made because he got to live the way we wanted. In my life, coming to college far away from home and without anyone I had previously known was a similar experience. A lot of my friends told me I should go to college near my hometown, although I may have been more comfortable at a college near my hometown, which a lot of my friends ended up doing, I would miss out on the new experiences and tests to adapt to a new area. I appreciate them for encouraging me to stay closer to them and home, but like McCandless, I wanted to live out my own desire without input from any outside sources.

It is important that throughout this story, the reader develops new understandings for success and the importance of self-discovery. While McCandless did end up dying of starvation, he completed a 2,500-mile trip and 113 days in the wilderness. before. Some say it was inevitable and that he would have lived a better life at home, however I respected him for what dangers and challenged he faced and persevered through. His journey helped alter my definition of success. He died doing what he planned on doing, and knew the risk involved. While he may have only made it 113 days, many people including me, would have not made it three days. My definition of success transitioned from a materialistic win, such as a trophy or winning money, to just completing what you want. Nobody else had standards for Chris McCandless along this trip, he wouldn’t even tell people his real name or what he was doing while hitchhiking. At this point in my life, success is a personal measurement, and I think this book helped me realize that.

The story of Chris McCandless is a very unique one, and also a true one. The novel by Krakauer was based on real life events, which can be seen in the movie, teaches and enhances many fundamental and important beliefs. My outlook on success and self-discovery were both enhanced and personalized. Without this story, I may have been more hesitant leaving my comfort zone for college or struggled accepting myself for my own personal standards and not worrying about what others would believe. I urge any young adult to read this story and look at it with the perspective of respect, instead of ignorance. Although leaving a familiar area, person, or thought behind can be rough, it can also benefit one more than anticipated.