The Connection

What aspects of media in Spain will be the most lasting in your mind? How will what you have learned affect your media habits or media studies when you return to the U.S.?

Spain has been such an adventure, the media that has stuck with me is the advertisements. They are a lot more direct, concise, and inclusive. They’re not afraid to express a sense of individuality in a collectivist society. I find that to be the most fascinating thing. An example of this, is Gillette advertisements in the metro showcasing a drag queen and a man, or even blatant nudity. There appears to be a lot more flexibility from emotions to expression.

When I return to the U.S, I want to have my own work evoke emotion among viewers. No sense of guilt with PETA’s pet commercials where our society immediately changes channels, rather, establishes a connection to the viewer and the commercial to stay engaged. No easy task when attention spans are shortening.

The White Noise of Interactions

From the media systems we have observed, what do you think is the same and/or different from what you have observed in the U.S.?

The white noise of media is around us constantly in every shape and form. We are all connected via mobile devices. Our greatest similarity is we’re taking less time to read advertisements and promotions. We’re in an era where we have a shorter attention span. We want to be visually stimulated. We want to move onto the next biggest thing. Youtube’s recommendation from 2-5 minute videos suggestion now states videos are to be no longer than 30 seconds to 1 minute. I suppose the old saying stands true. A picture truly does stand for one-thousand words. Spain and America both are predominately a visual media society in order to communicate mass media messages.

However, a large difference in Media for both countries is how it’s represented. The American lifestyle of dinner’s and TV is a constant in the background. Spain? When its time for a meal, its a gathering of people to catch up, drink, and enjoy the community. It is all word of mouth. How do you get around Spain if you’re not a local? Well for a few Euro’s you could get a tour guide. Or, simply ask one yourself to get the inside. America has very little to no local shops besides in the downtown areas, as most of the stores are big box corporations–while we bounce from trip advisers and google reviews, Spain values human interaction and customer courtesy versus American’s opting to shop online or simply have a TV running in the background for their news source.

The Classic Tale of Rich & Poor

How are you adjusting to various aspects of Spain culture? What are your favorites? What are your least favorites?

The Top of Barcelona, The Skies, The Sea, and Two sides of a city.

Five days. Five Cities. For the first three days, we traveled from Madrid to Seville, to Granada, to Cordoba, and Barcelona then back to our home base, Madrid. Could I ever pick a favorite? A difficult question. Adjusting to each of these cultures and feelings were overwhelming and exhilarating. I loved how Seville was a blend of rich history and youth from cozy cafes to crazy nightlife. Granada, touching base on its Arabic roots with the symmetrical designs that paved the streets to the tips of the buildings that touch the sun, quaint Cordoba with its historical time capsule bubble, and lastly, Barcelona, where it was a blend of a new type of Spanish, art, and business blended together.

Overall, it was the hardest for me to integrate in Barcelona. I enjoyed the beauty of the Sagrada Familia cathedral and the seamless blend of mountains, modernization and history. However, there was a distinct divide of classes to be seen. The sense of community was lacking as opposed to the other cities. No matter where we walked, there was always a sense of entitlement towards foreigners and their own. I understand both the politica and class divide in which Spain faces. Never had I seen it so blatant in Barcelona, where one would openly sneer at people leaving certain metro stops or to people on the streets. I almost wanted a Robin Hood to be spoken of in the news in Barcelona to bring a sense of equilibrium. However, I know fixing an issue as old as the Rich and the Poor is not one to be solved through wild fantasies. (If only, Disney.)

Greenery & Street Life

What are your perceptions of Spain culture and practices? How are they different from home?

As a Transfer Student, I originally double majored in Art History and Illustration. Upon the discovery of being a mere 20 minute bus ride from the Prado and the Temple De Bod; I was the living embodiment of excitement. I made a list of every art museum, palaces, & castles–what I did not expect upon my blatant tourist-y behavior was the blend of the nature and the city. In America, we remove our obstacles for more retail opportunities. Land is precious. Europe? Not so much. Europeans work around nature. The action alone truly represents the cleanliness and progressive behavior within Madrid as I explored the city for the first week. I saw a man sweeping the cigarette buds off the streets, scraping gum off the rails, and ample recycling bins–an act I would be flabbergasted to witness in the concrete jungle of New York.

Spain’s single advertisement of Tio Peppe in Sol showcases how proud the country is of their water from the mountains. Thus, highlighting their respect and regard towards nature within the city of Madrid. Not a single floating water bottle to be seen in the ponds or lakes. No tumbleweed of plastic bags. When did I become so accustomed to seeing trash? Corporate America is crazy. Somehow, this first week of Spain, I feel more inclined to step up my environmental game and make a stronger and more conscious effort when I return back to Texas.

Overall, my perception of Spain being like any other city such as New York or Dallas from the local restaurants/bars, shops, and historical monuments. What I got: fashionable Spaniards, amazing food, and a city not consumed by smog.