This class has not only helped me learn how I can sell to others but also how to see when others are trying to sell something to me. I was thinking about this idea more the other day, and it got me to thinking about media. I absolutely believe that media is always trying to sell to you; trying to sell to you to think or believe or do something after consuming it. I think a great example of this is movies.
Last week, before break started, I watched “The Dead Poets Society” for my foundations of education class. Most people say that the message behind the movie is quite clear; that existentialism, the idea of living life to its fullest (carpe diem), can be very dangerous when taken too far. However, the movie ends with the students basically saying they don’t care and they will follow this worldview anyways, which I think is portraying the opposite message than what others say it does. But I think that understanding the message of the movie is important, because it is from there that you can understand what the movie is trying to sell you to think or believe.
There are many movies in which the message behind the media is not always a good message, trying to sell you something that is not a good fit with what you believe. That’s why I think it’s really important to understand and be able to think critically about what anyone or anything is trying to sell you. Everything we’ve talked about in terms of assumptions can go the other way, not assuming that those trying to sell you something have your best interest in mind, because often, especially when it comes to media, they do not.
RMcIlwain
This is a great application of the things we have learned about in sales. Its awesome how there is such a broad and overarching use for sales techniques outside of sales situations, like movies. I have also seen the dead poet society and thought the EXACT same way you did when you came to your conclusion.
You bring up a really thoughtful point: being able to recognize when someone is selling to you is just as important as knowing how to sell to others. I like how you tied it to media, especially movies like Dead Poets Society (one of my favorites), where the message isn’t always what it first appears to be. Critical thinking about what’s being “sold” to us, even subtly, is such a valuable skill both in and outside of sales.
Sarah! You are so right about this! Every piece of media is selling you something, whether it’s an actual product in an advertisement or just a vague idea in a movie. It’s an important thing to remember when interacting with media, especially for Christians!
P.S. I think you might enjoy Dr. Kimberly Miller’s Christian Faith & Cinema class–she’s teaching it next year if you want to check it out 😉