Post 14: SAT Practice Essay

This is from an SAT practice essay:

I believe that the media definitely impacts my sense of what is good and what is not. Oftentimes, when I watch TV, I do homework during commercial breaks. That obviously, is because I intend to watch the show and not the commercials since the show is more interesting. However, I won't lie to you. The commercials which do catch my attention the most are those which have that hot model, or with that really fast, luxurious car. This is because the media, and the society we live in says that these things are cool, or are hot. Honestly, if that model was overweight, I'd probably be disgusted by the commercial; maybe switch the channel, or even be turned off of that product. There's a voice in my head which tells me being this judgmental on looks alone is a bad thing to do. I mean, I don't know that lady: I've never talked to her, or got to know her, and the size of her waist doesn't change her personality or anything. However, that voice in my head is silenced by the cacophony of media advertisements and what the media tells me is right.

Conversely, there are situations when I do not believe the media can affect my sense of what is right and wrong. An example of this is video games. Many times, the media has said video games distort a person and make them do gruesome things. Joe Lieberman has openly discouraged young children, or even teenagers from playing "gory" video games. His speaking out, along with many parents across the country have definitely influenced my mother. "Turn off that video game!" she shrieks across the house. I however, do not think that the media really gets to me. I think that no matter how gruesome the game, I can still play it without being affected.

What I've come to believe through this essay is that us, the viewers of the media, always have a say in what to believe. Even if most of the country conforms to commercials about hot women, fast cars, and the negative influence of video games, when it comes down to it, is it really better to fit in, or do what you think is the right thing? I know that I want to follow what I believe in life, but maybe I am just not mature enough yet to see past that waist, or that car, and so I lay onslaught with the same commercials, evoking the response from me intended by that company.