Confessions of an Ugly Duckling

My mother enthusiastically approached me yesterday and showed me some of my old pictures which she found in her old cabinet. Seeing those pictures was really hilarious; I looked so stiff in most of my pictures, with hands always at the side and my feet just a few centimeters apart, like that of a military person. In some pictures I was smiling, but with mr. tooth decay smiling even brighter, stealing the spotlight away from my Ms.Talent sash or my transparent kero-keropi belt or my polka dot shoes. For the most part of my childhood, I was indeed an ugly duckling! Well, blame my mother for that, because she was the one deciding for me from head to toe. HAHA. Fortunately, change has come upon me over the years. Drastic change at that; from the stiff-looking girl to the camwhore that I am right now. This I believe is a good representation of the Communication Evolution we discussed in class last Saturday, an interactive discussion made easier through the B.I.S. model each representing a phase.

 Aspect #1: Haircut

My mother would bring me to the nearest parlor every so often because she did not want me to have a long hair (long hair meaning shoulder-length hair). She was so paranoid in thinking that I would get lots of lice, that’s why I was always the short-haired girl, the “tomboy in the house.” I definitely had no say in the process; my mother would not even ask me what hairstyle I like. She controlled everything about my haircut (am I sounding so bitter already?), an act so much that of the BROADCAST MODEL. My mother was like those publishers/broadcasters in that traditional model, imposing what content to publish without asking the preference of the consumers. Quite controlling; nevertheless, still credible. My mother was always credible in my eyes, even up to now. Though I never got the chance to oppose what she liked for me, I know it’s for my own good.  

Aspect#2: Clothes

I have a sister who is two years older than me, and I look very much like her THEY say. And if not for the height difference (she was a few inches taller than me when we were kids), people around us would probably have difficulty distinguishing who was who because my mother would always dress us the same clothes, only of different colors. Same jumper pants, shoes, laced socks, watch, and other kiddie stuff, but hers was usually pink and mine was orange. I think this was good in a way because with that, my sister and I were never envious of each other in terms of our belongings (well that’s what I know at least haha). My mother buys things for the two of us, we get to choose which color we like to have, and we get to exchange our thoughts and feelings over   what is given to us. This set-up reminds me of the two relationships in the INTERACTIVE MODEL of the evolution of communication: (1) one to many; and (2) many to many. In that model, there is already an interaction, but only among the audience, and the control is still in the hands of the publishers/broadcasters. Just like in our situation, though my sister and I could freely express to each other our opinion of the clothes bought for us, the prerogative is still with my mother. 

Aspect#3: Food Choice

Kids do love junk foods, jelly ace, hotdog, hotcake, brownies, spaghetti, and fried chicken. Not much of vegetables and fruits really. I for one was never really fond of eating veggies (esp radish) and fruits (esp chesa and chico), but that doesn’t mean I didn’t eat vegetables and fruits. My mother, though she tried her best to “force” me to eat those, even up to the extent of making up stories such as a ghost will eat me if I don’t do so, could not really do much about it because I always had an option on what to eat and not. My food choice was largely influenced by what I see on TV and by what I hear from my classmates and playmates (sources which have less credibility), not actually by what my mother or father would tell me. I believed on my own “community” of influences, and so my mother had no other option but to succumb to what I like, because if not, I won’t consume it. What a bratt girl! This, for me, represents the SOCIAL MEDIA MODEL of how communication evolved over time. The audience has a say on the content, and co-creates it for their own consumption through social media. Due to this power held by the audience, the publishers must adjust to their demands, which decentralizes control. 

 Oh well,

I could say that I’ve changed a lot in as much as communication has changed drastically over the years. Looking back at my ugly duckling days gives me some sense of pride because I know that I’ve changed for the better, just like what I belive has happened to communication. The Social Media Model, with its use of the new social media, may be the current trend right now, but the other two models are still operating and are embraced by the people well. These three can actually reinforce one another in a way, with the right media tools and strategies. Each model has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and it’s just up to us consumers how we’re going to deal with each.

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