I have no idea how to write a blog post. I don't read blogs. I don't subscribe to blogs. And I don't write blogs. Now, Joel Jenkins is forcing me to write one, and I think I might enjoy it.
"Every story is a message. And every message is a message of change," said Mr. Jenkins nearly three-quarters through my first class. Mr. Jenkins is a socially awkward man (his words) with a penchant for Star Wars references and a seersucker-suit-salesman voice. He swung an imaginary lightsaber. He threatened to tickle students with a feather should they resist laughing at his jokes. Joel Jenkins produces children's theatre when not teaching this class, but I imagine he acts the same wherever he is.
Because every message is attempting to change us in some way, they are an act of manipulation and control. And one can use this power of control for good or evil (which Jenkins called "the dark side," naturally). Jokes and anecdotes are a way to make people comfortable and trusting enough to listen to the things you say. Jenkins himself employs the technique in order to "stimulate our minds."
However, we humans are not weak-willed jello-brains susceptible to each and every manipulation. We have a WIIFM Barrier™. The What's In It For Me? Barrier. If a story or joke or anecdote isn't immediately interesting, informative, or funny, listener loses interest and no manipulation can take place.
For an example, look no further than the 2011 Oscars. The traditional viewpoint is that the Academy Awards is all about the film industry honoring its most talented and brightest stars. The oppositional viewpoint being that ABC and their advertisers are out to generate high ratings and make lots of money, especially from that sweet, sweet demographic of 18-to-34-year-olds who love to buy anything and everything. Ergo, ABC hired James Franco and Anne Hathaway to host the Oscars rather than a comedian or Billy Crystal.
Did Franco and Hathaway slip through the public's WIIFM™ Barrier and attract a bigger youth audience? Of course not! Lame writing + A sleepy Franco + 5% dip in youth ratings = a big whiff for ABC and a big whiff at cracking people's WIIFM™ Barriers. A WIIFM whiff, if you will.
Either way, this class has already got me thinking, and I can't wait to see what Jenkins has up his sleeve for next time.
Side note: Joel Jenkins is not the Joel Jenkins that wrote this.
"Mr. Jenkins is a socially awkward man (his words) with a penchant for Star Wars references and a seersucker-suit-salesman voice."
ReplyDeleteOuch!