I see messages as both the direct and indirect intentions that someone is trying to present to an audience. Those messages can either be extremely clear, or it may take a more complex analysis to really break down that message. Throughout my years at Parkside, I’ve been exposed to several theories in classes that have helped me better comprehend this goal and truly put it into practice. A principal concept I tie messages to is that of hermeneutics, which is essentially a theory that practices interpretation. It’s a sort of cycle where a message influences the environment it’s circulated in, and in return it is influenced by that same environment. Hermeneutics helps us understand crucial factors such as fractured messages; one can only understand the “whole” of something by first understanding its parts, and you can only understand individual parts if you understand it as a whole (James Gezinski).

I completed a social media analysis assignment within my Public Relations Concepts and Practices class that I took last semester. What we essentially had to do for this project was pick a company and monitor one of their social media accounts for 12 weeks, log our observations each week and make note of trends, patterns, styles, marketing strategies, and anything else we noticed that complimented their messaging goals. I chose to monitor crumbl cookies on Instagram and it was incredibly fun yet tedious to analyze their messages through their marketing strategies and choices. despite having several million followers, they still make the effort to respond to individual comments on their posts whenever possible. This is really where the hermeneutics cycle comes in within the messages learning goal. Crumbl’s intended messages through their social media posts influence the environment these posts circulate through (crumbl’s followers and all others who come across their page), and in return, it’s influenced by the environment and they receive and apply feedback they are given to strengthen their brand.

As a result of what I’ve accomplished through the messages learning goal, I’m confident that I understand the skills and state of mind required to successfully apply this goal in real life. Regarding future professional career work, I will be able to know how to adapt my words, body language, and actions to best fit what I’m trying to relay. I will also be able to better understand, analyze, and interpret the messages that the employer or someone else is aiming to convey. This learning goal’s relevance for my future is crucial because, as an actress, it’s my responsibility to take playwright’s messages from shows and perform them for an audience, hoping that they’ll interpret those messages correctly through my choice of tone, tactics, and body language. This is something I'll continue to keep in mind as I progress in the professional world.