Week 12: Popular Culture and Entertainment

Class was fun and interesting this week and I have one more “health promotion/communication tool” I can put in my tool box! We can actually use “Popular Culture and Entertainment” to spread our health message. We learned in class that entertainment contract seems to open our minds; our mindset is different when we expect to be entertained. We are more relaxed and empathic to whatever message is coming our way. The videos we viewed in class really opened my eyes on how popular movies and TV shows can be use to spread our health message. I never would have thought to use the “Simpsons” as a health communication tool to educate people on overeating and perhaps obesity. The movie clip of Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton, I would have never thought of using it to teach medical providers on how “not to do CPR” and as a lead in clip on signs and symptoms of a heart attack. All of the clips we saw in class I could envisioned showing at the very beginning of a health promotion campaign to “grab” people’s attention to the message of the program. It’s a great tool; we can entertain and spread our health message at the same time. With popular culture and entertainment, we can have fun, laugh, cry, and promote health at the same time.Anyway, I hope everyone had a very happy and “full” Thanksgiving Day.