This cartoon aligns closely with Chapter 8, “Mass Communication.” This cartoon shows a man having a sudden, life-changing moment of clarity, only to immediately lose it because he’s distracted by a flashy infomercial on TV. The message is both funny and sobering, where mass media has the power to override even our deepest thoughts with its constant, persuasive presence. It illustrates the influence of the idea that the media doesn’t tell us what to think, but what to think about. The man’s attention is completely diverted by the commercial’s urgent tone, pushing his internal thoughts aside. It also ties into cultivation theory, which suggests that repeated exposure to media shapes people’s perceptions of reality. The exaggerated “Call Now!” ad mimics how real infomercials often create a sense of urgency or false importance, influencing our actions, attention, and priorities, whether consciously or not. I’ve definitely experienced this kind of moment. Sometimes I’ll be thinking about something serious or personal, only to find myself scrolling through flashy TikToks or YouTube ads suddenly. I’m really into skincare, and I tend to click on ads that are related to that nature, whether it’s lotion or perfume. Moreover, I may have impulsively ordered quite a few times, due to getting sucked into tIt’s like the media pulls you out of your own head and redirects your focus. This cartoon reminds me how often our thoughts are hijacked by mass communication, especially when it’s designed to be loud, persuasive, and hard to ignore.