“What is the dumbest major?” Whether it’s TikTok or other video form content circulating on social media, one current trend is interviewing strangers on the streets, whether they’re college students or regular bystanders. I’ve come across several videos where this question is the main focus, so, according to the public, what is the dumbest major? Communication seems to be a common answer. Yes, looking at it from the big picture, this major focuses on how to speak to people, but it’s much more than that looking at it from a civic standpoint. Throughout the week, not only have I learned how valuable communication skills are to different aspects of your life, like personal relationships, but I’ve also learned their significance in creating movements and spreading ideas throughout history.
In “Communication’s Mosaics: An Introduction to the Field of Communications,” one of our very first readings, Wood speaks of the importance of studying communications and the impact having those skills or not having them can have on people’s lives. According to him, not having those proper skills leads to the inability to clearly express your ideas and thinking and, in turn, the collapse of relationships. Not only are they personal ones, such as friendships or marriages, but also professional ones, such as boss and client or partner to partner. Although some of these skills we pick up on as we grow into adulthood, having a much clearer and deeper understanding of how to connect with others can be the difference between getting dumped by your partner or getting rejected from the job you applied to.
Furthermore, something I believe is just as important is the effect proper communication has on movements and ideas. In the article titled “On Emma González’s Jacket and Other Media: The Participatory Politics of the #NeverAgain Movement,” both Henry Jenkins and Rogelio Alejandro Lopez wrote of the impact high school students had on the United States after organizing protests through social media platforms regarding school shootings and how they needed to end. Despite the backlash they got from conservatives and their attempts to diminish their reputations by labeling them as “unpatriotic,” their movement grew and eventually swayed 26 states to pass 55 gun laws. Through their campaigns, they were able to communicate their stories and ideas to thousands of people by influencing the public’s opinion and by rallying up the public for the greater good. Similarly, one of the sculptures we saw during our trip to the California African American Museum was the “Protector of the Next Generation” by Micheal Chukes, a famous sculptor and painter. This was part of one of the exhibits called the Ode to ‘Dena, and it conveys how mothers in African cultures hold up their communities by passing on traditions as well as taking care of their families. The mother cradling her baby symbolizes the emotional bond between a mother and a child because of how she’s protecting her baby. This idea is expressed through a physical form of media that clearly conveys Chukes’ thought process and feelings.
Now, while communications mainly focuses on how humans communicate through a variety of systems, it doesn’t mean that it’s “basic” or “common sense.” It dives deeper into how we interact with each other, leading to different outcomes. It may even be a big reason for success in many careers, whether it’s law or medical fields, because it gives you a deeper understanding of how to treat and connect with people. Likewise, it allows you to connect with a wider community for, or against, a bigger issue that needs to be addressed. As a whole, I learned that communication skills are incredibly important in today’s society, whether it’s to do something as simple as asking your professor for feedback on your essay or leading political movements.
Communicating Change 