Preface
The mass media serves as a global publication system which spreads messages and symbols to the world at large, to specific geographical regions, or to specific demographic groups. These messages and symbols function as information, entertainment and amusement. In this essay, we will value information as exponentially important, and hold that it has the power to influence the consciousness of the masses, and therefore change both the social and the power structures prevalent in the world today, by means of mass dissemination of information and ideologies which could lead people to break free from a status quo, further leading to dissent against a current social and/or world order. Information in this sense, is in complete contrast to amusement, which we can say is on the other end of the spectrum, as muse means to-think, amuse means to-not-think. With this in mind, we will state that the media is the nervous system of a democracy, as most of our political arguments between our family, friends and co-workers are informed by the corporate media (David Burn 2004). This essay will be a critical analysis and exposition of what media culture is, its importance in a global environment, and its overall influence on the individual. To do this, we will examine a number of essays which will be presented in a tripartite fashion in order to understand media culture in accordance with three main topics; Production, Representation, and Reception. I would argue that Production is the
Being published in 2007, this work greatly accentuated the problem of a society where the media dictated exactly what and how information would be transmitted to society. However, in the modern technological era, the media’s content is less important to society due to our ability to select, and as a result the argument presented by the author, along with most of his concerns, is
During her speech at Virginia Tech, Zizi Papacharissi discussed the evolving industry of modern media. She argued that the recent blend of news, fact, drama, opinion, and emotion is responsible for the social and political consequences of the internet. Specifically, she was effective in her presentation by emotionally connecting to the audience, defining the evolution of news over time, and describing how social media networks can act as a news sharing mechanism.
However, Postman wanted to promote the idea that people would become so obsessed with pleasure that they eventually sacrifice their rights. Postman furthers on this idea by describing television as something that will be an exchange of rights for entertainment. He then extends this theory by saying ideas are affected by their medium and that media as a medium causes people to evaluate information’s quality by its entertainment
The article “Mind Over Mass Media”, written by Professor Steven Pinker, describes the impact of media on human lives and brains. Pinker illustrates the benefits people gain from using the worlds quickly increasing technology and media. Pinker suggests that today’s technology such as, PowerPoint, Google, and other forms of social media can actually enhance and bring more intelligence to the mind, instead of being detrimental. Critics believe that the many different forms of media can lower intelligence. However, Pinker declares that scientists are using all of this technology everyone else is using, and are still discovering new things.
Media has gravitated toward the center of our culture over the years. Mr. Neil Postman writes in his book, Amusing Ourselves to Death, about his observation of the various forms of media throughout this nation’s history. Furthermore, Postman discusses has the media is shaping and influencing our culture. He writes about the idea that media has caused the world to lose focus of true information and inspiration. Postman’s thesis revolves around how the core values of media, such as news, have changed over the course of history.
Imagine a culture where people’s daily lives are centered around buying things. Imagine your mind being bombarded with ads every moment of your life, and a world of people connected to the internet, constantly being fed a stream of games, shows, and chats into their brain through a system called the Feed. This imaginary culture is reflective of what the world is like today, and the Feed is symbolic of how distracted the world has become to media. Media is not only a distraction, but it is also a destructive force because it unfocuses people’s thoughts from the real world.
One hundred years ago nobody heard about the news or current events from Facebook or the newest tweet. Until fairly recently the most up to date news had to be heard through the grapevine or read in a newspaper. Since the creation of the internet and the mass media that comes with it, information can now be spread all the way across the world in the time it takes to hit the enter button on a computer or phone and upload it to the internet. Some people think that this is a bad thing because so many things that are uploaded can be either false information or simply information that is misleading and could teach individuals the wrong thing. However, if mass media is used in the right way it can be beneficial to the accessibility of valuable information,
In America, Media bias is everywhere, in the United States all the information that an average American received through everyday sources, the news was most likely processed through the media and told through a biased point of view, when the media gets their hands on news if it is important then it probably won’t be talked about or downplayed no matter the source like in the newspaper, radio, television, movies, as well as other outlets that the media uses, the media only seems to share the news that they find interesting, even then the media would most likely have changed the story, in what they say is just tweaked news, what actually happened and what really happened would be two different stories, also the story would be told from one person
When thinking of the media you think they are reporting the appropriate and accurate information not based on any personal opinions and feelings. Also one would not think the media would be reporting based on one side of politics or the other. The media is extremely biased when it comes to politics and news. While some of the media is conservative-biased I believe the mass media is liberal-biased. Majority of media outlets are liberal companies, media personnel and journalists will identify themselves as democrats and liberals more so than republicans or conservatives and lastly the left side (liberals) of the mass media is persuasive on what information to report.
In The views of The Birmingham School, media culture induces individuals to conform to the established organization of society but it also lends resources that can empower individual against that society. (Kellner, D (1995)) In conclusion, calling attention to mass media, cultural studies relates to how the audience can decode the messages put forward by the media. More specifically in relation to their individual socio and economic background. This in turn can lead to the rejection of the dominant ideology.
The wellsprings of the media picked are unmistakable. As Jay Blumler brings up in his book The Use of Mass Communication, where he asserts that studies have demonstrated that crowd satisfactions can be gotten from no less than three particular sources: media content, introduction to the media in essence, and social connection that encapsulates the circumstance of presentation to various media (Blumler 1974). It is clear that groups of viewers invest energy utilizing the media as a part of different ways. Whether they are killing time or utilizing it as a social instrument, every medium is novel in its motivation.
“Media has become as necessary as food and clothing. Media is a mirror of the modern society; in fact, it is the media which forms our lives. The principle of the media is to let people know about modern, new relationships and to tell about the most modern discussion and fashion. The media still very backward behind other economic sectors because international communication is closely bound up with culture, language and tradition” (Karachi, M.(n.d). Media has many important types we already use in our daily life such as the internet and TV also radio and print media like newspaper and magazine.
Media are platforms of mass communication that can be categorized as either new of traditional media, with new media being forms of communication that make use of technologies such as the Internet, and traditional media being more conventional forms of media such as newspapers. Media, primarily new media, is getting more popular and influential, especially in today’s day and age since we are exposed to it a lot more than in the past and also since media is more easily accessible now. The media can shape our behaviours, perceptions and opinions, and it is important to know how people are influenced and impacted by it. The media can influence someone’s perception of social reality, or perceptions of beauty or even influence people’s behaviours and habits and therefore, the media does shape who we are. One way that the media can shape who we are is by influencing our perception of social reality.
Media is critical in today 's society because the mass media performs a number of es- essential functions in our lives. First, they serve an information or surveillance function. Second, they serve an agenda-setting and interpretation function. Third, they help us create and maintain connections with various groups in society. Fourth, they help us socialise and educate us.
Media plays a crucial role in shaping a healthy democracy. It is the backbone of a democracy; it makes us vigilant of numerous social, political and economic activities happening around the world. Media has very important roles to play in democracy such as; projecting the problems of the people to the public, and protecting the fundamental rights given in a Constitution. Philip C. Galanis states in his essay The Fourth Estate of The Bahamas “For many decades, there has been historically a tug-o-war between the media and politicians in the Bahamas”. In his essay he explains the importance of the media and its effect on the general public.