Questioning the Media Ch. 13

Q1: Are you exposed to popular culture from other countries? Why or why not? Give some examples.


A1: In some ways I am exposed to popular culture from other countries, however, the base culture in America is so strong, it tends to rule out other cultures. Every once in a while, when something gets so big in places like England or Japan, in seeps into American culture. For instance, The Beatles were such a hit in the UK that when they came over here they exploded. More recent examples include Britain's version of The Office or other BBC broadcasts. Whenever a toy or video game is developed in Japan, it is also often marketed in the U.S.



Q4: How does the concentration of media ownership limit the number of voices in the marketplace? Do we need rules limiting media ownership?

A: Concentration of media ownership means that more of the stories reported will reflect the companies' biases. When just a few companies run the media, they can control what is said and what isn't, as well as their opinions on issues. I do think that we need limits on media ownership so that no company has too much power. If a company gained to much power, they could manipulate how the audiences thought, spoke, and acted. This would mirror an example of propaganda and would be detrimental to society.


Q5:Is their such a thing as a global village? What does this concept mean to you?

A: I do believe there is such a thing as a global village. One of the main components of this village is the internet. Information from events happening all over the country can be accessed by virtually anywhere in the country. The news wire for media corporations helps distribute this information as well, so it can be accessible by the public. Citizens of certain countries are often found working in other countries, or traveling to various locations across the globe. With today's advances in technology, virtually anything is possible when it comes to communicating worldwide.