Questioning the media ch. 11

Q2:  Why are so many people critical of advertising?

A:  Advertising in today's society has had many affects on the way people look at themselves.  It has a tendency to control peoples actions and motives when looking for particular products.  It also exposes the vulnerabilities that lie inside people.  Children are among the most influenced by advertisements.  People tend to be so critical of advertising because it has such a controling affect.  Many people feel that something unavoidable shouldn't have such an influence on society.  It gives people ideas of how people should look, what they should eat, and what their motives in life should be.  Many people feel that these values at stake should not be compromised by for the sake of others greed.

Q4:  Should advertising aimed at children be regulated?  Why or why not?

A:  I think that advertising aimed at children should be regulated.  At a young age, people are unable to distinguish fact from reality.  Children perceive everything they see or are told as real and have trouble using good judgment.  If an advertisement on television is appealing to a child, they will do whatever they can to get their parents to get whatever is being marketed.  Without regulation, children may be convinced to partake in questionable activities, or have superficial thoughts engrained into their heads.  As long as products marketed towards children are in their best interest there should be no problem.  However, when things such as alcohol, tobacco, or sex are involved in anything that may be deemed as appealing to children, it is not right.  Children should only be exposed to harmless and monitored media.

Q6:  Would you be in favor of regular advertising on public television and radio as a means of financial support for these media?  Explain your answer.

A:  I do feel that advertising in public media is necessary.  In order for media to receive adequate funding, they must sell their empty space.  Television and radio rely heavily on this kind of income.  Money from advertising goes towards quality production of programs, which draws viewers, and in turn causes companies to compete for space.  This benefits everyone.  The audiences get what they tune in for, the producers profit, and the advertisers draw customers.  This circle of production, self perpetuates itself.  Personally, I feel that this proves to be very healthy for the economy.  It gets people spending money, and satisfied with entertainment at the same time.

Questioning the Media 1

Q: Using music or television as an example, identify a performer or program you once liked but began to dislike as you grew older and your tastes changed.  Why do you think this happened?  Do you think your early interests in popular music or television have had an impact on shaping your identity?

 

A:  Way back in the day, Power Rangers came on the air, and for some reason I was enamored by the violence and unrealistic concepts presented by the teenagers in colored costumes.  Aside from the strong influence of my parents not to watch the show, I believe as I approached the early stages of grade school I realized the superficiality that was involved.  The terrible acting and cheesy effects lost their appeal to my maturing mind.  Eventually I discontinued my Power Ranger karate kicks in the outfield during my tee ball games, and went on to engage in a normal baseball career.  Luckily I grew out of this media influenced state of mind and it did not end up shaping my identity.

 Q: Make a critical case either defending or condemning Comedy Central’s South Park, a TV talk show, professional wrestling, a hip hop group, a soap opera, or TV news coverage of the US occupation of Iraq.  Use the 5-step process to develop your position.

A:   Comedy Central's South Park is a cartoon comedy about a bunch of kids and their families in small town Colorado.  It employs  satirical situations with mature comedy in attempts to bring a sense of relief to real life issues and current events.  It often sets up kids getting in to unrealistic mischief and causing problems on a larger scale than they would actually be capable of.  Its this element that brings humor to the show and causes the viewer to often realize the humor that people in society unconsciously bring about.  I feel this type of expression is important to a society in order to realize the rights wrongs and stupid decisions we all make.  Therefore I believe South Park positive and not just cartoon nonsense.  It employs an educated look into simple minds and portrays the uses its popular comic style as a key way to convey the writers opinion to viewers. 

Q:  Although in some ways postmodern forms of communication, such as email, MTV and CNN, have helped citizens participate in global life, in what ways might these forms harm more traditional or native cultures?

 

News networks and forms of electronic and digital media can alert citizens with breaking updates twenty-four seven and at the convenience of virtually anywhere they fancy.  Indeed these forms of communication have helped transform our culture into a learning age for all.  But what happens when some things are not supposed to be learned?  And where do traditional values get lost?  The media has a habit of rubbing its own commercialized thoughts off on other viewers- especially the naive.  And when traditional and native cultures see these images of scantily clothed individuals doing provocative dances on MTV, they may begin to question their own clothing and rituals.  With this great traditions can be lost  and values be destroyed because the new generations will want to emulate these actions in order to fit in with the surrounding societies.