The Influence of Media on Society
Escaping the media and their influence is impossible. Everywhere one turns, a different form of the media is conveying a message to the world about what normalcy is and/or should be. As Douglas Kellner, author of "Cultural Studies, Multiculturalism and Media Culture" writes, they "provide materials out of which we forge our very identities, our sense of selfhood; our notion of what it means to be male or female; our sense of class, of ethnicity and race, of nationality, of sexuality" (Kellner 5). It is a proven fact that watching television is America's leisure activity of choice (Harris 1), therefore, these images are very often seen by the American people. MTV, Nickelodeon, HBO, Comedy Central, ABC, these stations and many more, offer programs that include stereotypes of some sort. More often than not, these stereotypes have negative connotations attached. The term "dominant ideologies" is used in Kellner's article to describe the ideologies that make "inequali
For example, in the popular HBO sitcom, Sex in the City, the main characters are all white, mid-upper class females. The media respond to those who either will, or will not tune in. I am, by no means, a researcher of any sort, but I can relate this article's findings to those that I have previously read and make a connection. This show has increasingly high ratings, yet the characters mainly all fit the stereotypical "white female" ideals. They old saying goes, "Change is good," and while I agree, it may not be easy. Society has not been exposed to much diversity through the air waves, and accepting, even liking this change is not something that is looked at as being very easy. The media industy is based largely on revenues and is therefore driven to satisfy it's viewing public. Without in-depth observation and research, many may not realize the impact the media has. ties and subordination appear natural and just and thus induce consent to relations of domination" (Kellner 7). I feel that it is important for people to be informed and to want to change these often negative images/stereotypes portrayed. Seinfeld, Friends, Frasier, Caroline in the City, Alley McBeal, all of these shows hold the prime time spots, yet seem to portray mainly white, mid-upper class characters. Never before had a homosexual relationship been used in this manner, and when the show called for the relationship to be seen as somewhat of a normal "trend," viewers panicked. It seems as though the media are trying to change this trend by adding more African American based sitcoms, though the ratings do not seem to equal or compete with the already existing White based shows. Ellen, a popular sitcom that stared Ellen Degenerous, caused quite an outrage to viewers, who turned off the show, causing it come off the air. It is and most likely will continue to be a driving force in many people's lives.
Common topics in this essay:
Ellen Degenerous,
Media Culture,
Central ABC,
Alley McBeal,
Sex City,
,
African American,
Douglas Kellner,
seen television,
white mid-upper,
mid-upper class,
white mid-upper class,
dominant ideologies,
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