The power of media

    Today's readings, and a lot of other's we have read this semester, serve to highlight the power that seemingly harmless media can have over American society. It is this power that I want to focus on for my blog post.
    For years, there has been ambiguity as to the effects that television and video games have on those who prescribe to them. Are we able to view these in a vacuum? Are we able to see them independent from reality, truly as entertainment and games? While I would love to think yes, the more I see in this course, the more apparent it becomes that media serves as systemic conditioning and training, whether we want to accept it or not.
    And what's most scary is that the producers know exactly what they are doing, and exactly what their television shows are capable of. The Douglas reading speaks of how the creators of 90210 specifically targeted the teenage demographic with their show. Paying very little attention to the degrading messages that the show projected, they purposefully targeted the most impressionable age group in the country. Children and teenagers are profoundly affected by everything around them, as that is the time when they are forming habits, moral codes, and beliefs. As the show captivated teenagers all over the country, it instilled within them beliefs concerning what they should be and how they should act that were simply incorrect.

    Yet there are so many artists and famous individuals that choose to use the allure of fame and media for good. An example I like to use is Lady Gaga's "Born this Way", which harnessed her fame to spread a message of acceptance and love. This offers such a stark contrast to 90210, in that popularity in the case of "Born this Way" was used in a completely different, constructive rather than destructive way.
    The take home message is that people need to realize the power and responsibility that are associated with being a part of any type of media that will be viewed by others. It needs to be recognized that somewhere in this country, a child will see that piece of media and model some aspect of their life after it. It is the responsibility of those who create media to ensure that however that modeling takes place, it is for the good of the child and society rather than destructive to everyone.