Movie theaters, newspaper stands, magazine racks, news and radio stations, billboards, television, Redbox, iTunes, Pandora, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, blogs, texting, emails, and commercials. How many of these have enticed you in the last day? The last hour? The last minute?
After all, you are currently viewing a blog.
Mass media is unavoidable. It exists in every facet of society, and unquestionably impacts the thoughts, actions, and values of the public. This influence can be for good or for bad; we exist to explore the issue.
Every two to four years, a group of highly-esteemed individuals attempt to showcase their talents and resumes to the American people. They seek to rise above the rest through the glorified portrayal of themselves. Whether it is for small mayor elections or for the emotionally fuelled presidential campaigns, candidates regularly use the media to urge the voters to make careful decisions. Basically, candidates want voters to vote for them, and only for them.
The above video depicts a televised presidential ad advocating Lyndon Johnson for president. It seems to have been a success since he became president that year in 1963. That was about forty years ago. Are televised campaign ads still effective in our society today?
In a recent paper written by Jonathan S. Krasno from Binghamton University and Donald P. Green from Yale University titled “Do Televised Presidential Ads Increase Voter Turnout? Evidence from a Natural Experiment”, they claim that “campaign ads have a greater impact in less informed respondents than on well informed ones…the effect of campaign ads on turnout does not vary with political information” (Krasno and Green 247). The result: television ads had minimal effect on voter turnout in the 2000 general elections. How then does media play a role in campaigns and elections?
As part of the rising generation, televisions seem almost old-fashioned. Facebook, YouTube, MySpace, Twitter, Tumblr, and other social media are beginning to replace the seemingly old-dated technology. In an article on Science Daily written by Dr. Paul Haridakis, he states that social media “will play a significant role in persuading the electorate” (Kent State University, “Social Media And Presidential Election”). Social media played a significant role in the 2008 election. Haridakis adds in the article that “information gleaned from…social networks may be the information [people] find most credible and persuasive” because the people “listen to their buddy on his MySpace page, not necessarily the traditional messengers that candidates employ” (Kent State University, “Social Media And Presidential Election”). Candidates have to get a grasp of this technology if they want to reach out to the American people more effectively.
Social media is seems to be extremely effective in helping campaigns. Whether or not the candidatesuse it to its potential is another story.
Works Cited
Kent State University. “Social Media And Presidential Election: Impact of YouTube,
All throughout time, women have faced the challenge of conforming to a certain body appearance in a judgmental world. In the 1900s, women were valued for their tiny mid-sections. During WWII, women had to be strong and fit while the men were off at war. After the men returned home, the women adopted fancy dresses that fit their curves (see fig. 1).
Fig. 1: Ex. of a model from the 50s
Dahl-Wolfe, Louise. Mary Jane Russell. 1950. Photograph. Museum Ludwig Cologne. 20th Century Photography.
During the 1960s, women wanted equality in society; they dressed like men and embraced the thin body structure (Derenne). Today, media advertisements, magazines, movies, and television shows all portray women in a certain way –thin (see fig. 2)!
Most women feel like they need to measure up to society’s standards through extreme weight loss. In contrast, some women believe that weight loss is not influenced by the media. Therefore, we will explore different views to determine that changes in eating are –indeed— due to the examples set by mass media.
Fig. 2: Current ex. of a model ad for BCBG
Overton, Melissa. BCBG Max Azria.2009.
Photograph. Lipman, Inc.
First, women’s eating habits are influenced by the media. In a special experiment, women were tested to prove such a hypothesis: when presented with ads that showed rail-thin models, the participating women would chose to eat a diet-based snack rather than a normal-based snack (Krahe’ & Krause). As expected, diet-based snacks were more appealing to the women because of their desire to look like the models in the ads.
Second, some women present the counterargument that media does not affect the body. Naomi Hooke, an anorexia survivor, argues that, “Oftenthe reasons for denying oneself food are depression, anxiety,andthefearofbeingseenasasexual humanbeing” (Hooke). Argumentatively, Eugene Beresin, co-director at Harvard Medical School Center, says that, “Ratesofsomeeatingdisordersinwomen,suchasanorexianervosaandbulimianervosa, arerising…the reasons for this are complex and likely involve the interplay of media pressure to be thin… dietary restriction leads to a repetitive pattern of self-deprivation” (Beresin). So currently, starvation is most likely due to self-dissatisfaction with the subject’s own body.
With the proven experiments and essays, we are able to see that the media has a negative impact on a woman’s body despite some differing personal opinions and counterarguments. We constantly see this throughout the news and in our daily lives. Women are consistently trying to change because of pressure from society about their body shapes. We shouldn’t let the media influence the way we look if we are content with our health, lives, and bodies.
Works Cited
Beresin, Eugene, and Jennifer Derenne. “The Body Image Presented by the Media Promotes Disordered Eating.”Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Greenhaven Press, 2010. Web. 1 Nov. 2010.
Hooke, Naomi. “Fashion is not to Blame for Anorexia.” Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Greenhaven Press, 2010. Web. 1 Nov. 2010.
Krahe, Barbara, and Christina Krause. “Presenting Thin Media Models Affects Women’s Choice of Diet or Normal Snacks.” Psychology of Women Quarterly 34.3 (2010): 349-355. Web. 1 Nov. 2011.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Stereotypes in Movies
Have you noticed that your favorite stars repeatedly play similar roles? Or that women typically star in “traditional” women roles, like damsels in distress? The film industry is overflowing with stereotypes, limiting performers and women even more so.
Fig. 1 After growing up on the Harry Potter set, Radcliffe cannot leave Potter behind.
Close, Murray and Mountain, Peter. A Boy and His Films Grows Up
Before Your Eyes. 2007. Photograph. Warner Brothers Pictures.
Actresses and actors are often defined by one type of role, exemplified by Anne Hathaway and Daniel Radcliffe. Hathaway got her start in princess movies and soon realized that “doing tiara flicks, people don’t take you seriously!” (Hathaway). She found it impossible to land any other genre of film until she auditioned under the disguise of “an unknown theater actress from New York” (Hathaway) so directors would not judge her princess background. Radcliffe similarly found it hard “to break free of the mold that Harry Potter had cast him in,” finally playing an oversexed youthin a film to prove he was not a little kid anymore (Radcliffe) (see Fig. 1).Although there are a small number of stars like Jennifer Garner who kicks butt in Alias one minute and stars in a chick flick the next, most of the film industry is filled with performers repeatedly stereotyped in the same roles, like Jennifer Aniston and Meg Ryan in romantic films and Orlando Bloom in “good-guy” roles.
Fig. 2 This war movie is anything but a chick flick.
The Hurt Locker Poster #9. 2009. Photograph. Concept Arts.
Despite many successful female artists, actresses and the people they portray are dominated by male influence.In films “females are marginalized or non-existent, as the boys take over the screen in everything from the Muppet movies to Robin Hood and Peter Pan… Where female[s]… have the lead, as with…Ariel and Belle, their roles are traditional” (Robertson). In most films, men are dynamic power holders, while women are stereotyped as damsels or supporting characters. Further, last year Kathryn Bigelow was the first female to win best director, for her war film The Hurt Locker (see Fig.2). After a century of filmmaking, she is the only woman awarded this honor. Furthermore, many see her as breaking “the stereotypes of women only being able to direct romantic or innocent movies,” but much must still be done to further the influence of women in the film industry (“Women and Hollywood”).
Stereotypes dominate filmmaking, limiting performers and women in particular. The stereotypes prevent performers from realizing their full potential and promote sexism. Both accounts are discrimination, something Americans have fought against for countless years. Action must be taken to stop these restrictive stereotypes to promote true equality.
Works Cited
Hathaway, Anne. "INTERVIEW: Anne Hathaway on 'Brokeback Mountain' ." Interview by
As social creatures, humans have an ardent need to communicate with one another. The advancement of technology has brought with it multiple modes in which to satisfy this innate desire. A popular method of contact is the convenient text; however, excessive text messaging has a negative impact on the physical and social well being of our society.
Fig. 1: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "Wish You Were Here" Digital image.LDS.org.
The New Era, July 2088. Web. 5 Nov. 2011.
Teens and young adults are forgetting how to communicate face-to-face. For many, texting is much easier than talking in person because it requires less effort in regards to emotional engagement and sophisticated vocabulary. In fact, “Many young people would rather exchange text messages than have a conversation the old-fashioned way: chatting on the phone, or even talking in person” (Gormly). Not only is the rising generation losing vocalizing skill because of the preference for texting, they are also trivializing relationship-building activities (see fig. 1). It has become such a constant compulsion that many people text during important events like family dinners, school, meetings, and even weddings! The future does not look bright for personal or vocal communication, which has been a cornerstone of worldwide communities for millennia.
Fig. 2: Texting while driving. Digital image. Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyers Blog. Victor J. Faenza,
3 Sept. 2009. Web. 4 Nov. 2011.
Moreover, texting is placing our physical health in the path of danger. Texting while driving is often the first hazard that comes to mind (see fig. 2). “In 2009, more than 5,000 people were killed and nearly 450,000 were injured nationwide due to distracted driving accidents” (Reinke). Clearly, the inclination to text while driving is a public health concern. Additionally, texting has the potential to disrupt sleep patterns because the silent conversations are easy to extend late into the night even when a roommate is sleeping five feet away. Also, many people use their cell phone as an alarm in the morning, so they do not mute their phones at night, and there is a “constant ding of …incoming message[s]” (Fortenberry) when one is trying to rest. Doctors have warned that lack of sleep increases a person’s likelihood to develop depression, anxiety, and even drug abuse (Fortenberry).
In summary, although the ability to use text to quickly communicate with others can be useful, serious consequences can result from unchecked amounts of texting. Reliance on socializing through text will lead to restricted face-to-face interaction skills, and distracting messages are likely to cause health risks. If only texters would realize how important it is to back away from excessive use of this technology, society would be physically safer and socially stronger.
Works Cited
Fortenberry, Ted. "Consider This: Teen Texting." WMBFNews.com
WMBFNews, 3 Nov. 2011. Web. 03 Nov. 2011.
Gormley, Kellie B."Do u text 2 much? Teens losing face-to-face communication skills." Pittsburgh Tribune-Review[Pittsburgh, PA] 24 Aug. 2009. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 2 Nov. 2011.
Reinke, Joseph J. "Texting Teens Lead Distracted Driving Trend." U.S. Politics Today. EIN
