...Question: What is the importance of media in literature and social (daily) life? Answers: Media and Literature Texts from the English literary canon are often seen as 'pure' literature, as opposed to media texts which are a (necessarily, or potentially) bad influence against which students should be defended. "The aim is to set standards...against which the offerings of the media will appear cut down to size" (Leavis and Thompson) This suggests a clear distinction between the literary tradition and that of popular culture and the media. However, as English teachers will know, books which are now promoted as part of the canon - by authors such as Dickens and Hardy - were originally published in serial form in magazines, complete with cliff-hanging endings to each episode, like those used in television drama and soap opera nowadays. It has been suggested that if Dickens was alive today he would be writing scripts for Brookside rather than novels! Media approaches provide a way of making these connections explicit, enabling students to relate literary texts to their own experience, and to the media with which they themselves are familiar. There are many different ways of using adaptations to aid pupils' understanding of literary texts. One of the most common is comparing the book and the film. However, the English and Media Centre publication Media 1: Years 7-9 warns against simple comparisons of texts and their adaptations, which can lead to detailed lists of differences...
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...It very often that a person turns on a television to watch programmes without really analysing the characters they see in the shows. As viewers, we mostly ingest what we see as pure entertainment. So is not always obvious to us about how certain groups of people are being portrayed in the media, what sort of messages are being implied, or the ramifications that arise from the various representations we see. To conclude how important media representation is to viewers, we have to first understand what media representation is, what is being represented, and how it impacts society and how we perceive what or whom that is represented. In this essay I will focus primarily on the media representation in television and its examples. According to Long and Wall (2009), a definition of media representation is “to describe, or depict something; to call it up in the mind by description, portrayal or imagination. To represent also means to symbolise, to stand for, to be a specimen of or to substitute for” (p.79). In my opinion, television is one of the more impactful media form in representation. Television shows are capable of describing and depicting sceneries and people visually, and special emphasis on sound effects and such help make the scenes more vivid. So it is probably the media format that which communicates to us most straightforwardly. And by doing so, the television easily offers a sneak peak into the lives of various people living across the world, or the beautiful landscapes...
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...Uses and Gratifications: Development and Basic Tenets Research into the reasons why individuals use mass media dates back more than 50 years. Early forms of gratifications research attempted to understand why people used certain media content. In the process, it explored the functions of the media and the role of the audiences' needs and expectations (e.g., Herzog, 1940; Lazarsfeld & Stanton, 1941; Lazarsfeld & Stanton, 1949). These early studies preceded any formal conceptualization of the uses and gratifications paradigm later proposed by Katz, Blumler and Gurevitch (1974) and Rosengren (1974). Instead of asking what effects the media have on individuals and collective audience behavior, the questions were, what are people seeking and what do they believe they are deriving from mass media? According to Katz (1959), "it is the program that asks the question, not 'What do the media do to people?,' but 'What do people do with the media?'" (p. 2). In more familiar terms, "Ask not what the media can do to people, but what the people can do with media." The uses and gratifications paradigm provides one way of conceptualizing the relationship between the producer of messages (sender) and the audience (receiver). It presents a departure from the powerful (direct) effects models of communication research that dominated the field of communication between 1930-1960 and to some extent still dominates the field today. Volumes three and four of the Journal of Communication...
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...The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg in 1450 marked the beginning of what was to become a revolution of knowledge, information, and power around the world. The Church used the press for exactly these reasons, printing thousands of Indulgences to sinners, in an effort no doubt to increase profits, and attendance. Now, nearly 600 years later-the mass media has honed the power of this technology, and become more pervasive than anything humanity has ever encountered. Looking at antiwar movements over the last 60 years, the media has been used to influence the mentality of millions in two very dichotomous ways. Meaning, the media has helped shape public opinion to be either for or against these movements depending on the pressures and demands of the times. Traditionally, print media industry has treated antiwar protestors as if they were disobedient children. In movies such as Across the Universe, protestors are portrayed as young hippies who do not fully understand the rationale and benefits behind war. Often the media presents us with one-sided information that is meant to persuade us to accept a message that we are not familiar. In the case of antiwar protests back in the Vietnam Era, the media while covering the issue equally with government/military administration, often only covered the more colorful aspects of the antiwar movement. While articles have been published about the tendency of the media during this time to be in favor of the antiwar sentiment, many scholars...
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...Media Influences on American Culture Brandy Latham HUM/186 October 17, 2012 Niya Picket-Miller Abstract Media Influences on American Culture This is all about Media Influences on American Culture, I plan on telling you the different developments that has went on during the last century, and how the internet made its way to us. The major development of mass media during the last century is the internet, smart phones, and social networks. What we started with was the oral and written eras in communication. This was the alphabet and written words threw teachers and poets. Then we had commutation and the creation and use of symbol systems that convey information and meaning, like languages, Morse code, and motion pictures. Cultural industries and channels of communication that produce and distribute songs, novels, TV shows, newspapers, movies, internet services, video games and other cultural products to large numbers of people. Also we had the print and revolution, which was developed in china around 100c.e. Then in Germany they invented movable metallic type and the printing press. This spread rapidly across Europe in the late 1400s. Many of the books were large and elaborate and expensive and it took months to illustrate and publish these volumes. They were usually purchased by wealthy aristocrats, royal families, church leaders, and powerful politicians. Gradually, the publishers made the books smaller and more affordable so more people could buy them. ...
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...Influences of Visual Media Paper HUM/176 Professor Craig Bowler There are many forms of visual entertainment readily accessible to us; it has become the primary source of entertainment. Visual entertainment only has not helped shape American culture but also its values. Visual entertainment comes in many forms; whether it is reading a newspaper, magazines, or just watching television. Visual media has many numerous advantages as well as some disadvantages. Advisements are used to target individuals that find their product appealing. This compels viewers to buy the latest technology gadget or to wear the latest fashion clothes. Media has also changed the way we communicate and this has improved our culture in many ways. For example, in the recent years it has been possible to connect on real time with someone across the world through a computer. Now we are able to connect with people through a simple device like the IPhone 4S. The IPhone 4S lets a person talk through face time and allows them to see each other. Visual media has also made a huge impact on young children and teenagers. With all the new artists coming out changing the music and media culture the younger generation is looking up to them more each day. The younger generations view these artists as role models and want to be exactly like them. The music industry has changed media forever. Artists have introduced us to many different cultures...
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...Topic: The advantages and disadvantages of one mass media Writing In the modern twenty-first century, media has played an irreplaceable role of people’s daily life. Among many kinds of mass media like TV, newspaper, books… the Internet stands out to be one of the most important and essential kinds of media, even considered as the most crucial one. The Internet has greatly benefit human in the modern life since the first day of its existence, despite having been existing for only one century, much less than other kind of media, such as the radio and the television, the Internet has proved itself to be very effective, convenient and entertaining to its users. The first to mention is that Information has been made available easily because of this wonderful technology. Search engines, websites dedicated to different subjects and large amount of articles and papers are available for everyone in a matter of few seconds. Whether this information is about the latest news happenings in the world or information about your favorite celebrity, everything is available at your fingertips. With this housing tool of information, people cannot only easily improve their knowledge, but also save much time of reading hundreds of books at the library or doing some exhaustive researches. This enormous amount of information is particularly quite valuable to students who need it for their school subjects and further study in their favorite subjects. Furthermore, now many books are being converted...
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...Violence in the media has been a growing problem ever since the emergence of mass media. You have to wonder how violence has become so prominent in our culture. More minors are being involved in heinous crimes such as murders and armed robberies. Even play on the school ground is getting rougher. There are many factors that play into the increasing violence, such as over population, religious struggles, and race. One factor that plays into the increase of violence would be mass media. Mass media has the power to reach and influence almost every American. Radio, newspaper, and television are all means by which media reaches people. Television however, can be considered the most influential. Ninety-eight percent of Americans have a television in their household. When it first came out it was considered a novelty, there were only a few channels and the signal was not very clear. Now it is available through air broadcast, cable, or satellite. Television has become part of everyday life. With the growing fixation and attraction to violence in the media, children in today’s society are becoming more violent and aggressive. After reading the article "Violent Culture: The Media, the Internet, and Placing Blame," the author brings up the point that the media was turning the focus of blame in Kip Kinkel case on the internet. He cited examples of how easily information about building bombs and guns was to get on the internet. Yes these types of things are easily found on the internet...
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...The Influencing Machine Within the last fifty years, the world of technology has advanced considerably, namely the media. First there was the telegraph, then the radio, the newspaper, magazines, the television, and finally the internet. Today’s society is one that depends on technological communication to keep up with school, work, and relationships. Most people wake up and read the newspaper or watch the news, then spread the knowledge they learned with family, friends, and coworkers. Most of our decisions are based on the things we see and hear in the media. We rely on the media to get the current news and facts about what is important and what we should be aware of. We put our trust in the media as an authority to give us news, entertainment and education. However, the influence of mass media on children and teenagers and society is such a widespread and controversial issue that we should be aware of it. Magazines and television constantly expose young people to images of violence, drugs and alcohol, sex, and celebrities. A child is reportedly exposed to about 40,000 ads of such criteria a year. We are taught at a young age that these things are bad; however, the media companies know that these things sell. Unfortunately, the things that sell corrupt children and teens every day. The influence of media on children and teens extends to health related issues. Television has the power to educate on nutrition and exercise. However, it can influence viewers to make poor food...
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...Jennifer Archuleta Professor Musgrave English 205 December 13, 2011 The Effects of Media on Body Image Imagine growing up in a modern day society. Everywhere you look there are images of beauty, representations of how beautiful people are supposed to look; flawless and thin. You grow up believing that this unattainable image is the only image of beauty. As you look in the mirror and see only flaws in your reflection, you rack your brain of ways to make yourself more beautiful. This becomes your obsession. Your dream is to become a model, but in the very start of your career, a fashion agent tells you that you will have to lose ten pounds in order to find work. This was the beginning of the end for former model and actress Isabelle Caro, just one of the many women affected by the media industry and the negative effects it has on body image. With Isabelle’s obsession to be thin, she battled with anorexia until it ended her life at the young age of twenty seven. In modern culture, a great deal of importance is placed on our looks and body image. This is portrayed by the media through magazine pictures, television advertisements, billboards, and the influence of models and actresses. Although the media affects both men and women, I will be showing how it specifically affects the behaviors, viewpoints, and attitudes of women. The media portrays a beautiful woman as being someone who is thin and flawless. Photographs of models that are posted in magazines are brushed-up, touched-up...
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...Today, the term global village which was coined by McLuhan is mostly used as a metaphor to describe the Internet and World Wide Web. According to McLuhan modern communication technologies such as radio and television globalize communication by allowing users from all levels of society around the world to easily connect with each other and exchange ideas instantaneously. We are to a large extent dependent on regular contact with the new media for information, entertainment ,ideas ,opinions and many other things all of which are connected to our attempt to make sense of who and what we are. The growth in the technology sector is so high that it has made us addicted to it and does not let us function without its presence in our lives. As “McLuhan said that technologies are the extensions of the human body” hence the recent new media technology to be discussed here would be the Internet. Most people, when asked to describe new media, refer almost instantly to the Internet (Lohr, 2003). Internet has made the world a very small and close place to live in where one can be updated with all the major happenings around the world in fraction of seconds. Internet provides us with lot of information on one particular topic and also saves time. No matter what the age or the circumstance would be it is very necessary for people to communicate with each other. Communication is a prerequisite for each activity. However, when considering newer automated communication systems, the...
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...Understanding Media and Culture Essay Paige Pleasant HUM/186 November 21, 2013 Lisa Smith Understanding Media and Culture American culture has gone through drastic changes in the last century. Americans have not only created new ways to reach a vast audience but also have continually updated and maintained means of broadcasting different types of media across the globe. Each new and updated development has played a significant role in the reshaping of America over the past 100 years. Furthermore, the term media convergence and how it has affected everyday life is important to understand as it has contributed its own piece to why and how Americans act the way they do. In the last century, American culture has evolved in accordance with its influence of the major developments of mass media and with media convergence. One major development that has evolved in the last century is the printing press. In the mid-fifteenth century media was hand written in books. Soon after the printing press was created, media was produced more quickly, was less expensive, and each copy was printed the same as the original. Later, Friedrich Koenig connected the printing press to a steam engine that duplicated printable media faster than ever before (19). The telegraph was the first means of sending and receiving messages electronically. No matter the distance, Americans had been presented with a much quicker and simpler form of sending and receiving messages...
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...Chapter 1 1) Criss Jamie states, “Just because something isn't a lie does not mean that it isn't deceptive. A liar knows that he is a liar, but one who speaks mere portions of truth in order to deceive is a craftsman of destruction.” No matter what form of communication or means we employ our ability to understand the message, the process, and manufacture an accurate, clear, and mindful message are required. Rather than deceive and destroy, whether we encode or decode in mass communication, we have a responsibility to be true rather than deceive and build rather than destroy. This brings me to the three most important terms media literacy, the third-person effect, and technological determinism. Our proficient understanding of any form of media is important because it cultivates our interpretations and views. Media literacy encompasses many elements and skills without them we are not capable of responsible communications. Second, the third-person effect is very dangerous especially when we overestimate the effect of a media message on others and under estimate the effect on our self. If we do not recognize the influence of a certain media message, our vulnerability to it is increased. In order to be objective, we need to recognize the influence of media on us as individuals so we can overcome this influence and objectively comprehend or compose a communication. Lastly, technological determinism not only changes how we do business, but also develops our intellect and transforms...
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...Individual Week One Assignment Elizabeth Reyes HUM/186 July 2, 2013 Tracy Zampaglione Effects of Mass Media Even though unnoticed, the major developments of mass media during the last century have had a major influence in our culture while media convergence has affected our everyday life. The progresses we have seen during the past century are telegraph communications, photographic technologies, and personal computers that were on the rise rapidly. Today’s culture grabs distinct technologies to share tasks and resources, in short terms, media convergence (Lule 2012). A main advancement that paved the way for other infrastructures is telegraph communication. This level of work made a way to make it easier to communicate that according to Lule (2012), communication was no longer linked to the physical transportation of messages… Suddenly, information from distant places was nearly as accessible as local news. Lule (2012) also described how those telegraph line turned into thier version of the World Wide Web. Using telegraph communication led into the advancements in wireless communications. That improvement made a smooth transition into radio, television, and other broadcast Medias. Not long after this advancement, this allowed media networks, for example, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) to dominate the airways (Lule, 2012). Once these inventions and new methods were constructed, they immediately...
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...CHALLENGE THE MEDIA Table of Contents: Introduction Testimonials Websites Activity Article: Media and Girls Books and Reports Take Action 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 End the Sexualization of Girls and Young Women in Mainstream Media Children are exposed to a barrage of sexual and violent images through mainstream and other media. As children gain more access to media through technology such as phones and computers, the time per day that children are exposed to images is increasing. The average high school student spends as much as 8-10 hours a day with some type of media, according to recent findings from the Geena Davis Institute. Studies estimate that counting all ads, logos, labels, and announcements a child is exposed to 16,000 images in one day. (Youth Media Reporter 2009). Media and Violence Against Women Often, media such as TV, commercials, movies, music lyrics, and even Halloween costumes, sexually exploits girls and young women; and it perpetuates unhealthy and unrealistic stereotypical portrayals of both young men and women. Sexually violent material can contribute to a social climate in which violence against women is more accepted. According to several studies by the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls (2007), men and women exposed to sexually objectifying and violent images of women from mainstream media were more accepting of rape myths, sexual harassment, sex role stereotypes, and interpersonal violence. Such structures of violence allow violence against...
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