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Media and American Culture

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Some forms of entertainment media shapes American culture on how they perceive certain things when watched on television. The violence we are exposed to in movies and television is not any different from the violence in people’s actual lives seventy years ago. The only thing that is different is the standards the culture has accepted over the years. An example is husband and wives. Up until the nineteen sixties husbands and wives were not allowed to be shown together in bed. They had to be shown in twin beds and a table in the middle. The Dick van Dyke is a prime example of this because this was what the entertainment media wanted to portray in society then. In the present day sex is more talked about as a culture and the culture has changed to accept it on media. Andy Griffith Show is another example reinforcing values to the culture of its times. This show reinforced values and morals through comedy. The Audience was more likely to treat their neighbors with a little respect versus hating them. Soul Train was a musical show that stood the test of time. It stood the test of time because it was about music and dancing no matter the performer or the content of music played on the show. Musical shows of today have used Soul Trains format but have adjusted to the times but in all kept in mind that there are children watching the programs. American culture has put more than enough trust into entertainment media. The culture allows the entertainment media to provide them with news, entertainment, and in some aspects educational programming. Entertainment media and mass media in a whole has major responsibility and to some degree power. As a culture, Americans should know how the media really works. The media makes billions of dollars through advertising that the people are exposed to. People than go out and but what they were exposed to through the media. There are positive and negative effects of the media on American culture, particularly on teenagers, but there are more negative influences than there are positive ones. Teens, youngsters are in a stage of life where they want to be accepted by their peers, they want to be loved and be successful. The media creates the ideal image of beautiful men and women with all the ingredients of a successful person, you can see it in movies and television. It is a subliminal way to persuade the masses that if you want to be successful and look like them then you have to buy that particular brand or product. A positive influence on the culture is a is a quiz show on education that is getting a lot of attention by the media and gains popularity among your friends and society, you will more likely want to actively participate and watch these quiz shows. These activities are good for the society and will promote literary activities in the youth. The entertainment media is a catalyst for societal behaviors and attitudes. As I alluded to earlier in the paper, I made statements and comparisons of television shows, advertising towards American culture, and how these things impact the culture. The media is responsible for giving the society the news, entertainment, and to act as an educational tool for some and with that responsibility, media outlets are paid billions of dollars to advertise products for different companies and do not have the culture’s best interest in mind. The culture sits and watch what they are told to like and what is wrong or right. It is time that the consumer knows that they have the power and it is time to regain it.

References
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http://www.opinion-maker.org/2011/01/mass-media-and-its-influence-on-society/

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