By further reading of my colleagues' blogs, I'm become more and more impressed by so many different problems and ideas raised within their posts.
Two blogs that I found very interesting are Baia's and Lenka's. What those two blogs have in common is a very professional look and very simple coordination within blog. Baia writes about Sex in Media and she mentions "Sexting" as one of the contemporary problems among youth. Her analysis of the problem is very interesting, especially because we are all witnesses of the existence of that specific problem, but we never categorized it as such. So, take some time and read some of her posts, you definitely won't regret it. Here is the link
Lenka, on the other hand, is concerned with Social Networks and their effect on people. One of her posts that I find especially interesting is the procedure of deleting Facebook profile. She wrote that post from her personal experience what makes it even more trustworthy. The problem of Facebook keeping our data for as long as possible is very serious and worth our attention. Read her posts here
Another blog I would definitely recommend because of its occupation with a very serious topic is Viviana's. She writes about Brainwashing coming from advertising. She claims that it cannot control us and she gives several very good reasons to make us realize it. Check it out here
There are many other blogs definitely worth seeing, but not much time to check them out so I'm leaving some more recommendations for one of the next posts :)
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Personal Recommendations Part 1
While reading some of the blogs from my classmates, I found several really interesting and informative topics which might interest most of bloggers.
The first blog I would like to recommend is by Nathalie. She writes about media violence. Anybody would firstly think of it as a pretty common topic, but I must say I was surprised when I read some of her posts. She analyses the topic in many details and brings innovative ideas and information. Take some time and visit her blog: link
Next blog that I visited was by Pete. He writes about the rise of modern media which presents a threat to traditional media. He found some statistics which testify about the real danger of disappearance of written media. I was very impressed with statistics and his blog in general so if you are interested in that topic, visit link
Since there were so many diverse topics we discussed during Media and Society this semester, there are also many blogs concerned with wide spectrum of topics. After Media Violence and Rise of Modern Media, I would like to recommend some more blogs which are also definitely worth visiting.
One of those blogs is Sanja's. She writes about another common topic on untypical way which is what actually makes her blog worth checking out. Changed body image in one of the biggest negative media effects, but the first association mostly goes to problems with female population while males are struggling exactly the same problem. Anyway, she raises that issue and it is definitely worth reading. It changed my perception of the problem so it might have similar influence on you too :) Here is the link
The last (but not least) blog I would like to recommend for now is by Tatia. She writes about Portrayal of women in the media. One of the very interesting things is discrimination of elderly and she analyses the problem in detail so I would definitely advice you to visit her blog and enjoy some good reading :) Here is the link
I truly hope that all of you find these blogs as interesting as I did, together with some more which I'm planning on recommending in my next post. Until then, enjoy :)
Photos:
Check It out. Photograph. Web. 22 May 2010. link
Smiley. Photograph. Web. 22 May 2010. link
Thumbs Up. Photograph. Web. 22 May 2010. link
Sunday, May 16, 2010
"There is one other business where the customer is always wrong and that's the media." By Rush Limbaugh
In order to discuss a topic such as deindividuation, it is necessary to clearly define the term it consists of such as individuality or identity. I can give you many definitions that I found on Internet, but can either of them describe and overwhelm the term correctly? Not really, but just to get an idea, here is what Dictionary.com says:
“The particular character or aggregate of qualities, that distinguishes one person or thing from others; sole and personal nature: a person of marked individuality.”
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So, this individuality I’m mentioning in all of my posts is somehow being largely influenced nowadays. Since we are exposed to media more than any generation before us, can we blame the media for stealing our identity and placing us in groups with other people who share just one our interests, for ‘deindividuating’ us? Well, there surely is a connection between society in the past and today, especially since the media became pretty aggressive, but the real influence is actually discussable.
When I was 7, I had to go to bed at 8. I was allowed to watch a cartoon at 7.30 and then go to sleep. When I was 12, I was allowed to be awake until 9, during weekends until 10. What I am trying to say here is that I was somehow protected from being raised by the media. I still had a chance to be a child, to go out and play and talk to my friends about different dancing tricks I learned.
Today, when I take a walk, I rarely see kids playing outside. Even if there are some, boys are talking loudly about a new video game and shooting around with imaginary guns and girls are busy with their cell phones. I feel sad because I can see that the people they were supposed to become are erased from their future. Their individual personality is prevented even before it started developing. Is this an example of a stolen individuality? I would say yes.
Being a teenager is one of the most difficult life periods for both parent and a teenager. Also, it is the time of growing up, becoming an adult and preparing for that period. Teenager is always right, he or she knows everything and doesn’t need anyone’s help. Still, they seek help in teenage magazines.
It is one of the factors that we do not really think about much, but it is very important. Those teenage magazines teach them how to behave in a relationship, what to do when your boyfriend/girlfriend is cheating on you, how to trick you parents, how to cheat at school, how to be famous... So, my point is that a girl or a boy who is in a state of a doubt among certain topic is likely to take advice from one of those magazines although his or her opinion is different.
They are afraid to do what they want so it is always easier to do what is ‘normal’, what everybody else does. Looking at teenage magazine covers, it is shocking how many things in a teenage life they are trying to regulate. Starting with clothes, they define what is good (‘in’), and what is not, which haircut is embarrassing and which one is trendy. Anybody who stands out seem to be old-fashioned and ‘out’. So, behave the way we tell you or don’t have friends. Another example of a stolen individuality? In my opinion – yes.
Since magazines are partly forgotten and left behind, young people today are mostly concerned with internet. That became our social playground. It is a place to communicate, to educate, to play and so on. The question is would we become different people if we did not have Internet to tell us what to do, how to spend out free time or how to spend money? Well, the answer is more than just one. We can say that Internet changed us and that it helped us realize who we are and what we want but at the same time it prevented us from becoming someone else. We became part of the mass, part of the big group of people sharing the same opinion and we are more or less the same. Okay, this would be hasty generalization, but it is still partly true, especially for small places and towns where you don’t have much choice but to listen to media and try to follow what is going on. Otherwise, you will not be accepted, no matter how smart, gifted or talented you are. Stealing individuality? Yes once again.
I could proceed and write another 700 words about this topic, but I believe my point was proven. Still, each story should be observed from different perspectives, so should this one.
Can we really blame media for existing and taking away our uniqueness? We can consider it responsible, but not guilty. Still, we are the ones who should choose. The media is all around us and it is true that it is almost impossible do defend ourselves, but this is the condition that we created. Humans. Nobody else but us. So are we cursed or blessed to live in a world where media plays such an important role? Hm. Both probably.
It is the time of high information accessibility so it needs to have influence on us. Whether it is going to be positive or negative, we should decide, but this exact point is what is influenced the most – our ability to choose.
Yes to media, no to deindividuation.
Bibliography
Media Quotes. "Media Quotes."Famous Quotes and Quotations at BrainyQuote. Brainy Media, n.d. Web. 16 May 2010.
Hamley, Katherine. "Media Use in Identity Construction."Prifysgol Aberystwyth / Aberystwyth University. Aberystwyth University, n.d. Web. 16 May 2010.
Raezler, Colleen . "Some in Media Say ‘No’ to Promoting Hook Ups." Welcome to Culture and Media Institute. Culture and Media Institute, 21 Apr. 2010. Web. 16 May 2010..
Place, John. "Have You Fallen for these 7 Negative Attitudes Pushed by the Media? ."Purpose, Meaning, Accomplishment, Success, Happiness -- John Place Online . com. N.p., 10 Aug. 2007. Web. 16 May 2010.
“The particular character or aggregate of qualities, that distinguishes one person or thing from others; sole and personal nature: a person of marked individuality.”
.jpg)
So, this individuality I’m mentioning in all of my posts is somehow being largely influenced nowadays. Since we are exposed to media more than any generation before us, can we blame the media for stealing our identity and placing us in groups with other people who share just one our interests, for ‘deindividuating’ us? Well, there surely is a connection between society in the past and today, especially since the media became pretty aggressive, but the real influence is actually discussable.
When I was 7, I had to go to bed at 8. I was allowed to watch a cartoon at 7.30 and then go to sleep. When I was 12, I was allowed to be awake until 9, during weekends until 10. What I am trying to say here is that I was somehow protected from being raised by the media. I still had a chance to be a child, to go out and play and talk to my friends about different dancing tricks I learned.
Today, when I take a walk, I rarely see kids playing outside. Even if there are some, boys are talking loudly about a new video game and shooting around with imaginary guns and girls are busy with their cell phones. I feel sad because I can see that the people they were supposed to become are erased from their future. Their individual personality is prevented even before it started developing. Is this an example of a stolen individuality? I would say yes.
Being a teenager is one of the most difficult life periods for both parent and a teenager. Also, it is the time of growing up, becoming an adult and preparing for that period. Teenager is always right, he or she knows everything and doesn’t need anyone’s help. Still, they seek help in teenage magazines.
It is one of the factors that we do not really think about much, but it is very important. Those teenage magazines teach them how to behave in a relationship, what to do when your boyfriend/girlfriend is cheating on you, how to trick you parents, how to cheat at school, how to be famous... So, my point is that a girl or a boy who is in a state of a doubt among certain topic is likely to take advice from one of those magazines although his or her opinion is different.
They are afraid to do what they want so it is always easier to do what is ‘normal’, what everybody else does. Looking at teenage magazine covers, it is shocking how many things in a teenage life they are trying to regulate. Starting with clothes, they define what is good (‘in’), and what is not, which haircut is embarrassing and which one is trendy. Anybody who stands out seem to be old-fashioned and ‘out’. So, behave the way we tell you or don’t have friends. Another example of a stolen individuality? In my opinion – yes.
Since magazines are partly forgotten and left behind, young people today are mostly concerned with internet. That became our social playground. It is a place to communicate, to educate, to play and so on. The question is would we become different people if we did not have Internet to tell us what to do, how to spend out free time or how to spend money? Well, the answer is more than just one. We can say that Internet changed us and that it helped us realize who we are and what we want but at the same time it prevented us from becoming someone else. We became part of the mass, part of the big group of people sharing the same opinion and we are more or less the same. Okay, this would be hasty generalization, but it is still partly true, especially for small places and towns where you don’t have much choice but to listen to media and try to follow what is going on. Otherwise, you will not be accepted, no matter how smart, gifted or talented you are. Stealing individuality? Yes once again.
I could proceed and write another 700 words about this topic, but I believe my point was proven. Still, each story should be observed from different perspectives, so should this one.
Can we really blame media for existing and taking away our uniqueness? We can consider it responsible, but not guilty. Still, we are the ones who should choose. The media is all around us and it is true that it is almost impossible do defend ourselves, but this is the condition that we created. Humans. Nobody else but us. So are we cursed or blessed to live in a world where media plays such an important role? Hm. Both probably.
It is the time of high information accessibility so it needs to have influence on us. Whether it is going to be positive or negative, we should decide, but this exact point is what is influenced the most – our ability to choose.
Yes to media, no to deindividuation.
Bibliography
Media Quotes. "Media Quotes."Famous Quotes and Quotations at BrainyQuote. Brainy Media, n.d. Web. 16 May 2010.
Hamley, Katherine. "Media Use in Identity Construction."Prifysgol Aberystwyth / Aberystwyth University. Aberystwyth University, n.d. Web. 16 May 2010.
Raezler, Colleen . "Some in Media Say ‘No’ to Promoting Hook Ups." Welcome to Culture and Media Institute. Culture and Media Institute, 21 Apr. 2010. Web. 16 May 2010.
Place, John. "Have You Fallen for these 7 Negative Attitudes Pushed by the Media? ."Purpose, Meaning, Accomplishment, Success, Happiness -- John Place Online . com. N.p., 10 Aug. 2007. Web. 16 May 2010.
Useful sources :)
The field of media is nowadays one of the fields that are being explored the most. There are many articles concerning this topic and giving it positive as well as negative attributes.
I would like to recommend several web pages that I find very interesting to read and explore.
The first one is Media Research center. This is an organization established in 1987 whose goal is to fight media bias. As the web page states, “the mission of the Media Research Center is to bring balance and responsibility to the news media”. It might not directly correlate to my topic, but much information disposable on this web page might help us prevent stealing our identity and individuality.
Although the organization is concerned with what happens in USA, I find it very interesting because there are many interesting articles and stands among actual events occupying worldwide events.
Besides articles, MRC offers subscription to different newsletters, their annual reports, different discussions among politics, diverse columns and they also annually give The Dishonor Award which goes to “most outrageously biased liberal reporters as selected by a distinguished panel of leading media observers” (www.mediaresearch.org).
So, if you are interested in influence of the media, visit: http://www.mrc.org/public/default.aspx
Since there is a wide choice of sources today which might help us create our opinion or maybe change it, I would like to recommend a web page which has great number of articles coming from different newspapers and magazines all around the world. It is possible to find articles concerning almost every field. There are categories according to which it is possible to sort search results so finding the right article seems to be very helpful.
I personally found many articles which helped me developing my topic and support in better. Also, the web page provides many case studies and newsletters for those who are interested in one specific field.
Here is the address: http://findarticles.com/
The next page I would like to recommend is actually a forum, but I think it is very useful because it is the place where people express their opinion and that is exactly what actually matters today. While doing research for my topic, I found this page and there was a post with comments below which helped me think about many different perspectives of this topic.
The page I’m recommending is called College.net and it is made for current and future college students. They can create profiles, discuss ideas, earn scholarships.. I believe it is very useful and definitely worth checking out. This is what the page guarantees:
“Our site is 100% supported by advertisers and scholarship sponsors. CollegeNET respects your data privacy and does not sell your personal data.”
Good enough? :)
Here is the link:
http://www.collegenet.com/elect/app/app?service=external/Forum&sp=3874
This is where I found some interesting information. If you want to check the page for your interest, here is the Home link:
http://www.collegenet.com/elect/app/app?service=page/Home
Enjoy!
I would like to recommend several web pages that I find very interesting to read and explore.
The first one is Media Research center. This is an organization established in 1987 whose goal is to fight media bias. As the web page states, “the mission of the Media Research Center is to bring balance and responsibility to the news media”. It might not directly correlate to my topic, but much information disposable on this web page might help us prevent stealing our identity and individuality.
Although the organization is concerned with what happens in USA, I find it very interesting because there are many interesting articles and stands among actual events occupying worldwide events.
Besides articles, MRC offers subscription to different newsletters, their annual reports, different discussions among politics, diverse columns and they also annually give The Dishonor Award which goes to “most outrageously biased liberal reporters as selected by a distinguished panel of leading media observers” (www.mediaresearch.org).
So, if you are interested in influence of the media, visit: http://www.mrc.org/public/default.aspx
Since there is a wide choice of sources today which might help us create our opinion or maybe change it, I would like to recommend a web page which has great number of articles coming from different newspapers and magazines all around the world. It is possible to find articles concerning almost every field. There are categories according to which it is possible to sort search results so finding the right article seems to be very helpful.
I personally found many articles which helped me developing my topic and support in better. Also, the web page provides many case studies and newsletters for those who are interested in one specific field.
Here is the address: http://findarticles.com/
The next page I would like to recommend is actually a forum, but I think it is very useful because it is the place where people express their opinion and that is exactly what actually matters today. While doing research for my topic, I found this page and there was a post with comments below which helped me think about many different perspectives of this topic.
The page I’m recommending is called College.net and it is made for current and future college students. They can create profiles, discuss ideas, earn scholarships.. I believe it is very useful and definitely worth checking out. This is what the page guarantees:
“Our site is 100% supported by advertisers and scholarship sponsors. CollegeNET respects your data privacy and does not sell your personal data.”
Good enough? :)
Here is the link:
http://www.collegenet.com/elect/app/app?service=external/Forum&sp=3874
This is where I found some interesting information. If you want to check the page for your interest, here is the Home link:
http://www.collegenet.com/elect/app/app?service=page/Home
Enjoy!
Media - our identity creator
Katherine Hamley (Editorial Chair of the Philosophical Quarterly and Head of the School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies at St Andrews) wrote a very interesting article titled „Media Use in Identity Construction“. In this article, she focused on the way that youth is influenced by the media and therefore somehow raised and shaped. At the beginning, she gave a definition of identity and on that way she later proved that this „State of being a specified person or thing: individuality or personality” is being disturbed and manipulated.
“Young people can be seen to change their identities throughout puberty and often have different identities at the age of 11 or 12 to when they hit mid teens to their early 20s. Throughout this period, they will be in contact with many different influences ranging from older brothers and sisters, what is deemed to be ‘cool’ in school to popular imagery derived from the media such as the ‘in color’ this season.”
She emphasizes the fact that to be different and unique today isn’t easy at all. Since we have so many examples to look at, we seem to get lost and so does our identity. Katherine also mentions imitation of characters seen on TV and possible negative influence on a personality of a viewer, especially the one that is yet to be shaped.
What I find very interesting is the fact that she used real examples to illustrate her point.
“…young people are also able to gain material to construct their identities from listening to music and especially when they pay close attention to the lyrics of songs. Sometimes, a young person is able to find a certain line of a song which completely sums up how they feel, and this can go towards making them feel more secure in themselves and therefore enabling them to pursue a specific area of their personality further.”
The writer covered all media sources and their influence in detail. She brought many new interesting ideas regarding the diverse ways we are being silently manipulated. The article is very useful and very well covered in constructive critics and reasoning.
“Through television, magazines, advertising, music and the Internet adolescents have a great deal of resources available to them in order for them to choose how they would like to present their ‘selves’.”
According to all mentioned above, it is not very hard to conclude that letting media shape ours or our children's personality and reducing its individuality is not really the future we would like to have but scenario to be afraid of.
To read the whole article, visit: http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/klh9802.html
“Young people can be seen to change their identities throughout puberty and often have different identities at the age of 11 or 12 to when they hit mid teens to their early 20s. Throughout this period, they will be in contact with many different influences ranging from older brothers and sisters, what is deemed to be ‘cool’ in school to popular imagery derived from the media such as the ‘in color’ this season.”
She emphasizes the fact that to be different and unique today isn’t easy at all. Since we have so many examples to look at, we seem to get lost and so does our identity. Katherine also mentions imitation of characters seen on TV and possible negative influence on a personality of a viewer, especially the one that is yet to be shaped.
What I find very interesting is the fact that she used real examples to illustrate her point.
“…young people are also able to gain material to construct their identities from listening to music and especially when they pay close attention to the lyrics of songs. Sometimes, a young person is able to find a certain line of a song which completely sums up how they feel, and this can go towards making them feel more secure in themselves and therefore enabling them to pursue a specific area of their personality further.”
The writer covered all media sources and their influence in detail. She brought many new interesting ideas regarding the diverse ways we are being silently manipulated. The article is very useful and very well covered in constructive critics and reasoning.
“Through television, magazines, advertising, music and the Internet adolescents have a great deal of resources available to them in order for them to choose how they would like to present their ‘selves’.”
According to all mentioned above, it is not very hard to conclude that letting media shape ours or our children's personality and reducing its individuality is not really the future we would like to have but scenario to be afraid of.
To read the whole article, visit: http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/klh9802.html
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Hook up? Gossip Girl says yes!
Most teenagers and young people in general watch series made for youth. Nowadays one of the most popular ones is Gossip Girl. I believe that most of you are familiar with this show so I will not spend much time on explaining its basic idea. Anyway, although it has been always told that this show is made for people who can objectively differ the fiction from reality, it is sometimes simply hard to do that due to presentation of certain life situations which are common in any person’s life. By stating that, I’m specifically concentrated on students and their everyday life. Some of the scenes within that show make viewers identify with characters and their situations. While 'being them' in some cases, it is hard to make a line where we go back to being ourselves.
In her article called “Some in Media Say ‘No’ to Promoting Hook Ups”, Colleen Raezler raises many questions among the influence of media on youth especially. Among many other examples, she mentions Gossip Girl:“…programs like HBO’s “Sex and the City,” and the teen-oriented “Gossip Girl,” which depicted threesomes as one of the “15 Things Every College Student Must Do Before Graduating,” helped perpetuate the notion that sex outside a committed relationship, let alone marriage, is exciting, fun and utterly without consequences as long as all parties protect themselves from STDs and pregnancy.”
In mentioned scene, three good friends decide to do something that every college student must do. Really? Is that what we all should do? On this way, they manipulated youth minds by telling them it is normal to have intercourse in that age and also not to care about protection. They are practically teaching us what behavior and attitude is normal. Another thing about that particular scene – the image of friendship is ruined. Those people are friends so is that what friends do? Well, not in my world.
So, we should probably forget about our personal stands among these topics because they are obviously wrong and not normal.
I would now like to go back to the article I mentioned earlier. The idea of “hooking up”. Colleen Raezler writes about messages coming from the media which keep telling us that hooking up is normal and desirable. In my previous posts I mentioned the human fear of being rejected and socially isolated so this is also one of examples where humans are more likely to become as everyone else than to be different and follow what they believe it is right. Since we are being exposed to media influence, I believe that our personal beliefs become questioned and we lose our ideals and role models that we used to admire.
If you are willing to read the article yourself, I strongly recommend you to visit this page:
http://www.cultureandmediainstitute.org/articles/2010/20100421094258.aspx
Stereotypes stealing our identity
Being raised in a community with many different races and religion could possibly mean higher toleration and no hatred among people who are different. In a place with many diverse sorts of people, it is hard to be different from anyone and it actually gives sort of a freedom. Maybe even freedom for development of individuality for anyone because it is no shame to be different. But what about places where diversity is very limited? Places where being different means being socially unacceptable for any group? Places where an individual must state his belonging to one of the groups? Well, it is little to say, but in such places, an individual has a very limited freedom of expression.
However, can we blame media for that? Well, we could. Media taught us to stereotype people. In my high school, we were all grouped according to style we were following. For example, there was a group of people who listens to hard rock, group of people following ‘red carpet’ trends, group of ‘nerds’ who were included in many studying activities outside of school, group of sportsmen, and finally there was a group of people who tend to criticize stereotyping and division into groups. Just like in American sitcoms, these groups don’t mix. If they do, it is worth gossiping about it and finally it ends negatively for whoever started the mixture.
Although I belonged to the group of critics, we never tried to do anything to distort the system because it was more than obvious that nobody cared. It was simply the way it should be.
When I was a senior in my high school, I made some friendships with people I went to dance school with. We all went to different schools, but we had dance practices together so we became very good friends. Then I realized that all of us have certain status in our high schools and we were afraid to step out because of the consequences. We were afraid to develop our individuality and finally feel good about ourselves. So why didn’t we do it sooner?
Many teenagers watch movies created exactly on the basis of stereotypes and the story is interesting only because two people from different groups fell in love. Although most of these stories have happy ending, there are groups that are shown to us. It is just like they are trying to tell us it is completely normal to be separated and to belong to just one group with limited possibilities and necessity to have many things in common with those people.
To conclude, media sends us a message that we are supposed to belong to one group, to be same as others in that group otherwise we will be socially unacceptable and rejected just because we are different. This is especially the case in small cities where people don’t have much choice: they must become ‘one of’ or grow up alone. Well, humans aren’t made to be alone, are they?
However, can we blame media for that? Well, we could. Media taught us to stereotype people. In my high school, we were all grouped according to style we were following. For example, there was a group of people who listens to hard rock, group of people following ‘red carpet’ trends, group of ‘nerds’ who were included in many studying activities outside of school, group of sportsmen, and finally there was a group of people who tend to criticize stereotyping and division into groups. Just like in American sitcoms, these groups don’t mix. If they do, it is worth gossiping about it and finally it ends negatively for whoever started the mixture.
Although I belonged to the group of critics, we never tried to do anything to distort the system because it was more than obvious that nobody cared. It was simply the way it should be.
When I was a senior in my high school, I made some friendships with people I went to dance school with. We all went to different schools, but we had dance practices together so we became very good friends. Then I realized that all of us have certain status in our high schools and we were afraid to step out because of the consequences. We were afraid to develop our individuality and finally feel good about ourselves. So why didn’t we do it sooner?
Many teenagers watch movies created exactly on the basis of stereotypes and the story is interesting only because two people from different groups fell in love. Although most of these stories have happy ending, there are groups that are shown to us. It is just like they are trying to tell us it is completely normal to be separated and to belong to just one group with limited possibilities and necessity to have many things in common with those people.
To conclude, media sends us a message that we are supposed to belong to one group, to be same as others in that group otherwise we will be socially unacceptable and rejected just because we are different. This is especially the case in small cities where people don’t have much choice: they must become ‘one of’ or grow up alone. Well, humans aren’t made to be alone, are they?
Friday, May 14, 2010
"Don't be yourself, it doesn't guarantee success!"
Since deindividuation is almost always defined as loss of individuality due to influence from certain group, I will be discussing it in terms of defining media as that kind of a group.
It is incredible how we sometimes tend to imitate what we hear or see without thinking that we are actually becoming someone else. It is alright to adopt some opinions or characteristics that we find interesting and adequate for us, but the control over it is very hard to be held. Once we start changing who we are because TV lady said it is bad and completely 'out', we become media victims suffering from very harmful disease called loss of identity.
There are so many factors that we could blame for that. We are in constant influence of media telling us what we could achieve if we looked or behaved differently. One of the most popular tv channels for youth today is definitely Music Television. There we can constantly see and hear the definition of attractiveness and success. Accordingly, we become unhappy about ourselves and realize something has to be changed otherwise our future will suffer. I believe most people are so afraid of being socially rejected that they would rather change themselves than remain who they really are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rgStv12dwA
In this video, women are portrayed as objects. The reason I wanted you all to see this is because I would like you to pay attention to the message this video is sending. It is practically telling us that girls will be noticed and appreciated by males only if their physical appearance is provocative.
Anyway, here comes a very interesting story about the influence of the popular TV Channel.
In March 2004, MTV launched a show called “I want a famous face”. The description of the show on MTV’s web page:
“As long as there have been celebrities - people have wanted to look like them. Every day, it seems, we count on the famous to show us how to dress, how to cut our hair, how to work out, even how to eat. But in today's advanced, modern world, it's getting easier and easier for many of us to take this infatuation with celebrity - to a whole new level.(…) Each week, MTV I Want a Famous Face follows a different person who is going under the knife to alter his or her looks to resemble the famous person they admire. Whether it's a Pamela Anderson wanna-be or a Britney Spears impersonator, the goal is the same - to use plastic surgery not just to look different - but to look like a star.”
Does this seem okay? Telling young people that the only way to succeed in life is by changing their physical appearance? It might not affect individuality per se, but if we think about it more closely, it actually does take away everything that made us different from others. We could be unsatisfied with our looks, but it is only because we have something to compare it with. Having an ideal image of a woman practically lets us know how far away from perfection we are and on that way it takes the special part of us that used to make us proud and unique.
If you want find out something more about this particular show, here is the link you should visit: http://www.mtv.com/shows/i_want_a_famous_face-2/series.jhtml
By seeing this show by such popular TV station as MTV, teenagers could start thinking that it is simply the way it should be; that by becoming like someone famous would be warranty for success itself. So, here is one of the ways to lose individuality. I just can’t wait to find out about some more. Sarcasm of course.
It is incredible how we sometimes tend to imitate what we hear or see without thinking that we are actually becoming someone else. It is alright to adopt some opinions or characteristics that we find interesting and adequate for us, but the control over it is very hard to be held. Once we start changing who we are because TV lady said it is bad and completely 'out', we become media victims suffering from very harmful disease called loss of identity.
There are so many factors that we could blame for that. We are in constant influence of media telling us what we could achieve if we looked or behaved differently. One of the most popular tv channels for youth today is definitely Music Television. There we can constantly see and hear the definition of attractiveness and success. Accordingly, we become unhappy about ourselves and realize something has to be changed otherwise our future will suffer. I believe most people are so afraid of being socially rejected that they would rather change themselves than remain who they really are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rgStv12dwA
In this video, women are portrayed as objects. The reason I wanted you all to see this is because I would like you to pay attention to the message this video is sending. It is practically telling us that girls will be noticed and appreciated by males only if their physical appearance is provocative.
Anyway, here comes a very interesting story about the influence of the popular TV Channel.
In March 2004, MTV launched a show called “I want a famous face”. The description of the show on MTV’s web page:
“As long as there have been celebrities - people have wanted to look like them. Every day, it seems, we count on the famous to show us how to dress, how to cut our hair, how to work out, even how to eat. But in today's advanced, modern world, it's getting easier and easier for many of us to take this infatuation with celebrity - to a whole new level.(…) Each week, MTV I Want a Famous Face follows a different person who is going under the knife to alter his or her looks to resemble the famous person they admire. Whether it's a Pamela Anderson wanna-be or a Britney Spears impersonator, the goal is the same - to use plastic surgery not just to look different - but to look like a star.”
Does this seem okay? Telling young people that the only way to succeed in life is by changing their physical appearance? It might not affect individuality per se, but if we think about it more closely, it actually does take away everything that made us different from others. We could be unsatisfied with our looks, but it is only because we have something to compare it with. Having an ideal image of a woman practically lets us know how far away from perfection we are and on that way it takes the special part of us that used to make us proud and unique.
If you want find out something more about this particular show, here is the link you should visit: http://www.mtv.com/shows/i_want_a_famous_face-2/series.jhtml
By seeing this show by such popular TV station as MTV, teenagers could start thinking that it is simply the way it should be; that by becoming like someone famous would be warranty for success itself. So, here is one of the ways to lose individuality. I just can’t wait to find out about some more. Sarcasm of course.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Introduction
Today we are all sort of victims of our desire to possess something. Not anything, but what would be appreciated and admired by others. I wouldn't say it is necessarily bad, but it most certainly could lead to eternal unsatisfaction and will for more.
However, we tend to forget what we were given by birth. It is not touchable or easy to estimate, but it has a very large influence on our future. It should never be stolen from us, but unfortunately the forbidden fruit seem to keep its reputation of being the most interesting. Our precious individuality and uniqueness are often the most desirable 'fruit' to be taken away.
Is the media thief who steals our individuality? Or is it just us trying to create our identity while imitating what we see in the media? Would we behave in the same way if there wasn't for media? Is the presence of the media a gift or a threat?
These are only several questions I will be trying to answer in my future posts.
I hope you enjoy reading and pay attention to this small part of the silent manipulation of the media.
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