How does the media affect people in both positive and negative ways? - Discussion Boards

Luke Lieberman

Joined: Feb 13, 2003
Posts: 3007 (view all)
Poster Rank: Blabbermouth
User is Offline

Gender & Age: Male, 33
Country: United States
Province/State: California

Re: How does the media affect people in both positive and negative ways?
October 14, 2003 - 09:46 AM

Jeez - everyone is really down on the media - I guess its fashionable.

Of course the entertainment industry has its problems - what industry doesn't - but I think music, film, television and books are an enormous benefit in our society.

A free press can make the difference between a positive society and a negative. It is a powerful tool that must remain in the hands of the people.

It is no coincidence that dictators burn books and monopolize media outlets - the media is a free exchange of ideas - it is free expression of thought.

Ever see Schindler's List? That movie educated millions about the Hollocaust. The Color Purple, Malcome X - for get the socially conscious films - what about the Godfather - that was a brilliant dicertation on the nature of power - as was Citizen Kane.

Dr. Strangelove was a bighting commentary on the cold war - 2001 asked profound philosophical questions. Clockwork Orange - one of the most violent movies ever - was an amazing exploration of crime and punishment.

'Imagine' gave people a new perspective - Bob Marglie, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd - all important social thinkers.

The "entertainment industry" is american culture - how better to define a culture than by is music and literature?

luke PROFILE

Paladin

Joined: Oct 7, 2003
Posts: 23 (view all)
Poster Rank: Talkative
User is Offline

Gender & Age: Male, 20
Country: Canada
Province/State: Ontario
City: Toronto

Re: How does the media affect people in both positive and negative ways?
October 15, 2003 - 07:28 AM

Just saying, I didn't mean that. I meant the bad things like transforming you to a person that is not you and that isn't good for you (physical disorders, extreme violence, etc.). You did bring up a good point!

Paladin

Joined: Oct 7, 2003
Posts: 23 (view all)
Poster Rank: Talkative
User is Offline

Gender & Age: Male, 20
Country: Canada
Province/State: Ontario
City: Toronto

Hey!!!!!!!!!!!
October 16, 2003 - 09:38 AM

I am not discouraging new perspectives!!!!!!
I am discouraging the way the media sometimes makes people react (physical disorers, copycat celebrity behaviour)!!!!!!!!
People should think for themselves and the media should not think for them.
What's with all the referencing?

Hugh Switzer

Joined: Jul 29, 2002
Posts: 721 (view all)
Poster Rank: Blabbermouth
User is Offline

Country: Canada
Province/State: Ontario
City: Toronto

Hey!!!!!!!!!!!
October 17, 2003 - 05:01 AM

Originally posted by Paladin87

I am discouraging the way the media sometimes makes people react (physical disorers, copycat celebrity behaviour)!
How can they MAKE people do anything? If the TV told me to jump off a bridge I wouldn't and 99.9% of the population wouldn't either. Ever read a book and had a reaction to what just happened? Ever seen someone do or say something that made you react? Case and point.

People should think for themselves and the media should not think for them.
Agreed, but you don't have to get the media to think for you. Could you illustrate an example where the media thought for someone?

What's with all the referencing?
Luke is using references to backup his points to try and show what he says is true. This is very effective, while comments that aren't backed up are usually not valid.

Paladin

Joined: Oct 7, 2003
Posts: 23 (view all)
Poster Rank: Talkative
User is Offline

Gender & Age: Male, 20
Country: Canada
Province/State: Ontario
City: Toronto

HEY!!!!!!
October 18, 2003 - 08:56 AM

Fine. They try to PERSUADE and are SOMETIMES successful. Do you HAVE to be so opposing?

Hugh Switzer

Joined: Jul 29, 2002
Posts: 721 (view all)
Poster Rank: Blabbermouth
User is Offline

Country: Canada
Province/State: Ontario
City: Toronto

Re: How does the media affect people in both positive and negative ways?
October 19, 2003 - 07:17 AM

Originally posted by Paladin87
Fine. They try to PERSUADE and are SOMETIMES successful.
Yes, but I'm sure you also try to persuade others and I'm sure you're also sometimes successful. It doesn't mean though, that you are targeting people with low self-esteem or otherwise. The media doesn't go after youth or people with low self-esteem, but sometimes these groups may be more impressionable. It's like me trying to convince you that Macs are better than PCs. I am trying to persuade you to think that that is true and I will sometimes be successful. It does not, however mean that I was trying to think for you, but merely offering you another option, which you may or may not believe.

Do you HAVE to be so opposing?
Yes. When a bold statement is made, expect a bold response.

Hugh Switzer

Joined: Jul 29, 2002
Posts: 721 (view all)
Poster Rank: Blabbermouth
User is Offline

Country: Canada
Province/State: Ontario
City: Toronto

... strong media influence
October 20, 2003 - 03:00 AM

Originally posted by monteljack
there are positive sides to media influence also... first it serves as the link to the outside world and affords one the opportunity to learn and appreciate other ways of life and culture; thereby igniting attitudes of tolerance, respect and value for issues regarding cultures, science and technology and so on and so forth.

Very well said! The threads here seem to focus on the negitive side of media, but what GOOD things have they done? Excellent example above...

amy

Joined: Feb 3, 2003
Posts: 24 (view all)
Poster Rank: Talkative
User is Offline

Gender & Age: Female, 28
Country: Canada

Re: How does the media affect people in both positive and negative ways?
October 20, 2003 - 04:19 AM

Everyone here does seem to be focussing on the negative effects of media - mainstream media, I think.

But the positive effects of media, as a method to spread information and ideas, and as a mode of communication, are many as well. Which is why I think it's so important to make our own media - to start broadcasting our own signals.

I went to Canzine this weekend, a zine fair here in Toronto with zines from all over the country (even the world!) and it was really inspiring. There are so many people out there doing stuff on their free time, and finding out and connecting to like-minded (or different-minded) people is one of the best things about independent media.

aclam PROFILE

EK

Joined: Oct 17, 2003
Posts: 1 (view all)
Poster Rank: Tongue-tied
User is Offline

Gender & Age: Male, 101
Country: Romania

... strong media influence
October 20, 2003 - 06:06 AM

the media is strong influence especially on youths who spend 60% of their time taking in information hook,line and sinker from there. there are positive sides to it though yet the negative has over the years taken itz toll on youths all over the world particulary as information of deviant and obnoxious nature is peddled continously for financial gain. more so youths are driven towards adverts that appeal to their sense of adventure and which also portray prototypes of celebrity images and life styles. for the youth its all about being mordern and in tune with the current/recent things of life.

they do not at first contact sense or perceive the content or effect of the information they get... what strikes the youth is his or her own comfort zone... the class and style that accompanies the information and the level of patronage and acceptance it garners over time.

there are positive sides to media influence also... first it serves as the link to the outside world and affords one the opportunity to learn and appreciate other ways of life and culture; thereby igniting attitudes of tolerance, respect and value for issues regarding cultures, science and technology and so on and so forth.

monteljack PROFILE

Paladin

Joined: Oct 7, 2003
Posts: 23 (view all)
Poster Rank: Talkative
User is Offline

Gender & Age: Male, 20
Country: Canada
Province/State: Ontario
City: Toronto

Okay...
October 20, 2003 - 06:32 AM

I never said the media is 100% bad. I agree that it is a powerful teaching tool and does help people. But sometimes it can be bad and kids sometimes emulate the "cool" figures on tv that are actually bad. They are not completely at fault, but partly. Can you name any real life incidents that are caused by the media?

Hugh Switzer

Joined: Jul 29, 2002
Posts: 721 (view all)
Poster Rank: Blabbermouth
User is Offline

Country: Canada
Province/State: Ontario
City: Toronto

Re: How does the media affect people in both positive and negative ways?
October 21, 2003 - 09:13 AM

Sure I can... There are always going to be insidents of people doing what they see on TV but you're not going to be seeing a 40 year-old run around and kick people pretending that they're a power ranger....

Paladin

Joined: Oct 7, 2003
Posts: 23 (view all)
Poster Rank: Talkative
User is Offline

Gender & Age: Male, 20
Country: Canada
Province/State: Ontario
City: Toronto

Well, of course!
October 22, 2003 - 07:43 AM

I KNOW that people are not not like Homer Simpson from the Simpsons. I agree with you. But when I said "name", I meant I would like people to list examples.

Hugh Switzer

Joined: Jul 29, 2002
Posts: 721 (view all)
Poster Rank: Blabbermouth
User is Offline

Country: Canada
Province/State: Ontario
City: Toronto

Re: How does the media affect people in both positive and negative ways?
October 23, 2003 - 01:09 AM

Yes, I said there are many examples.

People doing things that the MTV show "Jackass" does... that's popular.
Kids being suspended, expelled or charged because they make their hand into a gun and say "pow" (from Bowling for Columbine)

My point was though, that it is kids who do these things and they are the ones who most often have the hardest time seperating fansasy from reality. As I said before, you don't have 40 year old men doing these types of things....

Mark Simons

Joined: Sep 13, 2003
Posts: 5 (view all)
Poster Rank:
User is Offline

Gender & Age: Male, 28
Country: United Kingdom
Province/State: Liverpool
City: Liverpool

Re: How does the media affect people in both positive and negative ways?
October 23, 2003 - 06:53 AM

fantasy and reality.

seperating fact from fiction.

the biggest area of problems here are the 'serious' 'mainstream' news media outlets.

I don't care about 'culture' the advancement or lack of. I can find my Oz, watch my Blackadder, enjoy the brass eye, partridge and everything else great about television.

there is however serious damage being done by the news media, both broadcast and print.

internet is better, but only if you know where to look.

the worse thing the media has done recently was to shovel the Iraq war down our throats and the US media in particular is about the largest collection of spineless career loving upthearseoftheadministration little weasels I've seen in a loooong time.

the lack of critical analysis of Bush and his regime is one of the most damning critiques of the state of the media today.

not the state of kids entertainment.

MarkSimons PROFILE