Media and Ideology, Modernity, Discourse, and Power - Essay Example

NAME: STUDENT NO: CMM1113D: Media & Social Context ASSIGNMENT: Media Journal TUTOR: Media Journal Media and Ideology- Blogs The media plays a crucial role as a medium of communication in today’s society. It is a powerful tool of communication to aid in disseminating the right information at the right time. The media in most cases plays a vital role in helping to solve social problems. Also, the majority of the cases and issues reported by the media are true. However, there are some instances where the media misrepresents and is biased in its reporting of questions. This arises due to issues of controversy and moral values as well as ideology. Ideology is the manner the world represents its views including attitudes, values or belief of the society or group of people (Croteau, 2003). The media usually fits individual images and particular words in media texts to represent certain information. In Baby’s blog, she has carefully demonstrated how sometimes media may shift attention from major issues of concern and shape the public perception in negative ways. The blogs author has analyzed the two sides of the debate on the contentious issue and developed a reasonable stand. However, the information presented is also based upon her understanding and perceptions (Baby, 2010). Modernity, Discourse & Power – Large Institutions Danaher, Schirato & Webb (2000) present some of the most crucial assertions of Foucault. Foucault was a renowned thinker and social theorist of the late 20th century with reputable and principled views regarding discipline, power, history and identity. A vital part of Foucault’s theories is about governmentality and liberalism. His work engages the readers on the theorization of power that centers on the structures of our institutions and the discourses that circulate to maintain them. Foucault suggests that power is everywhere, integrated into particular discourses, and ‘regimes of truth’. According to Foucault, power is what defines who we are (Danaher, 2000). However, in a recent article from the United Nations website shows power in a different perspective. The fight for ruling authority in the Central African Republic has resulted in the loss of many lives. Many local militias are fighting for control of various local resources. These individuals use power as a tool of coercion, repression, and operate in certain discourse structures that instill fear and subjectivism upon the people. Instances of rape and rampant killing of innocent civilians are some of the tactics these militias use to assert their power (UN News Centre, 2015). Images, Power and Politics- News outlets This topic enlightens the reader that looking indeed is a social practice. It is often impossible for one to “look” and not participate in the practice created by several factors such as social meaning, historical setting or intent of the creator. The mere act of listening is a form of power; even if one decides to look or not to look is a practice of power. The media especially news outlets represents information regarding the world around us in various ways. Sometimes they imitate or mirror the real world ignorant on how certain codes and conventions of representation impact meanings (Bleiker, 2013). In an article by Anthony Faiola in the Washington post is a good example how the media represents its information using images and texts. The article explains the plight of immigrants from foreign countries in search of green pastures in some European countries. Some in their journey suffer and end up dead. Intriguingly the front covers of the article post do not capture the images of these refugees. Interestingly governments try to block these immigrants and impose stiffer penalties on these immigrants if found. This type of representation shifts the focus from creating a harmonizing and compassionate way of helping the refugees (Faiola, 2015). Nationalism- Television shows There is a close linkage between television and nationalism. These can be viewed from three perspectives as follows: TV’s historical development in shaping the everyday life, its role in technological time-space articulation and TV shows textual formation. The TV today is in various households across the populace and is a form of linkage between families and the state. It defines the national consciousness and dominates the different perceptions of people about the past and the present. Also, the television disseminates information and offers discursive structures affecting the social spectrum (Avraham, 2006). TV shows act as tools used to shape an individual perspective in the society or instal a particular notion of what is normal or acceptable and what is not. The information might be informative in both negative and positive ways, but this issue raises the concerns of ideologies and moral values. For instance, the show In Denmark, 1864 contains informative text on the historical past as well as an entertainment film. It sorts to create a spirit of nationalism by reminding the viewers they shared the same historical past and needed to move together as a nation united. However, it is crucial to recognize that there are critics who construe meanings from texts and offer differing views on the intended message (Ellen, 2015). Race & Otherness- Film The media has often been criticized for construing information showing racism such as blacks and whites and its misrepresentation of other races. This is a common feature in most western Medias. The concept of otherness describes the manner that social identities are contested in society. That is the process by which a certain group of individuals becomes stigmatized as outsiders and the way that search ideas change over time. Groups with greater political power control various classes of people in the society (Akito, 2006). A lot of Hollywood films and shows and the larger media Orientalize the concept of terrorism. According to Akito, 2006 the media sometimes fails to provide people with the real truths happening around them and instead ought to construe a wrong perception of the Orient. The films such as The Unit and 24 often portray Muslims as the villain. The media usually covers the issue of terrorism in a limited and fragmented way. Thus making the audience ensnared in a fallacy. The manner that these messages are construed stirs up fear and make people view and fear (only) Muslims to be terrorists. Furthermore, nowadays many people rely more on media for information and any misconstruction and relaying of messages may impact negative stereotypes towards a particular group of individuals in the society. Post (studies) – Art Artistic representation of images, pictures and choice of words is critical in influencing its effect on people. The underlying principle of art is not all about beauty but its effect in instilling certain norms and information on a particular matter. There is always a story behind a certain form of art. Niall Lucy, 2010 reiterates that we are currently experiencing a deficit of ideas and critical thinking is slowly diminishing. According to Lucy, democracy is underpinned by the concept of free thought and not free trade. Art intends to make people reflect on the issues surrounding them in their everyday lives. Art is sometimes termed as the artistic representation of the artist imaginations and feelings towards a particular matter or subject. It is also a polite way of representing the social injustices committed against a particular group of people in the society. It involves careful thought on the subject matter and correct choice of colors and images. Schama, 2014 notes that the power of art is by its ability to spur us to revelation and change our passive thinking to critical and free thinkers. Globalization- Websites Today’s world is becoming as a single global entity both in technology and economic relations. Globalization entails a significant object of the population including the flow of information, objects, and places. Globalization can create greater as well as reduce the level of integration between people and countries. Technology has redefined the manner that people interact, trade or share information. Nowadays traveling across borders has been convenient and fast. The business landscape has evolved and easier to transact overseas with the aid of the internet and teleconferencing (Ritzer, 2012). Businesses, NGOs, Corporations and government institutions today own websites that make it easier for them to disseminate information efficiently to target audiences. Advertising has taken a major sweep of the internet to tap into the generous number of users nowadays. Globalization is essential because it speeds up the rate of exchange of commodities and ideas over enormous distances. Trade has seemingly increased between countries as well as social and political relations. People are beginning to appreciate the cultures of different people from various regions with the advent of globalization (GPF, 2015). Environment & Consumption- Public Reports Dauvergne, 2007 stresses the fact that people are not aware of how their daily choices affect the broad scope of the global environment. Issues such as driving vehicles, burning an oil lamp or using refrigeration facilities all these things combined across the populace have an effect on the global environment. These acts of consumption affect in many ways our safety and health such as issues of global warming, drought, and floods, etc. Dauvergne emphasizes that to achieve a clean ecosystem focus should not only be on multi-corporations and industries, but every individual should evaluate his/her choices. Many reports on environmental effects have focused on large food production industrial players and other chemical industries emission of greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere. The consumption and production of various types of foods have also been a focus of many studies with suggestions on growing biodiversity foods. The captivating issue has been that these major reports focus on industries that produce these foods for consumption and their effects. However, less has been done to educate consumers on better and healthy food choices (Foster, 2006). Gender, Youth & Desire- Music Videos Orlebar, 2011 provides an in-depth insight into various concepts of the television media. The author stresses that through critical thinking about various videos and programs showcased can illuminate their meanings. Video making involves a careful plan from the conceptualization of the idea, shooting and post-production process. The creators of these videos and television programs usually have a particular message to relay to the target audience. Readers range from the youth, elderly and kids, etc. Much music videos of nowadays target the youth. They usually have explicit video content that tries to promote a particular trend of dressing or articulate that certain behaviors are usual. These videos also are gender based depicting the woman as being weak and sometimes as a sexual object. The music videos try to create a particular stereotype of sexuality and the manner that other races are represented in the music industry. These stereotypes are common in a broad category of music genres such as Hip-hop, Pop, RNBs and Rock videos (Orlebar, 2011). References Akito, K. (2006). Orientalism and the binary of fact and fiction in Memoirs of a Geisha. Global Media Journal, 5(9), 1-22. Avraham, E., & First, A. (2006). Media, power, and space: Ways of constructing the periphery as the ‘other’. Social & Cultural Geography, 7(1), 71-86. Doi:10.1080/14649360500451741 Baby. (2010, April 15). Beyond what my eyes could see... Retrieved from http://dear-darsi-baby.blogspot.co.ke/2010/04/media-and-importance-of-being-just-in.html Bleiker, R., & Campbell, D. (2013). The Visual Dehumanisation of Refugees. Australia Journal of Political Science, 48(4), 398-416. Croteau, D. & Hoynes, W. (2003). In Media Society: Industries, Images and Audiences (pp. 159-168). London: Sage Publications. Danaher, G., Schirato, T., & Webb J. (2000). ‘Discourses and Institutions’ in Understanding Foucault. St. Leonards, Australia: Allen and Unwin. Dauvergne, P. (2007). The shadows of consumption: Consensus for the global environment. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Ellen, E.J. (2015, August 28). What Denmark's new drama 1864 tells us about British nationalism on television. Retrieved from The Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/what-denmarks-new-drama-1864-tells-us-about-british-nationalism-on-television-10251425.html Faiola, A. (2015, August 27). Discovery of up to 70 bodies in truck highlights European migrant crisis. Retrieved from The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/discovery-of-up-to-50-bodies-in-truck-highlights-european-migrant-crisis/2015/08/27/ef6efd82-4cca-11e5-80c2-106ea7fb80d4_story.html Foster, C. Green, K., et al. (2006). Environmental Impacts of Food Production and Consumption. Defra, London: Manchester Business School. GPF. (2015). Globalization. Retrieved from https://www.globalpolicy.org/globalization.html Lucy, N. (2010). POMO OZ: Fear and loathing Downunder. Fremantle, Australia: Fremantle Press. Orlebar, J. (2011). Television Handbook. Hoboken, NJ: Taylor & Francis. Ritzer, G. (2012). Globalization: An essential text. Chichester, United Kingdom: Wiley. Schama, S. (2014, September 2). The Power of Art. Retrieved from BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/powerofart/intro.shtml UN News Centre, o. (2015, August 27). Clashes in the Central African Republic force thousands to seek refuge at UN peacekeeping base. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=51740#.Vd_-_Cu2UqQ Read More