UID: 113885013
GVPT 200
Professor Shirk
28 September
2014
Manipulative Media
The
power of a state is commonly related to the military, economics, or the states
security; however, in America the media has evolved from a relative power to an
absolute power. This power has
direct influence on our government’s elections, the public opinion of recent
events, what products to buy, and social interactions among men and women. I believe the power of the media is
detrimental to how we think and act amongst each other; we must interpret the
media more strategically to clearly understand the message that is being
presented.
Television is the most common medium for media's control. When you turn on your favorite program half of the time slot
is commercials of products, upcoming movie trailers, or anything that a consumer
can purchase. Remarkably, the
capacity of media can influence the public’s view of beauty and subconsciously mislead
men and women to buy these products.
Such as axe body spray for men, which has tailored their commercials to
manipulate men that if you smell like their product that women will undeniably
give you social attention. For
example, when males browse television and see multiple ads displaying the “axe
effect”, there is one ad that has an innumerable horde of women running,
swimming, and fighting to get the center of the beach. These women have various shades of long
flowing hair and are wearing revealing bikinis’ and apparently suit the
stereotype of an attractive woman.
Meanwhile, in the middle of the beach is one guy with an average body
type and an exhilarated look upon his face spraying two cans of axe spray all
over his body. Apparently, the commercial’s
message is trying to present that if a male consumer uses axe body spray
thousands of women would will run toward him or want him in some way.
On
the contrary, a woman will see a limitless amount of commercials that influence
their purchasing of beauty products for hair; by which, misleads their
viewpoint of what hair should look like.
I would like to point out the commercials that specifically target
having long draping hair. In the majority
of these commercials you will see actress twirling their long silky smooth hair
and repeatedly expressing how beautiful they look because of the condition of
their hair. In reality, not all
women can have the hair presented in the commercial or cannot afford the expensive
products that are advertised.
Therefore, the advertisements reinforce that having perfectly flowing
silky smooth hair will make you feel good about you self.
The
power of media directly attacks the public’s perception by displaying men and
women as objects and one would be happy if he/she can imitate what is seen. Generally, America’s media informs the
public of local, national, and world news. As well as, entertaining friends and family and generate good
conversation topics. Nevertheless,
commercials affect not just what we purchase, but how we feel as a person and
how we see each other. I encourage
everyone to buy any product you would like that is advertised on television; by
the same token, do not allow the arbitrary power of the media to hinder your
ability to watch, think, act and consume strategically to make your self happy.
I think it is really interesting that you brought up the media as a form of power. Generally, people think of power in political, military, or economic terms, but I agree with you that the media is also a type of power. When I think of the media I usually think about newspapers and magazines, or what you talked about in your blog post - television and commercials. All of these forms of media have a direct impact on the American public, but I wonder what American media means for the international community. In one of my other classes I am learning about how American mass culture has spread all over the world; one way this is represented is through television programs. When you watch TV in another country, there are often the same commercials that are shown in the US. I think this in interesting because your post did a great job talking about the influence of the media in America, and I think that everything you said can be applied internationally. Furthermore, this just shows the impact that the United States has on other countries; not just politically or economically, but also through the power of the media.
ReplyDeleteHey Elana,
DeleteYes it is truly amazing to see other cultures with a Western spin. While serving my time in Japan, I visited Tokyo. Gucci, American Eagle, Old Navy, Abercrombie and Fitch, and many more Western retail stores are filled with Japanese natives. Interesting enough, while I was browsing these various stores, all the music that was being played was American music or the Japanese version of popular songs.
I believe the American media means to the rest of international community as a outlet to possibly see the real story or to express the real story. Our outlets have a more freedom of speech (no pun intended) then other countries.
You may want to check this article I found a while back about women in Iran and how Western culture gives them freedom to express their women-hood.
http://mic.com/articles/82199/young-iranians-continue-to-shock-the-internet-by-being-normal
Great post,
-Kai
I totally agree with the idea of power including cultural influence on other countries. I did not think of this at all when we talked about it in class but your idea of American standards of ideals and beauty trickling into other areas of the world are such a great example of a very real power that the US has. Great job!
ReplyDelete