How do the media represent disabilities? “Media coverage plays a crucial role in educating the public on disability issues” People are influenced by many media sources; these images affect our perceptions in many ways. What we see, hear and read in the media is often decided and influenced by a small group of decision makers. These editors, producers, programmers and budget-controllers are swayed by their own opinions of disability and what they believe will bring in audiences. They output dominant ideologies with which they mould society into obedience, shaping Britain in to a society who mostly agree with their hegemonic superiors.
Deviance is a social issue that has plagued all societies from the beginning of time and the sociologists’ attempts to comprehend why individuals take part in deviant behavior is still undergo. However, one theory’s explanation of deviant behavior can put things in perspective: Differential Association Theory. Through this theory is becomes obvious that the phrase “people, places, and things” has relevance. Disregarding any possible biological or personality influences Differential Association Theory explains that we learn from our encounters with others. Also, the mass media plays a significant role in shaping our opinions and what we accept as normal or deviant behavior.
CULTIVATION: A person’s life can be within a parallel world such as reality. This life impacts a person’s overall understanding of anything external of their own agenda. Cultivation proposes over time, television viewers develop views of the world around them mirrored to what they watch on television. Television produces design programs to be relatable to everyday life, so that real world events can become in resonance with the distorted image of reality depicted on television. Recurring themes of isolation, depression cycle through our television channels, with more and more people feeling these emotions craving stability and a sense of relating to a fictional character her conveniently shows us for theory sessions whenever you sit on the couch.
The social action approach, argues that individuals experience the social world by interpreting their actions and interactions with others and the meaning they assign to social phenomena. The starting point for understanding society should be the individual as they are authors of their own ideas. Emphasis should be given to how shared meanings develop and how these influence the way individuals define, act and react to their environment. Opposing the social action approach are the structural theories. Structural theories such as functionalism and Marxism are macro (large scale), and deterministic: they see society as a real thing existing over and above us, shaping our ideas and behaviour – individuals are like puppets, manipulated by society.
To fully get the attention of the reader on the subject of television, the author had to do excessive research, especially on the ancient of the television. Neil Postman has so many facts to back up his argument; he even goes back to the 19th century. Readers can now have the same argument as Postman bring in the book; he gives enough facts that as a class we can have a discussion (argument). Postman, I don’t believe he uses Pathos; it’s more the emotional change that the people take from reading this book that changes the emotion of what they think the television media has done to society. But isn’t what Postman used.
Essay 2 Daniel J. Boorstin addresses four consequences of the use of technology to democratize our daily life; one of which being the use of television and photographs. Boorstin calls this use of television and photographs as attenuation. Boorstin describes attenuation as the “thinning out or the flattening of experiences, or the decline of poignancy”, as one of the major problems (391). He believes that television removes the distinction between being here and being there. This distinction from being here and being there means that when we watch television we lose our self.
Assess the view that the news is a social construction. (33 marks) There are many sociological ideas that contribute to our understanding to whether or not the news is a social construction. The news may be seen as a ‘window on the world’ to some, however, others would argue that the news in not objective, and instead it only reflects ideas of the power elite. McQuail argues that the news is socially manufactured product that has been through a selective process, made by what he calls gatekeepers. This is the idea that journalists and editors control what is considered newsworthy, and consequently what appears in the news.
The Internet eg has resulted in many chat rooms, online social networking, and even girl-boy relationships. There is some negative effects however. Instead of face to face personal relationships and communications, Internet communications are faceless, remote, impersonal. The TV and Internet's power as an electronic medium altered our perception of reality, our relationship with each other and the world. The TV’s many documentaries, fiction films, influences the way we think about the real and historical world, our perceptions of relationships.
As the technology era advances, people are gravitating closer to a television where as reading a newspaper is considered an interest from the past. The television audience is failing to realize the main point of T.V., including news programs, is to keep people watching so that sponsors and others can make more money through ratings and increased interest in products. In “How to Watch T.V. News”, Neil Postman and Steve Powers state “Anyone who relies exclusively on television for his or her knowledge of the world is making a serious mistake” (x), This statement is true, for television news is not solely reporting what actually occurs. Rather it is reporting what T.V.
The Conclusion – now that you have an outline, try to restate some of the main parts, and consider the implications of the work you have done Restatement of thesis: In conclusion, technology impacts our life in the social, economic, and personal life since it consists of the imprisonment due to social networks, the censorship due to mass media, the proliferation due to military technology and international trades. Summary of main points/ideas: Questions, applications, implications of argument: The provided arguments state the current situation of the impact of technology nowadays; however, our main concern is its future status. Will it worsen or stay in its status quo? Are people aware of this phenomenon or are they inattentive of its danger? Is there any solution that might reduce or hamper its spread?