Wednesday, 19 October 2016

Media Governing Society


In Packer and Wiley’s article titled, Strategies for Materializing Communication, many concepts are brought up. One of these concepts is from Foucault inspired works where media is used to govern society. This concept is quite interesting when thinking about contemporary society and how media is used. Living in a digital age, the media released through technological platforms is constantly evolving. More advertisements and commercials are being released through media. Whether it is through billboards, television, or social media. Corporations use media as an outlet to promote their products and companies. The concept of public promotion reinforces capitalist ideologies and subliminally suggests to audiences that they must conform.
Many corporations use women to advertise their products. All of these women fit the same stereotype and have a similar look. This suggests that the media is sending a message to try and get women to look a certain way. This is similar to companies showing advertisements of other products. Advertisements are constructed in a way where audiences are made to believe that a product will better their life. Through media, more effective and realistic advertisements are made that may convince people that this is true. This is a way of governing society by telling people how to look, what to buy, and how to feel. Advertisements and commercials released through media all contain signifiers that are able to send certain messages and reactions to audiences. Therefore media, in a way does govern society to a certain extent.


Here is a video that demonstrates the effects and control the media has by advertising to society: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOeuHJhj-gc
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8 comments:

  1. sanpalagan19 October 2016 at 15:13

    I agree that media often governs society, however I also think that advertising media do not always create certain ideals but tend to follow social trends. When advertisers use social issues to promote their products, we as consumers feel obligated to purchase and use those products in support of a cause. For example, the tampon company Always launched a campaign called #LikeAGirl, which aimed to empower women and girls. The Dove "Real Beauty" campaign did the same thing, targeting feminists. Being a feminist and supporting women has become synonymous with buying products from companies that openly support feminist ideals, further contributing to capitalistic ideologies.

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    1. Sun&Moon19 October 2016 at 16:08

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  2. Unknown19 October 2016 at 20:19

    It is true that we are governed by media. Most of us do not realize how we are bombarded by hegemonic messages in media everyday. We become passive audiences and go about our daily lives thinking we are making our own decisions but are actually just reinforcing the views that have been unconsciously brought upon us through media forms. This concept reminds me of the ideas brought by Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer, as we studied in previous Communications courses. Their beliefs were that mass society is tricked into thinking they have choices in order to make themselves feel individualized, when in reality, everyone falls victim to passivity in the culture industry. The media creates a false need for capitalist products. Media is structured differently so that it appears that we can escape from its manipulation, however, taking a closer look, all the messages presented within media are relatively the same and promote the same meanings.

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  3. Unknown20 October 2016 at 19:33

    The media hold a lot of power in todays society. Sometimes we realize it and other times we are corrupted by it unknowingly. A prime example could be the elections taking place in the United States. Certain media outlets are bias and will post things on the candidate they support. It is easy to read one thing and believe it and become bias against all other potential opinions. Another example in the way that the media uses women is through advertisements placed everywhere you go. It is so refreshing in todays society to see a woman untouched showing off what clothes really look like on her. These are just society examples but the whole example of saying one thing and speaking it as truth to sway others opinions is manipulative, but what many companies and organizations do today for our time and money.

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    1. Unknown20 October 2016 at 22:36

      To add to your idea of politics, I completely agree. A relevant example today could be how it is funny that Republican and Democratic candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are being commodified as satirical Halloween Costumes this year. To further your idea on Bias, I find that the media and news channels understand that audiences, whether they are aware of it or not, selectively hear what they want to hear, such as choosing to engage in following memes on Reddit or Imgur for factual evidence on elections. This reminds me of Jurgen Habermas' public sphere concept, but instead of individuals voicing their opinions that they maybe want to discuss if, for example say they wanted to genuinely advocate for Trump and his policies despite all the media shaming, would end up getting shamed anyway or experience overwhelming negative criticism without consideration. I also find that popular news channels/shows like CNN and LastWeekTonight with John Oliver, encourage this behavior by primarily focus' on making Trumps' issues satirical and Hillary Clinton's not a big deal, like dismissing her emails. Overall, whatever you believe in, I think it is wise to consider all evidence free of bias and to question what we see on news channels, what purchases we may be engaging with and what we hear from others.

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    2. Unknown21 October 2016 at 12:39

      To add to your idea of politics, I completely agree. A relevant example today could be how it is funny that Republican and Democratic candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are being commodified as satirical Halloween Costumes this year. To further your idea on Bias, I find that the media and news channels understand that audiences, whether they are aware of it or not, selectively hear what they want to hear, such as choosing to engage in following memes on Reddit or Imgur for factual evidence on elections. This reminds me of Jurgen Habermas' public sphere concept, but instead of individuals voicing their opinions that they maybe want to discuss if, for example say they wanted to genuinely advocate for Trump and his policies despite all the media shaming, would end up getting shamed anyway or experience overwhelming negative criticism without consideration. I also find that popular news channels/shows like CNN and LastWeekTonight with John Oliver, encourage this behavior by primarily focus' on making Trumps' issues satirical and Hillary Clinton's not a big deal, like dismissing her emails. Overall, whatever you believe in, I think it is wise to consider all evidence free of bias and to question what we see on news channels, what purchases we may be engaging with and what we hear from others.

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  4. Daniel Kuchuk21 October 2016 at 13:21

    This was a really interesting post, the central formulation that which revolves around Foucault inspired works where media is used to govern society is most defiantly something that is becoming a popular topic the more we ease into a digital age, and the reason for this in undoubaly the new platforms we have other then the standard TV, all types of new mediums have now been introduced. To a great extent I do agree with you that it allows for more a governed surveillance, I also agree with Holly's point that "Media is structured differently so that it appears that we can escape from its manipulation" because at the end of the day we can not really control what we are being exposed too, to a certain extent at least, which makes a manipulation really apparent. Overall, great post, a question I have is whether you see a possible switch in the near future of how you think women are perceived in the media?

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  5. Unknown21 October 2016 at 13:39

    I think that media has the most influence on individuals in today's society. The media can form their message in ways they feel would work to get their point across. It's interesting because they know their target audience and execute their story or view on something. I think with all the media platforms around today their main aim is to create a need in their marketing scheme. An individual can want a product but unless that individual feels there is a distinct belief, like you said to better one's life they will not feel obligated in purchasing that product. The concept of a media governing society I believe is a fact because media outlets are what educate us on present events or views in society today.

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