After reading Curran, Gurevitch, and Woollacott's "The Study of the Media: Theoretical Approaches" I couldn't help but look back on my Persuasion class, back in the days when I was a care-free Undergrad student. Back then we had touched on ways in which the media can get people to see things one way or another. From the simplicty of a way in which a picture is framed or a video is edited to the complexity a series of messages on print media, radio and TV can have on an entire coutry, we'd examined all of that and what I've come to realize is that I disagreed on the media's ability to be comparable to mind control back them and I still disagree with that now. It can have some sort of influence, that's for sure, and I am also certain that there's a specific proportion between the subject's education level and their susceptability to media.Still, every time video games or movies or music gets blamed for some terrible event I can't help but to roll my eyes. Some of the footage that makes it in the TV newscasts can be more brutal than any song or movie or game and it still gets approved to be broadcast on national television. Beyond that, things some people have happening in their lives can be way more traumatic than the worst thing they ever read or see or play. Is it, then, that their actions are a direct result of the media they were exposed to? I don't think so. I may be wrong, but I really don't think so.
How a person judges what to do in life is a direct result of who they look up, who they have as role model. I think that when people have a lack of great family and friends in their childhood they may chose to have a media-based role model. That's when all hell breaks lose. Therefore, I am considering myself lucky to have a wonderful family and friends and I go on playing my violent videogames and I go on watching my gory movies and I go on listening to my violent music ... and people go on asking me how come I'm always so smiley - I've found my outlets in all these things so that when I'm on the street or at work I maintain that good mood ... in part, thanks to the wonderful media I've decided to be involved with during my free time (or, you know, whenever I make some free time).
EDIT/UPDATE: One last thing I just remembered ... what if the Media is trying to do some subliminal messaging? Hmmmm... These of you who know me know I tend to steer clear of politics for the most part but just check out this clip from FOX:
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