I just got done listening to the radio lab War of the Worlds. I have to say I laughed, at the same time I can definitely see how and why people thought this was real. In a way it amazes me how much control the media has over the people. But in a much bigger way, it really isn't surprising at all.
First, let me start off by saying, I think that people depend on the news (whatever the medium may be) to honestly tell them whats going on in the world. Now this isn't always true, and the more I learn in this class the more I realize this is becoming less and less true, but people still turn to their favored medium for their daily news. So when something like the War of the Worlds happens, the last thing on the peoples mind is, "This must be a joke."
Second, I too am one of those people who watches the news then feels like there's no hope for the world. Like it just keeps getting worse everyday. Though my grandma and I have had talks about media and the effects it has on people (mostly television)I still let it get to me. At the end of the radio lab the announcer speaks on the news and its fear factor and how it keeps people watching/listening. I personally agree with his statement. Though it makes me mad feeling like the news organizations are taking advantage of my emotion, I cannot offer a solution to this problem.
Is there a solution? Can we as people loosen the tight grip the media has over us?
9.30.2008
War of the Worlds
Posted by Mz_Maf!a at 9:41 PM
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4 comments:
This War of the Worlds upheaval is a perfect example of how the media has an effect on the average American person. It's crazy to think that people actually lost their lives over this whole ordeal. Along with you I feel like I am being played with by the media. But, I think this is the purpose of this class. Preparing yourself by becoming more media literate.
Its also pretty amazing to me that media had so much control over us in the past. But at the same time I still believe that it still has that control today maybe not in the radio but definently in media like tv. I could definently see something like this happening again but not with aliens, more like terrorism because in ways it is already happened with some of the 9/11 affect.
I also think that something like what happened on War of the Worlds could happen in the future, something that has to do with terrorism. However it really is very disturbing how media can affect people that severely. Yes it affects people in ways but not to the point where people are dying usually. This needs to be stopped, but probably wont ever in my opinion.
I laughed too and just for a second how can people be soo gullible about aliens. But again they thought it was Germans. Later on i thought about how we are gullible to believe everything we hear or see on TV in some way. Or to think that we are getting all the right truth about our world. The under lying thoughts in my head now about media is " Who owns this channel or who decided to put this on" for the public to see or hear. Is it really that important and what is the purpose of it?? And why is this material being shown by who request??
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