I’ve been thinking long and hard about media and democracy. I can’t say it’s of my own volition, as I am taking a Political Science/Communications course titled “Media, Society, and Political Identity.” But I’m engaged, I’m thinking, and I’m trying to sort my way through this thick mental landscape.
And I’ve been thinking especially long and hard about the big, meta-level issues in preparation for my exam tomorrow. And I can’t say I like what conclusions I’ve come to. So, let me share with you some of these heavy issues…
1. Marketing and advertising has evolved into this hugely effective persuasion machine, effectively slicing up segements of society into target audiences (check out Claritas for some jolting information about your zip code, for example). Through customizing the most effective sales pitches to these different audiences, people are essentially getting different messages via the different content channels (like ESPN vs. A&E). So, if people are so separated and isolated from each other through different media outlets that they aren’t even receiving the same content and advertising messages, what is the glue that binds community? Is there such thing as community any more? Where is the common ground?
2. Public relations started benignly enough, with the intention of presenting facts (even if they were one-sided) to inform the ‘public’ to lubricate the overarching Western societal functions (ie. free market economy, representative democracy, etc.). This is lubricating because a revolting, disenfranchised public would ruin the whole gig for everyone by calling for reforms, etc. This benign communication tool has developed into this gross, cancerous mess with purposeful misinformation, fabricated pseudo-events (think presidential speeches), and distorted realities. But the evolution of PR isn’t all that bothers me – it is the reason for it to exist in the first place. Gustave Le Bon was the first, but certainly not the last, to articulate that the ‘crowd ‘ is composed of illogical, inferior people who need to be ruled by the elite class. A more modern writer, Philip Lesley, has articulated this view of the mass of people as essentially falsely inflated egos all clamoring to for representation because “millions of people who have been educated to think they should have a special place in society.” (The People Factor: Managing the Human Climate) This makes me want to cry.
3. What is the evolution of our media? With people like Rupert Murdoch buying up the dying newspapers in places like New York City and subsequently forcing out the staff (see the New York Times article from yesterday talking about the Wall Street Journal editor), and television content being directed by advertisers (to corral that coveted target audience), it’s obvious to me that the mass media doesn’t have the power (or will) to serve public interests. But with viewership down and people tuning out and creating internet resources when neglected by normal media outlets (West Seattle Blog, for example), does it even matter? Does anyone care about the beast dying in our midst, or is this going to cripple our public lives as we know it?
Ugh, sorry to bore you all to tears. I just needed to get this off my chest. Okay, maybe Ro is the exception to this bored state (since she has her MA in Media Studies), but does anyone else care? Does this bother you guys?
Coup to end all coups
What you probably can’t see is what is in these letters. The first one? That’s the one that says I made Dean’s List. The one behind that? That’s the one that says I got into the Communications department.
SHIT YEAH.
Next time I bitch about doing homework and being busy, remind me about this day. Or even this week. From seeing a friend who is more awesome and amazing than he knows to getting academic kudos and getting into a department with a 50% acceptance rate, this week has been stupendous. And this beautiful Seattle sunshine is just icing on the mothereffin’ cake.