After watching the video, I had many ideas on why the media targets kids as their primary consumers. First, if they are exposed early enough they will most likely never think to question the messages that they are being fed and the influence that the media has on them will never be noticed because it is second nature. Second, kids have so much influence over their parents. So instead of trying to change an older generation who is more set in their ways the media goes with younger minds who have the power of the purse. The strategists know what they are doing but this is not a very good thing.
The control that media is gaining in our society is growing too vastly in a short amount of time. People are going away from their traditional values and becoming way too materialistic. Religion is far less important as well as family and work ethic. The effects of the increased consumerism are being reflected in the declining level of cultural worth. With the kids being so targeted they cannot escape the consumerism and it will only get worse. Without the knowledge or will to fight off the media's influence, these newer generations will deter from our previous culture and create one that is all about materialism and competition.
It is terrible and unmoral to target the kids the way the Media does but I understand why they do it. The media is a business and they are out to make a profit but like the video said, where do we draw the line and when dose the government need to get involved? For now, parents just need to monitor what their kids are watching and playing with and limiting what products they are buying. I agree there needs to be some government regulations put in somewhere though, its getting a little out of control.
I predict a monstrous society or a time where everyone goes back to religion and traditional values again like what has happened in the past, sometime in the future.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Blog #1
I interviewed my grandpa (68) and he is a photographer for Associated Press, my step-dad (43) who is an accountant for the yearbook division of Lifetouch, my mom (42) who is a loan-processor, and my sister (18) who is a pharmacy major at Madison. Each person that I interviewed had a similar opinion on what media is and how the media impacts them. There were slight differences between the men and women, but age did not seem to have significant impact on the results.
All of the interviewees felt that media is a source of communication and it keeps them informed on what is going on in the world and that media is the news, Internet, newspapers, etc. The men were more descriptive in their answers on 'what is media?' and this could be because of their careers in the media industry or just personality. In response to the 'how do the media impact your life' question, all of the subjects responded that media keeps them connected and gives them information. They phrased their answers in different ways but they all meant the same thing. The other question that I asked my subjects was 'what is your favorite medium/source of media?'. My step-dad replied with Internet because you read it and are able to sort through the bias, my grandpa responded with photographs because they evoke emotions (and it might have something to do with the fact that he is a photographer). My mom said TV news because it's convenient and my sister said TV because it's appealing. These answers did seem to vary by age and also by gender. The girls seemed to go by more of convenience and what appealed to them and the men went by what they had more control over in a sense. The last question was 'how influential is the media in American society'. The general consensus on this question was too influential and people buy into it without all of the facts.
Each person had their own preferences as to which media outlets they prefer based on convenience and availability but the general perceptions about media's influence in society and what media is were across the board unanimous. The men seemed to try and make media work for them and the women seemed to try and find a convenience in the media but for my interview, age had no significant impact.
All of the interviewees felt that media is a source of communication and it keeps them informed on what is going on in the world and that media is the news, Internet, newspapers, etc. The men were more descriptive in their answers on 'what is media?' and this could be because of their careers in the media industry or just personality. In response to the 'how do the media impact your life' question, all of the subjects responded that media keeps them connected and gives them information. They phrased their answers in different ways but they all meant the same thing. The other question that I asked my subjects was 'what is your favorite medium/source of media?'. My step-dad replied with Internet because you read it and are able to sort through the bias, my grandpa responded with photographs because they evoke emotions (and it might have something to do with the fact that he is a photographer). My mom said TV news because it's convenient and my sister said TV because it's appealing. These answers did seem to vary by age and also by gender. The girls seemed to go by more of convenience and what appealed to them and the men went by what they had more control over in a sense. The last question was 'how influential is the media in American society'. The general consensus on this question was too influential and people buy into it without all of the facts.
Each person had their own preferences as to which media outlets they prefer based on convenience and availability but the general perceptions about media's influence in society and what media is were across the board unanimous. The men seemed to try and make media work for them and the women seemed to try and find a convenience in the media but for my interview, age had no significant impact.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)