Century of the self essay

After watching Century of the Self in class, I have become more familiar with concepts and ideas that Psycho analyst Edward Bernays has mentioned. In my essay, I will discuss and supply my own examples and personal experiences that supports Bernay’s stance in the psycho analysis of human beings in society.

            During the first portion of the documentary, Edward Bernays mentioned that human beings are irrational beings. Their thoughts have no reasoning. He even went further to state that human beings are dangerous when they are left to their own devices. They are driven by their irrational wants. According to Bernays, this is why society was constructed and has played a role in inhibiting the “dangerous” wants of human beings. Concluding, that human beings will never be happy and content because they will never get what they want.

            After watching the documentary and wondering what to write for my essay, I began my day like any other: going to work and then attending class. While at work at Trader Joe’s, I began stacking apples while deep in my thoughts of my pending assignment for school. As I propped my opened box of fresh Granny Smiths on a cart, I began lining the scattered apples for the construction. My apple stacking was going great as I turned to take two apples from the box onto the construction on the display. Soon, customers began to hover around and then squeezed their way into my position. As I stepped back in retreat, I realized they were doing what many customers guided by their wants were doing. They were taking the apples from the construction. I wondered why they couldn’t just take the apples from the box that was conveniently propped up and fresher. They saw that I was taking it from the box onto the construction, so why did they insist on ruining my construction so that the Trader Joe’s worker has to start again? “So irrational” I thought.

            I continued to think about the incident as it happens often. I even began to think of all the irrational actions I’ve encountered in a super market environment where people come to shop for not only their wants but also their needs. It’s been said that while working in retail, you see the worst in humanity and sometimes I think I’ve seen it. Not to overblow the whole situation but little things makes one delve into deep thought especially when that person is stacking apples.

            I’ve encountered so many types of customers. While, Trader Joe’s honors its policy of providing the best customer service, there are those keen enough to take advantage of this policy. In a way it becomes then that the environment is uninhibited as there is no one to denounce their actions. Similarly, Bernays mentioned that if  people were born unconditioned to any environment or circumstance then their nature would be evil.  Bernay's theory of people somewhat supported what i have seen in most customers,  that they were not nice and they were not considerate.

Bernay’s theory of people were that they were irrational but their minds were so easy to mold. As a result, after testing this theory, Bernays himself became a master of public relations. He was able to sell products and companies in such a way that it shifted public opinion, culture and attitude. Similarly, governments have the same influence as they have the authority to shift certain attitudes of a nation. It even trickles down onto the social aspects of a community.

A few weeks ago, I watched a sad video on youtube of a toddler in China getting hit by a car and left on the road. The car drove away and the child was injured. As the video went on, nobody came to the aid of the child. There were even people sidestepping the child and going on about their day. In another incident, a second car runs over the child again stops for a second and then runs her over again with the back wheels and drives off. After watching this video, I was enraged and heart broken at this community that couldn’t even stop for a helpless child. I recognized a strong statement this video made.

As a Tibetan I have always been aware of the Chinese government and how low they have prioritized human rights. They have consistently oppressed people of different circumstances who have been asking for freedoms and have contentiously denied them of it.  They have no value in human rights just a political agenda. Therefore, this type of behavior has impacted the millions of people in China from the wealthy in Beijing to the farmers of the countryside. Their minds have been molded by the government perhaps not directly, but indirectly, and have learned from their examples that there is no value in human rights. That suffering is a normal concept for any man, woman or child. They were not instilled the value of humanity from their government because their government themselves does not honor it in any way.
In conclusion, after watching the documentary century of the self I was able to definitely take away some of the concepts Edward bernays based his career and theories on. I  found that people are for the most part guided by their own self interest and their set of values that was coordinated by their society or the source that was molding their perceptions. In one case, people in a super market setting were attaining their basic necessity of food for their own survival that became a value they held close. In another, under a government that lacked the basic value of humanity the people certainly illustrated it clear. 

 

Chapter 9: Magazines

This chapter explores the culture of magazines through its early history and how it stands today. The magazine industry has risen in their popularity and development over the years through a number of factors. The first was that magazine distribution was good and widespread. They were able to reach a broad range of people and tell a single story. The second was that magazines served a purpose in unveiling and investigating on certain topics. Therefore it truly documented certain issues that early America went through.

Soon enough, magazines served other purposes. A purpose of informing people on certain topics of interest. It became more categorized and prevalent. Marketers found that women were bigger consumers. The industry then began catering to women. In that grew publications of fashion, home journals and other topics of interest developed from then on.

From that point, a new social reform took place. One in which people proactively educated themselves on topics of interest or politics, investigative reports. People were made to be socially aware of their surroundings because it was now readily available. At the same time with the special interest publication targeting women, it gave women the power to be the true consumers of their society. They were now ones who seeked out products that were featured in magazines.

Today, you can find a magazine that will cater to any topic. Just recently i saw a magazine dedicated to the topic of Marijuana. It was called "The High Times". There is just about a magazine targeted to every type of group.

Chapter 7: Movies and the Impact of Images

I have found this chapter to be interesting to me as it pertains to the field in which i hope to venture. Movies and the impact of images is a subject of importance as i hope it creates a movement for the Tibetan people. I hope to make documentaries that will reveal the suffering of Tibetan people inside their own country under Chinese Government Occupation and a flow of awareness is spread. This is my goal.

That is precisely why movies and images have so much influence, it creates an awareness that cant be ignored. It can create a movement, it can inspire and create opinion. Aside from this aspect, it is a world that can be molded. It is truly a visual depiction of your mind, worlds that you have created. Personally, a good story gets my attention every time.

However, nowadays it has become a little difficult to find original films. A film in which a concept has not been used, or characters that have not been recycled. Especially in Hollywood.  Yet, it has reigned and dominated the film industry worldwide. The American culture or what it is supposedly permeates through the films in which we create and other people are watching them. Therefore it has cultural imperialistic tendencies. People overseas have admired, imitated and envied the lives of the American characters or American situation they see onscreen. They ask for more each time. Hollywood films dominate the international box office hits. American Films are  dubbed in foreign languages and shown in theaters.

Chapter 5: Television and the power of visual culture

This chapter explores the history of television. From its origins and early development to how it stands today. It is interesting to note the existing culture and how it has changed since i was a young girl. Television has always been a part of my childhood. I remember when i first watched cable television. There was an all day network for cartoon watching and i was thrilled. My favorite channels growing up were nickolodeon and cartoonetwork. To this day i remember the programs, characters and theme songs. It brings back sweet memories.  when i get together with my friend from high school, we are able to talk for hours and base our conversation on old cartoons we watched as kids. It is a comforting memory and takes me back to when i was a kid. It was the culture of our generation at that time and it still holds relevance to this day as we look back.

Unfortunately, these programs have since been discontinued, forgotten and replaced by newer programs that will in turn serve to be someone else's memory. Just recently i was able to revive these programs because of the transformation television has undergone in recent years. It is now possible for me to watch my cartoons again. The same ones that has served my youth. and it is amazing.

Television has transformed into a partnership with newer technology of this day. in fact even if you don't have a television you can still watch the programs. You can still talk about last night's episode with your friends.  The Internet has archived and preserved almost every aspect of television. MOst probably you will find uploaded video on youtube and an entire discussion by net members are displayed. people are proactive in preserving certain programs of interest.

Newspapers and Magazines

Through newspapers, we were were able to attain freedom of press.  Today this allows us to publicly criticize public officials or governmental policies. So this was the beginning era for newspapers and printed word.It was new, risky and a chance to circulate information and opinion. Today, we have a million and one ways to circulate information and opinion.

It is funny to see how newspapers have transformed as i look at them today. There are newspapers which targets specific groups of people, specific areas of a state, specific hobbies and interests. There are particular styles now too. For instance, we have the traditional folded newspapers which are awkward to read on a train. Then we have the newspapers which fold like a magazine or book.

On closer inspection, those newspapers resemble tabloids and magazines. There's more images than texts. Too few information. News that is really not news worthy.So this says a lot about what type of people these papers are geared towards. These newspapers are for the less educated population of readers. Then compare a paper like the NY TIMES, where all the texts are bunched together. The paper is packed with information. The stories are a more serious matter.

If you want to read and become more informed on a current event, you are probably not going to pick up a copy of DAILY NEWS. More than likely, it's going to be NY TIMES.

Cool Hunting

I chose to follow this style as depicted in these images because I thought it was the only type of style that wasn’t commercialized. It seems that what is in style today has derived not only from personal expression or choice but what the media has manipulated the style to be part of. I feel like this style here was not commercialized simply because it is not distinguishable to what category it belongs to. This style that is considered “plain” or “average”.

My subject here is a great example because on the outside he looks plain and doesn’t hint at what type of commercial group he belongs to yet this subject is part of one of the most exploited and commercialized groups today.  This subject is a rapper and goes by the rap moniker MC REBEL. Yet from a glance, you wouldn’t expect it.

This subject goes to show the media’s failure at commercializing a style that is not wild, exotic, flamboyant and extravagant. Sometimes it’s just plain and simple and that’s a style on its own for some people.

Chapter 15: Media Effects & Cultural Approaches to Research

After reading chapter 15, i thought it was really interesting to see how much media influences the decisions, actions and thoughts of individuals. It was so true that media desensitizes people on certain aspects of real life. These aspects which people today do not grasp and understand until they are face to face in that situation. These aspects that are much bigger in real life than depicted in any movie, show or magazine. I'm talking about aspects of real life like violence, sex, hate and tragedy.

For example, It is no wonder why today sex is so casual and begins at such a young age. It is depicted everywhere therefore it makes kids think that it's a part of the norm and allows them to indulge in that behavior. Meanwhile, they don't see the true potential consequences of their actions. In real life, they may get pregnant, get STD's, raped, abused and emotionally disturbed. Personally, i get so disgusted and i absolutely hate when kids whose minds are so innocent get corrupt simply because they are blindly practicing what they see virtually everywhere (movies, advertisement, racy teen shows not to mention the peer pressure and internet). I would love to see kids who are strong minded who can see past something that is trying to trick them for their own gain.

Media contributes so much to the culture of a society. It shapes the individual and constantly changes. Therefore it is absolutely essential that there is research being done and recorded to show the influence of media on people. There is so much behavior to observe.

Advertisment

After reading the advertising chapter, it is amazing to see that advertisement is virtually everywhere. Living in new York city it is so easy to pass an advertisement because it is everywhere. it's on buses, inside subway cars, newspapers, websites the list goes on. When I Decided to take notice of the ads, it was almost overwhelming. 

Although I must acknowledge the fact that  advertisement does influence the public, I can't seem to grasp the amount of influence it has had on me.  I have taken advertisement more as a form of entertainment more than anything else.Instead of yearning for the product in the ad on the subway, I would be staring at the photography admiringly.

Yet advertisement itself has transcended itself from just selling to also entertaining. It has become quite common to remember products or companies through their advertisings. They have taken on a less aggressive role but at the same time more effectively persuasive. Very cleverly, advertisors have offered their products and integrated it with popular culture that consumers would want to associate themselves with.

Website Essay

Essay on Freepress.net

In society today, it has become quite common to see dominance in different media categories. It is all too common for a single message to be sent through multiple portals that was rooted from one source.  It is imperative to resolve the issues in media ownership so that it allows for a more diverse flow of information and opinion onto the mass consumers in our society. Organizations such as Free Press work to correct issues such as these that are found in concentrated media ownership.

I chose to write my essay on freepress.net because the organization was simple and straightforward with its agenda and goal. Their introductory statement on their home page states: “ Free Press is a national, non partisan, non profit organization working to reform the media. Through education, organizing and advocacy, we promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media, and universal access to communications”. As I roamed through their informative website, it was evident that they were committed to doing just that.

The Free Press organization was founded by media scholars Robert W. McChesney and Josh Silver and launched in 2002. As media scholars, they felt the need to create an organization that worked to demand media reform by establishing better media policies than the ones that have been spoon fed to mass consumers. The organization is working to create a movement that will make media reform a political issue. The organization believes today’s media doesn’t truly serve the public interest rather a more bias reporting therefore it hinders the true democratic ideals of American society and leaves uninformed citizens.

One of the interesting aspects on this website was their “Get Involved” tab. Here in this tab, they have listed important information for their readers. Current campaigns, downloadable guides and tools that work to recruit the community, event listings of interests, an organizational directory of people looking to reform media in a certain locality and information on a national conference for media reform are all included.  One campaign that was being promoted was for net neutrality and the other for the strengthening of community journalism. Free Press does a great job to provide the tools, opportunity and place to use these same tools so that their goal to reform media is reached in all areas of the nation. They accommodate participants well and it is very impressive how organized they are to carry out this project nationwide.

One of the admiring qualities of the Free Press website was that it was reaching out to all kinds of readers as they got their message for media reform across. The website itself was very user friendly, organized and informative. As someone who is new to this movement and subject, I was able to easily follow along and instantly be familiarized with the issues at hand. Not only was I following along but I also felt inspired to partake in the campaigns and discussions. The organization does such a great job in following the news that they keep the websites constantly updated.

Free Press addresses problems across a broad range of media topics that they hope to reform. Topics such as the Internet, media ownership, journalism, public media, cable, FCC policies and others have been blogged about, discussed, debated, and made into an article for the intellectual stimulation of its readers. The common demand between all the topics that the organization has mentioned is the access to open media so that it allows for a more diversified environment and society. This in turn serves the Democratic process because it leaves citizens informed and lends the ability towards informed decision making and participation. The organization also demands public policies that will protect and support small noncommercial media so that a public access system can truly serve a community.

 In conclusion, after researching the Free Press website and spending time to learn about its goals and agenda, I have developed a deep appreciation for the work that this organization does towards the cause for media reform. This organization is so set on educating the public and encourages communities to be more independent. The website does a fantastic job to keep members in the loop of events and information that relate to the movement on a communal level as well as tightening it onto a national level. It is very simple to stay connected to the movement as they have contact information virtually on every page of their website as well as a fully comprised directory of organizations in the neighborhood. 

Blog on Media Economics

After reading this chapter on media economics, it is alarming to me how concentrated media ownership is. Major media conglomerates essentially dominates important aspects of mass communication. This is significant because they have so much to do with public opinion and thought. Media ownership is a big responsibility and should be more diverse in it's ownership so it allows for more diverse thought, travel of information, and diversity in American culture.

Concentration of media ownership also restricts what becomes readily available to the public. If major media companies such as Disney and Time Warner constantly compete in different media markets (film, television, radio etc) they essentially dominate the market and make it very difficult for outside companies that are smaller to compete. Therefore, the message that is being massively viewed is coming from very few sources.

Also, there is the issue of media bias among concentrated media ownership. This is when conglomerates send out their "version" of a story or report. For instance, Fox news by News Corp owned by Rupert Murdoch is conservative news reporting. Therefore, they will more likely report on news that will favor Republicans and will have tried to show Democrats in a more negative light. This leads to more misinformed audiences.

IN this video, Jon Stewart on the set of Fox News, calls out the bias of  Fox New's .
This video was interesting as it relates to this chapter and a conversation as well as a back and forth argument ensues.

Blog on Internet

I was really glad to see that the textbook had a piece called "China's Great Firewall". This article was on how China tightly controls the flow of information across country. This is something I believed wasn't talked or discussed about enough and here it was in a college textbook. Being a Tibetan, I was quite furious during 2008 when China refused to let any information into and out of Tibet. Meanwhile, the CCP (Chinese Communist Government) was handing out atrocious punishments to Tibetans who rose publicly for their own human rights behind closed doors.

Internet was definitely a valuable tool for protestors during that time and the Chinese government knew that and virtually had it shut down. All networking websites were shut down for some time making it impossible for people inside Tibet to communicate with family members or friends outside the country (as well as phone lines). Only through smuggled photographs and traveling word were people outside the country able to know what was going on. Overseas, Tibetans in exile compiled a list to account for the deaths. There has also been graphic photographs that have enraged the public.

Meanwhile, outside of Tibet, Tibetan organizations were working to lobby their host governments, pressuring the International Olympic Committee, sending pleas to the United Nation and creating a great amount of public awareness. During this time, these board members of the various organizations had their email accounts and websites hacked. They also encountered a number of viruses in their emails. It was no coincidence. They were being cyber attacked by an organization that opposed the Tibetan movement.

It's interesting how Internet has become a primary tool for the flow of information. We depend on it on a daily basis to be in touch with the outside world. People use it for their own benefit or to falter opposing members. Certainly, to goverment it has great intimidation. It's the fact that everyone uses the internet and there are so many diverse opinions and movements.

Chapter 16 Legal Controls and Freedoms of Expression

After reading this chapter, I have realized how much of a government's operating system affects media and how it reaches its people. For the most part, after years of revision, freedom of speech and expression is relatively free in the United States. Sure, there may be some loose ends but at least we are protected by a legal document that safe guards our rights.  The United States Constitution.

However, in a country like China where the government is highly bureaucratic and single partied, the media does not protect individual rights. As a Tibetan, I have been been keen to keep up with China's wrong doings. Not only with Tibetan issues but with their overall human rights violations that have directly affected a whole range of people. And to cover up their wrongdoings their main weapon that they have continually used and abused was their state-controlled media, the CCTV.

I have had the pleasure to visit Tibet during 2007. I had the great opportunity to see my home land. The homes of my grandmother and grandfather. Instead of listening to my grandmother talk about a stream where she used to play  i got to see the stream. I got to step in the stream and feel the water. Just as she did when she was a little girl. This was significant because i realize that not many Tibetans who have been born into exile will ever get the opportunity to set their eyes on Tibet. Tibetans have been continually denied entry into their home land by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party). While there, in a little internet cafe, i googled "Chinese Invasion of Tibet". And all i got there were tourism and vacation sites for Tibet. There was not a single page that mentioned any of China's past actions or anything that supported Tibetan struggle. And so, i googled "Tiananmen Square Massacre" and i got the same results. All that resulted were tourism sites for Tiananmen Square. This was how they erased history and moved on. The people in China won't be able to participate in a discussion that opposed the county. They are so heavily censored that it's almost impossible to get a message across let alone a movement.

In another example, during the 2008 crackdown of Tibetans (This was during the Beijing Olympics).  Tibetan monks rose to their feet and publicly demanded a Free Tibet, for the return of the Dalai Lama and for Human Rights. They were met with military response. China kicked reporters out of the country and publicly reported on how Tibetans were violently rioting throughout the country. After much public pressure and the fear that they may lose their olympic bid, China finally allowed for an escorted media tour. In the mean time, social networks like Twitter and Facebook and youtube were shut down.

During this one incident while on the media tour,  Tibetan monks take the opportunity to tell foreign journalists and the world what was really going on behind China's "closed doors".

Chapter One

After reading Chapter one and listening to class discussions, i found it interesting how we are so hooked on media. Though after careful thinking, i realized how easy it was to stay hooked. People have adapted to new technology and it has become central to their lives. On any typical day, people come home after work or after school and immediately turn on their computers-check their social network updates at the same time they turn on the local news TV  while reading emails from their phone (for example). It could be that people enjoy virtual communication and connection more than the actual face to face time with their friends. I thought it funny how Apple coined the term"face time". Yesterday my coworker loudly exclaimed "YOU WANT FACE TIME? FORGET THE IPHONE. HERE'S SOME FACE TIME" while making an invisible circle around his face.

Perhaps the widespread availability and instant access of new technology contributes to our day to day dependency. It's everywhere. It's on your phone, on your tv and it's all over Times Square. This is our society at it's technological finest. My younger brother, age 10 (just turned), has more digital tricks up his sleeve than i do. It's a statement. It's foreshadowing the type of generation to come. His generation is brought up on this. A phone that has youtube, bbc radio news, facebook, farmville and facetime is not something new to him. It's "comforting". It hits close to home for him. Whereas my grandparents are simply startled and intimidated at this type of technology. 

The age of technological convergence rethinks every piece of technology that ever existed. It rethinks also, the way in which news or entertainment is brought forth to the public. We as consumers have become masters at handling new media. We have become more involved in the whole process. We have choices in the way we consume media. While ideas from company is being brought to us, we-as consumers-have also learned to use the same media technology to participate in the whole discussion. It's just interesting how technology has remodeled itself completely.