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.