The influence of media upon our Culture
Joseph Parish
The media is everywhere in our culture as it tries to influence our every move. No longer do we find it confined to the television or the newspaper, but it has managed to wing its way into every aspect of our life. Portable cell phones now permit a holder to access any news source that they so desire. This pop culture influence can especially be noticed in the areas of politics. You can have daily tweeted messaged sent to you by the top politicians in the campaign on their upcoming speech locations or their comments towards a particular issue. The most obvious influences that have an effect upon the pop culture is the political commentaries we find from the entertainer’s statements. We see this from both the right and the left.
It was discovered that liberal politicians who appear on certain TV shows had an increase of 40 percent in donations within 40 days of their appearance. Conservative news commentators on FOX such as Bill O’Reilly or Glenn Beck have been able to influence the immigration debate within America, therefore we can conclude that the media has a major investment in our political pop culture.
Over the years the media have provided a measure of influence over the views of illegal and legal drugs by American pop cultures. Through the use of the media the tobacco industry has all but been destroyed, however on the other end, we find that the Marijuana concerns are rapidly gaining support. Smoke by any other name is still smoke in my opinion. Naturally the age of the viewers has a lot to do with the opinions being formed here. The younger crowd views the consumption of pot as positive while the elders from years ago look at it as still an unhealthy activity. As with any other actions our government has a double purpose here. I must ask openly if cigarette smoking has been previously deemed as unhealthy by the government, especially the Surgeon General, then how can the legal use of pot or other drugs be condoned? In my opinion the federal and state governments want the people to stay stoned so they can have their way with our constitution. Those who are under the influence of drugs are more likely not to fight the changes that are being made.
We have seen how the media plays major roles on all American lifestyles. It can influence any political aspirations towards changes in laws and affect the very way the voters will swing at the polls. It can either make or break a politician. A prime example is with Barack Obama. A relatively unknown person runs for president, but the media is impressed that we may finally have our first black president so they embrace his every word and movement. If a negative report is discovered, the media will simply ignore it or places it on the back burner. All news is centered on the selected politician and any dirt discovered on his or her opponent is magnified. The media determines indirectly how the voters will distribute their cash and finally their votes.
Few people realize how the media are manipulating their lives. Years back, the media would merely report the news. They would give no personal opinions relating to the news item in question, but they would only report the “who, what, when and how” of the issue at hand. Now days every news reporter has an inept desire to contribute their own ideas to the public. I really don’t know if they intend this as a means of enhancing their news broadcast or simply want to influence the peoples thinking. Personally, I would like to see the media go back to just reporting the news and let me make up my own mind on important decisions.
