Question About This Thought……?
The media has a great influence on our daily view of sexuality and our expectations. It not only reinforces and creates popular stereotypes that our drilled in to our head, but sets higher sometimes unattainable standards. Sexy and beautiful people that are skinny, fit and without any physical flaws become our standard for every day life. Other examples are homosexuals on television always being extraverted or pregnant teens having a complete social network to help them have an easy pregnancy. This is of course not always true.
The media absolutely dictates how our society functions, but our society also dictates what is in the media. Thus they are a reflection of one another. Popular trends and music may be more popular due to advertisements, but it is the society that demands this to be shown. Supply and demand are the basis of how sex is shown in the media and in the society.
Additionally, shows such as CSI or Law and Order only show attractive actors and actresses that have excellent jobs. They incorporate these actors and actresses as a way to boost ratings and make up a fantasy world. I mean how often do you meet a cop or doctor that looks like Angelina Jolie or George Clooney? Magazines like People or Maxim or Men’s Health also reinforce the way a person should look and how sexual they should be. Whether this is right or wrong the truth is that we all in some way buy into it and put these trends on pedestals.
Do you agree or disagree with it?? Why? explain
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February 22nd, 2010 at 2:46 am
I think our celebrities are just a modern-day substitution for the Greek pantheon. They were created to echo our own traits but in some superlative form. Society created their own gods, and then used those gods to control others and justify their own behavior. In Greece each city would have a patron god or goddess, build huge temples in their favor, and engage in the behavior that typified that deity (rampant sex, war, logic, debate). It made people feel comfortable about doing whatever they wanted to, but also allowed a certain caste of individuals to dictate social norms.
Look at Hollywood, E!, et. al., or just read The Great Gatsby. A small group of influential people bankroll talented individuals and turn them into celebrities. We idolize them, see them as perfect in the qualities we value (looks, social connection, money) and they in effect become our pantheon. We feel okay doing stupid things we know we shouldn’t, because we see celebrities doing them, it gives us something to talk about and keep us occupied, and also creates a very lucrative industry for those who created the celebrities.
Just my two cents.