The Influence of Mass Media on Youth Culture 1 . . . Introduction What is the mass media? The dictionary tells us that it is: "those means of communication that reach and influence large numbers of people." (Collins Pocket English Dictionary, 1981 edition) To many people, however, it is something much more sinister - a monster that seeks to manipulate and control public opinion. A flotilla of highly entertaining novels and films draw upon the idea of a tyrannical government secretly controlling zombie-like citizens, using the mass media as its weapon. Ironically, these conspiracy novels and films themselves are simply another aspect of the media. But perhaps - especially now, when we are more exposed to forms of mass media than any other previous generation - the seeming fantasies are not as fantastic as we might think. Certainly times have changed significantly since George Orwell first wrote his chilling novel, 1984. For example, Hitler's government proved that it was possible to persuade an entire nation to ignore - or even to condone - horrific acts of inhuman cruelty on a huge scale. This could be done only because of the recent expansion of the mass media to include radio, film and television, meaning that there were now more potential ways of influencing the general public. And making the most of this in numerous propaganda campaigns, it proved frighteningly easy to control what was considered to be a sophisticated and intelligent population. 2 . . . Hypothesis The question I have been posed asks: "Does the mass media influence youth culture?" Through a series of questionnaires, surveys, an... ... middle of paper ... ...t quote is the one below - on which I think it is appropriate to conclude this investigation - which reminds us once again of the vast amount of power the mass-media possesses, and the way it can influence ordinary people, especially youths, and affect normal lives. "Not too long ago a young boy in the United States was killed for his famous-name tennis shoes; tennis shoes that his mother had scrubbed floors to pay for. Manufacturers of less prestigious tennis shoes cost a fraction of the $100+ that she paid for her son's tennis shoes, and would have probably been about as good. But in her son's mind he had to have this particular (widely advertised) brand of tennis shoes because of status attached to them - status that in the minds of other boys was important enough to kill for." (www.cybercollege.com, 2004)
Pilkington, Ed. "The Wrong Carlos: How Texas Sent an Innocent Man to His Death." TheGuardian. Guardian News and Media, 16 May 2012. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
In this article, a sixteen year old boy, Adrian Navarro-Canales, is accused of stabbing his mother and brother in Las Vegas, Nevada. Navarro-Canales is suspected to have killed his mother and brother with a butcher knife in their apartment. After the killing, Navarro-Canales took off out of town to get away because of his actions. After police discovered the bloody bodies in the apartment, they launched a manhunt to find Navarro-Canales that extended to the U.S. - Mexican border. About a week later, they found him in a strip mall nine miles from the apartment without him resisting arrest. Police believe that the killings happened on September 17 after they celebrated Navarro-Canales’s birthday a day before, and found the dead bodies on September 20.
Six years ago, Arnold Curwing accidentally shot his brother with a .22 caliber rifle. He was nine years old at the time. Surrounding this incident, as you would expect, he was under fire by his neighbors and peers from thereon, even though it was an accident. Generally, they all blamed him. Some detested him for not getting in trouble. Some might debate that he got not enough punishment. Others might conclude that the knowledge of living the rest of his life knowing that he killed his brother would be punishment enough. The people that he loved, the people he was closest to blamed him, including his mother and sister blamed him. This is the kind of thing that a person nine years of age does not forget. For this reason I make the following analysis.
When a person takes another person's life, then that person should have his own life taken as well. Beautiful dark-haired Gina and her sweet brown-eyed babies, did not ask for, nor want, their precious live...
We know her as the “Moses” of her people; she left a remarkable history on the tracks of the Underground Railroad that will never be forgotten. Harriet Tubman born into slavery around 1820 in Dorchester County, Maryland, Harriet Tubman was a nurse, spy, social reformer and a feminist during a period of economic upheaval in the United States. For people to understand the life of Harriet Tubman, they should know about her background, her life as a slave, and as a free woman.
Harriet Tubman is a brave and remarkable woman who helped slaves escape to freedom through the underground railroad. Harriet tubman was born 1820 in Dorchester County, Maryland, her mother and father were both slaves when she was born so she was actually born into slavery. At age 6 harriet tubman was sold to a couple who sent her to work to be a weaver. When she would slack off she would get beat frequently. While working for them she suddenly became unskillful, she was taken in by a woman to become a babysitter and housekeeper. After eating one of of the woman sugar cubes, she was sent back to Brodas. As she got older At the age of 25, she married a man named John Tubman. She wanted to travel North so her marriage wouldn’t split. John Tubman
Harriet Tubman was a heroic leader who was motivated to do the right thing for all of the enslaved African Americans. "Harriet Tubman was a very remarkable woman," states Richard Yarfurough (an English professor at UCLA) from biography.com. Tubman was a very remarkable woman. She led over 1,000 slaves across America without one being found. Tubman's motivation to leave and then later return to the plantation came from her own personal experience. She was hit on the head with a lead object and called sick because of the accident. "Tubman thought she would be sold for being sickly," says Dr. Sherrill
The reinterpretation of the Leopold and Loeb case illustrates that it significantly altered America’s perception of childhood experience, mental health, and the media’s role in criminal cases. At the time, society struggled to comprehend how two young teenagers were put on trial as murderers – children were given sympathy for being targeted as victims. However, today journalists and reporters blame the way children are raised for committing crimes. The environment they grow up in and the values that are instilled within them are what influence their every action. While Nathan and Richard were raised in upper-class families, both endured difficult childhoods.
"nothing and no one can in any way permit the killing of an innocent person, whether a
“I have heard their groans and sighs, and seen their tears, and I would give every drop of blood in my veins to free them” (Bradford). This quote from Harriet Tubman shows her overall gratitude towards the people who came to her for help and her kindness to comfort and care for them. In addition, Harriet Tubman was one of the greatest icons in history during the civil war. She was one of the greatest leaders in the Underground Railroad and she led many fugitives to freedom. Harriet Tubman struggled to live a normal life after her childhood experiences, she omitted great contributions to society, and is talked and taught about all around the world every day.
Have you ever met someone who acted just as teens are stereotyped? Not many people have because they do not exist. Real teens are poorly portrayed in the media and are the complete opposite of their stereotypes. Books and TV shows make teens out to be wild or crazy, irresponsible and out of control. One hardly ever hears about teen-heroes. Instead, newspapers and magazines are plastered with stories of teens and crime. And while looking at commercial billboards and other related media, the regular teen seems to be sex-crazed and image-obsessed.
Johnson, Jason B. “ Slain Teen’s family: Cops eyeing 7-10 suspects.” Boston Herald. 7 ,April 1995
Did you know that there is a perfectly legal killer in America today? In fact it kills over one million people in the United States p...
The mass media has played a key role in shaping people’s lives. The modern society’s use of mass media including TV, radio, newspaper, as well as print media has largely influenced people’s ideas regarding themselves and the society at large. This is evident from their behavior towards themselves and their community as well as their treatment of the environment. While some experts believe that the media is to blame for most of the negative behavioral traits among the active members of society, the majority agree that the media makes people understand and develop a positive sense of association with their society within which they live, making it easy for them to identify and get their role in it.
“The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because they control the minds of the masses” (Thinkexist, 2010). The mass media, including news, movies, magazines, music, or other entertainment source has become a part of daily life for many people. As the quote mentions mass media and its power are capable of influencing people’s mind and behavior. Contents in the media introduced to young people make it difficult for them to distinguish between what is real and what is not, as a result stimulating confusion and blind imitation. The mass media plays an important role in the increase of violence, sexual activity, and risky behaviors among teenagers.