Week 8: The Media

How individuals consume it and the messages that they relay

When studying the media, the focus is on:

cancel culture

the action or practice of publicly boycotting, ostracizing, or withdrawing support from a person or institution thought to be promoting culturally unacceptable ideas

language “represents a certain articulation of thought.”

Why are sociologists interested in the role of language

not just in words but also in ways of makings sense of the social world

How do languages differ?

Sapir-Whord hypothesis

Developed by Edward Sapir and Benjamin whord, the idea that language influences thought

Honorifics

A form of address or reference that shows esteem or respect towards a person

Mass media

a message that originates from one source but is intended for many people

Media

The technology processes facilitating communication between a sender and a receiver

1. radio

2. tv

3. books

4. internet

5. movies

6. music

7. magazines

Forms of mass media in modern society: [7]

Involves private communication that is not intended for a larger audience

Why isn’t a letter or talking on the phone considered mass media?

Thye teach us about the norms and expectations for different people and situations

How are media important socialization agents in our society?

The medium is the message

Marshall McLhan’s famous statement that argues that the content of the medium is less important than the physicla or psychological effects of the medium

A challenge to the elite’s ability to hoard information and knowledge. Effectively opened a massive communication channel, allowing many groups and interests to promote their messges.

major consequence of developing printing press

Corportate concentration

The extent to which an industry, such as the media, is increasingly owned and controlled by fewer large corporations and conglomerates

Vertigal integration

The process by which a corporation gains control of its value chain, from production to distribution. Strategy for increasing corporate concentration

Power elite

C. Wright Mill’s name for the interwoven interests of society’s military, corportate, and political leaders

Idea diversity

The diversity of viewpoints expressed in the media

Demographic diversity

The extent to which the media represent and address the interests of people from a varity of groups, such as races, ethnicities, genders, and classes

support demographically diverse ownership.

Way to ensure demographically diverse content:

negative effects on self esteem

Implications of lack of diversity in media:

New media

On-demand access to content, interactive user feedback, and creative contribution on any digital device. Technologies are digital and interactive and can be manipulated, networked, and compressed.

1. internet

2. websites

3. video games

4. Cds

5. DVDs

New media examples:

Social media

Websites and or other means that allow users to create, share, and/or exchange information and ideas

1. collaborative projects (Wikipedia)

2. Blogs and microblogs (Twitter)

3. Content communities (Youtube)

4. Social networking sites (Facebook)

5. Virtual game workds (Clash of clans)

6. Virtual social worlds (minecraft or second life)

Six types of social media (according to Kaplan and Haelein))

Cyberbullying

The use of technology, such as the internet, to deliberately harrass, intimidate, or threaten a person

Digital divide

An inequality between group’s abliity to access, use, or learn about information and communication technologies. Within countries, this term refers to inequalities between individuals, households, and geographic areas at different socio-economic levels.

global digital divide

examines the gap in digital access across countries

1. almost 100% of people between 15-24

2. only 71 percent of people over 65

Digital divide in canada related to age

1. almost 100% of urban households have internet

2. Only 40% of rural households

Urabn/rural digital divide

1. unequal access to information

2. limportant for commerce

3. important social outlet

4. provide important means of political organization

Consequences of digital divide:

1. young kids who are less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others can increase their fear of the world around them, and make them more likely to engage in violent or aggressive ways towards others

2. May lead viewers to overestimate their risk of victimization

3. can be more fearful of crime

Consequences of exposure to violence in the media:

Media literacy

The framework used to access, analyze, and evaluate media messages and thus create an nderstandng of the media’s role in society.

1. examine and think more critically about the media messages they receive

2. consider the sources of information

Media literacy empowers people to: [2]

1. Be aware of the media they consume

2. Learn specific skills of critical viewing, which requires analyzing both what is shown in the media and what is left out

3. Question what is behind the media and why certain messages are relayed while others are not

Three main stages in media literacy education

Alternative media

Media that are non-profit, anti-establishment, and creative and are based on a two-way relationship between the producer and the consumer

1. blogs

2. community or student run newspapers

3. public broadcasting radio or television stations

4. private stations

Examples of alternate media:

1. The message is not corporately controlled and is not based on a profit motive, since alternative media are non-profit.

2. The messages’ content tends to be anti-establishment, subversive, and change-centred.

3. distributed in a creative way, focusing on being visually appealing and interesting

4. Alternative media have a two-way relationship; consumers can comment on and shape the media they consume.

alternative media are defined by four main characteristics