http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/board/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11.aspxen-usSunday, February 26, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11/Younger_Generations_and_Body_Image-983.aspxFriday, February 24, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11/Masculinity_Versus_Violence-971.aspxTuesday, February 21, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/Please_use_reply__not_post-5184.aspxThursday, February 23, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11/RESPOND_TO_THIS_QUESTION_--to_begin-966.aspxFriday, February 17, 2012
So, Pilgrim asks this question:

In YOUR view, what is THE MOST PRESSING PROBLEM with American mass media -- and what how can it be solved?

Argue fully why your problem is THE main problem -- and explain your solution if there is one you think will work.

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In your OTHER TWO ENTRIES later in the week, you may want to tell a fellow group member why hers/his problem is not all that important, focus on a flaw in another's argument, offer an alternative solution, offer supplementary material for another's argument or argue why your problem is more important than another's.

Pilgrim hopes you learn much from this exchange, and he will drop in with a comment here and there. Good luck.

P.S. Remember -- put a 1 after your name in your response to this question; put a 2 and a 3 on your next two entries.]]>http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/RE____Schaff__Carissa_2__-5389.aspxSunday, February 26, 2012
"My mother says *blank* to me alone; but this guy on television says the same thing to me and all of my friends, maybe he's more right because more people are listening."

This example is perhaps more complicated than a child would present it, but the idea is there I think. They recognize that television has such an influence, and so are maybe more inclined to listen to it over their parents. Or, failing that, the media is structured in such a way that it is just more appealing to children, and so they want toys, and clothing, and backpacks, etc. etc. etc. Perhaps that is more likely, actually, upon reflection. Same basic idea!

Cheers,
David Stasio]]>http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/RE____Sage__Renee_1__-5359.aspxSunday, February 26, 2012 The underlying problem with the media is the people who own it. They have only the corporate agenda of profits in mind before everything else. They have reached such a point that they can influence government to pass laws furthering their control over the american public, thus continuing the turn of a perpetual wheel of profit that they have constructed. They specifically choose what news to report upon, what shows and movies to show, and what the american public 'needs' to know. They deliver a passive, numbed viewer to they advertisers, who inject their message of consumerism into the masses.
Even though close to every aspect of the american life is under corporate control, their is still hope. Alternative media is serving the conventional role of media in a democracy. They detect lies and show the public, that everything the television shows them is not true, real or necessary at all to know.
Education reform is very important in the coming years if the human race wants to continue existing. The way of life of the average american is not sustainable, but it is not most people's fault. They are told to not care about the earth, that global warming is a 'hoax' and that consuming is the only path to happiness. We must start educating our youth about sustainability and consequences of actions. Humans are gifted with an incredibly capacity for understanding and knowledge, and we should use this capacity to be stewards of the earth, and protect against detrimental actions made against the earth, and this is a very important idea that must be imparted onto the youth, and incorporated into their everyday routine.
The most important thing is for those who are aware to spread the message of change, and keep their spirits up.
'We live in a society that kills our grandchildren to feed our children' - Grandfather
(but it doesn't have to be that way.)]]>http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/more_technology__or_more_information_-5349.aspxSunday, February 26, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/RE____Sanchez__Jessica_1__-5345.aspxSunday, February 26, 2012I agree with the fact that children are easily susceptible to aspiring to be like what they see on television or in the media in general, but what's so wrong with kids idolizing something at a young age? Kids go in and out of phases in their lives and generally do not have the same interests by the time they can make their own personal decision about how media in society works. When I was a kid I never thought about the media's impact on my future, that was probably the last thing I would've ever thought about. Our parents/guardians have a greater impact on our future than the media because they are able to limit what we as children are exposed to.
It is the parent's decision that influences our lives more so than the actual media itself. If we're not exposed to it then we can't be influenced by it.]]>http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/RE____Simmons__Travis_1__-5333.aspxSunday, February 26, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/RE____Stewart__Daniel_1__-5325.aspxSunday, February 26, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/Crazy_technology-5318.aspxSunday, February 26, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/RE____Savary__Zenith_3__-5314.aspxSunday, February 26, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/More_Thoughts_on_Technology-5294.aspxSaturday, February 25, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/Stereotyping-5283.aspxSaturday, February 25, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/RE____Schaff__Carissa_1__-5263.aspxSaturday, February 25, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/Technology_and_Youth_-5262.aspxSaturday, February 25, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/Unfortunate_Cycle-5258.aspxFriday, February 24, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/Sanchez__Jessica_3-5254.aspxFriday, February 24, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/RE____Sanchez__Jessica_1__-5253.aspxFriday, February 24, 2012
Cheers,
David Stasio]]>http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/RE____Sanchez__Jessica_1__-5251.aspxFriday, February 24, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/Real_Power_of_Influence-5249.aspxFriday, February 24, 2012Yes, it’s completely unfortunate that media controls us like little puppets but if they pressured us into being alternative and focusing on the environment, political awareness, and things that are different now, we wouldn’t be in the same problem. Just something to think about.
]]>http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/Younger_Generations_and_Body_Image-5244.aspxFriday, February 24, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/Perspectives_of_Body_Image-5213.aspxThursday, February 23, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/Agreement_in_Terms_of_Masculinity_-5196.aspxThursday, February 23, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/Women__Men__and_all_that_jazz-5188.aspxThursday, February 23, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/Another_point_of_view-5164.aspxWednesday, February 22, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/Gander_Roles_in_the_Media-5135.aspxTuesday, February 21, 2012I feel that this is the most significant problem for us today because I am someone who has been extremely influenced by the media. Yes, I have been known to subject myself to aspects of media that are not healthy to be a part of. However, I have come a long wauy from where I was. I let the media influence how I viewed myself as a human being, something which nobody should do. I had so many negative feelings towards myself, and the sad part is I know that there are countless women who felt even worse about themselves than I did.
That being said, it can clearly be seen that I view this to be the biggest problem today's media has.]]>http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/Response_to_Pilgrim-5118.aspxTuesday, February 21, 2012 What’s alarming about this apathy is that it is contrasted by a system that oversimplifies and stereotypes gender, creates fictional political issues and inadequately portrays violence. We’re caught up in a dangerous came but media tries to create indifference towards the result. The title of Neil Postman’s book is a perfect summary, “Amusing Ourselves to Death”. Society looks at media more and more as our entertainment instead of other more productive uses. For example, the movie “The Ad and the Ego” exemplified this point. Advertising no longer points out the uses or abilities of a product, but instead try to subconsciously show images that people want. This creates an atmosphere of self-loathing. Instead of looking at the actual practicality of a product, the message is that there is something wrong.
Between being constantly entertained and reflecting on the negative content of advertising, critical analyzing of media is cast aside.
But there are solutions. Mainly, awareness. As Bernard McGrane stated in “The Ad and the Ego”, “We must disengage from the advertising -- take it out of ourselves and to begin to achieve that, we must ask where does advertising end and ourselves begin.” Before we can change mass media, we have to first change the way we see it. Until then, indifference and apathy are the biggest problems it creates within society.
]]>http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/PRopaganda-5109.aspxTuesday, February 21, 2012
Cheers,
David Stasio]]>http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/Government_is_lying_to_us-5107.aspxTuesday, February 21, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/P_R__and_Propaganda_Altering_the_Truth_-5105.aspxTuesday, February 21, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/The_Problem_with_Passivity_-5088.aspxTuesday, February 21, 2012 Societal problems cultivate due to media such as low self-esteem, overconsumption of materials and unjust social roles. Considering this, it is important to look for the hidden messages in media that may be causing said issues. We cannot assume that those in power are always looking our best interests, and we must in turn become educated on our own terms. This relates to Antonio Gramsci’s concept in the video Advertising and the end of the World. Gramsci states; “pessimism of the intellect means recognizing present circumstances and properly analyzing and understanding the nature of the present reality.” This concept promotes critically viewing the media to develop our own principles, rather than staying passive. As Stuart Ewen stated in the documentary The Ad and the Ego, “people need to be visionaries and only when alternative media become an avenue where that vision is given breathing room people can discover that commercial culture not satisfying, but dissatisfying.” We need to stray from what is easily placed right in front of us and seek every explanation to a media topic available. Through education and formation of our own opinions, we can then go on to speak out against the advertising dependent society. In my personal opinion the most affective way to seek this mental independence is by always pursuing diverse forms of knowledge. Immerse yourself in further education, read a variety of books, travel and experience different cultures. Avoid being passive to the media’s portrayal of the world by forming your own view through experience.
]]>http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/Influence_over_the_next_generation_-5087.aspxTuesday, February 21, 2012 In turn, parents are exposing their children to technology in order for them to “get ahead in life.” However, what parents fail to realize is that they are actually handicapping their children. Children who are being taught from a young age how to use technology, as a mean of communication, will have a harder time communicating with the people around them. Children will see technology as staple for themselves and lifestyles, not being able to distinguish the differences between the two.
As children become more exposed to the lifestyles shown on “MTV”, “Gossip Girl”, and “Desperate Housewives,” they begin to idolize the unattainable lifestyles. Children are watching gaining ideas about how to live, act, and present themselves in society. In simpler terms children are learning to assess their self worth based on their material possession. Parents should limit the amount of exposure their children have to media at a young age and what appropriate behavior for children of their age.
]]>http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/Who_can_we_trust_-5084.aspxTuesday, February 21, 2012http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/boards/post/ViacomohcanyouCBS-11-reply/RE___PILGRIM_--_1__RESPOND_TO_THIS_QUESTION_--to_begin-5056.aspxMonday, February 20, 2012I have always been aware that women are always over sexualized and men are not often portrayed in the same light, however after watching movies like Dreamworlds 3, it became obvious that this is a bigger issue than I thought.
As a child, I was not allowed to watch music videos because my parents did not want me to be exposed to the sexuality that is most often portrayed. I always felt that this was a silly rule because they did not have many other rules, but the more and more I think about it, the more I realize that it was not a bad rule for my parents to enforce.
Young girls are so susceptible to the medias portrayal of women and they will do whatever they can in order to be "just like" the women in media. This leads to eating disorders and other disorders that can lead to death in serious cases.
In my opinion, the threats are not as high for the males, but I also do not put as much thought into it.
I think this is an easy issue to fix. All the media needs to do is stop making every female in the movies, TV and magazines so "sexy" and also making men not always needing to be tough. Another way to fix this is for women to start having more demanding roles where they are the hero, and not relying on the men to always save the day.
Overall, I think out of all the movies we have watched, the most pressing issue our society has is the fact that women are most always portrayed as "sexy" and men are portrayed as "tough". ]]>