Group Three.

For many people, the idea that media shapes who we are both as individuals and as a society might be a little frightening. Especially people like me, who grew up watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer (don't judge me).  Siochru and Girard say, "Mass media and electronic media in today's highly differentiated and compartmentalized world are becoming the primary means through which people interact with each other, beyond their immediate everyday contacts... They provide us with the raw material, often even the tools, to comprehend what our society is beyond our immediate experience, and ultimately to participate in that society and perhaps even to change it.'" I think in many ways this idea is not actually that much of a shock to the older generations, who have always seemed to nail down exactly which parts of mainstream culture are currently corrupting and destroying the current generation of miscreant youths. The idea that somehow the tv shows, movies and music that we consume can affect our thoughts, beliefs and even our actions is not new, but I believe that in today's digital world it is something to be considered more carefully than in generations past.

I suppose the key debate that rises from this is to what degree should the media be regulated? It is easy for most American-minded thinkers to jump straight to, "not at all! free speech rules supreme here." But is free speech really free if there is nobody watching to see that all of the voices get to give a speech? I can't help but think that this really ties directly into Livingston's article on the CNN effect (reconsidered). I think the main idea in both articles is that the way in which we consider how media affects society (and how governance/policies are affected by this) has to be re-evaluated. With new consideration for things such as smartphones, tablets, and the fact that people are very rarely awake and away from the media. What are the effects of this, if there are only a few companies who get to put the information out there? Are we being bombarded with information, seeming different on the surface, but actually all spewed out by the same 5 or 6 giant conglomerations with obvious vested self-interest?

I guess the problem for me as I try to sort out these issues is that I don't know where to begin to think  because I don't know how to separate the truth from the fiction in the media. Where should we turn? Who has the willpower to try to tackle these issues? Especially when the vast majority of the public seems ok with just grumbling about Jersey Shore (but then still watches it). What about reality tv? What about these news programs that are so blatantly biased without ever suggesting that there might be another opinion that might be considered. I can't help but think that were a particular group were ever to petition for more regulation of media, that the media itself would never allow it to happen. How can one raise awareness about something without gaining popular support? How does one gain popular support without media? Facebook? I just don't think it'll cut it. I guess for now we'll just have to settle for the FCC freaking out over "accidentally" exposed body parts during sporting events.