Influence of Media

One of the most important things that I have learned through this Introduction to Mass Communications class is the influence that media has on the people in this world. Although I already knew that media was part of our everyday lives; whether it be billboards we drive by, the internet we use, TV we watch, or even attending sporting events. Media is always there. Every message that we see is carefully planned by someone important from one of these mega corporations. These are all things that I already knew. The influence that it has on peoples lives is a different thing. Especially the MTV viewing crowd, (which is an obvious generalization, but just an example)people that seem to sometimes even be brain washed to join the "tribe" by doing whatever is necessary. The video we watched about the negative effects of urban/rap music videos is one of the biggest examples. Some people view their favorite rappers even themselves sometimes living out dreams of throwing money, slapping girls and dumping liquids on them, and everybody partying all the time. I had previously believed that everyone knew that this was not a reality, but from the parade in NYC it shows that clearly many young men have been brain washed to desire this a reality. Instead of seeing these kinds of videos and appreciating the music, and sometimes enjoying the scenery; some A-holes believe that they too can live this out in their everyday lives. This kind of media viewing shows that some people are passive observers, and others are not.
Another form of media that some cannot take for its viewing pleasure, is fake wrestling. Some young men take time to learn moves, practice, and become amateur wrestlers. Many others view the act on TV, and act it out foolishly with their friends...sometimes with dire consequences. Trying dangerous moves, using tables and other objects for weapons, even jumping off houses to attack. The influence that this sport can have on young mens lives can be seen on YouTube.com, wrestlingsbest.com, and other amateur websites in which moves and stunts are reenacted. Unfortunately both of these groups of people that take media influence too far are mostly young men, many just trying to play the role of the mook. These examples show that men these days really do make the mook a real life character, and not just something that exists on TV. The Jackass generation as I will call it, cannot stand by and watch professionals like Johnny Knoxville, and have to be that mook themselves. Wrestling mooks are the same way, except their stunts are usually combative. The effect that media has on some peoples lives is very real. Although most users do not take it to the extreme, there are those out there who cannot distinguish the media message from their reality.

(Oh yea, Aaron....The Phantom Menance was the bomb!! Two words....DARTH MAUL!!)