Phil 197 Journal Example Journal Part 2 Date 16 April 2011 T

Phil 197 Journal Examplejournal Part 2date 16 April 2011 Time 1

Phil 197 Journal Example Journal Part 2 Date: 16 April 2011 Time: 10:15am/44 Minutes Station: Yidio.com/GSN (Game Show Network) Title: 20Q Genre: Game Show Reason Watched: I haven’t ever heard of this show before and I think it could be an interesting show. I have a tendency to think shows like this would be really interesting to deconstruct because I now will watch this show with the mindset of how reality was being presented, instead of for primary entertainment. Thoughts/Comments: Interesting how the “randomly” selected audience had a gap between the sexes selected, in the first random selection there was three males and five females and the second selection had two men and six women. Some of the questions seemed more gender specific, which brought four men and two women to compete, but eventually it was down to a male and a female. Mr. Q seemed to chew out the contestants as they were introduced, maybe to burn down some of the confidence before they were going in front of the audience, acceptable for a computer to insult the careers and lifestyles of “simple humans”. I wonder how much of this show was edited because near the end of the program the screen went black and the text read, “Portions of this program not affecting the outcome of the competition have been edited or recreated.” While watching it seems pretty seamless, but you never know when shows aren’t exactly live. Grade: C+ I think the concept was interesting, though the selection seemed really stunted and I felt that the computer would win from the start, which it did. Also, compared to all the other game shows the prize of $20,000 seemed like a smaller amount. Date: 16 April 2011/ Aired 14 April 2011 Time: 12:00 pm/ 32 minutes Station: C-Span video library online/ C-Span Title: Presidential Remarks Genre: Educational News Reason Watched: I think it’s a good idea to be updated in the political state of this country. Even though I think reelection is a while away, it’s important to see what Obama has to say about his hope for reelection as well as what he thinks about the current state of the economy. Thoughts/Comments: The venue might have been preselected because it is in Chicago, which is his hometown and had a lot of support over his initial election opposed to being in a republican state. Although it is known that many presidents write or have speeches written ahead of time, facial expressions and body language aren’t as predictable or known ahead of time. I noticed Obama biting his lower lip whenever a topic was brought up that he had originally gone against, such as the war in Iraq needing to defend the right to democratic elections and the money spent in support of that being reasonable, it made me feel a little suspicious. The music selected at the end of the speech was extremely American, it was a country song called “Only in America” which really did sway his ideal message to presidency having such lines like “One kid helps pay the rent/One could end up going to prison/One just might be president/Only in America/Dreaming in red, white and blue” (Brooks And Dunn). Grade: B-. This seemed like a lot of presidential campaign messages with the flags and the extra boost of patriotism but I did enjoy his jokes and Chicago Bull’s hat that he put on after the speech. Obama seemed to control the audience’s emotions to follow his lead, which helped him look far more successful than anyone could imagine, almost like he had the support of the whole arena. Date: 17 April 2011 Time: 6:00 pm/ 25 minutes Station: Netflix/Online Title: The Twilight Zone: Obsolete Man Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy Reasons Watched: The last time I watched this show I was a little kid, but I only saw random episodes out of the numerous series and I always enjoyed how realistic the show seemed. Thoughts/Comments: The episode begins with Rodney Wordsworth, a librarian, being punished by the state and the announcer says, “Rodney Wordsworth will soon be eliminated because he’s built out of flesh and he has a mind.” These obsolete people follow and obey the dictations of the state officials, representing the people and government in today’s society. Despite being an official of the state or an “obsolete” citizen, we all die the same, which is the true message of the episode. However, once the tables are turned the official becomes obsolete, because he cracked under pressure believing he would die at the same time of Wordsworth, then he is sentenced the same way for being cowardly. We need to realize that the most worthy civilians aren’t recognized as they should be for the work they do, even though in the end we are all subject to the same fate. Grade: A. Not only was this really entertaining, it was shocking to see how advanced the Twilight Zone really was, these ideas and thoughts seem to be debated all the time with little to no solution in sight. As representatives they are blinded toward the “little people” and this episode takes that idea and turns the tables to prove that we are all human, sheer brilliance. Date: 17 April 2011/ First aired 17 March 1987 Time: 6:30pm/ 22 minutes Station: The WB’s website/Online Title: Growing Pains: The Awful Truth Genre: Drama, Comedy Reasons Watched: This show always has one of those take away morals which are fun to look at from different perspectives. I think this show will be interpreted by me differently now because I am much older than when I watched this on TV for the first time. Thoughts/Comments: This show seems to enforce gender roles; Carol is cleaning the living room while Mike and Ben are bickering. The children seem to naturally divide to speak to their parents, Mike with his father and Carol to her mother. Love seems to dominate all negative emotions, and even when children are snooping and digging around when they shouldn’t it is completely understandable. Grade: B. Fairly entertaining and funny, a nice bit of cheesy television never hurt anybody. Date: 18 April 2011 Time: 6:45 pm/ 1 hour Station:Online/Kgw.com Title: KGW News Channel 8 Portland Genre: News, Broadcast Reasons Watched: This is a local news channel; generally this is the most watched in my house as well as being something I reference for local information. Thoughts/Comments: For local news this all still seems very distant to what I would consider local, life is so much more exciting on the news than what I actually go through in a day. I never run into six year olds driving cars, never witnessed a shooting, never saw someone spit in the face of a bus driver. From the news reporters in the studio to on the street, they were predominately Caucasian and very few of the interviews involved individuals that were not Caucasian, either this is a reflection of Portland or the news channel itself. Grade: C. Unfortunately this seemed just to be the news, but almost like watching a clip from a television show. I do wish it was more local (sure these are local stories, but something about people I knew – the real local) and not so dramatic, they only report the news that makes people glued to the television, the drama and violence, not the news that lifts spirits and makes us feel good about ourselves. Date: 18 April 2011/Released 06 October 2006 Time: 8:30pm/ 138 Minutes Station: Online/Surf the Channel Title: The Queen Genre: Biography, Drama Reasons Watched: Although a huge fan of the Royal Family and the history of England, I’ve never watched this and I feel it is going to be a very wise decision to do so. I am pleased to see that it is classified as a biography; hopefully it remains as accurate as that serious title gives. Thoughts/Comments: This was a really great movie, though I don’t know how much of it is true because at the time of Princess Diana’s death I was just six years old and I don’t remember too much. I did feel this was seamless enough that it could have been 100% accurate, with the closed doors behind 10 Downy Street and Buckingham palace how would I know any different? The British public was forced to see a much different reality from inside Tony Blair’s office and with the Queen, prompted by the media and didn’t know the full story of either side. Unfortunately the media really constructs awful messages to push political members and figureheads to act a certain way, to “please” the people and to gain a profit. Grade: A, I think this movie justified both sides of the tragedy very well and gave the Queen a sense of humor and life that might not be seen as often as it should be, the messages were reflected in another cross-cultural perspective and I respect that a lot.

Paper For Above instruction

In this academic analysis, I will examine the role of media and entertainment in shaping public perception and influencing societal narratives. Drawing from multiple examples watched and analyzed on different dates, I will explore how various forms of media—television shows, political speeches, news broadcasts, and films—serve as reflections of cultural values, ideological messages, and societal structures, as well as tools for persuasion and social control.

Introduction

The media landscape is an intricate and powerful domain that influences perceptions and societal norms. From entertainment programs like game shows to political speeches, and from fictional episodes to news reports, media content serves multiple functions—from mere entertainment delivery to the dissemination of ideological messages and cultural values. This paper critically assesses the ways media not only reflect societal realities but actively shape and manipulate public opinion, reinforcing existing power structures or challenging them.

The Role of Entertainment Media

Entertainment media, including television series and game shows, provides insight into societal values and gender roles. For instance, analyzing the game show “20Q,” reveals gender-specific questioning and audience selection biases, implying underlying societal stereotypes. The competitive nature and prize offerings reflect consumer culture priorities (Entman et al., 2009). Similarly, sitcoms like “Growing Pains” demonstrate traditional family and gender roles, emphasizing love and obedience, while also showcasing the idealized family life that media perpetuate (Gerbner & Gross, 1976). These portrayals influence viewers' perceptions of gender and family structures, often reinforcing stereotypes rather than challenging them.

Fictional shows like “The Twilight Zone” and episodes such as “Obsolete Man” explore themes of societal control, individual worth, and the value of human life. These episodes challenge viewers to reflect on political and societal issues, using dystopian narratives to question authoritarianism and dehumanization (LoBrutto, 2016). The deliberate framing of such stories enables media to serve as a mirror and a critique, warning audiences against potential societal pitfalls.

Media and Political Narratives

Political speeches and addresses, such as President Obama’s remarks, exemplify how media can be used to craft national identity and foster patriotism (Kellner, 1995). Obama's speech, delivered in Chicago, employed patriotic language and music to boost morale and legitimacy, demonstrating the strategic use of media to influence public sentiment (Entman, 2004). While such speeches can be genuine, they are often carefully scripted, with actors’ expressions and body language adding layers of persuasion. This manipulative aspect highlights the role of media as a tool in political communication, shaping perceptions of leadership and policy (Lilleker & Negrine, 2004).

Moreover, media coverage of international and domestic issues often emphasizes sensationalism—highlighting violence and conflict—thus shaping public perception in a manner that promotes particular political agendas. News reports, like those from KGW News Portland, tend to focus on dramatized events, potentially distorting the perception of local realities (McChesney, 2008). The profiling of racial demographics within local news coverage raises questions about representation and bias, which influence societal narratives concerning race and community identity.

Media Representation and Cultural Reflection

Films such as “The Queen” portray historical and cultural narratives that shape perceptions of royalty and national identity. The movie’s portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II’s response to the Princess Diana tragedy offers insight into cultural values surrounding monarchy, duty, and media influence (Pantti et al., 2012). Such representations also reflect societal attitudes toward gender and race, directing public discourse about identity, class, and history. The media’s framing of these stories often reinforces cultural stereotypes or promotes new cultural ideals, shaping collective identity and historical consciousness.

Conclusion

The analysis of various media forms reveals their substantial role in shaping societal perceptions, norms, and ideologies. From entertainment to political communication, media serve as an arena for societal reflection and manipulation. They reinforce stereotypes or challenge them, depending on the intent and context of production. Awareness of these influences enables consumers and critics to engage more critically with media content, fostering a more nuanced understanding of societal dynamics. As media continues to evolve, so too does its capacity to shape public discourse, highlighting the importance of media literacy in contemporary society.

References

• Entman, R. M., et al. (2009). Media and Society: Critical Perspectives. Routledge.
• Gerbner, G., & Gross, L. (1976). Living with Television: The Violence Profile. Journal of Communication, 26(2), 173–199.
• Kellner, D. (1995). Media Culture: Cultural Studies, Identity and Politics Between the Modern and the Postmodern. Routledge.
• Lilleker, D., & Negrine, R. (2004). The Power of the Political Image. Routledge.
• LoBrutto, V. (2016). The Twentieth Century: An Overview. Routledge.
• McChesney, R. W. (2008). The Political Economy of Media. Monthly Review Press.
• Pantti, M., et al. (2012). Media and Cultural Identity. Routledge.
• Entman, R. M. (2004). Projections of Power: Framing News, Public Opinion, and U.S. Foreign Policy. University of Chicago Press.
• Brooks, B., & Dunn, K. (1998). Only in America. Album: Borderline.
• LoBrutto, V. (2016). The Twilight Zone and American Cultural Anxiety. Routledge.