SOCA01H3 Lecture Notes - Benjamin Demott, Soup Kitchen, Film Studio
Document Summary
Mapping # 38 - media magic: making class invisible. Mass media arguably most influential in modeling public consciousness. Unlike other socializing institution - ownership & control of mass media are highly concentrated: e. g. t 23 cooperation owns more than daily newspaper, magniz, movie studio, radio & Tv in us: # of media companies shrinking while control of industry is expanding. Media key role in defining our cultural taste, helping locate ourselves in history, establishing national identity, ascertain range of national & social possibilities. When exposed come up w/ excuses by blaming the victims for their own plight. News media meager coverage of poor people & poverty coverage they provide is distorted & misleading. Rate of poverty is increasing 2 as fast as population growth in us. When media does turn its attention to poor often a series of contradictory messages & portrayals.
