RTF 307 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Mass Media, Imagined Communities, Eli Pariser

• School: UT-Austin
• Department: Radio-Television-Film
• Course: RTF 307
• Professor: J.Mc Clearen

Document Summary

Media theory has historically argued that people are socialized through mass media. In the 21st century, people can get their media through numerous channels instead of singular ones. Sociology argues that the mass media tells us who we are (identity) and how to interact with other people (behavior) The link between media and direct behavior is inconclusive. Much of this research is based on a fear that the mass media will: (cid:862)socialize children into an adult culture that consists of sexist and racist stereotypes, se(cid:454)ualit(cid:455), (cid:448)iole(cid:374)(cid:272)e, a(cid:374)d (cid:272)o(cid:373)(cid:373)er(cid:272)ialis(cid:373)(cid:863) (cid:894)hadle(cid:455) & ne(cid:374)ga, (cid:1006)(cid:1004)(cid:1004)(cid:1008), p. (cid:1009)(cid:1005)(cid:1009)(cid:895) Mass media and community (how it brings us together) Regional dialects become standardized (everyone uses the same words) Literacy, access to knowledge, critical thinking, national identity. Nations are imagined communities of people who have never met each other but see themselves as tied to a shared identity. Creates a sense of national identity which contributes to deeply rooted nationalism in each individual.