Media and Ethics

Contents

August 28, 1997-Thursday

Today we watched a video- Bill Moyers' "Consuming Images." As one can tell from the title, that itself makes you wonder what images can consume so strongly. The video contrasted "Image and Reality" in America, or Moyers more or less meant to compare the two. His main point was that it's hard to tell what is really image and what is reality? As it was discussed in the film (or classroom, short term memory...) we as consumers know when the advertisement is "dumb and untrue," but yet we still abide by it. I'm thinking about all this and watching some of the commercials displayed and I say to myself, "wow," some people must be pretty gullible to believe all this stuff. I myself went to the store the other day and was debating on what kind of toothpaste to buy. I looked at all of them and spotted the Metadent (the one that dentists prefer) and thought about that commercial when that girl (who of course had beautiful white teeth) said her father was a dentist and he said he wanted her to use Metadent. Well, I bought into the commercial and bought the toothpaste. Anything on television these days could be described as the "seduction of eloquence," as stated in Moyers' video. A simple definition of seduce would be to win over or attract; eloquence is the quality of persuasive powerful expression. Companies want to win us over so we are attracted to their product. One of the deadliest tactic is aiming towards one's emotions and senses. We can't help how we feel or how we react to certain images , which is why they work so well. All the ATT commercials have a lot of family value and the "reach out and touch someone" slogan to reinforce the importance of keeping in contact with loved ones. The most popular item with the coolest commercials would be the Levi jeans. Actually, they're not doing so well as a company now, but the commercials are great. There's two people in the elevator and they gaze into each others eyes and they see the same vision of spending their life together (family and the baby...) Which most people desire, and then the elevator stops and the vision ends with a smile to one another. So, for all you girls out there- the man of your dreams, or guys out there- the woman of your dreams, is wearing a pair of Levi's-button-fly-501 blues. :) Companies sell their products and people fall for the coolest or most heartwarming commercials. It is hard trying to figure out what is really reality and what is just an image, because some images are our desires and dreams in hopes of one day becoming a reality, so it's hard to break away sometimes. * with the exception of a few commercials, like Depends or something.
September 3, 1997- Wednesday

Princess Di died the other day in a car crash provoked by the poperazzi(?). Such a tragic incident, especially because the driver was drunk and trying to get away from the press, which the excessive driving caused the accident. Ethical or not- to give Princess Di a private life, which we all know would be hard, but why must it come down to losing a life? I find it a sad statement for our society to stoop so low to get a good scoop. Granted, that's what people want, out of curiosity ( I personally indulge in the inquirer , examiner, globe...while waiting in the checkout line just to see what they could be saying about aliens on earth that keep in contact with Elvis?) Or for whatever reason, entertainment mostly. I don't believe it's worth it to invade the private lives of the "rich and famous" for economical reasons, job stability, whatever. Then again, as we discussed in class, one knows when they're going to get attention from the media, so it should be expected. We discussed the amount of television that we watched and some people felt very strongly about not watching t.v. at all because it's bad for you and it wastes brain cells. Well, maybe not in those exact words- but I do agree with them in that it does suck you into that world. I watch TLC or the History channel, A&E or the news. I don't feel too bad about it, I do learn things and I keep up to date on events going on in the world today. The class makes me examine how things are presented to the public eye and it's really strange how I never noticed "proper" journalism manners before. Ethical stories or not, it makes you see things more than ever before.
September 4, 1997- Thursday

Media ethics is an easy class to describe, but after class I thought about how instructors teach a class of ethics- especially media ethics. Everyone has their own morals and it's hard to distinguish sometimes what is socially correct or morally correct or correct in some way. Who's to say what is good or bad behavior? People have different ways of living their life with different mind-sets. This could be a difficult question to tackle...
September 9,1997-Friday

I just did my two lists: My instrumental value and my terminal value ideas. It was difficult to do although it seems apparent what are the most important goals and ways to live by. I'm curious to know how the class is going to tally up, so I can see how our generation thinks. I'm 24 years, so maybe not my exact age group and we do have a diverse class.
September 10, 1997-Wednesday

Initially, when I signed up for the class I believed that the media was focused on just newspapers and the news. Today, we went to a more personal subject which was our influence growing up. Well, that's too broad to say- we started off by discussing the internet and how it has pictures of New England foliage and the beautiful scenery for people who have never experienced the four seasons. Sounds good- maybe, but what if our future generations experience their life on computers? That's a scary thought for me because I think that kids need to be outside and explore nature. My mother couldn't keep us inside the house no matter what the weather. If it was raining- we would jump in the puddles: If it was snowing- we would make snow tunnels, angels or build a snow-fort: The summer we would conform to our bikes and they took us everywhere a kid would want to go. I'm worried that my kids are just going to play computer games all day instead of being kids. Computers do require skill to use, I personally can't use them that well, so it wouldn't be all that bad for kids to use them, but I don't think people should depend on them to experience life. Computer love affairs? That's funny. We discussed a variety of topics and I realized again, whether it be through the radio or television, that ethics are different for everyone. It's sad that some T.V. shows portray supposedly what we should be- 90210 Beverly Hills or any soap opera. They don't say it, but when people watch, they want to be them. The haircuts, clothing, music- all of it is influenced by a show or a band. (Wash. Grunge) Whatever happened to the Brady Bunch? I loved watching that, though I was quite the couch potato my early teens, but at least that show didn't focus on what was cool, a little bit but they mostly talked about life situations- the good and bad, the basic moral kind of stuff. "Don't play ball in the house!" and when Peter was going through puberty and his voice changed, but they still went on with their song contest. Great show... Anyways, Princess Di still lives and she's getting more coverage than Mother Theresa- a living Saint nonetheless- will ever get. I'm happy to see that Time magazine and Newsweek have commemorative issues for memoirs of the "People's Princess." I just get tired of the bad stuff, I think it cheapens life when people get a rise out of seeing how much weight Princess Di gained in the past year- who really cares?
September 16, 1997- Tuesday

Today we watched a film called "state of art, art of state," which was a documentary on the freedom of art and its extinction in society today. I always hear of things that happen in the art world such as prohibiting certain things or controversy on whether or not it's really art. (Nowadays, you just can't tell.) Mr. Robitaille mentioned a few pieces that we didn't see, one being the Holy Cross w/Jesus in a bottle of urine or piss, to be blunt. This is an outcry, blasphemy to the Catholic Church, which he was a member of I believe- but he wanted to make a statement. That he definitely did, and growing up Catholic as well, I can sometimes back him up on that opinion. I believe in God, we have this personal relationship and I don't believe that going to church everyday and standing up and sitting down and standing up and sitting down, you get the point, is going to make me a better person. I've already committed about half of what the Ten Commandments tell you not to do. (I haven't killed anyone or anything) You can't have sex before marriage, and Adam and Eve were made of dirt. Hmmm...that's a cool thought BUT, realistically, I think he'd have to prove it. He guides me in my actions, and I'm a good person. I don't need a church or a priest to tell me so. That video said a lot. I'm already for the freedom of expression in art form, but when you don't face it daily- you don't appreciate it as much. Burning the flag was an issue, which having served in the military- I should protest, but I wanted to be a part of the country that gives us the freedom to say what's on our mind, and express it- some people burn flags. It's a shame that they burn what represents the blood and time given by men at war to give us the freedom to do so, but if they can live with it, then I can too. Dealing with ethics in media is a touchy issue. One thing I have problems with is censorship of everything today. Living in Panama City for a year, they banned NYPD Blues because of the graphic violence, partial nudity and language. That town is pretty religious which explains why we didn't have it, but it's not right. People, because of their beliefs and philosophies in life have the right to censor what they think is offending? It's a rough world out there, if they don't see it on t. v.- it's going to be a shock later in life. I can see what they're saying, especially with younger children, but don't let them watch t.v., or you don't watch t.v. when a show is on that you don't like. Don't buy music that is too vulgar for you- don't ban it from everyone else. The world would be a better if people just opened their minds a little, and teach kids what to do or not to do. Teach them things period! I managed to get hold of everything that was banned, Madonna's , I believe "Truth or Dare?" something like that. (I don't think my parents could even begin with that one..) Very provocative I must say, and the 2LiveCrew album. Yes, it was very condescending to woman, but it had a catchy tune. Am I an evil person now? Just a little more educated on matters I probably wouldn't have bumped into on my own- as a kid anyways. My opinion is that we wouldn't appreciate the freedom of expression if we had nothing to express, like if we lived in a perfect world or something. Some people don't like Howard Stern and they can express that. So why take that privilege away?
September 25, 1997-Thursday

We watched the filming of presentations- or should I say interrogations- of the press by some of Mr. Robitaille's students from last semester. It was very interesting to say the least, I'll comment in outline form: There's a lot more to think about (ethically!) In reporting the news on paper or television than meets the eye. Some people might take that as omission if they didn't report certain types of issues, some (Channel 20) gave good reasons for doing so. I remember the gay issue was a problem, the old people don't like it or something. Credibility of the stories had a lot to do with omission- How does one know is someone is really lying or not- appearance? The cartoonist for the Sun discussed some of his pictures that were rejected because of ethical reasons. One I recall was an obese woman sunbathing in the backyard, and the editor knew someone would be offended. Ethical or profitable is the question: Are things really not appropriate or will they just lose money and customers in doing so? ( gays for example: they are a part of society last I heard, to not include them would be outright prejudice, and that my friend is NOT ethical) Deadline pressures are more important than the content? Comforting thought. The Iguana guy was the Iguana guy. Money and polarization of society
September 26, 1997-Friday

We had an interesting class discussion today- Ms. Miller was our sub. And we sat in a big circle and commented on the interrogation of the press. We ventured into some controversial issues, one girl mentioned work ethics. One guy from the Gainesville Sun had a real bad attitude, so a lot of people in the class didn't like him, and this girl said he was just doing his job. When she has to work, she gets tired of doing the same thing over and over and eventually doesn't put her all into it, like that guy. Well, the class and I looked at her in amazement when she implied that she had lousy work ethics- in a media and ethics class, and we were to agree with her? Another issue was the topic of gay people (it's just such a controversial topic..) In Gainesville, like half the town isn't gay, right? The other half is made up of hicks and old people, and old hicks for that matter, which of course would explain why they oppose such a voo-doo behavior. I know, inappropriate name calling- but you get the message. So the media avoids the topic because it puts them in an awkward position. So what if some people don't find "being gay" as not ethical or something, maybe that's why the media avoids doing coverage on that sort of thing. Another agitating subject is Princess Di has books, magazines, pictures, postcards, stamps ect...because she married into royalty and was in the Enquirer all the time. On the other hand we have Mother Theresa who devoted her life helping others, in a country where it was not the easiest to accomplish. Not juicy enough I guess- very sad on our part.
October 3,1997-Friday

The Paper Tiger presentation discussed the colonization of the body, with the million different items one can purchase for every part of the body. The woman who presented it was quite humorous, and I can see the point she was making. My opinion, I'd rather have a lot of choices so I can choose whatever suits my particular taste. Are we going to have one type of shirt, one type of socks and one type of jeans? I believe that because we have capitalism, free market of ideas and the opportunity to have your own business, then it's worth while to look like a greedy country. I think she may have implied, reading the lines real close, that there are countries out there that can't even feed themselves and here we are with choices galore. Selfish, it depends on how you look at it. When we as a society have surpassed creating our basic needs, we go on to basic wants, and so on. I find it ridiculous at times that some people don't even have their own car or bicycle for that matter, but yet they have the little beeper on their side and the cell-phone just in case something comes up. Talk radio with Howard Stern, and I wish I had more time to write. I personally never listened to him on the radio, I did see his late night show a few times, I believe he was interviewing a stripper or porn star, interesting. I wasn't disgusted or anything, he was rather crass in his conversation and he held back nothing. I was laughing at some of the things he said just in disbelief that he actually said it. He just does it for attention, "what will he say next?" that's what reels people in. He's just a big boy stuck in that latency stage is it? I think he gets the most attention when he's controversial, otherwise he's just making up stupid things to talk about. I read in our pamphlet that article about him that Patricia J. Williams wrote in her "Hate Radio." I think she took it a little too personal, yes he is very rude, but it's not like you don't meet people that are like that everyday. Howard Stern just says things and obviously his co-star, a black female, assists in comments made so that's why I don't think he's being hateful. Then we get to Rush Limbaugh. I think he's funny, again rude at times but funny. The author commented on how she felt that was the "white America" thinking aloud. Apparently she hasn't watched Chris Rock perform, he's the total opposite, and I think he's funny too. People have to loosen up, you have your beliefs, and as long as these people aren't harming anyone or anything but your pride- then swallow it and change the channel. I don't listen to either one too much, so maybe they do say offending things, but I'm ok with it because I don't pay attention to it.
October 9, 1997- Thursday

"Does T.V. Kill?" Frontline news report on television violence, and does society mock it or do the ideas come from our already violent society? Are we feeding the flame of aggression is the question. Do we know the answer- NO. People speculate, and do their little statistics, and make a show where they invade people's homes and record their addicting tv habits. The only way you can get good statistical proof of anything that has to do with society is if you give everyone the same test, every person in the country. I highly doubt that happened, but you never know. I'll stop being so cynical, because I'm suppose to be objective. I definitely understand the problem that they were pointing out, but I think a lot of issues we deal with in this class have to do with sociological and psychological perspectives. First of all, their family is the numero uno influence and what were they doing? Well, apparently not spending as much time with their children as they should, and then the separate t.v.s in the kid's room? No wonder he's a vegetable and doesn't know any different. It was an eye opener to me that some families live like that, but I believe that's a disfunctional family if there's absolutely no communication between people! I'm sure it was meant to be portrayed in that manner. I think there's a halfway point of watching t.v., as in it's not an obsession or necessity in life but used as an information source or mere entertainment. They said that the violence on television was reflected in childhood violence. I can question that theory, so before t.v. was invented kids didn't get into fights? Granted, they probably know a few more karate kicks than if they didn't watch, but again it has to do a lot with parental guidance. Boys will be boys will only go so far. I totally agree that television has a great potential of sucking the life and imagination out of a child. Maybe watching a show could inspire a kid to think in different ways, and use both the imagination and television to play. I had a clubhouse in our backyard, and we called ourselves The Pink-Panthers. (After the cartoon, or the insulator commercial :) Another factor in observing kids is the environment in which they grow in. City or country makes a world of a difference. Playing in the streets with the fire hydrant blasting is so different from running through the sprinklers on grass and running around the yard. I remember one woman said she was happy her son watched t.v. instead of getting mixed up in the wrong crowd, get into the drug scene or gang violence. Between the two I think there's a huge difference.
October 17, 1997-Friday

We have been discussing Gerbner and his "Television Violence," piece which provides many statistical evidence and good arguments. He has a point. He gives the realistic facts on violence and that it's in our culture to stay. Now we have this "happy violence" that makes all the shooting and killing look fun and it's always a happy ending. It's not the greatest influence to have, but most violent films are rated R, meaning 18 and up. If you don't understand that killing is not a good thing by the time your 18, then you probably have this skewed view of life without the influence of television- and with media influence you have the potential to be a lunatic. That's not a great outlook, but if you look at how many people watch these violent movies, and how many are influenced in a bad way as in harming society, I think there are more people on the norm. Another point he made, along with the class is the numb attitude we have towards violence as if it doesn't affect us emotionally anymore because we see it on t.v. so much. I've seen plenty of movies with violence, but there's a world of difference between watching a drive-by shooting, and actually being there. Living in L.A. for two years, I personally can tell the difference, and I was fully aware of all that could've happened. He gave very persuasive stats., but he didn't mention how many people were surveyed, just the percentages. If 80% said entertainment was "harmful" to society, if the total amount of people there were twenty- then that wouldn't be saying too much. I'm sure it was a good survey, but if I'm going to be objective about the media, then I will do the same for the anti-media.
October 24, 1997-Friday

Media Images and Politics: "The Public Mind" with Bill Moyers This documentary showed us the illusions of the news, which is really scary because that's where I get all my updates on current events. Illusions in that what we see as this "reality," is what sells us. Specifically, the film showed the back of the house work at a magazine shoot. They dubbed the pictures afterward until they saw flawlessness. The women were very critical at how things were set up, model-wise, and the perfection of the whole advertisement. Why? Because they can't sell that image that they represent that could possibly happen to you the consumer. This video really makes you think about exactly why and how the media manipulates the way you think, feel or understand concepts of politics, beauty and life. That's a big chunk of my life that's been influenced. Reading the transcript again, Bill Moyers stated public life is a media show, which I totally agree with, and commenting on that, " the stakes of our sense of meaning and language, our ideas of history, democracy and citizenship- and our very notions of beauty and truth." Holy canoli! My whole life has been taught to me by the media. Is that necessarily a bad thing? If the information processed doesn't flow with one's own personal thoughts, that is if we still have some left, and together the decision making process shouldn't be that detrimental. Well, Moyers points out a lot of faults of the media and society. I think I view the media not as an object, but as a person- different people. When you meet different people and converse, share your thoughts on whatever the subject matter is, you're influenced by the information that person just shared with you. Personally, my knowledge of politics is about nill, so I try to listen now to learn. I grew up with Republican influence, and actually most of my friends are of that "wing" too, so I agree with many views on that end. I also agree with the Democrats on a few issues too, so I guess that makes me a right left winger. :) Well, to continue on, we still live in a society of people and not all of them are right either, and they too will probably try to talk you into doing something. After seeing this film, the slippery-slope concept popped into my head. If the media influences everybody everywhere, billboards, radio, t.v., then all people are influenced by this, nobody can think on their own because their heads are filled with the news or fashion that we should be thinking about....I think I saw a movie on this where aliens or something, maybe it was the government- I get the two confused sometimes- they zapped everybody or put these subliminal messages on all the posters and billboards so all the passerbys got put in this trance to believe all that was put out to them. This guy wanted to rule the whole city, soon world and was doing a good job at it until someone found out about it, the good guy, and the enemy territory, the t.v. studio (this applies), was blown up and the conspiracy was revealed. Maybe Bill Moyers is that guy trying to reveal this huge conspiracy for our whole country to be "perfect." ????? I know what he's saying, and its scary to think that my thoughts are constantly influenced by some big CEO or politician to vote for them or wear their stuff so I can be the coolest person. We go back to the sociological circle again, and who our first influences in life were. Our parents are the ones that tell us our basic right and wrongs and try to explain why kids pick on you at school. Why do kids pick on you at school? Because of what they see in magazines or t.v. and those images are perfect and if someone doesn't live up to those images then they are told about it. I think kids learn that from possibly their parents, but mostly friends. So I understand where this vicious circle can lead. Friends influence and at young ages, media influences them and then all teens, now even younger are getting affected by these images of what beauty is or a good catch is. My best friend is a sad example- she only dates guys that wear nice shoes, no she didn't have any boyfriends in high school, they have to be good looking, that's understandable, but he has to wear the right clothes, blah-blah-blah....Now on top of that she wants to get a boob-job!! WHY??? Because Pamela Anderson-Lee looks like a Barbie Doll and now some girls want to look like that too. Actually, my analyzation of some things goes way too deep to even go into, and the media has, is and will saturate our lives. The point of this class is to notice what things to be skeptical of, or just be a cautious consumer. That's the best we can do. Some would like to ban everything, but in this country if one thing goes the whole place goes down. It's like the abortion issue- where does life begin? Conception maybe? Or is it a few weeks after that? It was 28 weeks when Roe v. Wade was decided when the viable time was, but it changed again to 23 or 24 weeks, so where does it begin? It depends on your religion what kind of person you are and what you define as life. That's a tough question. So is any of my personality actually me? I used to think I took after my parents in some respects, but if they were "under the influence" then where does my life begin? Am I actually me or a product of society? This could be depressing, but I think too many people have way too much time on their hands to be analyzing everything and its effects on our horrible country. Maybe we are at excess, maybe we should all be Omish and live happily ever after.
October 31, 1997- Friday

Todd Haynes can make a point. We saw this really wacked film today about the (Karen) Carpenter story and their strange unhealthy lives. He exaggerated a lot I'm sure, (I hope) to show us that even the stars that we idolize are influenced by pressures of the media. They are part of the media but they have to be on this pedestal so we can look up to them. One reporter or journalist commented on her chubbiness, or something to that effect, and she eventually had eating disorders as a result. A big star like her having a problem with how she looks? She got there somehow and it's because she had a talent. She had a beautiful voice with music that will forever be in our hearts and lives. I think that it's sad that she fell under the pressure of perfect expectations, from society. Haynes probably didn't do this because of his depression in her lifestyle, but that many other girls could possibly be going through the same things- and they can't sing! So if the big star can't handle the pressure, how could a sixteen year old girl? I grew up being very skinny, but at the time it wasn't the style so we were made fun of quite often. The way I looked wasn't in style. What a phrase- that's what kind of media filled society we live in that little kids, they get younger by the year, have these expectations to live by. Diets at the age of ten. My little sister ate lettuce for four months in high school because her friends were on diets. What do we do?
November 14, 1997-Friday

Advertising is the topic of the week. Is it ethical? How do we define it , as an art form or a part of this conspiracy the media has against us? I find it as an art form, some of them are very creative in a psychological sense and others just get to your senses. Hungry? Just watch commercials at night and you'll be even hungrier. I personally like the funny ones, those you remember. The Dunkin Donuts man, "time to make the donuts," as he walks in his sleep I often describe as myself this semester. He's an adjective to me. When I was in chorus in my elementary years, we sang this song that was made up entirely of advertising jingles! I wish I was an O scar-Meyer wiener, cause' that is what I truly want to be- and you can hear the kid's voice singing it that was in that commercial. This class is scary at times because I don't really notice how much of my knowledge is media, and that's it. Good for playing around, but it's almost an unconscious act. I can remember jingles, songs, commercials, all episodes of the Bradys with the first note played on the first scene- and I have the hardest time remembering Chemistry. Is this a bad thing I ask myself, I feel like it's bad because I'm reading all this literature telling me my brain is going to malfunction because it's coma-tosed, lack of use. Advertising is selling of a product, it's part of our capitalist system and it's been used for quite some time.
November 26, 1997- Wednesday

We just watched the movie, or documentary, on the natives of Vernon, Florida. The ethical question is if the author was poking fun at the town's people or was he actually interviewing them to see how they live, what they think about, and what their philosophy is on life. As I wacthed this film, I was trying to find its purpose of it was, but I think it's just the ideas of the townspeople to reall a few, the "turkey hunter", the old guy who saya all people have four brains so, for him, he can do four things at once; then this carpenter guy was being interviewed last and his sole purpose was to build churches as he was told to do by God. We think, or I think these people don't have it all up there. Do they know any different? Or do we just have such selfish expectations that they must be similiar in their beliefs of life to be taken seriously, or to be heard as a normal person. Yes, I found these people to be a bit peculiar, unique I should say, and why should they be condemned for it. This film's audience is an example of America's new meaness- the book I'm reading, how we exclude otherpeople within our society if they don't live, act or ARE like us. Are we raised to be like this, snobbish in a way? It's a whirlwind of reasons.