Competition in the mass media catapulted movie directors, article writers, video game programmers to divert from reality. Mass media consumers have been brainwashed to the extent that they cannot differentiate facts from fiction. Myths confused with real events to the extent that majority of the people believe in the existence of an alien race that will at one time invade planet earth. The advent of the internet has contributed greatly to this fiasco. Movie fans and addicts are able to watch movies online. A person can access mass media products from the four corners of the earth. Proliferation of fiction works have contributed significantly to this confusion. It’s surprising how characters in movies meet and get married in less than two hours. Shameless a popular television series is a classic example of television series that portrays homosexuality, alcohol addiction, law enforcement agencies and medical treatment in the wrong way.
Shameless is a United States television series that began filming in 2011. Its authenticity has been brought to question many times. It wrongly portrays the institution of family in modern world. It portrays a dysfunctional family with a father who is an alcoholic and instead of looking after his family; he chooses to let his children fend for themselves. Social welfare organizations would take care of the children and as a consequence, he would be sued for neglect.
Law enforcement agencies in Shameless are portrayed as ineffective and corrupt. Carrie, a female police officer, uses brutal methods while dealing with law breakers. Despite her harsh and inhumane methods, she does not lose her job. Ordinarily, such an officer would he haunted by human rights groups and forced to resign. If that does not work out, a committee of investigation would be set by the police service.
Domestic violence is another issue that is wrongfully depicted in Shameless. Frank Gallagher, who is violent as a result of his alcohol addiction, easily gets away with domestic violence. His children hate him for his drunken bully behavior. At one time, Frank buttheads his son. He goes scot free despite his degrading treatment of a minor. Children services would be very alert of children abuse. Frank would be arrested and charged with assaulting a minor. He might even lose his paternity rights. This does not happen in happen and Frank continues with is wayward behavior.
The circumstances under which Karen recovered from Agoraphobia are questionable. She was given a cocktail of drugs to help her cure her problem. The recovery seems effortless and unscientific. Normally, an agoraphobia victim would go through counseling sessions. He would be advised to join a self-help support group to help her overcome her anxiety issues. Actual treatment involves cognitive restructuring and relaxation techniques. The treatment would be done over a long period of time to ensure full recovery. It is very rare to find an agora phobia who is also a sex addict. On a similar issue, oral sex is portrayed of being capable of reviving someone from a coma. Karen performs oral sex on Judy, who is a cancer victim and he (read Judy) recovers from Coma. It is illegal to perform oral sex on an unconscious patient and such actions amount to rape.
Shameless portrays alcoholism as an addiction like any other but not as a serious problem as it would be in real life. Individuals who have a drinking problem are advised to go to rehabilitation centers. Gay relationships re wrongly portrayed as having been completely accepted in the society. The reality of the matter is gay people are still discriminated and looked down upon in most parts of the world. Frank rises to fame when he becomes a gay activist. An Anti-Gay group comes along to cure him of his gay problem by offering women sex with him. Anti-Gay group that offer women as a cure for homosexuality ate almost inexistent in the twenty first century. Frank is confused of his sexuality, he purports to be gay and the same time haves sex with a string of women. Gays are treated respectfully and accepted to be full members of the society. However, gays are discriminated and mistreated in many parts of the world. Some countries like Uganda have gone to the extent of making it an offense punishable by life imprisonment. Unlike what is depicted in fictional works, the situation on the ground is usually very different.
Frank Gallagher develops new tactics of making money by lying, cheating or forging documents. Such a character in the real world would easily be hunted down by police and incarcerated. Certain extremes seen in Shameless are driven by competition and need to supply the best commodity to the consumers. Shameless erroneously portrays the Irish American social class as rude and disorderly. The main family in the television series is portrayed as being unable to peacefully coexist with other members of the society. There are several wrangles that occur between the Gallagher family and its neighbors. Most Irish families do not behave the way the Gallagher family portrayed to behave.
The mass media has for a long time portrayed the American Society as a liberal society; a society that is ready to embrace new ideas, attitudes, opinions and a different approach to life. Contrary to popular opinion, the American society is painstakingly conservative. Most Americans subscribe to religious beliefs as opposed to the message Hollywood tries to put across. They prefer the using the methods of operation they are familiar with, to the new emerging technology . This can be illustrated by the number of times the United States Constitution has been amended. A country with more than two hundred years of civilization and with only twenty eight amendments reveals the country’s conservative underbelly.
In conclusion, the mass media has brain washed most people to the extent that what is real to them appears to be a myth. Works that have been claimed to be nonfiction have disappointed readers when reports reveal the inaccuracies that go with those publications. Mass media consumers should be advised to analyze everything carefully before taking it as the gospel truth.
References
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Gabbidon, S. (2010). Criminological Perspectives on Race and Crime. New York: Routledge.
Greene, H., & Gabbidon, S. (2011). Race and Crime: A Text/Reader. New York: Sage.
Hank, H., & Paul, M. (2004). The Da Vinci Code : Fact Or Fiction?: A Critique of the Novel by Dan Brown. New York: Tyndale House Publishers.
Mark, E. M. (2003). Freedom from Agoraphobia. New York: Mark Eisenstadt.
Sarah, L. (2006, April 8). The Idea for 'Da Vinci Code' was not stollen, Judge says. New York Times, pp. 23-30.
Siegel, L. (2009). Introduction to Criminal Justice. New York: Cengage Learning.
Steven, P., & Jason, J. (2013). Television Aesthetics and Style. New York: A&C Black.
Walsh, A. (2009). Race and Crime: A Biosocial Analysis. New York: Nova Publishers.
