Based on social conditions, factors, and values, people from all ages have some essential common grounds of experience. Similarly, at every age, the then media played an important role in determining the mould of society. Such issues have been dealt with in Gary Soto’s “Looking of Work” and Diane Kendell’s “Framing Class, Vicarious Living, and Conspicuous Consumption”; two essays that deal with psycho- social and economic aspects of life under the influence of media. The issues discussed in the articles are strongly connected in that, both explores the influence of television on consumer perception, desire, expectation and purchase.
However, according to Kendell, one can agree with her statement, “Teh average American household is carrying more than eight thousand dollars in credit- card debt and that (statistically speaking) every sixteen seconds a person goes bankrupt”(Kendell339). One can understand the title of Lohr’s essay “Maybe It’s Not All Your Fault” because a person has to be strong in order not to be influenced by the television advertisement.
When Soto sees the television characters dressed ad eating well, he believes his family should enjoy similar lifestyle. He even suggested his parents if they can have turtle soup for dinner, but they ignored his request and thought it was not a good idea. (Soto29). Soto’s thoughts have lead him to be eager and open to the media culture. In the meantime, he thinks that there are many families who enjoy the lifestyle that the television portrays.
Being influenced by television, Soto thinks that his Mexican culture is unacceptable. For instance, he encounters an action from is teacher that allows him to feel inferior when she places him with a group that she calls “Stupids”. This encounter has brought embarrassment to Soto. The lack of sufficient finances plays a significant role in Soto’s life, and he decides to seek a job. He want to be able to afford the luxury that he sees people enjoying on television:
pearl necklace, cuts into her steak and blushes.”
Kendell’s essay shows how the media influences individuals to believe that they can purchase anything they want. Overall, both writers have indicated that, the social values portrayed can be harmful to an individual’s goal. In fact, many people who are shown enjoying the lifestyle are doing so because they feel the need to fit in to the current trends. Apparently, to many individuals, social status is important to their aspects of life which has been an essential part of their social life and society. Many people today have consistent access to television. This has a major influence on them as far as social values and acceptance is concerned, regardless of age or the time period.
Work Cited
Colombo, Gary, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle. Rereading America Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing. St Martins: Bedford, 2010. Print
