Introduction
The role of the media in societies cannot be overemphasized. While media can have a positive impact on the society, some of its tenets can have far-reaching implications for the stability of social settings. The media has been blamed for promoting certain tendencies that defile the integrity of the society by propagating some ideologies and beliefs that cause rifts or compel some people to the periphery. For instance, ethnicity is one of the issues that have been negatively constructed by the media. Even though the initial intention of the media was to entertain and promote certain values in the society, it has become a promoter of certain information that has specific connotations.
Throughout various societies in the modern dispensation, there are certain equalities that are either caused by the government or promotion of certain propensities. Equalities can occur as a result of the inadequate allocation of resources or increased marginalization of some groups because of their positions or political stand in the society (Doctorow 12). Nonetheless, the media plays a crucial role in endorsing and reproducing particular norms and values in the society. Establishing understandings and common meanings among individuals and groups in specific social settings does the promotion. The media propagates the various meanings as established by the dominant cultures. As a consequence, such tendencies led to the emergence of patterns of equalities that only seek to benefit the dominant entities.
The ideals, values and norms of the dominant cultures are produced and reproduced to the extent that they become the known tenets. Essentially, those who have limited cultural influence are pushed to the periphery effectively surrendering the social space to the dominant groups. The media only spreads and promote information that is associated with the prominent social groups. The sophistication of these tendencies occurs when the media broadcast the dominant groups, then explains to the less influential social groups about their decision to undertake such practices (O'Shaughnessy & Jane 5).
The media plays a crucial role in making, marking and maintaining of social equalities in the society. For instance, in each society there are the marginalized groups who seek equal treatment and balance in so far as access to resources is concerned. However, they are not given such platforms to voice their opinions or register their displeasure on the inherent deficiencies that are manifest in those settings (O'Shaughnessy & Jane 25). The role of the media is to be impartial and provide those who are disenfranchised by certain inclinations to become better. However, the media act contrary to such aspirations of only propelling the agenda of the dominant or the elite groups. As a result, most of the marginalized individuals never get an opportunity to tell their stories or speak against the oppressive tendencies that are manifest in the society. The rich people or the elite have their interest protected and enunciated while the poor people remain one way.
The laws that are sometimes enacted are sometimes oppressive, marginalizing and retrogressive yet the poor only lament about them without changes being made. In the novel, ‘pirate cinema’, Doctorow submits to the audience how the media condemn people to the periphery (Doctorow 18). The media maintains social inequalities by constantly staying on the path of the dominant groups in direct contravention promoting equality in the society. The elite push their agenda through the media and such mediums only act as platforms through which people are pushed in a downward trend.
The media should interrogate the laws and determine their authenticity by evaluating how they affect the people in society. However, the mass media ignore some of the issues raised and only provide a justification for why the laws are good for the stability of the social settings. The novel elaborates on the politicians play a crucial role in condemning the public to the periphery. While the media should be a neutral arbiter in issues affecting various sectors of the society, it aligns itself with the popular initiatives and agendas that are pushed by the dominant groups in the society (Doctorow 23). The media has been a major source of gender and class discriminations since its inception. For instance, the rich are the upper social class, and they control immense resources are extensively influential.
The media are influenced or sometimes coerced to further a particular agenda that does not necessarily favor the minority by the elite. Those in the lower social strata do not get the opportunity to push their agenda and issues even in the most basic manner. Additionally, the media has propagated discriminatory trends in some dimensions. For instance, there are some races or communities that are labeled to be either violent, criminals or social misfits. For example, the black community in the US has been labeled with negative social connotations by the media. Due to such broadcast, the focus group condemned to the periphery because they are viewed with contempt. Social inequalities have become a rampant phenomenon has become an acceptable norm because of the continuous justification and promotion by the media (O'Shaughnessy & Jane 50).
The media has played a significant role in culture jamming in the society. Such practices have been the source of inequalities in diverse societies. The media has contributed to this vice by retelling the cultural practices, norms, values and regulations in a dimension that is contradictory to the initial tenets. As a consequence, the people view other cultures through the lenses of the media and not actual ideals of the communities. Consequently, speaking back is another dimension that the media has succeeded in diminishing the values of various cultures. Most of the cultures have been subjectively analyzed and evaluated. The implications of such establishments have resulted in stereotypical tendencies.
The media in terms of poorly telling their stories or what they stand for in the social setting has disenfranchised most cultures. Ideally, the media has been a tool employed to deconstruct the positive ideals of the cultures and their societies. Even though the media is sometimes subjective and biased, it has on some occasions provided a platform for the voiceless to voice their issues. However, such provisions are curtailed so that they do not deviate from the original script of the dominant groups.
Conclusion
The media can be used in the transformation of the society. However, it has also been used as a divisive tool that alienates other individuals or groups. The media is to blame for the making and maintaining social inequalities because of their practices that are biased and gravitated towards the dominant and elite groups in the society. Additionally, the media has distorted the cultures of various groups and have been a source of talking back. Marginalized and minority groups constantly seek platforms where they can voice their displeasure or opinion yet the media has curtailed those initiatives only offering limited spaces.
Works Cited
Doctorow, Cory. Pirate Cinema. New York: Tor Teen, 2012. Print.
O'Shaughnessy, Michael & Jane Stadler. Media and Society. South Melbourne, Vic: Oxford
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