DQ1: Discuss Ess's concept of the pornification of society. What are some examples (be specific and add links if you have them) of the manifestation of this in our mass media outlets or pop culture. What is your take on the ethical dilemmas this causes? Where does the responsibility for it belong?
Question 1
Discuss Ess's concept of the pornification of society. What are some examples (be specific and add links if you have them) of the manifestation of this in our mass media outlets or pop culture.
Response
The concept of Charles Ess about pornification of society demonstrates on hypersexualization of women, even young children. For example, in the United States, some people protested against what these groups characterized as the pornification of society that, the forms and images that were considered taboo materials. These taboo materials were produced for an explicit purpose, sexual arousal that appeared in the society especially on advertisement, mainstream entertainment, and young women’s dress styles.
The hypersexualization of women or young people or known also as objectification and commodification imply as sexual objects. The practice of hyper sexualizing of women will lead to self- objectification, destruction, and the worst, condemnation of women to the status of nothing more than a rotten meat. Hypersexualization could be manifested by mass media or pop culture, for example, in the case of Beyoncé often called by analysts as sexy; however, she could easily be called as a hyper sexualized woman. Another example, the controversial music video of Miley Cyrus entitled “Wrecking Ball” manifested an impact to the young people, and a woman as hyper sexualized.
Question 2
What is your take on the ethical dilemmas this causes? Where does the responsibility for it belong?
Response
Personally, I would say that the image that communicates to the viewer or observer is that, a person in the image desires sex. The worst thing, if the image is totally nude, is it really disturbing to the viewers. A woman who portrayed being sexy does not necessarily mean that people think it is an issue. However, it could be an issue when the image of that woman nearly shows the viewers not just simply sexy; it is a passive thing for other people as a sexual pleasure.
Question 1
What does your text say about lying and human communication? Discuss some examples from your own interpersonal relationships where you felt lying was okay and why, and/or examples where you felt lying was not okay and why.
Response
As argued by Jurden Ruesch that, “no single set of ethical rules that controls communicationinstead, it is should be specified to what purposes the communication serves” . It is suggested that the differing sets of ethical standards should apply for different areas; (1) manipulative, interpretive, and exhortative communication of propagandists, advertisers, and experts in public relations; (2) representational communications of scientists; (3) political communication of government and candidate; and (4) personal communications of individuals. In ethical evaluation of communications, people should avoid pre-judgment; examine the important circumstances thoroughly with care to determine what influence and degree the judgment is, consider the welfare of the people involved, and use the ethical perspective on the situation appropriately.
Carl Wellman, a Utilitarian, observed that, “most useful rule in the society is that, ‘Act of lying is always wrong,’ however, something more like, ‘Lying is wrong except to save the life of a person or to spare the feeling of pain over matters that are not important’” . From my personal experiences, I once felt that lying was okay when I told someone that I was not able to attend the party because I was sick, just to let her not feel too disappointed. The truth, I was doing my assignment due in hours during that time. On the other hand, I felt that lying was not okay when I told someone before that I loved her, in fact, I was deeply in love with someone else. Not telling her the truth chased my conscience until today, I should have told her that I only care for her but never loved her. However, it was in the past, what is important is that, I learned from it, and I am now a better person than before.
Question 2
How does this week's lecture play into this discussion? Use your text to support your points.
Response
Steven Wilson noted that, the complexities of ethics influenced in interpersonal contexts; it is not easy to know if honesty and openness is an ethical approach in seeking to influence other people in an interpersonal relationship. To engage in the ethical influence, (1) a person should provide reasons to the advocated position; the reasons allow the other person to look into the essence of the provided reasons and evaluate the reasons in accordance with the issues. If the person understands the reasons, he or she has the freedom to agree or disagree on the claims based on merits. (2) Recognized the perceptions of others with the credibility of actions influencing the ethical and unethical behaviors of its own. The standards of moral conducts should be observed to be able to persuade someone of not trying to win at any expense and engaged to the belief that, the end justifies the means. (3) Developed the characteristics necessary to persuade others ethically. Tell the truth; do not engage in attacking personal matters of others who possibly opposed the idea, and not revealing the significant information.
I strongly agree on caring and openness; to care for others is the same way as to care for oneself, while being open to others lead to the interest of disclosure from others. Both the spirit of good will and honesty are significant in interpersonal relationship or communication.
Reference
Ess, C. (2009). Digital Media Ethics. Cambridge, UK: Polity Press.
Finlay, A. (2013, February 20). Hypersexualizing Women Leads to Self-Objectification, More
Destructive and Prevalent than Society Admits. Retrieved from http://anitafinlay.com/2013/02/20/hyper-sexualizing-women-leads-to-self-objectification-and-is-more-destructive-and-prevalent-than-society-admits/.
Jahannesen, R. L., Valde, K. S., & Whedbee, K. E. (2008). Ethics in Human Communication
(6th Edition ed.). Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press Inc.
Sony Music, E. (Director). (2013). Wrecking Ball. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScTwhnaGIJM [YouTube].
