Monday, September 12, 2005
Elections and the media pt2
Following on from my post on new values here, I thought it would be appropriate to have a bigger-picture look at politics in the media. The post-modern change has brought about changes in our epistemology (ways of knowing/understanding truth) and also in the ways we collect knowledge.
So here's my notes on Manuel Castell's theory of politics.
1. People receive the information on which they base their political opinion from media sources, especially TV and radio.
2. These mediums need to simplify their messages and proposals to appeal to their respective audiences.
3. The simplest message is an image. The simplest image is a person. Therefore politics becomes images of people (personalities) in conflict.
4. If bad news is good news, as in today’s society, politics becomes accusation, slander and sensationalism instead of rational debate and the fair testing of policy.
“While there is nothing new in political mini-scandals, with past masters such as Sir Robert Muldoon capable of whipping up a scandal to suit any occasion, the frequency and saturation coverage has changed." Eileen O’Leary
"So, why does a dog wag its tail? Because the dog is smarter than its tail. If the tail were smarter, it would wag the dog.“
"The mean world syndrome results in a reduced sensitivity to the consequences of violence along with an increased sense of vulnerability and dependence - and therefore a demand for repression from the government.
This has enormous political fallout. It's impossible to run an election campaign without advocating more jails, harsher punishment, more executions, all the things that have never worked to reduce crime but have always worked to get votes. It's driven largely, although not exclusively, by television-cultivated insecurity.” Gerbner
I would strongly recommend Amusing ourselves to death by Neil Postman as a place to begin further reading.
So here's my notes on Manuel Castell's theory of politics.
1. People receive the information on which they base their political opinion from media sources, especially TV and radio.
2. These mediums need to simplify their messages and proposals to appeal to their respective audiences.
3. The simplest message is an image. The simplest image is a person. Therefore politics becomes images of people (personalities) in conflict.
4. If bad news is good news, as in today’s society, politics becomes accusation, slander and sensationalism instead of rational debate and the fair testing of policy.
Some quotes for your consideration
"So, why does a dog wag its tail? Because the dog is smarter than its tail. If the tail were smarter, it would wag the dog.“
"The mean world syndrome results in a reduced sensitivity to the consequences of violence along with an increased sense of vulnerability and dependence - and therefore a demand for repression from the government.
This has enormous political fallout. It's impossible to run an election campaign without advocating more jails, harsher punishment, more executions, all the things that have never worked to reduce crime but have always worked to get votes. It's driven largely, although not exclusively, by television-cultivated insecurity.” Gerbner
I would strongly recommend Amusing ourselves to death by Neil Postman as a place to begin further reading.
Craig (mars-hill) Monday, September 12, 2005
3 Comments:
"If bad news is good news", can't help wondering if that's why National's poll standing has just gone up after a week of "bad news"...
Yes, I'm reasonably convinced that noteriety is better than no attention at all...especially considering the past efforts of Messers Hide and Peters.
I guess that's what I'm trying to point out...that TV news is story.
Dull is good? If you can make friends with it. I don't think there are many societies that are mature enough for that.
Dull is good? If you can make friends with it. I don't think there are many societies that are mature enough for that.