Blog Post 3

Blog Post 3

            The media plays such a large part in our daily lives, it is now considered one way we are socialized as kids. Socialization simply just means how one learns the norm of our society. If we learn through media, then the media has a responsibility to understand the impact what their images have. I do not believe one should completely regulates what is presented on media, but there needs to be recognition of what the media meaning has on people. Representation is considering to be the re-presenation of something that is already presented. Communication takes this definition one step further stating that “[images] give meaning to the things they reflect” (Warren Fassett 217). For someone more developed “learning how to see the power of media messages enables you to be critical consumers, to make choices about what you believe and how to relate to the messages you encounter”. This quote not only sums up the goal of chapter 10, but also the goal of this class. We are constantly spoon feed norms and standards through the media, and if we choose not to think about what we are consuming, then we are choosing to not think about who we are.    

            I choose to relate this quote back to the TV show Friends. This is not only an iconic TV show of the 90’s but still in today's culture. I watched this show not only now while doing homework, but as a child with my mom. As I rematch this show, I can better see the underlying sexiest message this show produces. Not only are the characters Monica and Rachel dressed in provocative weighs in at least one scene per episode, but the actions to producers have the charters take demonstrate their understanding that females have a different role in society compared to men. After Ross has a child with his first wife not only did he hardly see the child, there was very rarely any mention if the child. This becomes such a thing that the producers have other chatters during the show mock it. After Rachel having a child, the theme of how the child was portrayed in the show was very different. Emma, Rachel and Ross's baby, was in many episodes following her birth. She was also discussed by other characters throughout the show. Some could argue that this is because both parents are in the friend group, but I believe it is more than that. Rachel moves out of Ross's apartment and into Joe's, and there was not fight for Ross to keep his child with him in a nicer apartment. When Rachel leave to go to Paris, she was going to take Emma with her, Ross was not a part of the plan. This show places emphasis on another child relationship, not a combined one. This show re-presents the idea that mother are the parents that are meant to care for children, that they are the ones responsible for providing it a home and love. The show even produces a scene where the idea that ross would leave, and it would just be Rachel and the baby, again no mention that ross would even want his kid. The message that is produces is that a baby is the mother reasonability, and a male is only good for dad jokes.

            Although this is just a TV show, the message it produces has reached millions of viewers. The may not have intended to create characters that follows sexist tendencies, but that is what has been produced. As I have grown older, I have realized what it means to be a woman, but for those who have not reached that point, is showing a woman with double d’s and a size two, is who she idolizes. Warren and Fassett are correct to say that understanding the media's message and how it affects one is critical in development, but what about those who can’t critical analyses these shows? This quote is not only a good reminded on how to be a productive member of consumerism of the media, but an even bigger reminder that there is still work to be in helping those who can't make the distinction between fake and reality.  

References

Warren, John T., and Deanna L. Fassett. "Chapter Four." Communication: A Critical/cultural

Introduction. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE, 2015. 217. Print.