Essay on Media and Cultivation Theory - 1020 Words

In an ever-increasingly mediated society, mass media has become inseparable with the production of everyday life. Media is now a platform for members of society to connect with global events and other people beyond their own personal experience. For many, the media is a major source of information and â€Å"accounts of violence, as presented by the mass media, are the primary medium by which the average person comes to know crime and justice† (Barak, 1994). The following essay will explore the theories of both cultivation analysis, as established by George Gerbner, as well as agenda setting, reputable to Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaw. These concepts will demonstrate how the recent Santa Barbara Shooting is a major media event that reflects a†¦show more content†¦As Griffin (2009, p. 364) so concisely stated, â€Å"the media aren’t very successful in telling us what to think, but they are stunningly successful in telling us what to think about†. In more recent times, the direction of this theory has changed. Scholars have begun to focus on how the media â€Å"frame† social issues through the inclusion and omission of certain attributes of particular events (Ruddock, 2013). â€Å"Framing† refers to the forming of narratives and concepts that deliver meaning as an event unfolds (McCombs and Shaw, 1972). Themes such as media violence, particularly in the event of a school shooting, are often used to repeatedly reinforce social norms that are deemed important by the media. As a result, generic stereotypes are inevitably cast and the potential copycat behavior advertised. Only days ago, Elliot Rodger, a twenty-two year old student at the University of California in Santa Barbara, embarked on a killing spree within the student community of Isla Vista. On the night of May 23, Rodger left six victims dead and thirteen others injured before turning his gun on himself. In the new digital era, society actively participates in both receiving and creating media messages to shape social reality (Ruddock, 2013). InShow MoreRelatedMass Communication Theory Of George Gerbners Cultivation Theory731 Words   |  3 PagesGeorge Gerbner’s *cultivation theory* a macro-level system theory that examines mass communication by studying institutions, message systems, and cultivation analysis (1967; 1970; Gerbner Gross, 1973; Gerbner et al., 1980; Potter, 2014). Theorized during the â€Å"Age of Television† (Shanahan Morgan, 2004), the theory has been applied to newspapers and other media formats, assuming that media institutions â€Å"cultivate facts, nor ms and values of society† (Gerbner, 1970; Gerbner Gross, 1976). SpecificallyRead MoreTelevision Viewing And Protective Action Against Crime1639 Words   |  7 PagesRelate to Engagement in Protective Action Against Crime?: A Cultivation Analysis From a Theory of Reasoned Action Perspective. Communication Research, (28), 802nd ser. Doi:10.1177/009365001028006004 2. This Study is for my Dependent Variables 3. Statement of Study s Purpose and Brief Overview of Literature Review Nabi and Sullivan used the cultivation theory as the base of their study. (2001)Within the study, they also used the theory of reasoned action (TRA) (Fishbein Ajzen, 1975) as a modelRead MoreThe Media And Television Influences People s View Of Reality1489 Words   |  6 PagesThe theory that suggests the media and television influences people’s view of reality. George Gerbner and Larry Gross and a few other associates developed cultivation theory in 1976. â€Å"Cultivation Theory postulates that as individuals are exposed to more of a certain kind of television programs, each exposure plants sees that grow into a perspective that is largely influenced by the themes presented in the programs,† (Gerbner p.15). There are different assumptions regarding the Cultivation Theory andRead MoreInterpersonal Oppression In Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye1474 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction The media has become the world’s largest oppression outlet. Whether it be through movies, TV shows, or real-life news, the media has become capable of shifting one’s view on either yourself or other groups of people. Types of oppression that can result from the media include, but are not limited to, internalized oppression and interpersonal oppression. Internalized oppression is when a member of an oppressed group believes and acts out the stereotypes created about their group. InterpersonalRead MoreThe Violence Of Police Officers Essay1431 Words   |  6 Pagesiconic and fearless leader recognized the unjust behavior within society as a result of racially motivated police brutality and societal discrimination. Though his efforts were not in vain, today’s media representation of law enforcement impacts the societal cultivation of police officers in a negative way. Media outlets, in the forms of television, radio, or social websites, create a cynical view of poli ce officers, which influences societal beliefs and creates negative connotations. These days, policeRead MoreThe Roles Of Latinas On Television1087 Words   |  5 Pagesto reach equal representation and grant better opportunities for everyone. Historically, the absence of diversity in the media has been noticeable for decades, however, now it has been more questionable than before as the United States has become more diverse. When it comes to primetime television, it is important to turn the attention to the impact that Latinas have on the media landscape. Although they have been underrepresented throughout the medium, the Latino community has no doubt that thereRead MoreThe International Communication Association For An Academic Readership1652 Words   |  7 PagesCritical analysis Title Romer, Daniel, Hall Jamieson, Kathleen Aday, Sean 2003, ‘Television News and the Cultivation of Fear of Crime’, Journal of communication, vol. 53, pp. 88-104. Topic This paper explores the concept of cultivation theory and the way in which violent programming on television can instil fear and influence perceptions when it comes to experiencing crime in the community. In using research findings to explore their hypothesis, the authors focus on analyzing data which underpinsRead MoreThe Effects Of Mass Media And Communication On The Society1674 Words   |  7 PagesMedia Message Introduction Behavioral sciences play a central role in figuring out the likely effect of mass media and communication in the society. Different theories and approaches are used to figure this out. This study refers to the Uses and Gratifications, and Cultivation theories to consider the effect of the media article below on individuals. The uses and gratification theory argues that consumers of a given media uses this media to satisfy and fulfill specific desires and needs. On theRead MoreThe Roots Of Cultivation Theory1727 Words   |  7 PagesCultivation is a theory used to study media effects that was founded by George Gerbner. Gerbner wanted to find a new way to examine media effects but with a shift in focus from the traditional way media effects was studied. Gerber recognized that instead of media directly affecting a person’s behavior that overtime, long-term exposure to violent television programs has the ability to change a person’s beliefs and attitudes. This paper will d iscuss the roots of cultivation theory, create a workingRead MoreMental Illness And Its Effects On The Media Essay1324 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Mental illness is often wrongly portrayed in the United States’ media creating stigmatization and misrepresentation. Mental illness â€Å"refers to a wide range of mental disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior† (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2015). Examples of disorders include anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Any â€Å"negative attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors are called stigma† (Wilson et al., 2016, p. 2) and stigma can contribute