Let's Talk... (by Kyndall Jones)

           

Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 12:00PM in the JSU E-Center will mark a historic event for the Jackson State University Mass Communications Graduate Program.  MC550 – Media in Society class will present a forum on the various phases of media in society.  Our production will feature an array of expert guests and panelists who will discuss topics such as media and religion, youth, print journalism, relationships, and family portrayals. 

            All semester, this blog has covered several topics as it relates to the media’s images of the family unit and the effects which follow.  On the 26^th, we will bring all those topics to life featuring three panelists with experience in television production, early childhood education, and psychology.  It will be interesting to hear what our guests have to say about the changing images of the family in the media and how ultimately they affect how we behave and view each other.  I would encourage everyone to spread the word and mark your calendars for April 26^th because you will walk away with a wealth of knowledge and a greater respect for the media.

            Our special guest will be Mr. Eddrick Hodges who is a producer and writer residing in Baton Rouge, LA.  Mr. Hodges has experience in both television production but has also written a screenplay.  A recent endeavor for Mr. Hodges was the “Family Affair” Tour which was a nationwide production which shared family values across the country.  Mr. Hodges is also an ordained minister who believes in using his God-given abilities to encourage and uplift.

            Our expert panelist will be Dr. Fulivia Canady who specializes in behavioral health and serves as a licensed clinical therapist.  Dr. Canady has several years experience dealing with Adolescent and Adult mental disorders.  With her expertise, we will examine the overall effects of the media on our society.  Our third guest has a doctorate degree in Early Childhood Education and will add to the discussion her conclusions of children and the media.

            To receive more information, check this blog site for additional information and also the Jackson State University website.  I hope to see you and engage in a powerful conversation on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 12:00PM at the JSU e-Center…

Is the Media Connecting or Disconnecting with "The Family"

Is the Media Connecting or Disconnecting with “The Family”

-Kyndall Jones

When you watch any given television show or movie, are you able to relate to the images portrayed? With images and characters such as “Snookie”, “The Housewives Franchise”, and “Will and Grace” (to name a few) can the average family member relate in any fashion to what is presented?  As the wave of “reality TV” flows through the media, it really is a challenge to decide what is truly reality and entertainment.  What impact do these images have on the family unit?

The Family Connection

The Media does serve as a source into society as a whole, and for that reason we should appreciate that the media provides a glimpse into worlds outside our own.  As we are all different and have different beliefs and customs; the media can showcase our individuality's.  I may never have the experience to speak personally with a person of another race but by using the media, I can discover their way of life.  For example, National Geographic is stellar at providing an in-depth look into international cultures and customs.  I may never travel to East Africa but I am able to tune into a National Geographic documentary and see the lifestyles of the East African people.  In other words, I connect to a culture outside of my own. 

The family portrayals in media also erase certain stereotypes and rushed judgments caused by ignorance or the lack of unbiased logic.  It is unfair to assume that certain groups of people behave in a singular manner or are in fact all the same.  In the case of African Americans, many negative images are associated with our race.  Often other cultures do not investigate and associate with African Americans to form their own opinions or assessments.  Television shows such as the Cosby Show and Family Matters dispelled the images that many had of African American families.  These shows in particular changed the faces of the African American family for many who held on to stereotypes and negative images which stem from slavery.

The Family Disconnect

While much is done to appeal to the changing face of society, the media is also creating a gap between reality and entertainment.  As a result, many children are confused with what is real and unreal.  Psychologists and Pediatricians have concluded that video games, movies, television shows and even cartoons have negatively affected children’s behaviors and attitudes.  Children are becoming more violent as the images portrayed to them are violent.  With cartoons such as South Park, The Simpson’s, and Dragon Ball Z, children are being exposed to violent images early and are associating these images as reality.  This creates a huge disconnect between families because what was considered innocent and pure is now over exposed and aggressive. 

For example, the characters in the sitcom “Leave It to Beaver” would have a difficult time relating to the characters in the sitcom “Married with Children”.  The characters are on opposite sides of the spectrum and the media does not have a medium between the two extremes.  What image can society accept as true?  Somehow, truth is replaced with entertainment and the family overall is affected by this media trend…   

Family and The Media (Are the images helping or hurting our families?)

There is no doubt that the mass media has a huge influence on society.  Through advertising, television, and print one can be exposed to over 40,000 media influences annually.  These media images are centered on the ideas of five major media power houses which are:  Time Warner, VIACOM, Vivendi Universal, Walt Disney, and News Corp.  These companies combined account for 95% of the media we consume.  Ultimately, it’s their ideas, beliefs, and values that we are viewing and absorbing.  It leads to the question; are we really presented true images?

The media’s portrayal of families is consumed by millions of individuals who may or not have formed opinions of what they are presented.  For example, if an international viewer is watching an episode of “Good Times” (post James’ departure), is this a fair and accurate image of the African American Family?  In another instance, is the depiction of the Conner family on Rosanne accurate for Caucasians?  While these two television families may mirror a particular population, they do not account for the majority.  If a person has never been exposed to any other family, the image they see in the media may serve as the belief of how that group of people behave and live.  If the images are negative or stereotypical, this only feeds into the distorted beliefs which create discrimination and prejudice within society.

On a positive note, it is wonderful when a child can view a television program such as Sesame Street and learn about family values through segments featuring neutral characters such as Elmo, Big Bird, and Oscar the Grouch.  It allows children to live in a colorless world where characters are viewed as individuals and not racial or ethnic beings.  Another positive is that we can actually experience different cultures through programs such as National Geographic and other programming that show actual tribal and cultural celebrations and events.  It is amazing that we in America can see live footage of other cultures in the world and have a close view into their lives.  It may not be a complete image but it can give a glimpse into how another group of people live in the world. 

In closing, the media and the images presented should be examined by the consumers.  Those images should never be taken as a sole source.  It is the responsibility of each individual to draw their own conclusion from what is presented.  Look for sources outside the media to add with the images seen from the media.  For example, if I see a movie such as “Good Hair” by Chris Rock, I should also speak with African American hairstylists to conclude my opinion of African American women and their hair….

You can't just rely soley upon the media...

Media Portrayals & Stereotypes

The Mass Media often paints portraits of individuals based on stereotypes in many of the movies, articles, interviews, and television shows.  As an average media consumer, many rely on those images presented as actual depictions of certain classes of people, races, and social groups.  The media has several stereotypes given for both females and males.  We will list the different stereotypes that are media portrayals for woman and men and give a short description of each stereotype.

 MEN

• The Joker is a very popular character with boys, perhaps because laughter is part of their own "mask of masculinity." A potential negative consequence of this stereotype is the assumption that boys and men should not be serious or emotional. However, researchers have also argued that humorous roles can be used to expand definitions of masculinity.

• The is always willing to "compromise his own long-term health; he must fight other men when necessary; he must avoid being soft; and he must be aggressive." By demonstrating his power and strength, the jock wins the approval of other men and the adoration of women.Jock

• The Strong Silent Type focuses on "being in charge, acting decisively, containing emotion, and succeeding with women." This stereotype reinforces the assumption that men and boys should always be in control, and that talking about one’s feelings is a sign of weakness.

• The Big Shot is defined by his professional status. He is the "epitome of success, embodying the characteristics and acquiring the possessions that society deems valuable." This stereotype suggests that a real man must be economically powerful and socially successful.

• The Action Hero is "strong, but not necessarily silent. He is often angry. Above all, he is aggressive in the extreme and, increasingly over the past several decades, he engages in violent behavior."

• The Buffoon commonly appears as a bungling father figure in TV ads and sitcoms. Usually well-intentioned and light-hearted, these characters range from slightly inept to completely hopeless when it comes to parenting their children or dealing with domestic (or workplace) issues.

Women

·        Bad Girl/Rebel is often an antagonist, the female counterpart of the Bad Boy. The Bad Girl/Rebel is usually a troubled and rebellious adolescent or young adult, often the black sheep of the family and a sort of outcast in school. Her preferences in music, fashion, or lifestyle are unconventional or non-mainstream. The Bad Girl/Rebel is loud or obnoxious, and is not afraid to stand out in a crowd, an individual who does not care much about what anyone else thinks.

 

·        Dumb Blonde may be simply unintelligent but attractive, or a very popular girl in school. Could also be just plain silly/comic relief-such as: Paris Hilton

 

·        Hooker with a Heart of Gold or Tart with a heart is a young, attractive sex worker who, despite her lowly status in life, is a world-wise and compassionate person.

 

·        Nurse is typically a woman who finds the hero or villain injured, and nurses him back to health. She falls in love with him, but will never have her love returned because of his love for another or his plans for conquest.

 

·        Tomboy is a female character who is “one of the guys”, the Tomboy is generally "independent" and displays superior physical or athletic prowess and/or is able to relate more with males in terms of interests. Because of her attitude, interests or activities, the Tomboy is sometimes, though not always, a Pretty Ugly Girl.

 

·        Widow An often sexually rapacious figure, the widow appears in culture as desperate to re-marry on personal/social grounds.

 

Socialization Modes

Socialization is very important in the family structure and is one factor that is investigated in the journal article. With the economy and other contributing factors, socialization is being transformed and redefined as more common.. A single parent home was once a rare occurrence but now it almost has became a social norm. In my opinion, there are four socialization modes that people posses, work, family, race and cultural diverse socializations. The work mode is the most formal to me because, work socialization has the most rules of any other socialization's mode. An example of this is that you must be careful in your mannerism and things that you say. Being kind and engaging in more adult themed conversation can be perceived as an advancement or sexual harassment. In other socialization settings the content and theme of this same conversation  may be perceived in the same manner but not as offensive. This alternate setting saves you from a possible sexual harassment charge that may have occurred  with the work socialization mode. In addition I feel this is the only mode where the socialization is defined and some time is a requirement for employment. Many people may consider this a more professional or sterile environment. Next is family socialization, it is often uncontrollable, it starts when you are born and continues after you are dead. The family mode is one that you will feel the most comfortable in because you have been in the mode for a good portion of your life. Then there is sometime family mode is though on you when you are not meeting or not archiving the mode standards. The race mood is almost like family but it is sometimes difficult because there are no written rules you live according to your beliefs and what you are accustom to until faced with adversity because of them. An example of this is that African Americans call each other niggers but are very uncomfortable if used by other races especially Caucasians, due to the history between the two. Last but not least is cultural diverse socialization mode this is the one I feel needs the most work. With many ways to express yourself  you have to use this one more often now than ever .Some may fill that foreigners that are becoming the majority should be required to learn English, but being the host country we are often encouraged to learn their dialect.  You can post a status like “Where my Niggas at?” and start a fire storm. So you have to be mindful that it take only one screen shot to mess up your representation

Socialization and The Family

The means of communication have drastically changed over the past two decades.  The traditional landline telephone was the most commonly used device used for communication between family members.  Later the pager was introduced into the picture and then the coveted cell phone.  Currently, we have smart phones, laptop computers, tablet devices such as the iPad and Galaxy Tab, and video chatting software.  These developments have changed the face of socialization and as a result, we have various means to communicate.  As parents, we can virtually track the whereabouts of our children at any given time.  I'm sure my parents wished they had this luxury however, while the parents love this...I'm sure the children have a different opinion.  No longer can a child use the excuse "I didn't have a way to call you" when they break curfew...

This new technology has also changed the language of communication.  I literally have to use translation when reading text messages sent between my teenager and her friends.  "LOL" is the expression used when "laughing out loud" to a comment o statement made by another.  ": )" is also used to show a happy expression or suggest a happy state of being. There are many more that parents should be aware of because not all of the expressions are positive.  Children are exposed to many elements of communication and the unfortunate thing is that they often gravitate to the negative things.  It is a parent's responsibility to keep up with the latest texting language and also communication devices otherwise; you will live in a separate world from your child.  Thus creating a disconnect when communicating with your child.

How many families can come home and disconnect and turn off all communication devices including computers, cell phones, and iPods?  Many have become socialization addicts where it is near impossible to disable these devices in fear of missing the latest happenings.  With Twitter feeds, Facebook posts, text messages, emails, and Skype or Tango, we have access to the world.  Again, this can be a positive or negative experience depending on the user.  On a positive side, I am able to Skype/Tango and post on Facebook with family members across the nation and even those in the military who are on duty internationally.  It eliminates any excuse for not communicating with those I love and care about.  I can socialize virtually anywhere and that also is a huge positive.  I can keep in touch with my children, parents, siblings and more while at work, home, or even in the line at the bank.  It's wonderful!  Technology and Socialization are improving and this has worked in favor of the family.  It allows for constant connection to those you love so what can be better than that? 

Egypt's New Democracy and What It Will Mean to Egyptian Families

February 10, 2011 will forever be a historic day for the Egyptian People.  As the people move closer to democracy, the impact of former president Hosni Mubarak’s resignation from power will be great in the years to come.  CNN interviewed several Egyptians after the resignation and this statement explains the sentiments of many “It was a sense of liberation for me, for every Egyptian," said opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei. "For the first time, Egypt has a chance to be democratic, to be free, to have a sense of dignity, of freedom. So it's amazing. It's just like something we never experienced in our lifetime."  (CNN.com, 2011)

Many families celebrate this occasion and only one can imagine the historical impression this will have on the various generations.  The Egyptian people have an extremely high valued family life.  Children are regarded as great blessings and are treasured by the families.  Lower class Egyptian children are raised by their mothers while wealthy and nobles have servants to care for their young.  Women are expected to be obedient to their fathers and husbands however they are still equal to men.  Women participate in business, are land owners and face the same penalties as men if caught in any crime.  Children are required to care for their elderly parents and once the parents die, the sons inherit the land while the daughters inherit the jewelry and household goods.   Although the primary role of the mother is the care for the children and household, certain jobs are still open for them.  Women operate farms and businesses and serve as noblewomen.  The Egyptian culture is a very moral culture as well.  As large as the city of Cairo is, there is virtually no crime and this is largely due to loyalty to their religious beliefs.  The Islamic law prohibits drinking and drugs and this is enforced by their own piety. 

For eighteen days the people of Egypt stood boldly for the cause of freedom and as a result, the later generations will live and experience democracy.  This event will be written in history as an event with tremendous weight as the fall of the Berlin Wall.  Take a look into the families celebrating the historic day in Egypt…

http://video.ap.org/?f=AP&pid={releasePID}

Introduction to MC550 Media Portrayals

In the years of early television, a traditional family model was promoted  with shows and commercials featuring conforming behaviors, minor conflicts, and the wise father and mother figures.  Shows such as Little House on the Prairie, The Partridge Family, The Brady Bunch gave positive images and mirrored the traditional image set in early TV.  In the seventies, television took on a different task and experimented with story-lines having conflicting relationships and introduced shows like, All in the Family, The Jefferson's, and Good Times.  The Eighties presented yet another different view on families with soap operas like Dynasty and Dallas.  Later in that decade NBC introduced us to the "Huxtables" with it's highly rated family sitcom, The Cosby Show that gave America an enviable family that changed the way we viewed minority families.   Fast forward to 2011 and it is easy to note that the family is represented very differently from the Fresh Prince of Bel-air, Family Matters, Roseanne, The Simpson's, Home Improvement  and other past family sitcoms.  

 

 

 

This information is essential to note because the media's portrayal of family influences the way we perceive each other.  It tells for some: what the "ideal" family looks like, how husbands and wives interact, how parents discipline their children, and how families resolve conflicts.  Mass media is a vital force in enforcing beliefs and forming view points.  With over 98% of American homes having a television, many see  mass media (especially television) as a main source of values, definitions, social reality, and an exchange of information.  In our blog (Media Portrayals), we intend to look closely into the media's portrayals of families of various economic, ethnic, and social backgrounds.  Our mission is to prove if the images presented are "true to life" or above the expectations of the particular family groups. We will explore if the media's perceptions place additional pressures to achieve what is presented or if they create mediocrity by not applying enough pressure. The Media Portrayals Blog will be very interactive and we encourage everyone to read, become engaged by commenting, and hopefully become enlightened.