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...