At the time David Halberstam wrote The Powers That Be in 1975, the Media, and incidentally also, the size of Government in the United States, had grown astronomically from what it had traditionally been in size and influence before the 1960's.
This growth is now more rapid than ever. It continues to proliferate from more and more sources and outlets, which makes it seem more domineering than ever. However, since much of it carries the same programming, there are still times when we feel we have a lot of channels, but nothing to watch.
Nevertheless, because of the nature of the Internet, you tube and instant communications via our phones, we are served up a 24 hour programming day.
The velocity with which information is conveyed makes exercises such as ones conducted in the late 60's about the amount of time it took a word to be transmitted from person to person around the world (2 weeks) into an instant one today.
Even the most spurious rubbish goes out into the mainstream around the world faster than ever. Urban myth is used to describe things we are skeptical about, but it does not cover much of what, in a more reflective age, would be considered dubious and ridiculous.
This growth is now more rapid than ever. It continues to proliferate from more and more sources and outlets, which makes it seem more domineering than ever. However, since much of it carries the same programming, there are still times when we feel we have a lot of channels, but nothing to watch.
Nevertheless, because of the nature of the Internet, you tube and instant communications via our phones, we are served up a 24 hour programming day.
The velocity with which information is conveyed makes exercises such as ones conducted in the late 60's about the amount of time it took a word to be transmitted from person to person around the world (2 weeks) into an instant one today.
Even the most spurious rubbish goes out into the mainstream around the world faster than ever. Urban myth is used to describe things we are skeptical about, but it does not cover much of what, in a more reflective age, would be considered dubious and ridiculous.
I can't say I am surprised that
this barrage is omnipresent and ubiquitous, and that it follows us almost
everywhere we go. To some extent we are responsible because we appear to be willing to give the mass media so much of our leisure time and the power to speak for us, instead of speaking up ourselves.
When a handsome or beautiful Media person, uses his/her interview show, to amuse and entertain us with their knowledge of light celebrity lore and concerns, many of us quickly become their audience.
The hosts are friendly and appealing, the guests are the most famous they can get. The best are chosen and paid accordingly. Everyone goes home happy, feeling they have participated in a private and special moment with someone famous.
When a handsome or beautiful Media person, uses his/her interview show, to amuse and entertain us with their knowledge of light celebrity lore and concerns, many of us quickly become their audience.
The hosts are friendly and appealing, the guests are the most famous they can get. The best are chosen and paid accordingly. Everyone goes home happy, feeling they have participated in a private and special moment with someone famous.
I don't doubt that many of
these media people are honestly interested in demonstrating their sincerely held convictions.
Nevertheless, they are there, to convince us that the products and viewpoint they are selling are ones we will 'buy'.
The media soapbox was often just that, selling products, such as soap, to the public. The people who bought time to sell their products, presented the popular show, sporting event, or entertainment which interrupted the next sales pitch. Much the same format still exists today, on most media outlets that we pay to have come into our homes today.
Ignoring the raised volume of commercials used to be easier once the mute button on our remotes was available. Turning the volume down or off during commercials doesn't work as well any more since it has become more difficult to estimate the length of commercial blocks.
Some companies replay the same commercial in case you missed it the first time. The show we were trying to watch is often delayed a very long time by these blocks of commercials. Sometimes we can even forget what program we were watching.
Meanwhile, the range of emotion media people convey is within proscribed limits. The content among them is also very similar, or soon will be, when their affiliates pick it up and pass it on to the rest of the country, and then the world.
Nevertheless, they are there, to convince us that the products and viewpoint they are selling are ones we will 'buy'.
The media soapbox was often just that, selling products, such as soap, to the public. The people who bought time to sell their products, presented the popular show, sporting event, or entertainment which interrupted the next sales pitch. Much the same format still exists today, on most media outlets that we pay to have come into our homes today.
Ignoring the raised volume of commercials used to be easier once the mute button on our remotes was available. Turning the volume down or off during commercials doesn't work as well any more since it has become more difficult to estimate the length of commercial blocks.
Some companies replay the same commercial in case you missed it the first time. The show we were trying to watch is often delayed a very long time by these blocks of commercials. Sometimes we can even forget what program we were watching.
Meanwhile, the range of emotion media people convey is within proscribed limits. The content among them is also very similar, or soon will be, when their affiliates pick it up and pass it on to the rest of the country, and then the world.
A style book dictates the suitable subjects, language and content acceptable to their employers. Therefore,
especially on television, the words used will match socially acceptable subjects and the trendy talk and jargon of the day.
Whatever words are being used, they will be repeated frequently and by many people on various media outlets. This is especially true of political commentary most of the time. During election periods it becomes relentless. Buzzwords and sound bites proliferate and implied insults and raised voices abound.
Whatever words are being used, they will be repeated frequently and by many people on various media outlets. This is especially true of political commentary most of the time. During election periods it becomes relentless. Buzzwords and sound bites proliferate and implied insults and raised voices abound.
Most of us have become so
inured and numbed by the doublespeak of politically correct language and also most political rhetoric, that we almost automatically filter it out and/or ignore it.
The 'off' switch on your 'devices' is sometimes the only possible source of
relief. It has in some cases become the best friend for those of us wanting to concentrate and especially, those of us interested in thinking for ourselves once in a while. Give it some use from time to time.
(REVISED AND REWRITTEN twice in 2013. It was called YOU TOO COULD BE ON T.V. and also BUSY BODIES (originally from 2012)
(REVISED AND REWRITTEN twice in 2013. It was called YOU TOO COULD BE ON T.V. and also BUSY BODIES (originally from 2012)
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