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Mean World

Decent Essays

“Mean World Syndrome” Everyone is influenced and shaped by society. Society affects our perceptions, our consciousness, and our actions. A majority of the influence, especially on the younger demographic comes through the media; specifically through television. It is important to examine how violence in the media develops a pervasive cultural environment that cultivates a heightened state of insecurity, exaggerated perceptions of risk and danger, and a fear-driven propensity for hard-line political solutions to social problems. The purpose of this essay is to evaluate the impact of television and media violence, as well as the human cost of violent media, and the overall effects on society from watching TV. The agents of socialization …show more content…

According to cultivation analysis there is a clear correlation between the amount of media we consume and the extent of fear and anxiety we have towards the world (Video). Television not only shapes our actions but it also shapes our perceptions of other people and ethnic groups. Most people live rather isolated lives and prefer to stay within the boundaries of their own ethnic backgrounds. For example, Latinos are the fastest growing demographic in the United States but they only represent about 2% of our media base, and that small percentage is usually dedicated to their negative impacts - such is the case with immigration. Similarly, Arabs and Muslims are represented as blood-thirsty, extremist terrorists. More than 40% of America is under the belief that Muslims living here are not loyal to the United States and 25% would not have a Muslim as a neighbor (Video). African-Americans, however, are typically portrayed as wealthy, intelligent, and healthy Americans on television. This provides the perception that civil equalities have won out and that there is no race problem. On the contrary, when African-Americans are on the news they are twice more likely to be shown in a connection to drugs or a violent crime than whites. This kind of fear and condemnation of entire groups of people seems to be based less on our actual connection with these people than it is based on our connection and identification with media. Without positive

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