Blog Post #3

      

            In the 1920's, Audience Demand contributed most to shaping the radio industry, since its ability to grow and change could not have been possible had it not been for the feedback of the audience.

            Audience Demand is responsible for everything seen in the media. The broadcasting companies pay attention to the culture, and make programs based solely on the demands of the people.The more demand from the audience for a particular radio show, the more it is advertised, promoted, and made available for everybody to hear. If a radio show is well-received, there is an impact on all aspects of culture, including the way people act, and the merchandise they buy. This opens the door for advertisements to reach extremely broad audiences, which then impacts culture even more.
          In the 1920's when radio was evolving, the broadcasters were quick to pick up on their audiences' demands. A standard format to meet these demands was established in the industry in order to meet the listening demands of the audience, as well as the business goals of the advertisers. (i.e. Program, advertisement, more program, et cetera.) We talked about 'Soap' Operas in lecture, which was a dramatic radio program which sold soap during the advertisements, hence the name. Funny how we still use that term today! Yet another way the evolution of radio in the 1920's has affected our culture now!

               

 

Blog Post #2

       The Social Learning concept can be applied to the films Tough Guise and Killing Us Softly, because the definition has to do with individuals reenacting things they see in the media. The Social Learning threory states that individuals have a tendency to imitate images, personas, and ideas that they see being portrayed by others. The films we watched had major themes related to Social Learning, like the effects of advertising on young women in Killing Us Softly. The theory also states that the audience also learns of the possible consequences of their actions based on observing the repercussions faced by the characters in the media they are viewing. For example, if a character is robbing a bank, but gets caught in the end, and sentenced to jail, the viewer becomes more turned off by the idea of imitating their behavior. An advertisement can also effect the reader, by conveying a certain image of "attractiveness" or "fitting in". This is especially prevalent in advertising geared at women, as illustrated in Killing Us Softly. Tough Guise also greatly illustrates the effect of media images upon the Social Learning of boys. The films showcased in the documentary all feature men acting tough, strong, dominant, and macho. So, Social Learning is applicable to most everyone exposed to media.

Blog Post #1

The concept of framing is something that one cannot get away from within the media, and has been influencing the way people think about and react to topics for several decades. Framing is simply the phrase used for how someone chooses to present certain material to the public. The media sources have guidelines that they know to abide by when conveying issues, as well as moral standards which they will not disobey. Framing has often been used to portray a particular belief in a particular light, thus attempting to sway public opinion. A perfect example of framing would be the use of pro-American propaganda during time of war, that only portrays the good side of battle. The films and posters during this era were framed to either be brimming with patriotism or berating the enemy. Never was there shown the bloody side of war or the decent side of the enemy. All these images are carefully calculated and purposefully edited in a fashion that makes the audience lean towards the same bias; basically think in the way the framers intended.

Here is a short clip of an American propaganda war song, accompanied by pro-war posters: