The media today is capable of influencing people's opinions in a number of ways, whether it be through pictures, videos, or just over the television. Since most Americans don’t have a close relationship with Presidential Candidates for example, we depend on the media to effectively portray this person too us to help us determine the candidate we think would do the best job. However the media is notorious for stretching the truth, and using certain techniques that they know will trigger our liking. For instance, in the photo below, Obama was potrayed in red white and blue with a very strong word beneath. The people who created this image knew that using very patriotic colors and a strong word which makes us think of possible good change will hit the homes of many Americans and sway their vote in that direction.
It's true that, especially since the rise of Television, the visual aspect of a candidate or an issue has become as important, if not more so, than what they say. Consider the debate between Kennedy and Nixon -- those who listened to the radio debate considered Nixon to have won, but those who watched the TV coverage usually considered Kennedy to have been right. Nixon was not, as is well known, photogenic, and he lost out in the new, untried world of TV politics. This is really very similar to what you said about campaign posters, and also to the ads we now have for candidates. A good ad can be a great force for informing and motivating voters. A badly made one is a source of mockery and ridicule, even if the points explained in it might otherwise have swung the viewers. Of course, mankind lives by visual information, so it is understandable that we might psychologically be influenced by appearance -- we rely on our eyesight more than any other sense, and body language is a well known phenomenon. And Nixon did end up being a shifty man after all, didn't he?
ReplyDeleteConnor
The media really do have an incredible impact on not just politics but all facets of life. Sure, the Obama ad may have helped him garner a few extra votes. But isn't that the same as an ad for a hamburger getting a few more people to eat at McDonald's? The job of the media is to tell the world what is going on in the world. Whether it be through an advertisement or an article, the messenger's job is to get their point across to you and if this is the only message you are receiving, their thoughts will often become yours as well.
ReplyDelete-Ryan Gerbosi
I agree with Ryan--we have to get perspective and very few of us only encounter one ad or one story about a candidate. After all, Nixon may have lost that debate in 1960, but he won the presidency in 1968.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ryan as well. I think the media holds so much power and we often forget about that sometimes. I think that instead of fully educating myself about the presidential elections I often just go with whoever's advertisements persuade me the easiest or which ever one I hear more great things about. It sounds silly to admit and I hate saying it for the world to see but its true and I know I cant be the only one. Media can make us like something or absolutely hate it. You have to get all the information before you choose a side however. because its the media's job to make you feel the same way they do about it.
ReplyDelete^^^ above comment is macey flowers... forgot my name :) hehe
ReplyDeleteAnother idea to bring attention to, is the fact that people are lazy. Media feeds to these kind of people. Honestly, people will watch debates when their favorite show is on commercials or look at political cartoons of candidates rather than reading their actual views of politics. Media has a huge impact on availability and convenience.
ReplyDeleteI think that media has the right to make their favorite candidates look good because that is what they do as the media. People should also be researching about which candidate to vote for. I agree with the comment above. People are lazy and its their fault for not looking into what or who they are voting for like they should... That is their civil duty after all.
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