Posted on behalf of Michelle Kokot:
When it comes to the media, I completely agree with the notion that it is extremely powerful. It has the capability to manipulate our way of thinking and provides us with numerous portrayals of our world [even if it is a slightly darker or exaggerated version of it]. One of the biggest concerns is how media violence influences children and even people my age, by glamorizing the use of violence as a first choice to resolve issues between characters. While in certain instances this may be true, I have never had the desire to pick up a machete after watching a film and decide this item was the best way to solve my dispute with my roommate.
However, a more pressing matter in my opinion, is the portrayal of women in the media because while I have never participated in violent behavior due to my television watching, I am guilty of thinking “damn, how do I get myself a pair of abs like those?” when a skinny, blonde model is prancing around the screen [to any woman who has never felt that way, power to you]. Everyone is familiar with the stereotypes—the femme fatale, the sex kitten. Whatever the role, television, movies and magazines are stacked with portrayals of women who are usually white, incredibly thin, and wearing thick layers of makeup. As Wartella, Olivarez, and Jennings states in Children and Television Violence in the United States, the social learning theory asserts that through observing television models, viewers come to learn behaviors that are appropriate, that is which behaviors will be rewarded and which will be punished. [401] Yes, they may have been referring mainly to violence, but it goes hand in hand with false portrayals of women, does it not? A young girl constantly sees models that are slender, dressed in skimpy clothing, and swooning over the male. Does that not teach her that the only way you’re going to be accepted [especially by the opposite sex] is if you play copycat?. Stemming from the social learning theory, there are two types of subcategories according to Stanley Baran and Danis Davis in Mass Communication Theory: Foundations, Ferment and Future, imitation and identification. [Baran & Davis, 182-183] Females who see these representations could either attempt to directly reproduce the behavior [Baran & Davis, 182] or she could simply want to be or try to be like the individual portrayed. [Baran & Davis, 183]. Female celebrities, actresses and musicians, have the capabilities to influence how a teen dresses, talks, or acts. Some make tweaks to their clothing or buy that handbag because so-and-so had one. Then you have the other cases where girls develop eating disorders to achieve body types like these television/movie stars. It does not help the situation that the media is constantly bombarding viewers with what they perceive as the "perfect" woman.
Take MTV’S The Hills as a prime example, http://www.torontosun.com/life/2010/01/28/12651981.html . Many girls tuned in when it was still being aired—now it is all about The City which is essentially the same concept. These young women, whether they like it or not, play as role models. So when one gets plastic surgery done because they are not happy with their “imperfect” bodies, a teenager will take a second glance in the mirror, developing their first doubts about their appearance.
Do you think these types of shows have an effect on women’s self-image or do we need to stop blaming the media for the choices girls make or their way of thinking?
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I strongly agree with this blog. After reading Chapter 7 in Mass Communication Theory, instead of relating to violence I immediately thought of impressionable girls. I’ve definitely been a victim of wanting to emulate the “perfect” woman. The woman, who is a size zero, wears the most expensive clothes, drives the BMW, and has the hottest boyfriend. I don’t care that she seems to walk all over her so called friends or steals someone else’s boyfriend. Luckily I’ve come to grow out of that stage but I see my younger cousins are even worse than I was. This reminded imitation. Baran and Davis define imitation as “the direct reproduction of observed behavior.” (Baran & Davis 182) This immediately made me think of my 13-year-old cousin. She told me how her and her friends would do some of the things from Mean Girls the movie. They had a burn book and would prank call other girls in their class. This is a perfect example of imitation. They did exactly what they saw in a movie.
ReplyDeleteI think a big reason people imitate what they see on TV is because they don’t see the punishments. Baran and Davis describe two effects of watching television: inhibitory effects and disinhibitory effects. Inhibitory effects are “the effects of seeing a model punished for a behavior, thus reducing the likelihood that they observer will engage in that behavior. “(Baran & Davis 185) Disinhibitory effects are “the effects of seeing a model rewarded for a prohibited or threatening behavior, thus increasing the likelihood that the observer will engage in that behavior. ” (Baran & Davis 185) This reminded of young Hollywood in general. These people do things like drive drunk and only get 87 minutes in jail and release and statement apologizing and then we just forget it. We rarely see a stern punishment. However, we see these people being rewarded with free clothes, fast cars, and multimillion-dollar movie contracts. What’s not to like about that?
As Michelle points out in her blog, I think it is obvious that the media, whether it be television, film, or another medium, has an effect on the self-esteem of both men, and women. Most of us do not sport what would generally be considered “Television Looks,” however, when people notice this fact, they generally feel like an outsider rather than a member of the majority. Why? George Gerbner’s cultivation theory found that those who watch a large amount of television see the world through the eyes of a TV screen rather than their own. When prompted with questions about the world, their answers reflected numbers similar to what is seen on television rather than what is reported in real life (Baran, Davis 324). Thus, many young people, regardless of sex, are likely to look into a mirror and be disappointed at what is staring back simply because it does not fit that “Television standard” that we have become so accustomed to seeing.
ReplyDeleteThat said, a majority of the population watches television (over 98%), however, a majority of young women are not stricken with eating disorders and other body image problems. With violence, many of us watch violent acts in film, television, and other media forms, however, only a select few who would be deemed “social deviants” go out and recreate these events. By the same token, we all see television characters, however, we do not all go to extreme, dangerous lengths to look like them.
While the media takes a large amount of the blame for the body image issues that plague young Americans today, these problems existed well before the media had influence, going back all the way to the hey-day of advertising. In the 1930’s, Wonder Bread came out with an advertising campaign that featured a young, white, blond girl (around the age of what we would today call a “tween”) alongside the now famous phrase “The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread.” This girl’s look became the “ideal” look for that era, down to her unnaturally perfect skin and smile (which, if you look at today, both seem downright creepy). Nonetheless, she became a trademark, as most pictures of girls you find from that era will resemble the Wonder Bread girl, from the dress to the hair style.
Furthermore, the Miss America contest took place this weekend and, while it was televised, that has not always been the case, the event has only recently become media driven. Events such as the Miss America competition which display the contestants in a rather shallow manner is the true root of the problem. For example, no contestant I saw was overweight, or even “normal-looking.” Also, on a quick side-note, the fake tan that many of the contestants sported was easily the most unattractive thing in the media since Britney Spears attracted daily coverage.
Lastly, I do not feel it is the media itself that is solely to blame for these body image problems, but the individuals in the limelight who strive for perfection. Girls may be upset if they feel that they do not look like cast members of “The Hills” or “The Real World,” but it is when they see characters in these shows take drastic measures to alter their looks where, in my opinion, problems arise. In Rowell Huesmann’s cognitive mapping study, he concluded that people can develop a “script.” Once an individual has seen the same response to a given situation over and over again, the individual learns that this behavior is acceptable, (McQuail 402). While this study pertained to violence, I feel it is also relates to what we are discussing here. If a young girl sees cast member after cast member of MTV reality shows turn to bulimia or anorexia to stay thin, they will be more liable to take these steps in the future.
I definitely agree with Michelle’s point of view that the media can have a damaging effect on impressionable young girls, and like Jen mentioned in her response, I also have seen the ways in which younger girls in my own life are influenced by the media. My five-year-old niece, for example, never leaves the house unless her headband matches her shoes, and any accessory has to match at least one color in her outfit. Every time I see her, she asks if I like her outfit, because she picked it out all by herself.
ReplyDeleteObviously, she’s not watching programs like “The Hills” (at least I hope she isn’t), but when someone as young as her is already so fixated on how she looks, it is easy to see how the messages these shows put forth are reaching young girls through the media, even in small ways. Indeed, in chapter 7 of Baran and Davis’ text, the idea of the active theory of television is introduced, where Daniel Anderson and Elizabeth Lorch propose that even children as young as two and a half are capable of comprehending at least some of what they see in the media [Baran and Davis 190], so it is important to consider that the influence of the media can start very early in a child’s life.
Of course, this is not necessarily always a bad thing—there is nothing wrong with a five-year-old wanting to look cute—but when these messages can be linked to the development of eating disorders and self-esteem issues in “tween-age” and teenage girls, it can certainly become problematic for society. These are the girls that are more likely to be watching shows like those mentioned in Michelle’s blog, and this is the group that we have to worry about when it comes to the idea of social learning and modeling. In both chapter 7 of Baran and Davis’ text and Wartella, Olivarez and Jennings’ “Children and Television Violence in the United States”, we are told of Albert Bandura’s belief that viewers learn about what behaviors are right and wrong through observing how characters act on television and how they are rewarded or punished for their actions [McQuail 401]. So, when someone like Heidi Montag goes out and gets ten plastic surgeries in one day, it is possible that a young girl will learn to believe that this is acceptable behavior.
However, I think it is important to note that there has been a lot of criticism leveled at Heidi in the media for what she has done to herself. I do not think that I have seen any media outlet saying that she actually looks better now—in fact, most seem to believe that she actually looks worse than before. This can be seen as relating to Bandura’s idea of inhibitory effects, which states that seeing someone punished for a certain behavior will decrease the likelihood of an observer imitating that behavior [Baran and Davis 185]. Since Heidi is being largely ridiculed in the media for what she has done, hopefully this will have an effect of discouraging young girls from following in her footsteps.
Michelle brings up several controversial ideas that are prevalent in today’s society. The social learning theory, which originally was applied to media violence, can also be applied to the female body image. “[Albert] Bandura asserts that through observing television models, viewers come to learn behaviors that are appropriate; that is, which behaviors will be rewarded and which will be punished” (McQuail 401). Young girls are overwhelmingly told to be skinny, tan and sexy by the media, which only contradicts societal expectations. Religion and family expect young girls to emit a pure and Madonna like image but they are shown the exact opposite through the media.
ReplyDeleteA current example of how the media has finally undergone some backlash for the portrayals of female models is seen in recent Ralph Lauren ads. With the use of photo-shop female bodies are becoming more and more disproportionate and unrealistic. In one image the head of the model is wider than her waist. (http://images.nymag.com/images/2/daily/2009/10/20091015_photoshoppedads_560x375.jpg)
Television programs such as “The Hills” are labeled as “reality programming” which implies that it is real life. Although we as media studies students are well aware this is false, young girls do not have the same education to realize that fact. To be honest, even though I study the media and have a strong knowledge it I still long for the unrealistic body image seen everywhere in the media. This is only more damaging to young girls because it isn’t just a television program, its how real people look and behave. “Young children have more difficulty distinguishing reality from fantasy…” therefore this only becomes more difficulty when shows are labeled “reality” (McQuail 403). Although I agree with Brianne that most news coverage has been negatively portraying Heidi after her multiple plastic surgeries, it none-the-less has been covering her non-stop. Young girls only see her image plastered on every magazine, which only continues to send the unrealistic body image to young girls. The unhappiness that is created when the girl is young is only exaggerated with age. It lets girls know that when you are older you can just “fix” yourself to look just like the people on television.
George Gerbner identifies aspects of television through his cultivation theory. He believed that television blurs traditional distinctions of people’s view of their world as well as blending the individual’s reality into television’s cultural mainstream (Baran and Davis 329). Young girls view their body completely differently because of the slender perfect bodies seen on television. Traditionally girls were supposed to be well behaved and conservative, however these traditional views have become blurred with the messages seen on television. Without the media young girls would not have the same doubts about their body.
Although the media is a powerful source around the world, I have a problem saying the media is solely to blame for the current female body issues. Young girls are beginning to grow up in homes that have high and unrealistic expectations. Other important factors that need to be taken into account include religion, ethnicity, family values, and the economic stability of the home. If the media is solely to blame then why are African American women so less likely to fall victim to anorexia nervosa or bulimia. As a race they have a much higher sense of self-esteem, therefore other factors clearly made a difference.
I think Michelle brings up an important discussion on the media’s impact on women and self-esteem. The role of the media on women’s and young girls’ self-esteem reminds me of Gerbner’s “ice-age analogy” (Baran & Davis 326). Gerbner notes, “Just as an average temperature shift of a few degrees can lead to an ice age or the outcomes of elections can be determined by slight margins, so too can a relatively small but pervasive influence make a crucial difference” (Baran & Davis 326). Since the emergence of advertising and marketing toward women, media have played a tremendous role in this gradual shift on women’s perceptions of themselves and the models they see. While it might not have been apparent at the time, we can clearly see its effects today. Little girls are over-accessorized and lacking self-esteem, which can easily be attributed to the media’s ever-increasing impact on their lives. If women are so controlled by the media today, it really makes me wonder what the impact will be in the future. If we’re already in the “ice age” of self-esteem, will things ever warm up again?
ReplyDeleteIn “Children and Television Violence in the United States,” Wartella et. al discuss the impact of TV violence on children. While they are clearly discussing violence, part of the argument can logically be linked to television’s impact on women and girls. Gerbner and his colleagues discovered that “viewers of television violence became fearful of the world, afraid of becoming a victim of violence and over time engage in more self-protective behaviors… (McQuail 404). I think this response to violent television watching is related to women’s reactions to today’s portrayal of models in the media. Women are so fearful of not living up to the same standards the models have set that they will change their appearances in an attempt to achieve happiness. They are afraid of becoming “victims of ugliness” and protect themselves by following the latest trends, purchasing the newest clothes and participating in countless other preventative methods. While our readings were on TV violence, Michelle is definitely correct in comparing this relationship to the effect media have on women.
I agree completely with Michelle's inclusion of the inhibitory and disinhibitory effects in her posting. As Baran and Davis say, "Seeing a model in a representation punished for exhibiting a certain behavior decreases the likelihood that the observers will make that response...A media representation that depicts reward for a threatening or prohibited behavior is often sufficient to increase the likelihood that the consumer of the representation will make that response" (Baran, 185). On "The Hills" and, a more recent example, "The Jersey Shore," young women are skinny and blonde or skinny and tanned - extremes of today's societal standards for female beauty. On The Jersey Shore, and to a lesser extent The Hills, the girls are constantly primping, shopping, and partying - lifestyles that are hardly realistic for the average young girl. However, do these "stars" ever seem to face any punishment? Their reward for setting a bad example is more fame, more television contracts and more thousands of dollars to appear at a trashy club. If a young girl is watching this, there will most likely be no disinhibitory effects, for they only see these women becoming more famous, more beautiful (with the exception of Heidi Montag, she's just creepy) and more wealthy. If television and MTV in particular were more concerned with the effects their shows were having on young viewers, they would curb their glorification of The Hills/Jersey Shore lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteI thought this also related to a subject brought up later in chapter 7, about the disappearance of childhood. Sociologist Neil Postman said "'Unlike infancy, childhood is a social artifact, not a biological category...'" (Baran, 194) meaning that we aren't all guaranteed a childhood. The chapter discusses how constant media bombardment is robbing children of the innocence of childhood. I agree - previous posters discussed how their young relatives seem to be growing up much too quickly. Perhaps this is the natural inclination to judge the generations that follow us, but I count myself lucky that I missed out on this reality television-driven time. I feel like we were some of the last kids who were able to play outside without fear of abduction, and without video games luring us back inside our houses. We watched TV, sure, but I don't think it was as significant a part in our lives as it is to kids today. We also had, at least in my opinion, better role models. Our Miley Cyrus was Lizzie McGuire, and before that, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and when the TV switched off, they went away. Today, with all the media available, there is no escaping it.
I totally agree with what Michelle stated in her blog and I believe that shows such as MTV’s The Hills and The City and let’s not forget Laguna Beach are certainly partially to blame for making society today view in a much more hypercritical way than in the past. However this is not to say that I believe that media should be solely to blame for skewing teen’s perceptions of what they must look like in order to be accepted. I believe that while teen girls do view characters from these MTV shows as Barbie dolls that, if imitated, would make them popular, however those teens need to learn the difference between regular society and celebrity society. There is a huge difference between regular people who make up society and the rich girls that make six figure pay checks on TV which of course enables them to buy the most expensive and glamorous outfits and driving the nicest cars. Teens need to learn that clothes and cars are materialistic items, they don’t make a person they simply make what a person looks like. Therefore, I believe that the media does indeed create television shows, films and other media which do probe a lot of people to copy what they see and hear, however I also believe that there are people, like myself, who do not fall into these traps.
ReplyDeleteWhile I was reading McQuail I noticed that the studies on television violence could easily be paralleled with the portrayal of women in television. I liked how the book explained how many of these television violence studies did in fact elicit that violence on television does sometimes cause viewers to reenact or practice what they have seen but then took the time to explain that this is not always the case. I read that, “not all violent depictions should be treated equally, nor all viewers (McQuail 403). I agree with this statement because not all violence in television can be categorized as dangerous to view or can be ranked to be as offensive as others. You cannot categorize due to the fact that it would have to be based somewhat upon opinions which is not fair. Also, to say that all viewers should also not be “treated equally” is 100% true, you cannot say that a mentally unstable individual would view a program in the same light as a healthy so-called stable individual and the same goes for “tweens”. I believe that you cannot assume that all “tweens” will watch The Hills and believe that in order to be cool and popular they have to dress, talk and act just as the characters do on the show. I say “to each his own,” people will always think differently and react differently towards what they view on television whether it be violence or what I like to call teen soap shows.
I believe that we cannot solely blame the media for portraying women as thin [along with a list of other characteristics] because media isn’t the only entity which surrounds us in our everyday lives. I find that women as well as men are often times totally judgmental on their own and that they don’t need media to give them a mental checklist of what is acceptable and what is not. “Television’s impact on our collective sense of reality is real and important, even though that effect might be beyond clear-cut scientific measurement, might defy easy observation, and might be inextricably bound to other factors in the culture” (Baran and Davis 326). I believe that for those who are so wrapped up in what they see and hear from the media that they either consciously or subconsciously believe it are what makes televisions “impact on our collective sense of reality important” because a lot of people are impacted. However I agree that there is no fair and honest way to measure or observe such a thing so we must assume and accept that there are other factors within our culture which could stimulate people to believe such things. People need to take the issue into their own hands and parents need to bring their children up in an environment which does not promote these tainted ideas of the way society should be and women should look.
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ReplyDeleteI think that people are affected differently by the media they consume. I do not believe that a child who watches a television show that portrays violence will automatically become violent. However, I do think a child who already had violent tendencies or who has witnessed violence from peers or family members are more likely to act violent. Rowell Huesmann’s social development model of learning suggests that “social behavior is controlled by ‘programs’ for behavior which are established during childhood” (McQuail 402). Our actions are based on what we see in the media as well as by our personal experiences.
ReplyDeleteMy beliefs on violence in the media are similar to my beliefs on the portrayal of beauty in the media. I do not think a woman is likely to see an image of a beautiful model or actress and all of a sudden question their own beauty. Women are affected by images of beauty in the media on top of other factors which can include their own lack of self-confidence or how important their peers view looks.
One question that the finalists on the Miss America pageant this year were asked had to do with whether or not they felt celebrities are obligated to act as role models. The finalist who answered this question said absolutely yes, and I could not agree more. As Michelle mentioned, the young women on “The Hills” and “The City” are indeed role models whether or not they like it. They are put in the spotlight and hundreds of thousands of girls look up to them whether it is only because they are pretty and live glamorous lives or because they are talented and passionate.
I do not know how many girls idolize “The Hills” star Heidi Montag, as she has a bad reputation for choosing her boyfriend over her best friend and lacking talent, but regardless, she is still a celebrity. Recently, she had 10 plastic surgeries to achieve her ideal image of beauty. After going under the knife, she is under harsh criticism for changing her face and body so much. Montag was a pretty girl to begin with and hopefully the criticism she has received will make any girl who looks up to her see how Montag is negatively viewed because of her surgeries. If a young girl is after fame and success and for some reason idolizes Montag, hopefully they will see that beauty is not the only thing that matters when it comes to those things. In the argument against catharsis, we see that “viewers learn that violence might not be appropriate in a given situation” (Baran & Davis, 182). Though young girls may have a desire to look a certain way in order to achieve fame and success, after seeing the harsh criticism that Montag has received, including insults from her own mother, they may realize that getting plastic surgery (especially an excessive amount) is not a good thing and will deter them from considering going under the knife. After all, Montag’s new album only sold 658 copies.
Television has undeniably been a powerful medium since its emergence. Oppositional views were taken regarding the mass communication device. Some people viewed it as an exciting new way to receive news or use it for entertainment purposes, while others immediately took an opposite stance, regarding television as having negative effects on its viewers. Studies were conducted regarding many aspects of television viewing, including program content as well as analysis of the viewer. The effects of violence in television on its viewers have been widely studied to formulate theories and reach conclusions.
ReplyDeleteThe relationship between children and television violence has been the primary focus for various studies, attempting to determine things such as if violence in television leads to violent behavior and what other factors need to be considered. The development of theories based on these studies, gives evidence not only to relationship between children, violence, and television viewing, but also to the power and negative influence of television has on viewers, in general, which is exemplified through women and body image in relation to television viewing.
I strongly agree with the statements made by Michelle regarding the power of the portrayals of female body image on television and the manipulation it has on these viewers to believe altered perceptions in which they are told they should look. Television puts emphasis on the importance of women having slender bodies, as seen by images of celebrities, which are often either digitally altered, or physically unachievable. Living in a society where television is heavily consumed and these images are often portrayed across all forms of media, it becomes hard to escape and easier to accept what is being told to viewers. The Hills and The City are two examples, among many others, which lend themselves to this constant feeding of messages to young girls, by featuring mainly thin, beautiful girls who often lead glamorous lives.
It is noted in the discussion on Neal Miller and John Dollard’s studies regarding social learning that “People could imitate behaviors they saw; those behaviors would be reinforced and therefore learned” (Baran & Davis, Chapter 7, Page 183). By applying social learning to the example of The Hills, it could be argued that young girls who see people such as Whitney and Lauren could view their show as a reward for being young and beautiful. They could associate the success of these girls in the fashion industry as well as being MTV celebrities with their image and lifestyle rather than any talents they might possess.
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ReplyDeleteAssessing The Hills through cultivation analysis, which explains that television creates a worldview that becomes reality when people believe it, might suggest that the higher celebrity status the cast achieves, the more its viewers will strive to be like them. Young girls who continue to watch The Hills are probably likely to follow the girls by watching them make other appearances, whether it is on television, the Internet, magazines, or some other type of media, the girls will constantly be exposed to images of the cast. Part of Gerbner’s explanation of the cultivation theory explains that “television’s major cultural function is to stabilize social patterns, to cultivate resistance to change” (Baran & Davis, Chapter 11, Page 326). MTV uses The Hills, as well as other shows targeted to young girls, to continue to reinforce an altered image of young girls, supporting the cultivation theory in that the more young girls see these celebrities, the more they will strive to be like them.
I think that essentially girls make their own decisions and the media cannot be completely blamed for the decisions that these girls make. I think that the media can have some influence on the way girls believe an ideal body image should look as well as they ways they attempt to achieve them, but only to an extent. Media can trigger the thoughts and ideals, but there must be a greater force which causes girls to not only believe, but also to act upon what the media tells them. I believe there are social and psychological factors which influence girls and their ultimate decisions. There are high statistics for eating disorders and many people who choose cosmetic procedures, but considering all of the media young girls consume, most don’t take what media tells them to extreme lengths, proving that there are other outside influences.
I also agree with what Michelle had to say on this subject of how the media has a pretty big effect on how women think they should look. Television has been around for a while and there are so many shows on the air that have women in them. Most of these women are good looking and have "ideal" bodies. Yet, that's not necessarily how it is in the real world. There are women out there who watch these shows and want to look just like the women they see in these shows. Sometimes these women take drastic measures to look this way and that can definitely lead to bad things such as eating disorders.
ReplyDeleteLike I said earlier, television has been around for a while and it definitely has been an important part of the media and it has had an effect on people who consume media on a daily basis. In chapter 11 of Baran & Davis, the authors say that, "Television is the only medium in history with which people can interact at the earliest and latest years of life, not to mention all those years in between (Baran & Davis, 325)." I think this says it all with regard to how television can definitely effect the people who watch it because girls can begin watching television at a very young age and since they watch it so young, they are exposed to these "perfect" bodies right away. And as they continue to watch television and be exposed to the ideal body image that they see on a daily basis, it can have an effect on the way they view themselves and how they want to change the way they look.
George Gerbner did research on how watching television can effect the way you perceive reality and that people who watch too much television may think that the real world is much like the television world (Baran & Davis, 324). This is called cultivation analysis or cultivation theory and research done by Gerbner does show that television effects the way people think about the world outside of television. For example, Gerbner said that on television, 77% of all major characters who commit a crime, it is of the violent nature, when in reality only 10% of all crimes committed in the US is a violent crime (Baran & Davis, 324). Gerbner said if you guessed that 25% of all real crime is violent and not 15% then you have the view through television's eyes (Baran & Davis, 324). I find this interesting with regards to violence and body image on television because yes, television does influence people who watch it, but it doesn't influence everybody and actually it is a small precentage of people that are really influenced by what they see. Just because someone sees violence on TV, doesn't mean they will copy what they see and go kill somebody. The same goes with body image. Just because a girl sees a beautiful, thin woman on TV, doesn't mean she will starve herself to look like her, but instead she might lose some weight or just be happy with her own body.
In Chapter 37 of the McQuail Reader, authors Wartell, Olivarez and Jennings said that, "By the time the average American child graduates from elemntary school, he or she will have seen over 8,000 murders and more than 100,000 other assorted acts of violence (399). They go on to say, "Even though viewing media violence may not be the sole contributor to violent behavior, nor does it have the same effect on all who watch it, more than 40 years of research does indicate a relationship between exposure to media violence and aggressive behavior (399). I agree with these statements in a way, because people are definitely exposed to a lot of violence on TV, starting when they are very young and it could easily have an effect on people who commit crimes in the real world, but it isn't the biggest factor. A lot depends on the person's situation and the life they are living at the current moment and the same goes with girls who see women on TV and want to be just like them. They may have other problems that are affecting them and how theys eem themselves and what they see on TV only compounds their issues. Girls see women on TV from a very young age, so it starts very early with the how women should look campaign, but the media isn't solely to blame for body image and violence problems in the world today. The media shouldn't be completely to blame for the problems with body image and violence, but they are definitely part of the problem.
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