one concrete action that could be taken using the media to further a social change
one concrete action that could be taken using the media to further the change you are considering. Be sure to consider any ethical implications related to that use.
“Guess who’s coming to dinner?” That was the title of a great movie in the 60′s that exposed the intergenerational stand against racism. The family life in the 21st century is suffering. The media can repeat family oriented messages and remind parents to eat meals with their children. Given that people can eat and converse at the same time, sharing a meal should provide an opportunity for a family to sit down, share a meal, and chat. Some churches do ads on TV and remind families to share time with their children. Some restaurants, food franchises, makers of frozen meals do show parents having an easier time getting a meal ready, with their product. However, there is no reminder that the family need to give each other some attention and converse in a friendly setting, more often. Poor socioeconomic families may be too busy working and never share quality time with their children. Well off families may be too involved in extra curricular activities that they may never get chances to share quality time with the whole family. Therefore, for the family to all share notes about their daily life, they need to make the time to share a meal while they turn off other distractions, like the cell phones or the TV.
Cultural jamming was explained as a form of rhetoric aimed to divert emotions away from may be an immoral social norm (Harold, 2004). A pie in the face of those who effect cuts in the school system, instead of reducing corruption and waste, may transmit the message that the directors and organisors need to rethink the system and focus more on the children and their families. Film critic Puttnam posited that movies play a big role in exposing our societies truths and myths (2006). Therefore, entertaining movie making may be a wide open field that can inspire the ideal family living. Spitulnik exposed the gap in mass media anthropology and ineffective superficial ethnography research (1993). Indeed, mass media is hidden treasure that need to be discovered and exploited. No wonder, there is calling for thinking outside the box. With the power in the media and mass communication, many places far away can be reached in seconds, today. Broadcasting on TV, movies, and the internet may be exploited to send the message and remind the families to give their children more attention than to selfish instant gratifications.
References
Harold, C. (2004). Pranking rhetoric: “Culture jamming” as media activism. Critical Studies in Media Communication. 21 (3). 189-211.
Puttnam, D. (2005). Life through the lens. New Statesman. December 19, 2005. 78.
Spitulnik, D. (1993). Anthropology and mass media. Annual Review of Anthropology. 22:293-315.
