The Power of and the Powers Behind Mass Media - 901 Words

The Power of the Powers Behind Mass Media Mass media is a powerful method of communication, entertainment, education, and socialization. The necessity and the relevancy of mass media becomes more prominent and urgent in the 21st century world, as the 21st century landscape is exceptionally more mediated than in previous eras of human history. It behooves producers, distributors, and consumers of mass media to understand and consider the interplay between power and discourse within the context of mass media. Where is the power of mass media and who wields it? What does the political economy of power in mass media reflect about the structures and mechanisms at work in society? How does mass media work within a context of power and discourse? Referencing such authors as Marx, Chomsky, Foucault, and Jhally, the paper aims to answer these questions as well as raise further ones. The paper argues that while each author has his unique perspective on the role of mass media with regard to di scourse and power, all authors agree that mass media is used as part of a power strategy so as to inoculate and perpetuate specific discourses that are lived in the everyday experiences of subjects within such systems where mass media is used in such ways. Mass media has the power to affect how consumers perceive themselves and reality; with regard to the relationship between power and discourse, mass media sits between the two, interlocking them together. Within A Contribution to theShow MoreRelatedThe Constructions of Gender1094 Words   |  4 Pagesrespect to gender, mass media, in its various forms, is the primary way that people learn how to act as a girl or boy. Mass media is a powerful method of communication, entertainment, education, and socialization. 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