Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a disability or physical handicap?
If so then this documentary will answer many of your unanswered questions.
"Believing without Seeing," produced by LEJJ, brings to light the life the story of one extraordinary Westminster College student living without sight.
Where you might ask? McKelvey Theater, Westminster Campus. The time is to be announced.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Hyperreality
"The simulation of something which never really existed."
- Jean Baudrillard
Theorists, such as Jean Baudrillard, have long studied hyperreality and it's effects. He would argue that hyperreality is created and maintained by the media. Also, he would state that the media is able to do so because it has control over the norms of society and popular culture. For example, the media defines what music and fashion are popular along with establishing the ideal of beauty. Also along those lines, Baudrillard would state that the media blurs the line between what is real and unreal and with that the general public begins to see the unreal as truth.
We can find many examples of this, those being:
-Pictures of models that have been digitally altered
-Sports superstars depicted as a normal human body
-Television shows and films
-Las Vegas and gambling
-Economic status based on the brands a person buys
-and even, unfortunately, within the news.
We've heard in class about the Cultivation Theory, which is the idea that television and the media have long terms affects on a persons thoughts or mindset. This can also lead to, what is called, "Mean World Syndrome," which affects the elderly, youth, and viewers that watch alone more so than other viewers. This "Syndrome" states that the viewer is influenced to believe that the world is more violent than it actually is. This ties very closely to Baudrillard's theory of hyperreality. Viewers blur the line between real and unreal. We've also heard that "If it bleeds, it's news." This is really unfortunate, however, it plays into both theories.
This goes to show that these theories are not as far fetched as they may seem to be. For example, according to the media and the news, most Americans would believe that the War on Terror, or the American occupancy in Iraq, is much more dangerous than it actually is. But why is that? The media shows only the events of the war that are guaranteed to get them ratings. This leads to the constant display of violence, bombings, and insurgents. The media does not show any of the progress that might be made during our time there. In that affect, hyperreality and "Mean World Syndrome" seem very plausible.
We can find many examples of this, those being:
-Pictures of models that have been digitally altered
-Sports superstars depicted as a normal human body
-Television shows and films
-Las Vegas and gambling
-Economic status based on the brands a person buys
-and even, unfortunately, within the news.
We've heard in class about the Cultivation Theory, which is the idea that television and the media have long terms affects on a persons thoughts or mindset. This can also lead to, what is called, "Mean World Syndrome," which affects the elderly, youth, and viewers that watch alone more so than other viewers. This "Syndrome" states that the viewer is influenced to believe that the world is more violent than it actually is. This ties very closely to Baudrillard's theory of hyperreality. Viewers blur the line between real and unreal. We've also heard that "If it bleeds, it's news." This is really unfortunate, however, it plays into both theories.
This goes to show that these theories are not as far fetched as they may seem to be. For example, according to the media and the news, most Americans would believe that the War on Terror, or the American occupancy in Iraq, is much more dangerous than it actually is. But why is that? The media shows only the events of the war that are guaranteed to get them ratings. This leads to the constant display of violence, bombings, and insurgents. The media does not show any of the progress that might be made during our time there. In that affect, hyperreality and "Mean World Syndrome" seem very plausible.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
