Media Ideology [[Reflection/Connections]]

I have to say, this reading was somewhat confusing for me to understand but one thing I did get out of it was this term: Ideology. But what is ideology? Good question! According to Croteau, ideology has many meanings. But the meaning that is relevant for this subject is “basically a system of meaning that helps define and explain the world and that makes value judgments about that world. Ideology is related to concepts such as worldview, belief system, and values, but it is broader than those terms” (159-160). Croteau talked a lot about the media’s creation of ideology that was surrounded by violence and religion. He said “after the tragic shootings a Colorado’s Columbine High School in 1999, politicians from across the political spectrum focused on violent video games as one of the causes of the violence” (160).he also talked about how the media was blamed for over exaggerating Clinton affair scandal, causing Clinton's almost-impeachment.

 Another thing that Croteau talked about was rap and heavy metal music. Croteau brought up Eminem’s album called The Marshall Mathers LP. I was only seven when I was nominated for Album of the Year, but this caused some hullabaloo in the media because of the rapper’s angry lyrics, and insulting words towards women, gays and lesbians. Croteau also talked about media’s relation to reality.  Croteau states “the question is not whether such media images are “realistic” depictions because analysts of ideology generally perceive the definition of the “real” as, itself, an ideological construction. Which aspects of whose “reality” do we define as the most real? Those that are the most visible? The most common? The most powerful?” I don’t know if this is what he taught when writing this, but what I thought of was something reading class called Cinderella Ate My Daughter. The images we get from the media, that twist and craft young boys and girls minds to what they THINK is perfect. It’s unrealistic but sometimes we cannot help but get sucked into their money making lies. The media puts out things like the hot thin model, the sexy guy models, t perfect house wife and the man of the house. But who are they to “depict the “appropriate” roles of men and women, parents and children, or bosses and workers?”

To me the main point was to be aware of media ideology because what is said can be twist by media, politicians, etc.