Post #5

I was quite fascinated upon learning (and teaching about) the agenda setting theory. I think it's interesting how one can distinguish between the media opinion and the public opinion in the news industry.I don't feel that the opinions on television threatens those that people establish themselves. However, people are interested in how the majority reacts to certain events and situations, without necessarily absorbing the reactions. I do feel the media can influence people in times when people are in control of major events and decisions. For example, during the '08 presidential election, the media sparked a myriad of opinions from all different walks of life, considering the fact that both Obama and McCain had several distinctive differences; some of which went beyond their political views. Although the media embraces differences in opinion, I feel they have to play it safe when it comes to ethics. Sure, all journalists have the freedom of speech. But, they can't quite go to the extent of offending those with strong religious or political views.

Post # 4

One theory of mass communication that is very relevant to today's society is the cultivation theory. This theory states that heavy television viewing creates exaggerated beliefs in a mean and scary world. One way in which this theory is applied is an incident that occurred a few years ago involving the television show, "Spongebob Squarepants". A young boy watching the show was led to believe that Spongebob was real and, therefore, drowned in a river while trying to find him underwater. With this in mind, the cultivation theory plays a part in the stage young children experience when distinguishing between reality and fiction. At a young age, they believe the situations on television, especially those in cartoons like "Spongebob Squarepants", can occur in real life. However, parents have a hard time convincing them that things on television are only pretend.

Post #3

Dramatism is used when discovering a speaker's motive. This motive is used to persuade an audience, as well as initiate a response or relation from them. There are five aspects of the dramatism pendad; act, scene, agent (person performing act), agency (what is used to perform the act), and purpose.

A good example of dramatism is the music video for REM's "Everybody Hurts". The act in this video is people being trapped both physically and emotionally. The scene is a highway filled with bumper-to-bumper traffic. The agents are the people being trapped in their cars, including the members of REM. The agency is the captions that presents the thoughts or actions of the people. The purpose of this video is to inform the audience of the feeling of being trapped physically and emotionally and how to escape from it.

Post #2

I believe the theory of cognitive dissonance has a very strong relation with modern society. It is very common to see people discord  between what they do and what they believe. Cognitive dissonance is clearly demonstrated in the TV show "Tabatha's Salon Takeover". This show highlights struggling hair salons that are near the point of closing. Some salon owners go to the extent of selling their houses in order to pay off the massive debt of their salons. Now, typically, selling a house is the last thing one wants to do. But, if someone is that low on money and it desperate to turn their lives around, it can be necessary.
The most common method of reducing dissonance in modern society is selective exposure. I use selective exposure when I watch sports on TV. For example, whenever a hockey game is on, I like to watch it on Versus rather than MSG because I find the commentary on MSG biased, exaggerated, and annoying, whereas Versus commentary is calmer and more neutral.

Post #1

A theory, in my opinion, is one's personal ideas or beliefs about a certain topic. I have theories for a myriad of things in my life. For example, I have a theory based on my experiences with teachers. I feel that one doesn't learn much, if anything, from a teacher who just talks to his/her students rather than writing things on the board and giving notes.
Commercials and advertisements either take an objective or interpretive approach. Those that promote sex or send subliminal messages are clearly taking the interpretive approach. For example, while driving into the city of Buffalo, I noticed a billboard that featured a girl on a pillow with the words "Come Sleep With Me". This billboard was promoting a hotel, but it could be sending mixed messages to anybody. For example, somebody could assume that if they went to this hotel, they would get involved in intimate activities.
One of the most important theory traditions, in my opinion, is the socio-psychological tradition; how listeners respond. This is evident in President Obama's 2010 State of the Union Address. Through repetition and using relevant, modern-day examples, his listeners can easily understand the message he is sending.