Monday, August 6, 2012

Media & Culture Overview


Recommended Classes: HUM 111, HUM 176

Social Media

What is the value of seeing films and shows as a shared experience? 
When we view a movie or television show we are inclined to form opinions and concepts from the experience. When we share these experiences with other people, they agree or disagree with our ideas or they might build on those concepts. In this form of argument, this is where critical thought occurs in which each individual viewer comparing facts and critiquing the meaning of the film.

What are the benefits and problems of publicizing a business using social media?
The benefits of publicizing a business using social media include: low cost advertising, targeting specific markets, and consumer feedback. Some of the problems include:
1. Social media websites are not meant for aggressive marketing.
2. Social media needs to be constantly updated
3. Consumer feedback can act in a very negative manner, branding an item with poor feedback.

What benefits do social media offer for your personal use? 
The largest benefit of social media is that it allows for free communication between people. People are less likely to completely lose track of one another for this reason.

What value do social media offer for professional use? 
Social media allows professionals to link and stay in touch with one another through sites such as Facebook or LinkdIn. This creates a new means of networking which was not possible without social media.

The Effects of Violence on Audiences from Gaming
Many people believe that violence in video games causes’ violent behavior; especially in children. However, studies do not support these conclusions. In December 2001, the Surgeon General of the United States David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D., led a study on violence in youth and determined that the findings suggest that media violence has a relatively small impact on violence in general.

When one thinks of it critically, these ideas do not make sense. For example, there are millions of people all around the world playing Call of Duty (an online war game), however this is not causing massive widespread chaos and killing. One would think that this would be the case if these concepts were true.

What are the most controversial issues electronic gaming today?
There are three important controversies with regard to video games. These controversies include; violence, causation of immoral behavior, and causation of sedentary lifestyle.

Do electronic games have a positive effect on culture? Explain your answer.
People who play World of Warcraft and other online role playing games get tomix with people from different cultures from all over the world. This is apositive effect on culture because it helps build diversity and globalization.

 References
Lauren Gonzalez (2009) A history of video game controversies http://www.gamespot.com/features/6090892/p-3.html