English 10 - trickey



Eng 10 – Media01

- What is the Mass Media

What is the Mass Media

(and how does it influence us?)

The Mass Media can be classified as any type of medium that is designed to share, inform or even sell information and/or products. The Mass Media includes television, radio, newspapers, internet sites (such as cbc.ca or ), commercials, art, music and many others. Often the Mass Media is used as a mirror to observe a particular culture. For example, the prevalence of hockey images in Canadian Tire and beer ads reflects the strong emphasis Canadian society places on hockey in its culture. Essentially, hockey is Canadian and that is reflected not only in our sports and pastimes, but also in our Mass Media.

Mass Media and popular culture are often linked and often shape each other. In recent years, skateboarding and snowboarding have become institutions in Canadian youth culture. This “board culture” is reflected and even supported and shaped by video games, clothing styles, magazines and even music (Avril Lavigne’s Sk8er Boi reached number one in both Canada and the U.S.). People are bombarded by the mass media on a daily basis. This is reflected in the products you buy, the language you use and even your personal opinions and thoughts. The mass media probably has more of an affect on you than you realize.

Assignment: Read the following cartoons on the next two pages and then answer the following questions.

Cartoon Set # 2

Now answer the questions on the next page…

Directions: On a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions using COMPLETE SENTENCES. Each question will be marked out of 3 for quality of thought and evidence of effort.

In these cartoons, Opus the penguin is portrayed as a person who is unaware that advertising companies are trying to associate their products with people or lifestyles that are attractive. In your own words, describe how Opus links smoking to lifestyle and why do you think he falls for it?

Provide your own example of a product other than a cigarette company that uses an attractive lifestyle or personality to promote its product (you may simply describe the medium or provide your own example as a link through the internet or internet site such as ). How effective do you think that ad campaign is?

In your own words, describe an example in the cartoon and an example in real life where advertisements seem to convince people of what they want despite common sense or common knowledge.

In the second set of cartoons the seemingly mature Mr. Binkley is suckered into believing what the mass media would like him to believe about the “perfect” woman. How do you think this kind of mentality affects teenage girls today? Is there the same pressure for boys? Provide a specific example for full marks (you may simply describe the medium or provide your own example as a link through the internet or internet site such as ).

By the end of the second set of cartoons, Mr. Binkley resigns himself to accepting media’s portrayal of the “ideal” woman by introducing the girl in his dreams to his son. What should Mr. Binkley be doing instead of letting his son believe the same things he is being told? What does this cartoon say about the power of the mass media?

Total: ___ /15

-----------------------

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

Cartoon Set #1

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download