Framing Class

Diana Kendall's article on class asks whether the media reflects or dictates American values. The statistics she presents indicate that most Americans define themselves based largely on how much money they spend, and what they spend it on. I was amazed to learn that one percent of the population owns 42 percent of the nation's wealth, and that a handful of companies control 90% of the media. It is safe to assume that the media is profiting from the current state of things, and I don't foresee them loosening their grip on the minds and wallets of Americans any time soon. I think television is largely to blame for creating the imaginary world many people think they live in, but I also think the American people in general are equally as responsible as the media, for continuing to buy it. Being aware of this crazy game we all play is a good first step towards making it stop, but until we all actually do something about it, it is probably going to keep getting worse. I shamefully include myself in this group of idiots, with my brand name shoes, my car, what kind of soda and beer I drink, I am a victim and a perpetrator of this system television and consumerism have created. The older I get, the easier it becomes to see the influence the media has on the way people look, specifically their clothing and hair. When I was in High School eight years ago, all the girls wanted hair like Jennifer Aniston, and the 'cool kids' dressed like skateboarders. I remember the punk/goth trend taking over, and the sea of black getting larger every day in the cafeteria. Now it appears hip hop is the new thing, and I see kids dressing like gangster clowns, and girls for some reason look like pirates. Diana Kendall feels the media is to blame, but I think it is just as much our fault as it is theirs. Not only do we need to stop watching it, we need to stop buying it. If a kid in white suburbia thinks he will be cooler by wearing the costumes he sees on MTV, he has some learning to do. Humanity has survived for thousands of years without television, and we would probably be alot better off without it today. But it is our fault that we let it control us the way it does.