The Push for Social Change through Media

Media definitely has its pros and cons. However, what the individual takes from any of the sources is completely up to his or her discretion. Someone can advise another someone on what to read, but it depends on what the individual does with that advice. People in the 18^th and 19^th century did not believe women were capable of making their own decisions and that they were easily influenced by what they read or saw. Novelists such as Jane Austen did not believe this and lampooned this belief in Northanger Abbey. She believed that women are people and have the ability to discern between what is beneficial and what is detrimental to their well-being. The television program phenomenon Glee exemplifies Jane Austen’s belief to an extent. The producers are trying to influence its viewers what to think which is slightly against Austen’s belief. The producers believe that its viewers will be influenced by the scenes on the show. Glee critiques political conservatism bluntly and harshly in season 3. Some critics argue that the people who watch Glee are prone to believe what is being stated on the show, but it is influencing the viewers to think that conservatism is wrong. However, the producers are shaping us to become more critical of our society and the events and laws that affect society. Through the incorporation of bullying, Glee producers try to suggest ways for bullied victims to deal with bullying and how society is supposed to deal with it. In essence, I believe that the importance of media is to create critical citizens in order to push for social change. The originality of each individual’s mind is important in creating new ideas. New ideas should flow back and forth from the producers of media to the consumers of media. In order to flow back to producers, the consumers have to be able to decide for themselves what the television show, novel, or movie means to them and offer their suggestions.