The Real World as We Know It

Media representations today have come to represent the real world, or constitute what we think is real. As Croteau and Hoynes emphatically point out media content does not reflect the real social world, and I definitely agree with this statement. What we see or hear in TV, magazines, the Internet, over the radio, etc, subconsciously affects our outlook of reality and the world. Audiences have difficulty in distinguishing how closely media represents reality as they are bombarded by thousands of media messages and have to figure out what is meaningful. Additionally, the American public is more aware of the lack of diversity or the overemphasis placed on violence, then the messages they are subconsciously absorbing. In other words, what we see or hear projected by mass media we take to be true in some context as we do not have much to compare it to. The onslaught of television shows depicting sexual content, is one critical factor in how American society is being shaped by media. In such shows as Grey's Anatomy, Gossip Girl, 90210, or Melrose Place to name a few exhibit highly sexual individuals always frantically on the hunt for sex or fulfillment. Seeing these representations that do not reflect the real world triggers many individuals to believe that a normal human always craves sex, and never desires any emotional/deeper relationship.
In Melrose Place which I began watching this year, the sexual conquests of each character are the highlight of the show and each character is highly sexual and youthful, as you can see in the above picture. Viewing a show such as Melrose Place, prompts me to think that I am not a typical individual since I do not engage in sexual encounters, or throw myself at anything male. Yet in today's society, this concept of one-night stands or hook-ups are becoming increasingly prevalent, probably as a result of being exposed to such television shows constantly. Relationships are no longer the norm as people are beginning to use the opposite sex merely to fulfill their desires, and this superficiality in terms of love definitely is highlighted on TV where most characters are involved in intricate love plots. Creators of media know the power of their messages, and often use their programs to comment on the social world, leading to more absorption of "fake" values or norms.
I found this very interesting article online that substantiates what I have been expressing. Teens exposed frequently to sex scenes in television are far more likely to initiate sex in the subsequent months after watching such shows. This sexual exploration is very important at an early age and few shows elaborate on the risks involved with promiscuous behavior. In this age of increasing sexuality and sexual behavior, one has to be aware of the risks involved, yet the messages in television merely highlight the fun of sex without delving into the consequences. Therefore, this "fun activity" is something almost every American wants to do, and often.