After reading the Baudrillard article I started to think about images that I have in my head. Where did I come up with them? Why do I value certain things and other things not so much? I feel that I do gather some of my values from media and other values from my family, my upbringing, and my dramatic life thus far. However, it was not until I read a quote from the article that made me realize how reality can be manipulated. The article reads:
“Wherein previous periods, the news would present the facts and leave the viewer/reader to come to their own conclusion, nowadays the facts, which are chosen to be shown, are carefully selected and manipulated so as to create a story.” (http://journal.ilovephilosophy.com)
I would have to agree that a great deal of my knowledge comes from the messages that I have received through a particular gatekeeper. In the case of the article Baudrillard is referring to media, such as television or newspapers, but I thought it is also related to teachers, parents and other role models. All of these people are gatekeepers and they too have the ability to chose which facts (or even which part of facts) they are going to present to their audience(s).
Even though political/ personal values are not always appropriate for a class, I have noticed that some of the professors at Westminster let their values creep into the classroom by the information that is presented. I remember one particular class I left so irritated because only one side of a debate was covered and the other side was never addressed. Without having any other knowledge than what was presented in class, some students may have accepted that information as the complete story.
Media does a great job at only telling one side of a story and covering what is best to get the biggest paycheck. That is how images can be created in our heads and stereotypes can be carried forward. I know that many people live sheltered lives and take what they see on television as reality, but in actuality it is just an “illusion”, as Baudrillard might suggest.
I considered the television shows that I watch. I know that in real life cancer isn’t cured in one episode of House or that it isn’t normal for an 18 year old to drive a shiny new BMW convertible. I laughed after thinking of this because I am always complaining that I need a new car because my “old” 2002 model is out of date and not sporty enough, but it is only Lauren and her friends from Laguna Beach that live that lifestyle.
The next thought that I had was the massacre at Virginia Tech. I do not know any of these students, but I felt a connection to them. I felt horrible and I just kept watching the news to see if there was any more information presented. I found myself extremely depressed after watching this footage.
I was checking my email earlier today and found a message from Babs Quincy the school counselor. She gave a list of suggestions to help cope with all the new information. Number four on the list suggests that students should, “limit the amount of time that you watch details about the tragedy on TV”. I thought it was interesting and related to our class because students may find themselves more and more confused by the images they are watching on the television. It is probably just best to wait and let the real detail emerge.
The Baudrillard article closes with this a key statement:
“The belief of ordinary people in tremendously exaggerated stories rather than in their reality, and the way these narratives/stories/images are used, is the arena of hyperreality for Baudrillard.” (http://journal.ilovephilosophy.com)
This statement sums up the whole idea of hyperreality and that situations are exaggerated to create better stories. As we learned in class today, it is easier to get these exaggerated stories with the use of radio (and now television/internet) that creates easy access to a story for a much larger audience. I feel that it is important that people become aware the information they are digesting and maybe even second guess some of the “facts”.
*note the class that I discuss in the blog is not one associated with our cluster...just for clarification purposes :) *
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