Media (Mis)Portrayals of the Human Condition
Location
State Farm Hall 108
Start Date
28-2-2015 1:50 PM
End Date
28-2-2015 2:45 PM
Description
Media is instrumental in shaping the perception and reality of people. It influences what humans think about, how they interact and behave; in short, it permeates every facet of existence. So it is no surprise that media is a factor to consider when discussing human right violations. Can media be used as tool to spur activism, or does it only propagate apathy and a creation of a system of "othering"? While there is evidence supporting both viewpoints on media's role in human rights issues, I argue that it seems that the relationship that determines one's disposition regarding situations that concern human rights is the type of media the person in question is consuming, and how the content is presented. This claim is substantiated by exploring the history and global context of media, and by examining three distinct forms of media; the epistolary novel, television advertisements, and the Internet.
Media (Mis)Portrayals of the Human Condition
State Farm Hall 108
Media is instrumental in shaping the perception and reality of people. It influences what humans think about, how they interact and behave; in short, it permeates every facet of existence. So it is no surprise that media is a factor to consider when discussing human right violations. Can media be used as tool to spur activism, or does it only propagate apathy and a creation of a system of "othering"? While there is evidence supporting both viewpoints on media's role in human rights issues, I argue that it seems that the relationship that determines one's disposition regarding situations that concern human rights is the type of media the person in question is consuming, and how the content is presented. This claim is substantiated by exploring the history and global context of media, and by examining three distinct forms of media; the epistolary novel, television advertisements, and the Internet.