Journal #24

Our major obligation is not to mistake slogans for solutions.” ---Edward R. Murrow

Media plays a significant role in modern society. Advertisements pave the way for mass consumerism and the advancement of technology. They penetrate under the audience's skin to indoctrinate and allow them to conform to certain ideals. Many of these false statements become such popular propaganda that people start to believe them. They believe that what these journalists and corporations are feeding them, is a solution to certain problems that they may face.

According to Jean Killbourne in "Killing Us Softly 4," media portrays women in a way that objectifies and sexualizes them. Certain advertisements will show a "problem," or insecurity that women have to deal with, and portray it in a negative light. For instance, an advertisement for weight loss can show that a women who is on the bigger side is seen as less desirable as a woman on the thinner side. This societal stigma makes women feel insecure about themselves. By feeling insecure, they are more prone to buy the products that are being advertised, whether they are actually useful or not. Consumers use the products as an outlet, or solution to being seen as valuable to society. Edward Murrow is telling his audience to do the exact opposite, to not let the manufacturing consent persuade one's beliefs into something as conventional as society's.