Contents:
Acknowledgements…………………………………IV
Abstract………………………………………………V
论文摘要…………………………………………… VI
Introduction………………………………………..VII
Chapter One Mass media………………………..1
- 1 Historic and comparative study of different media………1
1.1.1 Printed Media……………………………………………………..2
1.1.2 Television………………………………………………………….4
1.1.3 Broadcasting………………………………………………………5
1.1.4 Photographs……………………………………………………….9
1.1.5 Movies…………………………………………………………….10
1.1.6 Internet……………………………………………………………12
1.1.7 Hybrid Media……………………………………………………14
- 2 Conclusion………………………………………………….14
Chapter Two Understanding the Media………..16
2.1 How do the media work…………………………………….16
2.2 Issues and Concerns in Mass media……………………….18
2.2.1 The overwhelming objective for profit………………………………….18
2.2.2 Degradation in contents…………………………………………20
2.2.3 Contemporary news media under advertising ………………..23
2.2.4 Convergence of media ownership………………………………24
2.3 Conclusion…………………………………………………..26
Chapter Three: Mass Media and Society—Effects and Impacts…………………………………………27
3.1 The presumption of media effects…………………………28
3.2 The media and Violence……………………………………30
3.2.1 Violence presence in the media…………………………………30
3.2.2 Current Theories on the effects of media violence……………32
3.2.3 Reactions and Measurements…………………………………..33
3.3 The media and young generation…………………………..36
3.4 The media and politics……………………………………..40
3.5 Advertising and Consumerization…………………………43
3.6 Conclusion…………………………………………………..45
Chapter 4 Active Audience—the Call for Today…47
4.1 Active audiences and the construction of meaning………47
4.2 The active audience…………………………………………49
4.3 Media Literacy………………………………………………52
Abstract
Living in the world saturated by different media forms, we are bestowed by rapid advancing technologies with rich choices of personal media usage. Cable television, DVDs, and CDs offer a wide range of programming options. Furthermore, the Internet supplies individuals with immediate access to a wealth of information. However, the media do perform like a two-edged rapier. They not only facilitate rapid information distribution, keep people informed and entertained, but also overcast ill impact over the society, culture, and individual behaviors.
This dissertation invites you to step back and seriously consider the mass media and the issues they raise. It asks you to put your everyday the media activities into a broader social, political and economic context to better understand them.
Chapter one proposes a profile of different media forms focusing on their historic background, inherent traits, and comparative strong points vs. weakness.
The following chapter moves on to probe into the industry practice of the media: how they work within their stringent restraints, how they balance between public interests and economic returns, and what kind of problems they are facing. A better understanding of the media under its industrial framework would be achieved in this part.
The third chapter elaborates on the influence and side-effects the media have on our ideology, values, behavior patterns, and our society at large.
The last part of this dissertation discusses the importance of media literacy in the modern societies. Suggestions about how to avoid media gullibility and to strengthen capabilities of comprehension and independent judgments are also brought out here.
The dissertation arrives at the conclusion that to be a media literate is essential to survive in the information-deluged world.
摘要
各种不同的媒体形式包围着我们所生存的世界，每一天，我们都会面对飞速发展的科技以及选择多样的个人媒体产品。有线电视，DVD和CD等等也提供了丰富多彩的节目选择。而且，网络供应商们也为个人提供了迅速便捷的前往往信息海洋的通路。然而，媒体更像是一把双刃剑。它不仅促进了信息的传播，让人们获取信息，获得欢乐，但同时，它也给社会，文化，个人生活带来了不少负面影响。
本篇论文希望你能放慢脚步，仔细考虑一下大众媒体以及它们所提出的一些问题。恳请你能把你每天的媒体消费放在一个更广阔的社会、政治、经济的综合环境下来考虑，以便更好的认识理解它们。
论文的第一章讲述了各种不同媒体形式的基本情况。他们的历史背景，内在特点，以及相对优势与劣势。
接下来的一章进一步讲述了媒体作为一个产业的情况：他们如何在各种严格地约束条款下生存，他们如何在博得大众的关注与获取经济利益间求得平衡，他们正面临着怎样的问题。在这一部分里，你会更好更深入地了解在产业背景下的媒体现状。
第三章则详细阐述了媒体对于我们的意识形态，价值观，行为方式以及我们整个社会的影响与各种边缘效应。
最后一个章节讨论了媒体文化对于现代社会的重要性。提出了既不要轻信媒体，又要加强理解与个人判断能力的观点。
论文最后得出结论，在现如今信息泛滥的世界里，学会做媒体的主人是非常必要的。
