Mean World Syndrome

    I think that George Gerbner was correct in his analysis of violence, and how it is portrayed through the media. While the news media and entertainment media would seem to indicate that we are living in an age of unprecedented violence, Gerbner believed that the level of violence portrayed by the media is actually quite a contrast to the world that most of us live in. While we would not want to deny that there are acts of heinous violence that are committed, the amount of imminent calamity that we all seem to face is on the exaggerated side. Why would there be this discrepancy? One possibility is that living in fear makes us easier to control, a simpler explanation however may be the simple concept that violence (or sex) sells. People don't want to watch 'normal' lives to escape, they want to be aroused, and the threat of violence is one way to do that.

    This clip from comedian Eddie Izzard seems to support that thought, as he compares British film to American movies. Again, I seem to find the clips that have adult language in them, so viewer beware.

    Spiral of silence seems to be more of a phenomenon that occurs due to not wanting to have a minority opinion. The reality may very well be that the opinion we have is not unpopular, or cast us as a social outcast, but since we don't want to risk that outsider status, instead we hold on to that silence. Unfortunately that can lead to a stagnant society, as new ideas that may be excellent do not gain any traction, since no one wants to be the one to 'rock the boat'. The idea of remaining comfortably anonymous reminds me of the short story Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut. Harrison Bergeron.