The Roaring Twenties

It was the Roaring Twenties. 

Things were happening in America that had never been seen before. Flappers were dancing, automobiles were on the road, and WWI had just ended, kicking off the decade with a mood of excitement. 

http://www.impetustoanalysis.com/2010/04/509/

I believe that as time passed on and new generations followed WWI, the Roaring Twenties became a time of new entertainment inventions such as the Radio. With so much happening in society, the world needed some sort of outlet to receive entertainment and news. The audience demand of the twenties had a significant impact of the growth of the Radio due to the rise of new ideas and forms of entertainment popping up all over the world.

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/radio-show.htm

In the twenties, the hair dryer was invented. In the twenties, Kool-Aid was invented. In the twenties, the traffic light was invented. With all these inventions, it was inevitable that some cool new invention was going to be made that would forever change the world. However, a major influence on society in the Twenties was actually invented many years before. It was called wireless telegraphy and was invented by Gugliemo Marconi in 1895. Over time, this concept would be morphed to something we would eventually use modernly. In 1916, American inventor Lee De Forest would transmit the first radio news broadcast via 'radio.' This new concept of informing/entertaining the public became a high demand. With new music being demanded by an eager audience, an outlet was desperately needed to deliver the frequencies to the receiver. With the Radio, music for the new generation could be he heard with a simple scanning of stations. As the world became interested in knowing news the minute it happened, a simple broadcast could air that would address the public.

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/radio-show.htm

The radio became the way of life as seen in the movie "Radio Days." Public demand demanded a new outlet to receive their dose of information, whether it be music or news. People would tune in to hear the new 'Lone Ranger' program or to catch songs made by the famous Louis Armstrong. With this public demand on the rise, a new market was being developed. The Radio now was a source of entertainment in the twenties and could be seen with all of the forms of advertisement that could be heard on it.  Between 1923 and 1930, 60 percent of American families purchased radios.  Families gathered around their radios for night-time entertainment just as families now days gather around the television to watch a show or surf the internet on the family desktop. As new technologies continue to be made, public demand will always be close behind as people always are interested in the next best thing and eager to get the latest trend or fashion. This is just the way our world works. In 1927, radiotelephony linked North America and Europe commercially, proving just how farfetched this simple idea had become. The public needed ways of communication and saw this opportunity as a great outlet. 

http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/radio/

To this day, we continue to use the radio but for different reasons than those in the Twenties. For instance, instead of listening routinely the radio for everything as they did back then, we listen to the radio mainly for information on the road or to bump up the new jams that are popular. Public demand has mainly left frequencies and switched over to bandwidth as King Internet continues to make his mark in society today. 

 Bibliographies:

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug00/3on1/radioshow/1920radio.htm

http://www.answers.com/topic/when-was-the-radio-invented

Social Learning

In our world we live in, Women have a tough role in society. Throughout history, women have always been seen as inferior to men. Knowing this, it is easy to see how today's modern times have adapted the same principles of our ancestors and tweaked them into the media world we live in today. It is easy to see just why women and girls do everything in their power to resemble the beautiful celebrities they see on the television or to be as thin and sexy as the models in the malls. Men too are affected by this reality. Men grow up seeing the hero with the most muscles and physique getting the hot girl as his prize. All other body types are unacceptable to have and maintain a happy life.

To me, Social Learning is when somebody learns and believes that what they see in the media is what is wanted and accepted in society. For example, if women believe that men will only want to mary a girl who can cook, clean, and has a good body, they will socially learn that society does not accept any other types. It is easy to see how the amount of money invested in showcasing hot models makes average girls feel far inferior and less attractive. For this reason, girls grow up thinking that they are unattractive in society and need to buy make up to adjust their face or to get breast implants to increase sex appeal to the opposite sex. Men learn that if they do not 6-pack abs with killer biceps, girls will not look twice as them. Social Learning has a lot to deal with the gender roles in society.

One example of these gender issues seen modernly in society is from a show called Jersey Shore. The whole show focuses on a group of Italian-Americans living together in a house. The idea of the show was to show the lives of a certain eastern culture from New Jersey. However, the show depicts much more. The men on the show are all really buff with muscles while the women are all moderately skinny with large breasts. The men stress their ideal day as a "GTL", which means Gym, Tan, Laundry. They allow for the male audience to believe that if you are not tan or physically fit, no girl will ever want you. It also allows for the women audience to feel that if you are not trashy, do not like to dress in skimpy outfits, or do not like to get wasted on alcohol at the club, then you are not a girl worth having. If children grow up watching the Jersey Shore on MTV, socially they will learn just what is 'acceptable' in society. Jersey Shore has been said to be a really sexist show with a negative influence. But why is it so popular?

http://www.jaunted.com/tag/jersey%20shore


With its popularity in America, it is clear to see why this show has had such a big effect on the teens who watch it. Social Learning allows for them to acknowledge what is socially accepted and in terms of this how, it seems as though only tan 'juiceheads' and sexy 'guidettes' are welcomed into society. 

The Jersey Shore allows for men to feel that they must look like this

http://www.jaunted.com/tag/jersey%20shore

and that women must look like this

http://www.jaunted.com/tag/jersey%20shore

So in conclusion, the media allows for society to see a group of people living on The Jersey Shore and feel as though their way of living should be embraced in order to have a fun life. If men want women (which they do) all it takes is a tan and a daily routine at the gym. If women want men (which they do) all it takes is big boobs, hair extensions, and their dignity. 

The media portrayed on television in my opinion has really become a negative influence, however I personally still watch it. The Jersey Shore is one of my favorite shows on television right now. A clip attached to my blog shows how The Jersey Shore has had a negative influence while it shows a man punching one of the main girls from the show. This violent act prompted much gender issues in the show to appear as many wondered what kind of guy punches a women?

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Hegemony Cricket!

http://drfreemason.com/images/boycott-israel/

Everybody and their mom knows of a little company called Disney. From it's early beginning in 1923 to its current dominating popularity, Disney has captured the hearts of families everywhere with its sweet and cute fairy tales with happily ever afters. However, with so much popularity, Disney also has the power to influence and instill ideas in the minds of the targeted demographic. For this reason, this blog will focus on just why Disney has a huge Hegemony and the power to influence the minds of children everywhere with its growing popularity aka, Hannah Montana.

http://yermomisagayblog.blogspot.com/


Hegemony in my own words basically means anything that leads and influences. It can be the CEO of a company leadings its employees or a kindergarten teacher leading her students to a higher education. Whatever it is, Hegemony resembles dominance and the leadership qualities one must have. In other words, Hegemony means having the power to influence others to think and live a certain way.

For this reason, I have thought to choose Disney as a good media Hegemony to allow me to understand the meaning of the word. Disney is a powerhouse giant. With its many movies, television network, clothing brands, and radio stations, it has so much power in the world that it is easy to see why it leads a lot of the entertainment industry. 

http://www.latesttvepisode.com/2010/07/20/

Now, according to Dictionary.com. 'Hegemony' means "ascendancy or domination of one power or state within a league,confederation, etc, or of one social class over others." 

To me, Disney accurately fits the description. The Disney Channel gives birth to many teen pop stars such as Hannah Montana which influences little girls to get the best of both worlds with by purchasing her 3D movie, buying her own fashion line of clothes, and listening and downloading her songs and episodes. It is almost as if Disney allows little girls everywhere to believe that one day they will all become the next Miley Cyrus by purchasing all the many accessories. With so much power and leadership this competitor has, it is easy to see how Disney has the power to influence society, more specifically teen girls. The sad part about the Hannah Montana influence is that it not only involves Hannah Montana, but also Miley Cyrus, and with so much pressure to live up to with Disney behind your back, it isn't hard to see how everything Miley Cyrus does is potentially dangerous due to Disney's hegemony on society and influence to children!


Recently, Miley Cyrus got into a huge pickle with a sketchy magazine shoot. Many parents were outraged when they saw Miley posing with an exposed back for a picture. This dilemma proves just how much of an influence Disney has on its audience and how far its hegemony over the demographic is willing to go. Parents were afraid that if their daughters saw their icon pose with a bare back, they would follow.

Click here to read Miley Cyrus' negative Hegemony!

I can only imagine that Walt Disney himself never imagined just how influential his company would ever become over the many years!