The media is responsible for both- reflecting values of a society and creating new ones to a good extent. 'The pen is mightier than the sword' goes an old proverb. It has been proved over and over again since the arrival of writing and amelioration of media. Media today consists of books, television, movies, music, internet, radio, magazines, newspapers etc. Each of them have evolved as a fine medium in their own right.
Values lie at the core of the society. They evolve and become a part of the society over the years. Both tradition and modernization lead to the amelioration of values. Values change over time. What was carefully taboo 20 years back is a way of life today. Thats how media tends to make the world. Media is far-reaching. Hollywood stars have mass fan following in countries and places about which even the stars won't have heard about. With the internet as goes the cliche- the world has become a smaller place. You can know anyone about everything on the net, such is its power and reach. It reflects what citizen in fact are and what they in fact think. No hypocrisy here.
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The United States has always been a fore-runner, be it movies, fashion or music. What the Us does is followed by the rest. Jeans and fast-food, traditional products of the Us are now as well-known to a Chinese as to an Indian. The newly developing nations adopted values and traditions created by the west. Tv shows are now telecast all over, thanks to satellites. So the American way of life is copied in Japan. So do these citizen lose their traditional tradition and values. To an extent, yes but mostly the case is- the traditional values are retained while newer values and trends keep on enhancing the culture. So gently a new way of life develops- no wonder parents often say, 'this wasn't the case in our time'.
Books reflect the mind of an intellectual. They give a deep understanding to the way a man thinks. Books are very efficient media to spread thoughts and values. Since a book is read, shared and preserved over the years unlike a Tv show. Talking of Tv shows, they have created new milestones. The show 'Who wants to be a millionaire' revived the age old human greed for wealth and popularity. Now everybody wanted to be instant millionaires. Hard work- who wants to do it.
Blockbuster reality shows like Survivor and Temptation Island drove home the same points. anyone the citizen pretend to be- their basic cravings have and will remain the same. And this was true for everybody everywhere. New values weren't created, maybe brought out of the closet again. But greed and lust shown in these shows reflect the coarse man on the streets.
Music and Internet are carefully perfect media for spreading one's own beliefs, values etc. Rock stars have masses emulating them. Wearing T-shirts worshiping Satan is a part of the rock culture. But many of these same citizen do go to church on Sundays. Talking less about the internet is better. Instead challenging on to magazines and newspapers. They print to earn. So scandals are moneyspinners for them and not a challenge of morals and righteousness for the society. It is bad when these media take a biased idea on an issue and publicise the same. Its the commoners who take a wrong side because of wrong ethics.
Media makes or breaks people, events, anything. Values get created, diffused in the society. Something thats a way of life for one man becomes a new value for another, thanks to media.
The Power Of Media