How To Write An Essay On 9/11 Language Symbols And Media
Alison Black
1/22/14
Section 011
Language, Symbols and Media
September 11, 2001 will be a tragic day that no American will ever forget. This day is not only remembered for the 3,000 lives that were lost, but also for the thousands of rescuers that put their life at risk for others. These terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon created a new political landscape and a new era of warfare. Although, 9/11 was a traumatic day for the whole nation, the language, symbols and the media offer insights into the impact of this day upon our cultural, social and political life today.
The phrase “War on Terror” referring to 9/11 was first used by US President George Busch; after this the Bush administration garnered some advantages. Bush did not use these advantages for personal reasons but so that it was easier for the United States to come together as a nation. Declaring the terrorist attack as an act of war was a good move by President Bush. During war, our nation tends to come together as one, put everything else aside, and do whatever we can do to help. This event leads to patriotism throughout the United States.
During wartime, the public placed more trust and was more loyal towards Bush during his Presidency. There were rarely any people who gave Congress a hard time when they …show more content…
are working their tails off to save our country during this troubled time; and even the opposing party realized how disrespectful it would be to criticize there ideas. By declaring war, people feel more need for the President and they will give him more leeway then as per usual because of the struggle.
Denton defines human communication as the “vehicle for political and social
Thought, debate, and action.” (3) Denton strongly believes in human communication and feels that it shapes our society today. Also, he says, “Language is the reason for social integration and acts as the vehicle for social interaction.” (Denton 3) Language today shapes the environment that we live in, and is how we see the world. As said by Denton it is “very active and creative process that bonds the society together.”(3) Language is what integrates our culture and us as people.
Decades ago Alex Schmid and Janny degraaf argued that terrorists act against violence and their acts of violence are actually communication. Therefore, they defined it as a “violent language”. (Denton 3) They both believed that there are four specific goals of terrorists.
For terrorists the action of terrorism is that it “functions as propaganda”, that targets an audience by coercive and persuasive means. (Denton 3) The victims that that the terrorists are targeting are the tool there using for communication. For them “message matters, not the victims,” in other words terrorists have the need to communicate in mind, when the plan and stage their violent attacks; they go out of their way to attract the media with cruel and shocking images. (Denton 3) More goals of terrorists consist of making converts, they spread false information to confuse the enemy, gain public attention and dishonor victims.
I think that terrorism is essentially a message, which terrorists communicate through actions and destroying things to bring attention to the media.
They do this in honor of their country and think that their life is worth dying for their freedom of their country. That is how they communicate to us their thoughts for 9/11 for example, the terrorists crashed the planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon knowing the media would do coverage on these attacks fueling their message to the United States. I also think that terrorist’s incidents are symbolic events, these events are strategically planned to affect the audiences attitudes and perceptions
worldwide.
Even though many people do not realize the strategies and the motives terrorist have to communicate to the world; language, symbols and media play a huge part in these tragic events that have changed the world forever. Everyone who was alive on 9/11 remembers where they were that day when they found out the bad news; praying and hoping that their loved ones were not killed, therefore this day will always be remembered deep in our hearts.
Work Cited
Denton, Robert E. "Language, Symbols and Media." Symposium: The Media and 9/11 n.d.: 1-11. Print
"Sociology Denton" StudyMode.com. 10 2011. 2011. 10 2011 .
1/22/14
Section 011
Language, Symbols and Media
September 11, 2001 will be a tragic day that no American will ever forget. This day is not only remembered for the 3,000 lives that were lost, but also for the thousands of rescuers that put their life at risk for others. These terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon created a new political landscape and a new era of warfare. Although, 9/11 was a traumatic day for the whole nation, the language, symbols and the media offer insights into the impact of this day upon our cultural, social and political life today.
The phrase “War on Terror” referring to 9/11 was first used by US President George Busch; after this the Bush administration garnered some advantages. Bush did not use these advantages for personal reasons but so that it was easier for the United States to come together as a nation. Declaring the terrorist attack as an act of war was a good move by President Bush. During war, our nation tends to come together as one, put everything else aside, and do whatever we can do to help. This event leads to patriotism throughout the United States.
During wartime, the public placed more trust and was more loyal towards Bush during his Presidency. There were rarely any people who gave Congress a hard time when they …show more content…
are working their tails off to save our country during this troubled time; and even the opposing party realized how disrespectful it would be to criticize there ideas. By declaring war, people feel more need for the President and they will give him more leeway then as per usual because of the struggle.
Denton defines human communication as the “vehicle for political and social
Thought, debate, and action.” (3) Denton strongly believes in human communication and feels that it shapes our society today. Also, he says, “Language is the reason for social integration and acts as the vehicle for social interaction.” (Denton 3) Language today shapes the environment that we live in, and is how we see the world. As said by Denton it is “very active and creative process that bonds the society together.”(3) Language is what integrates our culture and us as people.
Decades ago Alex Schmid and Janny degraaf argued that terrorists act against violence and their acts of violence are actually communication. Therefore, they defined it as a “violent language”. (Denton 3) They both believed that there are four specific goals of terrorists.
For terrorists the action of terrorism is that it “functions as propaganda”, that targets an audience by coercive and persuasive means. (Denton 3) The victims that that the terrorists are targeting are the tool there using for communication. For them “message matters, not the victims,” in other words terrorists have the need to communicate in mind, when the plan and stage their violent attacks; they go out of their way to attract the media with cruel and shocking images. (Denton 3) More goals of terrorists consist of making converts, they spread false information to confuse the enemy, gain public attention and dishonor victims.
I think that terrorism is essentially a message, which terrorists communicate through actions and destroying things to bring attention to the media.
They do this in honor of their country and think that their life is worth dying for their freedom of their country. That is how they communicate to us their thoughts for 9/11 for example, the terrorists crashed the planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon knowing the media would do coverage on these attacks fueling their message to the United States. I also think that terrorist’s incidents are symbolic events, these events are strategically planned to affect the audiences attitudes and perceptions
worldwide.
Even though many people do not realize the strategies and the motives terrorist have to communicate to the world; language, symbols and media play a huge part in these tragic events that have changed the world forever. Everyone who was alive on 9/11 remembers where they were that day when they found out the bad news; praying and hoping that their loved ones were not killed, therefore this day will always be remembered deep in our hearts.
Work Cited
Denton, Robert E. "Language, Symbols and Media." Symposium: The Media and 9/11 n.d.: 1-11. Print
"Sociology Denton" StudyMode.com. 10 2011. 2011. 10 2011 .