Media and American Culture HUM/176
December 6, 2012
Jefferey Hineline
Influence of Visual Media Paper
The influence of visual media in today's world has shaped American culture in many ways. People can be influenced with visual media because they can find it relatable. They relate to the person on a television show going through a rough time or a good time in their lives. People influenced by people on television that they look up to. For example if you are watching basketball and you see Michal Jordan wearing the newest shoes that have come out that will make you want to wear them thinking you can be like him. While with television shows, you may not look up to or influenced by the actor you are influenced by the character he plays on television. The way America visual media has shaped is because it is relatable and we are influenced by what we see. This may also change the way we think about cretin things. Such as if you decide that your son or daughter will not date until they are 18 but, you then see on television a 15 year old going on a date you then may change your mind about your son or daughter going on a date. If you hear swear words on television, you may find them inappropriate at first but you then start to use them yourself. It is as if people have grown numb to them existing. However there are good things about visual media other then changing your mind about things. It could inspire to be a better person or get a better job. This may push you harder to reach your goals that you have set for yourself. Some say that watching television is a way to learn. For example show like Dora the Explorer, Blue's Clues, and Bill Nye the Science Guy are said to teach you new things. We can learn from them but we also need to look at the bigger picture. These shows will also teach you to sit on the couch all day to watch them. So are they really teaching you something new or are they geared toward teaching you to love the