Mass Media as Storyteller

1) To what extent does your group agree mass media as a storyteller?

Many people are prone to being influenced by the mass media through being a loud voice to the public's eye. We have greater acceptance of different cultures because our generation has been moulded into a culture dominated by the youth as we are more exposed to media itself. As a result from a highly globalised culture, our younger generation has been impacted with a social conundrum in which they have lost their traditions values and instead inverted towards a rather western approach in their lives. Although as a global storyteller, information may be distorted and manipulated for negative purposes and vice versa. Therefore we agree to a certain extent about the idea of mass media being a storyteller. Let's take this in our perspective using an example of a chocolate chip cookie. Yes chocolate cookie. The doughy crust of the chocolate goodness represents our society and its undeniable innocence or so we think. So its chocolate chips within the cookie in this case, are the different cultures. Then, if we look at mass media as the sugar ingredient, it is mixed around other communities together in the cookie. However, anything taken at an excessive amount can be hazardous to us.

{Based on Big Bang Theory and Modern Family}

2) What is meant by 'mass media as a storyteller'?

As a storyteller, mass media is a tool to spread awareness, messages of ethical and moral beliefs. Mass media comes in array of types, that way they can get more attention from the consumers and gain more viewers. The storyteller will help us decide on what we should feel, think, and how we react. Storytellers have the power to manipulate every media that they produce. The stories could be told differently from the original, alternating people's perceptions on it. They are usually presented with a look like a simple text but with an intention that is buried deep within the text, and it is up to the consumers to have their own opinions and thoughts.

3) 3+ Values / Attitude / Beliefs that the chosen tv programmes may influence the audience's perception of their culture and reality?

Many T.V shows have played a huge role in our society as it brings different values and beliefs from different parts of the world. The T.V programmes in America has indulge the audiences with different messages based on culture due to the fact that they are much globalised country. Therefore to understand them as being a cultural storyteller, ‘The Big Bang Theory’ and ‘Modern Family’ convey messages that concentrates on relationships, exposing different cultural stereotypes.

One of the common values both T.V series shared is cultural identity. They influence how we interact with other people and how America portrays itself to be how it is where the viewer may have the respect values of family in America. ‘Modern Family’ series is a perfect blend of modern and traditional value. They are depicted as people who acknowledge and honour family values. The foreigner always talk about the importance of being in touch with one’s cultural roots and never forgetting their traditions, because that is what makes us beings with a humane touch. Despite of that, in ‘Big Bang Theory’, Rajesh is conveyed as an indian who's been exposed to the western life scene which made him less religious to he’s hinduism origins. This makes the audience think about their own cultural values, and consider upon how true they have been to their beliefs. Other than that, their perception towards an American family changes after watching ‘Modern Family’.

They have also challenged the stereotypes that people have on certain communities. In this case, 5 graduates of different backgrounds, as ‘nerds’ they have been portrayed to be rather shy, have low-confidence is usually perceived as a white and heterosexual male with glasses who is a goodie-two-shoes. However, after many seasons later we learnt that every one of them had gained beautiful partners that share the same intellectuality. Yet one girl named ‘Penny’ played as the ‘pretty dumb blonde’ in the show ended up together with a nerdy fella. This way it challenges a change in our perception towards the image of ‘nerds’ and to think otherwise about other stereotypes. Then again this may embody unrealistic expectations due to sexual stigma such as ‘’one night stand’’. Nonetheless, the creator of ‘Big Bang Theory’ made science interesting for the younger generations. It incorporates the nature of science and the role it plays in our daily social interactions. Plus, students studying the field can relate to the show, therefore they connect with the audience.

4) What knowledge/lessons can we learn in shaping our perceptions through roles of ''cultural storyteller''?

We are able to make our own on decision to interpret if the story told by the mass media is correct or wrong. It is important for media consumers to be media literate and do not only rely on one ‘storyteller’. Consuming media blindly would cause misunderstanding and misinterpretation. Hence, when the media portrays a certain ideology of a specific group, we must differentiate between reality and pure speculations by questioning on what information is being received. In the end it has allowed us to understand how mass media would define our own identity as it shapes the world we live in.

Source: SE7ENFX, http://se7enfx.deviantart.com/art/The-Big-Bang-Theory-131255326

Source: City, http://www.citytv.com/toronto/shows/modern-family/

Citation:

http://www.quotev.com/story/5350199/Cartoon-Conspiracy-Theories/14/

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=353945

http://www.academia.edu/1302382/How_modern_is_Modern_Family_A_Critical_Review_on_the_U.S._Sitcom_Regarding_Gender_Roles_and_Hegemonic_Ideologies

http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2014/03/5-reasons-modern-family-favorite-tv-show/

1st link: Big Bang Theory TV Sitcom is Intellectual Propaganda [online], 2014. [online]. Quotev. [Accessed 2015].

2nd link: Big Bang Theory Show - Impact on Science/Engineering 5." Big Bang Theory Show. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2015.

3rd link: "How "modern" Is Modern Family? A Critical Review on the U.S. Sitcom Regarding Gender Roles and Hegemonic Ideologies." How "modern" Is Modern Family? A Critical Review on the U.S. Sitcom Regarding Gender Roles and Hegemonic Ideologies. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2015.

4th link: "5 Reasons Why 'Modern Family' Is My Favorite TV Show." Youth Ki Awaaz. N.p., 19 Mar. 2014. Web. 21 Aug. 2015.

Editors: Annie Gan, Sanmantha Khoo

Researchers: Christianna Pilay, Xin Ying

Writer: Ahmad Zoriff Yusmadi