The media is a leading business in the world today. It shapes everything we do; to how we feel about a certain issue, what's in this season, what to watch out for in Halloween candy, etc. Media has also been called one of the most persuasive influences today. It can be a very detrimental source to the world. Imagine, misguiding the masses and competing for ratings must be very hard. Karl Marx, the leader in the conflict theory, hits media over the head so to speak, especially television. This varies directly with how the media works today. Another sociological theory that relates to Television is Symbolic interactionism -specific cases how individual people behave in face to face social settings via sitcoms. Are you understanding? Or are you just hearing what they say?.
Symbolic interactionism was brought about by the work of George Herbert Mead and Charles Horton Cooley. They wanted to focus more on an individual's reaction to certain things. Television sees this true in many aspects be it shows, news, channels, the list goes on. Television shows use there own blend of persuasion of people by having attractive people in all the roles, with them working at descent jobs for pretty good money and living in pretty accommodating houses/apartments. This can be seen in Friends and other popular sitcoms concerning the middle class mid 20 crowds. in one episode Joey can't get an acting job and he just loafs around doing nothing. the meaning of this is that when life gets you down just take some time off. But in real life someone who takes off time from work will open themselves up to a whole other world of problems. All of the suburban population thinks that nothing is good in life unless you make something of yourself. Building on the already stressful world of public schools and trying to be accepted. With all theses stresses on the kids no wonder more kids don't run into schools shoot them up.
