One of the interesting things about American culture is how, in an attempt to label some situation, group or lifestyle as negative, sometimes American media end up promoting these circumstances and in the long run, gaining participants.
This is a common occurrence. One example could be the infamous Professor Berthold. It seems now, more than ever, students are flocking to hear the very antics that made so many individuals angry.
Another example, which I watched recently on the wonderful world of cable television, is the story of the modern Ku Klux Klan. Why does the media feel the need to constantly analyze that which should get no attention? Subjects that should be condemned to solitude and in such solitude would therefore be recognized as wrong and abnormal.
I am fed up with the immoral or unnatural receiving the coverage and recognition that makes them seem as though they have a right to exist within our culture. I obviously believe in free speech, and I also believe that some examples, such as Mr. Berthold's, are necessary and rudimentary to the promotion of the positive arguments within our society.
However, I do not believe that free speech constitutes a right to belittle, demoralize or negatively label any individual.
When will we be free of moneymaking tactics that are based on the formula of shock value? It is this very formula that promotes inequity and injustice. It is this formula that continually marginalizes women by their physical appearance. It is this formula that demotes righteous arguments of racism to one of two sides of a story. Above all, it is this formula that constantly reminds all of us that we are just pawns to the few who use money as a tool to control our lives.
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Obviously, this is a moot observation on many levels, because it is the shock value that seems to control the fabric of our existence in this most modern and communications based countries.
When will we all realize that true individuality does not exist, that we all exist within fads and stereotypes that have been promoted by the media? If we were all individuals, we would all live together in peace because we would not fear that that is different because we would be self-confident of our individual identities.
But, since we live within this super structure of marketed ideals, we will always be afraid because what shock value would there be if we were all secure within ourselves. In that realm, there would be no money to make. "Since we all want to be millionaires," why would we want to be free of the examples that are made for us?
I believe that the negative examples that are shown to us on a daily basis are what cause the counter culture, and this is because individuals feel as though they do not fit into the marketed fads and stereotypes. Maybe someday we will realize this and in turn decide to demand that the media promote a more compassionate and understanding version of life as individuals.
In this, my last full semester here as an undergraduate, I wonder why in this environment of education and supposed understanding and professionalism do we constantly get bombarded by the marketed ideals? Is it because the openness of our education attracts the money hungry marketers and their ideals that are for sale, or is it that we are supposed to have all the lovely conceptions of society defined for us?
Who knows, maybe it is a little of both, which if that is reality, then no wonder many decide to live in an altered state of reality!
Jeremy A. Toulouse
Daily Lobo Guest Columnist
