Media's Influence in Today's Society

Title: Media's Influence in Today's Society

Topic: Relationship between football and mass media

Source: Robbins, Richard H. Cultural Anthro. Student ed. Belmont: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic, 2008. Print.

Gorman, Bill. "No Surprise: 64% Of Americans Watch NFL Football; 73% of Men, 55% of Women." - Ratings. TV BY THE NUMBERS, 14 Oct. 2011. Web. 03 Mar. 2013.

Description: In the text Robbins explains that, “Anthropologists have found that football is carefully controlled by fixed rules so there is only one outcome: almost always there is a winner and loser” (Robbins 23). Robbins explains the importance that football has in the American culture and that some opposing cultures are enraged by the idea of football. The level-playing field in society is made out to be a common theme in society, when really it is more difficult than it appears. Robbins describes football leading to the idea of success, as well as fixed directions on how to attain it.

Analysis: Media’s influence controls more of today’s society than most are aware of; one of the largest cases being the information that is being fed to society through football. Football is an American tradition that is watched by 64% of Americans, over 70% of viewers being male (Gorman 1). Watching football may be a cultural tradition, but Americans get too trapped and involved in media’s manipulation, without even truly noticing it. For example, The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins is a futuristic novel where their society is split into twelve districts, and once a year, a teenage boy and girl are sent from every district to fight until death, to thank the Capitol (its government) for providing for them. The event is a televised bloodbath that the entire society is dedicated to viewing. This shares a common theme with today's society; the Superbowl is the most viewed sporting event in America. When the concept of the Hunger Games is put into perspective, it does not seem too different from football, just that the concept of the Hunger Games is a more extreme case of media’s manipulation in society. The dystopia in the Hunger Games is related to today by the influence the media has on both of these events. Football is America’s most well-known reality show, because society feeds off the thrill and excitement of the unexpected. Men in today’s society take great pride in football, because they tend to feed off of the masculinity of the players. The idea of football could be comforting, because it has the potential to bring a society together to enjoy entertainment as a whole, but since media is involved: women are on the sidelines cheering on the men in minimal clothing, men are in tight clothing to show off their masculinity, and the commercials that advertise alcohol beverages create a sense of happiness and an ideal society. The media holds too much power over society, because aspects like football and reality shows are meant to be addictive and entrap individuals. Many Americans become so enslaved by football that Superbowl Sunday is ranked the highest day of reported domestic violence annually. As a society, we allow the media to have too much influence in our lives, and it seems to get more severe with each passing generation.