After reading and discussing the concept of framing, I understand what framing is supposed to do and how media can use it to the extreme. The MTV show, Made, is a perfect example of framing. Made is framed in a way that underlies the truth behind most people in our American society, and that is to be part the popular crowd or just to be noticed for the first time in your life. This show develops dramatic conflicts and receives a large audience since MTV has moved the time to 5 p.m. so more high school students could watch it.
According to the lecture, framing is way for media to explain how we think about an issue or person and what it is associated with at the time. Media does this to attract viewers and promote what is on the public agenda. Because of framing and media’s way of putting things, this could lead to media bias and how the issue or person could be perceived during the story. Also, Straubhaar declares in the text that “reporters decide what to include within the view, or frame, of a story and what to leave out,” so they have to capability to make viewers believe something that may not always be true.
Made gives a stereotypical view of what high school is like for those who are not considered “cool”, “athletic”, or “preps”. Yes, I do agree that some of what Made displays is true for some high school students but not for the majority. For instance, they show the mostly have stories about geeks, outsiders, or anger individuals trying to do the most extravagant things, like being made into a motocross rider, cheerleader, hip-hop dancer, pageant queen, and soccer player. These dreams are considered part of the mainstream goals of many teenagers/high school students today because of media framing and the popular culture, but once again they do not apply to all.
Picture: http://www.mtv.com/shows/made/series.jhtml
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