Media impact

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Description

This program emphasizes the seductive nature of films and television. The pervasiveness and sheer volume of electronic images in daily life make it extremely difficult for viewers to discern fact from fiction, as with Oliver Stone's controversial JFK. The manufactured reality of films and TV also plays a role in popularizing certain behaviors-some of which are unhealthy or antisocial, like smoking and violence. Studies show that as audiences become saturated with violent images, they can all-too-easily become desensitized to real-life situations. In addition, some suffer from media narcosis, a form of addiction which, when TV is removed from the environment, causes symptoms of withdrawal. This program is an essential component of any course that addresses the importance of critical viewing skills and an awareness of the media's impact on perceptions.