Media: Medium of Communication

Every media type has its own message, may it be practical, radical, normal, ambiguous, obvious, true or false. The reason for that fact may be more difficult to explain. Dictionary.com gives the following definition to media: the means of communication, as radio and television, newspapers, and magazines, that reaches or influences people widely. Two reasons can be derived from this definition, one more obvious then the other. The obvious one is that, since media is a means of communication, there must be some sort of message. Given the definition of communication, it simply cannot exist if a message is not being passed from someone or something to another. The second less obvious reason is that because the media influences a wide amount of people, as the definition states, it is an easy means of communicating one's desired message. This is result from the principle of human nature that humans desire everyone to conform to their own believes. Media, by definition, has to have a message without one, it simply isn't media.

The examples of this argument can be found in any media type including movies, music, and TV series. The movie V for Vendetta, directed by James McTeigue, expresses varies strong messages. The story is about an exceptionally charismatic freedom fighter known merely as "V." He used several terrorist tactics to fight against the totalitarian society of futuristic Great Britain. After saving a girl, known as Evey, from the corrupt secret police, “V” finds the best chance of him having an ally, even though an unlikely one. This movie sends an “anti-conformity” mixed with “fearlessness is freedom” with a tint of “ignorance isn't bliss” message to its audience. It denotes a fascist totalitarian society that is filled with torture cells, unfair punishments, and prejudice against minorities. Consequently, it promotes freedom, justice, and equality for everyone, which isn't that bad of a consequence. Obviously, this movie has its messages just like every other piece of media. Another example of this principle is the song Dream On by Aerosmith.

Even though people think it is about getting high, Steven Tyler, the writer of the song, states its message simply by saying, "It's about the hunger to be somebody: Dream until your dreams come true." Other messages can be taken from song. For example, the songs says //Sing with me, if it's just for today/ Maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away// which can be taken to mean “live like each day is your last, for we never know how long we will be on earth.” Another message, which is like the previous, could be “do what you love, what you know you want to do deep down inside.” It is easy to see how many people can think that this song is about hippies and drugs. Another example of a piece of media is House, created by David Shore. A new TV series about a special team of medical doctor who solve the cases no one else can. Dr. Gregory House, the leader of this team, is an antisocial, narcissistic, unsentimental, egotistical jerk but is the best doctor in the hospital. This series sends a variety of messages because the characters are so extremely different in their beliefs. The messages go all the way from “screw everyone” to “everyone should care about everyone, no matter who they are.” As shown, all media has a message to send, no matter what kind or what type.

There has to be, at least once in a while, a true piece of media but I strongly doubt there is a purely objective one. If media sends a message and that message is true, then the media must be at least a little true. If media sends a message and that message, which is obviously coming from the producer of the media, can hardly be an objective piece of media. Objective media could be explained as media that has not been affected by ones personal feelings or beliefs: a message that isn't bias. How can a producer send his own message of his own feelings and beliefs without including his own feelings or beliefs? Clearly, it is impossible and this allows me to strongly doubt there is an objective piece of media floating around Hollywood.