Media, Society, Power and Politics of Representation

Academic Paper from the year 2021 in the subject Communications - Journalism, Journalism Professions, language: English, abstract: The relation between media and society is very interesting and complex in its nature. As society is dynamic and heterogeneous, and as well media technology is non sleeping and pluralistic, it needs always research to understand the relationship between the two. Thus, no theory solely can describe the relation between media and society. The available evidences shows the connection between media and society are contextual across time and place and heterogeneous across societies and media type. The following six perspectives summarizes the nexus between media and society. Firstly, Media created the notion of mass society; secondly, as critical school thought based on Marxist view media are capitalist controlled for suppressing the poor. Thirdly, media are functioning or dysfunction institution of society. Fourthly, media is a social conscience which constructs reality. Fifthly, media technology effects change in society. Lastly, media transformed the human history to the new stage called Information society. In a true pluralist environment media has power to serve as a public sphere to control powerful groups, the problem is media could be dominated by other powerful groups and may serve as suppression tool. Media fail to represent all cultures, cultural groups and individuals from the processes and the contents of media production, if it is dominated by the oppressors. This marginalization is continuing in the new media (virtual world) too. Thus, the media and society relations always needs research and critical understanding as their power functions and dysfunctions societies across time and geography, as a societal phenomenon are very dynamic.