Comm 2302 Spring 20

READING SUMMARY

This article discusses the issue of racial bias within English football commentating. A study found that players with lighter skin were more likely to be praised for their intelligence and work ethic, while athletes with darker skin are more likely to be applauded for their strength and athleticism. The report reveals important information about the perpetuation of racial stereotypes within sports media and how commentators can shape the perception of sports fans. Some of the language used included the assertion that Black athletes can succeed only because of their “God-given” attributes and white athletes are better decision-makers and more intelligent players. By analyzing these internal biases, researchers are hopeful that broadcasters will think more about the impact of their words.

SPORT MEDIA CONNECTION

In an article from The Conversation, the author discusses how racism often reveals itself when a team loses. Racism in sports media was especially evident in the penalty shoot-out in the Euro 2020 final when three young players- Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka were subjected to racist harassment online. The author points out historical perceptions of race in sports. For example, he talks about how the idea of achieving racial harmony through the success of diverse sports teams can minimize the horrific history of racism. He also addresses the idea that players of color don’t “belong” to the nation, a common comment that undercuts the win or loss of a national team. The author hopes that such blatant displays of racism in the case of Marcus Rashford will help shine a light on the structural racism still ingrained in society. 

https://theconversation.com/racism-in-sport-why-it-comes-to-the-surface-when-teams-lose-164413

READING CONNECTION

These articles together show how racial bias in football commentating impacts the fan’s perception of different players. While the language in commentating seems harmless, it subconsciously creates internal biases in sports fanbases. These biases manifest in team losses where players are the target of blame because of the color of their skin. The incident with Marcus Rashford shows there is more work to be done in the sports world in deconstructing biases. It also calls attention to the importance of words in describing players as people, beyond their physical features and athletic ability.

Anderson, W.T. (1992). “Welcome to the postmodern world.” Excerpt from Reality isn’t what it used to be. TLEARN, 20 pages. 

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Activity

Subgroups and subcultures

Describe a subgroup or subculture that you personally are a part of or that you see on media or social media.

Examples, fan of a certain game, what do they value, how would they describe themselves. Ex. CoD

Reading Summary:

The author argues that we are currently in the postmodern world – we still have the belief systems that gave form to the modern world, and indeed we also have remnants of many of the belief systems of premodern societies. But we also have a growing suspicion that all belief systems – all ideas about human reality – are social constructions. Rather than a conflict between beliefs, it is a conflict about the beliefs. There are signs that the postmodern world is coming into being – it is in politics as well as Churches. Three major processes are shaping this transition. The first is the breakdown of old ways of belief. The result of this breakdown is an unregulated marketplace of realities where beliefs are offered for public consumption. The second process is the emergence of a new polarization. This is evident in battles over education. The third process is the birth of a global culture, with a worldview. In the collapse of belief, thousands of subcultures bloom, and new belief systems arrive regularly.

Outside Example:

The first thing I thought about when I read this article was how many TV shows no longer depict what would be considered a “regular” family, but now depict a more diverse representation of families and what they can look like. The Fosters is an example of one of these shows, because it shows an interracial lesbian couple who adopt a lot of kids. This is not what the stereotype of a normal family looks like, but it is becoming more accepted today.

Connection to Reading:

This example connects to the reading, because the reading discusses how today we are seeing the breakdown of belief systems and realizing that they are actually social constructs. Because this is shaping so much of the world, it is also reflected in media. I remember my mom saw the show as being really controversial and something that I did not watch, but I did not think the show was controversial at all. This is an example of polarization – because of our age gap and different perspectives, my mom and I had completely different thoughts about the show. However, I think we are getting or will start to get to the third stage soon, where new belief systems will emerge, and things that are polarizing today will be generally accepted among people.

Jean Baudrillard (1983) “Precession of simulacrae” in Simulations. New York, NY: Semiotext(e).

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Activity

What is an example in any media you’ve ever seen of reality vs a simulation of reality?

What is the question the writers are trying to answer or prove?

What is the twist in that new world?

Summary

Klosterman writes about an inability for people to find a relationship that meets their expectations of love. He ultimately blames this on fictional depictions of romance in pop culture (“fake love”) as they distort people’s expectations, and causes people to compare their relationships/lives to the ones in they see in the media. He describes how there is no “normal” as everyone is trying to play out the fictional roles of romantic relationships they see in mass media. There is an assumed need for the type of romance depicted in media that goes beyond what people actually want.

Example

This reading made me think of the movie “The Lobster,” about a dystopian society that forces single people to find a romantic partner within 45 days or else they are turned into an animal. The main character in the movie struggles to find a partner in this system, and eventually rebels by joining a group of outcast singles who live in the woods, where romance is strictly prohibited. He ultimately falls in love with a woman in this group, and they both must escape in order to live out their relationship.

Connection

I think the society depicted in “The Lobster” fits the type of society Klosterman describes, as the rigid expectations of finding love in the movie make it impossible for any of the characters to develop meaningful relationships. The movie plays on the sort of prepackaged and predetermined development of romantic desire that is shown in media these days, and satirizes the assumed the necessity (over actual desire) for romance that Klosterman points out. In most cases, the characters fake romantic attraction and follow the script put forward by the society in order to avoid the dire consequence of being turned into an animal.

Summary

In this article, the author discusses the value and difference between the “real” and simulation. He describes simulation as being generated by models of a real without origin or reality and thus making theh hyperreal. He then goes on to analyze it in relation to Disneyland, in that Disneyland is a simulation that presents a false reality of childishness to dismiss childishness in the “real world”. Once you remove the simulation the illusion is no longer possible because the real is no longer possible. He then explains that the difference between the real and a simulation can be almost negligible especially in terms of violence. The actions of carrying out a simulation robbery in a real store would be the exact same, even if the inttention was never to rob the store, you would still be going through the act of stealing.

Example

This article reminded me of the book Maze Runner. In the book, boys are repeatedly sent to a maze, with no prior memories besides their name, where monsters are released every night. Every night the maze walls would shift so mapping the maze and finding an escape was nearly impossible. However, one day a girl is sent up and they are told they will no longer receive new people or supplies. They are then forced to escape the maze or risk dying. When they escape the maze, they learn they had been part of an experiment along with many other children that had been forced into this simulation inorder to discover a cure for a disease.

Connection

I felt like Maze Runner was a good example of media that uses simulation because the boys were put into the maze as an experiment. They had their memories erased so they had no memories of “real” life to break the illusion of the simulation. Also, what happened to them had very little affect on the world outside their simulated reality. In the maze, the boys created their own society and had a heirarchy, but outside of the maze this system would be unreasonable or just ridiculous. The boys know this is not the only world, but have no way to perceive what is real outside of their created environment.

Reading Summary

In this reading, Baudrillard addresses the nature of simulations in our reality. Simulations are described not as referential pieces of some past whole, but as something in and of itself. Therefore “the age of simulation begins with the liquidation of all referentials.” A simulation works by substituting signs and signals from the past real into the new real. A simulation is a process to deter every real operation by its double. A simulation’s hyperreality should make you feel as if you are immersed in the real rather than the fictional. A simulation will make you forget your past reality.

Outside Example

This has already been mentioned in class, but this reading really reminded me of the movie, The Truman Show. This film centers around a man who is constantly being observed by hidden cameras. He begins to realize that his entire life is a part of a reality TV show. The world he lives in is just a huge TV set thus his entire reality has been simulated without him being aware for the first half of it.

Reading Connection

This film relates to the reading considering all of Truman’s perceived reality was just a simulation. Baudrillard uses Disneyland as an example of a simulated reality because once you enter, you lose sight of any other reality before you and begin to see Disneyland as the new real. This was true for Truman as well. He has never known anything except for the simulated universe he occupies, so his reality is both real and fantastical. Although he was unaware that his reality was technically fantastical, it felt completely real to him until he learned the truth. His reality was built for him in a simulated town by television show producers and “the creator” who we end up seeing at the end of the film. His reality was an operational double of what his real life could have been outside of a TV set.

In this reading, the author talks about how media changed how we feel about love. In movies, TV and songs, love is perfect and soulmates are meant for each other. He calls this fake love. each of the characters are unnatural, like Cinderella and Prince Charming. This makes people feel different about love and feel like their love isn’t good enough. We are never satisfied with the real love we have because it doesn’t seem like the love in media.

This made me think of my pre school. Everyone watched Disney movies, so, us being kids, we though everyone kissed all the time.

Our entire pre school was just kissing each other all the time because it’s what we saw in the Disney movies. Kids would be like “hey Tommy” and just start making out. girl on girl, guy on girl, guy on guy, didn’t matter. We were just hooking up with everyone. The teachers called in every student’s parents to give a talk to their kids that we can’t just kiss each other all the time. It was a very weird time…

Chuck Klosterman (2010) “This is Emo” in Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs. New York: Scribner.

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What are some examples you see in the media of romance and falling in love?

Ex. Love is blind: Emotion over physical attraction, 90-day fiancé: long distance relationships to the extreme, mail order brides, the bachelor, bachelorette competition style.

Reading Summary:

In this chapter, Klosterman explains his believe that mass media has ruined the concept of love for everyone. He holds the view that nobody will be able to feel the type of love expressed in TV and be fully satisfied by this type of love. He describes the love portrayed by mass media as “fake love.” He says that this “fake love” that can be found all over TV and movies is very unrealistic. He then argues that this causes people to chase this “fake love” over a type of love that could actually occur in reality. Overall, he faults the media for putting this perception in people’s minds.

Outside Example:

Right after reading the chapter I immediately thought of reality TV shows like the bachelor. These dating shows have people meet several different individuals throughout the course of the show. In the end, the “bachelor” picks the one they like the most. 

Reading Connection:

I feel like a show like the bachelor illustrates exactly what Klosterman criticizes mass media for. For starters, a show like the bachelor provides this “fake love” that is unrealistic in reality. Second, the bachelor gives off the “everything will work out in the end” notion that Klosterman discusses. This idea is portrayed by the fact that the bachelor always finds someone in the end. However, Klosterman criticizes this idea as it portrays the unrealistic idea that it will all work out.