Entry #9 Media: Boon or Bane

            

             We are surrounded by different mediums of information around us. Whether we love it or hate it, we cannot escape it.  The media influences how we think. It is our primary source of information. However, the media is controlled by corporations: their aim is to make a profit. Often, the media is used to serve corporate interests rather than provide genuine unbiased information. Several pieces of information that reach out to the masses have been molded and skewed so that it can generate revenue.  

 For instance, the image of beauty has constantly been redefined by the media. From archaeological relics, we have discovered that instinctively men were always attracted to women who were curvy and looked healthy. These healthy women were considered to be a symbol of fertility. Several figurines have been found that reinstate this belief. This was a process of natural selection to produce the most viable offspring.

 Today, the fashion industry has redefined the meaning of beauty to an almost unachievable and unhealthy level. Several corporations are selling products to change the physical appearance of people at the cost of their health. The computer enhanced photo should not be the idea and expectation of beauty. Several young people suffer from anorexia and low self-esteem because they do not meet these criteria of beauty. This misuse of media to promote a wrong image should be penalized by law. Laws need to be enforced that mandates the media to provide genuine information and unaltered images to the public. The media has the power to influence lifestyles. With the great reach and impact of media, it is imperative that there are rules in place to check that the information that is passed out is legitimate.