I am a Grenade

Gregory Mantsios' piece "Media Magic" reminded me very much of Kozol (Amazing Grace) and Chang (Model Minority). Mantsios' main argument in this piece is that the media controls and shapes how we think about ourselves in relation to the class structure in the United States.  He states that "the mass media is arguable the most influential in molding public consciousness" (Mantsios 99).  Then he goes on to describe the media's "stories" about the poor: "The Poor Do Not Exist", "The Poor Are Faceless", "The Poor Are Undeserving", "The Poor Are an Eyesore", "The Poor Have Only Themselves to Blame", and "The Poor Are Down on Their Luck" that make up the way we feel about the poor today (Mantsios 100-102).

In Croteau's piece on "Media and Ideology" the author addresses the role of the Media in ideological representation.  Croteau states that the media helps to "define our world and provide models for appropriate behavior and attitudes" (159).  Essentially, the author argues that the Media plays a large role in showing (not necessarily telling) us how to appropriately behave in this society--as well as the consequences that can occur if one deviates from what is appropriate.