#Media influence

[odinsblog]

Imma enjoy my last few hours of Trump not being in the White House

[jangillman]

[alwaysbewoke]

if someone came to your home and told you you had to get out because their parents lived there 50 years ago, you would call the police on them. you would think they are insane. you would rightly think they are out of their minds because having people who once lived in a place a hundred years ago does not give anyone today the right to take someone else's property. however, israel has been spreading the lie that somehow having people who lived on a land 3000 years ago gives them the right to take it from the indigenous population through theft, murder, gr@pe, and worse. i'm so proud of these university kids for seeing the truth.

[theegreenmuse]

𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝: 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐫-𝐒𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬

☞ The Pressure to Conform

🪷 Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the pressure to conform to a hyper-sexualized image, one that’s both celebrated and critiqued. As Black women, where our feeds are flooded with images of glamour, wealth, and a very specific type of aesthetic appeal, it’s easy to feel like you’re falling short if you can’t keep up. The portrayal of Black femininity through the lens of artists like Megan, Ice Spice, Sexyy Red, and Rubi Rose offers a powerful narrative of control and confidence, but when these portrayals become the standard against which all Black women are measured, it’s problematic. This isn’t about diminishing the achievements or creative expressions of these artists; rather, it’s about recognizing the complexity of their impact.

☞ Influence of Media on Perceptions

🪷 This generation of Black men, influenced by the images they consume in media, sometimes unknowingly perpetuate these standards, equating a Black woman’s worth with her ability to fit into this hyper-sexualized mold. It’s crucial to recognize that this perspective is deeply flawed. Our value isn’t defined by our sexuality or our willingness to conform to these standards. It’s defined by our character, our intelligence, our kindness, and our contributions to society.

☞ The Exhaustion of Unrealistic Standards

🪷 It’s exhausting, really. The constant bombardment of these images can make it feel like our worth is contingent upon our appearance and how closely it aligns with the glamorized, sexualized portrayal of Black femininity in the music industry. But let’s set the record straight: our worth is intrinsic, not something to be measured against a fabricated standard designed for entertainment and male gaze gratification.

☞ Rejecting Unrealistic Expectations

🪷 Here’s your sign to reject these unrealistic expectations. Embrace your individuality, your talents, and your dreams. Remember, the confidence and self-assuredness displayed by artists like Megan, Ice Spice, and Sexyy Red can be channeled in myriad ways, not just through sexuality. Their underlying message of empowerment is about owning your identity, speaking your truth, and living unapologetically—let that be the takeaway.

☞ Celebrating Diverse Black Womanhood

🪷 It’s time we shift the narrative. Let’s celebrate the diversity of Black womanhood, which encompasses far more than what’s seen in music videos and on social media. Our beauty, intelligence, and worth extend beyond the confines of the hyper-sexualized standards set forth by any industry. We are scholars, creators, leaders, and so much more.

☞ Building a Supportive Community of Black Women

🪷 So here’s to us, to embracing our full selves with grace and power. To knowing that our worth is immeasurable, our beauty is diverse, and our potential is limitless. Let’s navigate this world with the confidence of knowing who we are, rooted in the richness of our heritage, and unfazed by the fleeting trends of societal approval. Your light is needed, just as you are.

🪷 It's time for us to reclaim our narrative and celebrate our diverse and intrinsic worth. Let's challenge and dismantle the hyper-sexualized standards that have been imposed on us and embrace the full spectrum of our identities. Share this message with your friends, engage in conversations that uplift and empower, and use your platforms to highlight the true beauty and strength of Black womanhood. Together, we can create a supportive community that honors and respects our individuality. Your voice matters—let it be heard.

- 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞

[nataliastalks]

How Social Media has Changed how we Consume and Enjoy Music (opinion)

Social Media has had numerous effects on present-day society, and while most have related to insecurities that have stemmed from the different apps, I want this post to focus on the decreasing attention span and how the mass consumption of media has drastically altered the way we consume music and how it is produced.

WC: 898

The growth of TikTok has undeniably reshaped social media. This new form of bite-sized, fifteen-second to one-minute videos, designed to capture attention and encourage scrolling, has influenced other apps seeking to remain relevant. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and even Tumblr have all made their in-app versions that resemble TikTok. It has taken the world by storm, but its effects on music have not been talked about enough. While I think that there are some benefits from TikTok when it comes to music, there are quite a few drawbacks too. The power of social media has indeed given artists a big start in the industry with people like Artemas, Odetari, Malcolm Todd, and Addison Rae coming to mind first, but also bigger artists such as Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, and Sabrina Carpenter have seriously benefitted from the publicity that TikTok has given them. The thing about all these artists, and what tends to make a song popular, is that they have made a clip of their song really catchy, something that will hook you in and think: "Wow, this is really good".

While this practice is not inherently negative, as artists have used similar techniques since the advent of radio, the issue arises when it compromises the overall quality of the song. More often than not I have gone to listen to a song that has become popular on TikTok, excited to find a song that is so catchy and caught my attention enough to go and find it, only to realize that the only good part of the song was the one that had been posted, that fifteen seconds somewhere within the depths of a tight two-minute song. It is annoying because, as a music enjoyer, I think finding new music is such an enjoyable experience, but it is beyond disappointing when what you thought was a gem turns out to be just a shiny rock, momentarily pretty, but not worth keeping.

This is not to say that this is always the case, though. There have been some amazing songs and artists that have come out of social media promotions, but that being said, I think social media has also created a big issue in terms of "gatekeeping" or other such aspects of "underground" music. With a society that is now so interconnected through online media, and the fact that the majority of us are carrying a high-speed computer with access to everything ever posted right in our back pockets, we have all different types of media right at the tips of our fingers.

I believe that it is amazing to have this much access to media, especially in terms of music, where you can find almost any song ever created. Where I think this becomes a problem for people is when they have found something, dug through the depths of streaming services, and found an artist or a song that they love, and this person might not be as popular, so it makes things extra special. This is such an exciting moment for anyone who enjoys music, and there is, of course, a sense of exclusivity that comes from being one of the few listeners. I completely understand the feeling, and it is nice to have this smaller community that you can say you are a part of, and connect with people on an almost deeper level because you have all discovered this artist.

The problem that I think occurs so much with this, though, is this growing sense of superiority that comes from people who solely listen to what they consider to be deep cuts from Spotify, Apple Music, or whatever platform they get their music from. This happens, and then suddenly, if more people find the artist or one of their songs becomes popular, these people who were "there from the beginning" are really upset because they lose this exclusivity that came with being a fan of the artist and I can understand being a bit upset but what I think is harder to comprehend is that these previous listeners are not excited for the artist that they love so dearly. They're not excited about the fact that with these new listeners that the artist could make more music and that they're getting the attention they deserve; they're just upset that they can no longer have this more obscure music taste.

Where I believe this mostly stems from, though, is that through social media, we have made things so much more reachable, and while it can be great, it uplifts the concept of things being "underground" because it is so rare now. I think that everyone does have a bit of pride in their music taste and it is nice when you can say that half the music you listen to doesn’t come from TikTok trends, that doesn’t give any person the right to shame people when they try and explore new music and if its some band or artist you listen to that becomes popular it is not fair to attack these people for not truly listening to them because they don’t know songs x, y, and z. People are bound to discover new things because of how much access we have as a society to music, but if they’re being respectful and enjoying the music, then there is no need to be so rude to them, which is so common in gatekeeping culture. 

A/N: That would be the end of my take on modern-day music and how its production and consumption have been impacted by social media. I think I could go into this deeper and talk about issues with the new trends of speeding up songs, but this was already so long, so I thought it would be best to save some things for the future. If you read the whole thing, I hope it was at least partially enjoyable. Have a great day!

[futurefatum]

🟡💲💥December 2024 Predictions: The World will Transform! (Tone: 310)

Big shifts ahead! December 2024 brings economic challenges, political revelations, & astrological insights into a transformative year. 🌕✨ #Astrology

Posted November 26th, 2024 by @JoniPatryVedicAstrologer ABOUT THIS VIDEO: This video, presented by Joanie Patri, discusses the transformative events predicted for December 2024 and beyond, focusing on astrology’s role in shaping political, economic, and social landscapes. Significant emphasis is placed on celestial phenomena, such as retrogrades and specific alignments, which are said to…

[tmarshconnors]

"If I were the Devil"

Paul Harvey, the famous radio commentator, delivered "If I Were the Devil" in 1965. The piece is a reflection on how society could be led astray by moral decay and cultural deterioration. Harvey's hypothetical scenario outlines a plan the devil might undertake to lead humanity away from virtue.

"If I were the Devil"

If I were the Devil, I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree Thee.

So, I’d set about however necessary to take over the United States. I’d subvert the churches first. I’d begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: "Do as you please."

To the young, I would whisper, "The Bible is a myth." I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what is bad is good, and what is good is "square."

And the old, I would teach to pray after me: "Our Father, which art in Washington..."

And then I’d get organised. I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies, and vice versa. I’d peddle narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquillise the rest with pills.

If I were the Devil, I’d soon have families at war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, and nations at war with themselves until each, in its turn, was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings, I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames.

If I were the Devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellects but neglect to discipline emotions—just let those run wild. Until before you knew it, you’d have to have drug-sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.

Within a decade, I’d have prisons overflowing. I’d have judges promoting pornography. Soon I could evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress. And in His own churches, I would substitute psychology for religion and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money.

If I were the Devil, I’d make the symbol of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.

If I were the Devil, I would take from those who have and give to those who wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious.

And what’ll you bet I couldn’t get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich?

I would caution against extremes in hard work, in patriotism, in moral conduct.

I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on TV is the way to be. And thus I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure.

In other words, if I were the Devil, I’d just keep right on doing what he’s doing.

[sodaliteskull]

The Starcrossed Cycle: Media Influences

Got inspired by the meta dump @byjillianmaria did (which you can find over here), and wanted to do one for the Starcrossed Cycle!

(I go into more depth about how they influenced me below the cut, because I love getting in the weeds with this shit!)

Borderlands & Sunset Overdrive - A neon, hyperpop veneer over top a dystopia caused by corporate greed, these were the main inspirations for the world that Iradurel grew up in

Saints Row & Borderlands - Violent settings with little to no regard for the sanctity of life, these were inspirations for the life that Iradurel led before being put on ice

The Addams Family - A family that stands in direct opposition to the norms of their society, they were a big inspiration for Iradurel's parentage, the Kortellako family

Panty and Stocking with Garter Belt & Saints Row - Panty from PaSwGB and the Boss from SR were big inspirations for Iradurel's character

God Eater & RWBY & Horizon - Settings where monsters with no end plague the world were something that really tickled my pickle, so I made up my own with the Opiri

Dragon Age & God Eater - If there's going to be monsters, then there are going to need to be monster hunters to fight them. May as well give them powers to do so, but watch out! Those powers have a price! These two are the biggest influences on the Opiri Slayers

RWBY - And if you have monster hunters, then you need a place to show them the ropes, and this was the series that inspired me to make a dedicated school for the Opiri Slayers

Critical Role & Dimension 20 (specifically Fantasy High) - I really enjoy the differing takes on what Gods are in these two: either outside forces that have come to the world of their choice and shape it according to their whims (CR) or endemic to the world but shaped by their followers (FH)

Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem & Babylon 5 & Mass Effect & Critical Role - Eldritch horrors causing problems for mortals that they view as little more than ants, another inspo for how deities work in this setting

Babylon 5 & the Legend of Zelda - A repeating cycle of conflict perpetuated by a single malevolent force is something that really gets my motor revving, so I yoinked that for Marenkes' history

Sailor Moon & the Legend of Zelda - The reincarnation aspect from these to tie into the cyclical aspect of the above bullet point was just a natural fit. I gotta have that miracle romance!

Dragon Riders of Pern - The concept of dragon riders is sick as hell, and ones that are psychically bonded to their mounts? Fuckin' awesome, my dudes! Everything else that McCaffrey thought was necessary to add to that equation? Big Yikes! But my desire to have the draconic Eidolons does stem from this series

Assassin's Creed & Final Fantasy XIII & Tales of Symphonia - Settings where the world is older than anyone realizes, and problems from the past (caused by a group of individuals with godlike abilities) are coming to bite the present in the ass were concepts that really excited me! Bonus points to ToS for inspiring a pretty big piece of the physical world of Marenkes!

Mass Effect & Horizon - Ryla is very much in the vein of a Commander Shepard (doing a full Paragon run, naturally) and Aloy type person

Dragon Age & Mass Effect - People being able to use magic because of a natural element in the world is definitely inspired by DA's lyrium and how biotics can use their abilities thanks to eezo from ME

Horizon & Assassin's Creed - The modern world is built on the bones of a far more technologically advanced society that was completely wiped out due to hubris preventing a solution being thought up to a preventable situation, that's the kind of juiciness I wanted for my setting!

Mass Effect & Eternal Darkness & Babylon 5 - The path to victory has been paved with so many sacrificed lives, but it is only thanks to those sacrifices that success will be possible. I fucking LOVE plots like this!

[mysharona1987]

Well, yes, it’s obvious why Rednote is a bigger threat now.

[themetaphorical]

If We Banned Cigarette Ads, Why Does Big Pharma Get a Free Pass?

If We Banned Cigarette Ads, Why Does Big Pharma Get a Free Pass? Every time you turn on the TV, you’re bombarded with drug commercials pushing pills instead of real health solutions. They tell you to “ask your doctor” while rattling off side effects—some of which are worse than the condition itself, sometimes even including death. The truth? These ads aren’t about keeping you informed. They’re…

[parwatisingari]

Collective Consciousness

From Social Judgements To Subconscious Influences. Collective Consciousness: From Social Judgments to Subconscious Influence Collective consciousness is often described as the shared beliefs, values, and emotional climate of a society. It emerges from the interactions of individuals but takes on a life of its own, influencing mass behavior in ways both predictable and unexpected. As a citizen…

[odinsblog]

Agenda-setting theory suggests that the communications media, through their ability to identify and publicize issues, play a pivotal role in shaping the problems that attract attention from governments and international organizations, and direct public opinion towards specific issues. The theory suggests that the media can shape public opinion by determining what issues are given the most attention, and has been widely studied and applied to various forms of media. The way news stories and topics that impact public opinion are presented is influenced by the media. It is predicated on the idea that most individuals only have access to one source of information on most issues: the news media. Since they establish the agenda, they may affect how important some things are seen to be.

The agenda-setting by media is driven by the media's bias on things such as politics, economy and culture, etc. Audiences consider an issue to be more significant the more media attention it receives (issue saliency). For instance, even if readers don't have strong feelings about immigration, they will believe that it is a pressing problem at the time if there is consistent journalistic coverage of it over the period of a few months.

[jangillman]

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[munaeem]

Why Some Koreans Fear Islam: A Deep Dive

So, picture this: you’re grabbing a coffee with a buddy (hey, maybe that’s you reading this!), and I bring up something kinda unexpected—Islamophobia in South Korea. Yeah, I know, South Korea’s not exactly the first place that pops into your head when you think about this stuff, right? But it’s a real thing, even in a country where Muslims are a tiny part of the crowd. I stumbled across some…

[firstoccupier]

No NATO

Understanding the Impact of Nuclear Armament on American Culture and Society Before September 11, 2001, a magazine article suggested that the Bush Administration contemplated dismantling the United States’ nuclear arsenal. In a post-9/11 world, acknowledging such discussions might imply vulnerability and weakness, prompting a reticence to revisit these archives. Despite inquiries, the article…