How the Masked Avenger Came to Be

I think technological change had a profound impact on the radio industry because of the potential of various uses that radio could be used for created by making the vision of radio into a reality. I believe that technology was the basic foundation for the formation of the radio industry and gave birth to broadcasting.

The first radio transmitter was developed in 1896. What had been merely a vision was now a reality. The invention of the vacuum tube allowed continuous transmission and reception of sound, voice and music, further advancing the radio industry. This created potential for broadcasting: news, education and advertising all made use of this new development. Technological developments also included microphones, amplifiers, tuners and more powerful transmitters. With technology, David Sarnoff’s idea of a “Radio music box” was transformed the vision to make radio a household utility into a reality. With these technological changes, the radio industry has developed into the form of communication that it is today.

Technological changes affected the evolution of the U.S. radio system in the 1920s was exemplified in the Golden Age of Radio, the time period when radio had reached a peak in popularity. Not only did the radio have a huge impact on consumer culture, but also an increase in awareness of national issues was only shown because of the ubiquitous state of the Radio music box found in every household. Woody Allen’s Radio Days accurately portrays this effect. Radio stars such as the Masked Avenger became part of the family. The small plastic device was transformed into an extravagant, luxurious, wooden piece of furniture known and loved by all.

Obsession with perfection

The concept of media effects helps me understand that the way women are portrayed in the media is an issue and shows the effect that this misrepresentation has on individuals because of the response that occurs as a result of exposure to this degrading image.

By definition, Media effects are the changes in cognition, attitudes, emotions, opinions and behaviors that result from exposure to mass media. However, to me, media effects are the models, airbrushed and distorted, that graze the covers of popular magazines. Media effects are rape, abuse, and violence. Media effects are anorexia nervosa and related eating disorders.

Priming is a media effect theory that conveys the idea that the media triggers thoughts. This unveils a passive issue and one is more likely to receive, interpret and judge based on knowledge. In accordance with the issue of women’s roles in media, priming is used to trigger the thought that happiness can only be obtained through perfection.

Women have become a target for media effects. In the film, Killing Us Softly, Jean Kilbourne evokes a strong reaction from her audience when she puts a light on the often-overlooked issue of female stereotypes. According to Kilbourne, women have been shown an unattainable standard of perfection through the influence of the mass media and are willing to take strong measures to obtain the look of what they believe is perfection. The media has produced the perfect woman, an easy, yielding, needy, domesticated, nonresistant, beautiful object. Because she brings this issue to our attention, we are now able to judge the situation based on knowledge. 

Ads such as the Dolce and Gabbana “Rape” Ad have become commonly accepted and obviously show male dominance over women.

A further example of the effect of media is the case of Anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder that reflects an obsessive fear of gaining weight due to a distorted self image. Mass media has been particularly influential on the need for women to be thin. Statistics show that most anorexics are young women. Only 10% of all anorexics are men. The deteriorating image of women are symbolic of the influence that mass media can have.

Hegemony: America's #1 Bandage Brand

Hegemony is the overall process of one socially dominant group that holds power and influence over others. Today, ideological influence is essential in order to gain favor with the public and maintain power. In Hegemony, ideas are indirectly placed within one’s head through mass media and unknowingly become socially acceptable.

In terms of application, the brand Band-Aid helps me to understand the ideological influence of hegemony through the idea of a product that is supported by advertising, spread through mass media and socially accepted. 

Is there another way to describe the adhesive tape that is a Band-Aid? Band-Aids have gained acceptance and consent from willing people. They have become part of our culture. Band-Aids show the extent to which hegemony can go undetected. We don’t realize this until we try to come up with an alternative name for a Band-Aid. It is interesting to explore the many outcomes of hegemony in society and rethink the ideas that have influenced us.

See modern day propaganda firsthand: http://www.bandaid.com