Mass Communication, Propaganda, and Persuasion The Controlling of America When we consider the advantage of technological advances that we currently have in our society. Cell phones, computers with Internet capability, thousands of channels of television, and other day to day used appliances to make life easier, we seem to have forgotten that these additions to our lives have sometimes made life more complex instead of easier. When we consider the implications of the amount of information that is being fed to us through these devices, we often forget to consider how much that the media controls our society. The media relies on using different factors including propaganda and persuasion techniques to get their message across to the masses. I believe that if we could be more aware of the different kinds of techniques that the media employs to catch our attention. Sometimes we forget to realize that the media is only as powerful as we let it be in our society. If we can understand the principals behind our need for mass communication, we will be more aware of the ways that the media can influence our reactions towards others in this technologically advanced society. In Aronsons chapter on mass communication (1999) he noticed how some of the techniques that the book has illustrated become more aware to him when I watch day to day activities that people engage in. He is aware that some people have forgotten how to react towards each other, and I can see how the media can influence us on how to react to Mass Communication3 each other. If we can modify the way that we view each other not through the medias relation to its views, but by different criteria other than ethnic and economic background or visual image, then we can better relate to each other in a more relevant and peaceful manner. (Festinger & Maccoby, 1964) By changing the way others react towards a certain person or persons that don't fit desired views through persuasion te...
