The Mass Media

Mass media have pervaded into all aspects of our lives, namely the Internet, magazines, television, the press and radio.

How many of us can actually survive a day without either of those mentioned above?
It is our source of information. The fastest and usually, the most accurate.
Of the many functions of the media, one, is to inform.

In fact, I think the mass media powers the fashion industry. Think of the high-end fashion retailers that advertise in magazines. Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Christian Dior.. You name it, you have it. They set the trend for the season. And the fashion programs we have on television today.

Also, the coverage that fashion shows like New York Fashion Week garner in various international magazines.
It is through the media, that the works of designers such as Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Diane Von Furstenburg, Vera Wang, get admired and recognized by the public.



Now, where do you usually get the latest fashion report from? Is what you are donning today, of the latest trend?
For consumers who cannot afford luxury clothes, the advertisements provide inspiration for them, the way that they should dress for a particular season. Celebrities play a big role too. Due to their exposure, celebrities can easily create good publicity for fashion designers, as well as start a new fashion trend. Something that is not in style can easily become the next ‘it’ thing to have, once spotted on a popular celebrity.

Just because a celebrity has worn something before, people think that they will be able to look as good as the celebrity if they wear the same thing. Not all the time. Some celebrities have moments when they look like a walking fashion disaster. That’s when they are subjected to scrutiny by the press as well.

All these cannot be done without the mass media. Look at its importance in influencing the latest fashion trend.

Ever-changing.

Culture, they say, is passed down the generations.  In addition, culture is learned.

It encompasses human beliefs, ideas, taboos, customs and other related components.

In that case, Singapore has progressed a long way from death houses in the past to cemeteries and crematoriums now.  A death house consisted of a living space on the first level, with a funeral parlour below. In the past, aged and sick Chinese people were left at death houses in Sago Lane.  Left there to wait for their time to be up, along with others who were dying too. The duration of the “stay” there varied with the severity of one’s condition.

Slowly, while it was recognized that some cemeteries had to be kept open for burials, cremation was still encouraged by the state.  Singapore has two cemeteries that represent the largest burial area reserved for the Muslim community. This shows that the different customs among the races that reside in Singapore are respected.

The culture of how we deal with death, is partially shaped by the social climate that we are in, and our land constraints. As such, I feel that we have adapted our culture according to the environment we are in. Therefore, specific to us.

I know talking about death here is a pretty morbid thing, but then again, that is because Singaporeans do not actually have the habit of talking about it openly.  It is surprising actually to find that there has been an increase in the number of Singaporeans pre-booking their niches, choosing the spot they want to be placed at.

Seems like our culture is slowly evolving with the times and changing mindsets.

Thank goodness death houses are no longer around. 

Can You Hear Me?

Two weeks ago, our lecturer touched on interpersonal and group communication, which I found rather interesting. What was mentioned during these two lectures brought to mind the importance of the role of communication in relationships, and the way to build healthy, stronger relationships with others. Also, not forgetting how everyone is unique, and therefore we all have different firsthand communication experiences.

Like what is mentioned in the textbook,
‘Just as relationships are an integral part of our everyday communication experiences. Communication is an essential part of the relationships we have with others.’

For healthy beings like us, we talk, laugh and joke all the time. It’s so much a part of our lives already, that we rarely stop and think of the different ways in which we express ourselves. Getting our feelings or thoughts known to people, probably wouldn’t and shouldn’t pose much of a problem.
Then I suddenly thought of autistic children.

Based on recent research by the Autism Resource Centre (Singapore), 5,472 out of our population of 4 million are children under the age of 19 years, diagnosed with autism.

How do they get their thoughts across to others?
In a world of their own, these autistic children usually keep to themselves.
Aint they robbed of the opportunity then, to communicate effectively with the people around them because of their developmental disability? Depending on the severity of their autism, they are unable to show their feelings through facial expressions, eye-to-eye contact, and to feel for others. As though losing the ability to put their thoughts into words isn’t enough.
Moreover, they are unable to use regulators and adaptors to make their emotions known.

Seeking to be understood by others would be a challenge for them, much less establishing friendships with other children of the same age.
Now, if interpersonal communication is already an issue for them, how would these autistic children take part in group discussions?
Interaction would be hindered by their weakness in expressing themselves.

Well.. at least they wouldn’t be subjected to any of the groupthink symptoms because they are not dependent on each other.