Media Culture and Society, Essay Example

Define compassion, NGOs and the intersections of the global compassion discourse

The interaction between the moral ideas of compassion, the goals of NGOs, and the public good present an issue in how the media presents these concerns to the public.  As the concern for these moral choices is becoming more prevalent, the impact and role that the media has in regards to these problems is becoming more of an issue.

How does television foster/portray/represent global compassion?

By providing insight into the suffering of others on a more personal level, the capabilities for television and other sources of media in presenting the concerns of these individuals provides the source of compassion for the public.  In presenting these individuals in situations that garner empathy, the media is effectively able to promote the implications of compassion on those who view their broadcasts.

How does the media portray ‘the ideal victim’?

In the sense of morality, there is no ‘ideal victim’ and all who fall under the category of victim should be similarly worthy of support.  However, the media tends to portray specific traits with more interest than others in regards to the victims that they present.  This can be due to the nature of the state that they are within or the culture that they are a part of.

How does the media portray humanitarian organizations?

The portrayals that the media gives of these organizations can have a profound effect on their proliferation and success.  In depicting the ability of these organizations to help in far off situations, the media is able to establish a relationship between the organizations and the public.

Identify key points regarding the Audience Reactions:  extend of compassion, compassion as dependent upon visuals, compassion as dependent upon ideal victim images

Extent of compassions can have various effects depending on age, race, culture, or gender.  Compassion as dependent upon visuals is important to consider due to the reaction that people might have from viewing specific events or situations.  Compassion as dependent on ideal victim images presents the capability for the media to focus on specific characteristics that they believe might gain public favor.

Briefly define the forms of compassion (tender-hearted, blame-filled, shame-filled, powerlessness-filled)

Tender-hearted compassion focuses on empathy and the capability for the individual to feel the suffering of the other on an individual level.  Blame-filled compassion focuses more heavily on the wrong that was committed towards the victim than the victim’s suffering itself.  Shame-filled compassion is related to the personal reactions that people have in regards to their own comfort when seeing these events from their own homes.  This can lead to powerlessness-filled compassion with is the result of the realization of the inabiklity to solve the problems that are seen.

How do we distance ourselves from compassion (distantiation from compassion)?

Distantiation from these news sources can occur in many ways.  People can, instead of feeling any form of compassion for victims, instead become angry at the news itself for covering such stories, or at the world or universe at large for allowing such things to happen.  Dehumanizing the victims by distancing through us-them cultural mentalities is another way.

How does gender affect compassion (gendered compassion)?

According to studies, women react more compassionately than men to situations.  In this sense, women seem to be more empathetic to these occurences, while men seem to make themselves more indifferent.

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