10/03, Serendipity

One of the most interesting quotes this class was one by Baudrillard. He states "the media are part of the even, they are part of the terror" (229). This rings very true especially in todays war obsessed culture. I had never thought of this as being the case, but there are many examples. The first one was brought up in class. It was the example of terrorist signs being in English and not in their native language. They are relying on the media to get their messages out there, and the media is falling into the trap and broadcasting it. By broadcasting hate and negativity, even though it is "reality", the media are absolutely part of the event and part of spreading terror. Even when people are holding signs, holding strikes in the streets, the most exciting part, and the sign that it is indeed a good strike, is when the media arrive to broadcast it. If the media refused to broadcast hate crimes, strikes, and terrorist acts then we would not know what is happening in the world. Unfortunately, the only way to do so is through this broadcasting unless you are actually physically THERE, and this is where the message gets skewed and the media actually turn into a medium where hate is carried through. It is a dillema, which one is worse, not knowing what is "really" happening (its not totally real because everyone would be acting differently and doing different things if the camera crews were not present), or realizing what we watch is not completely true, if at all, and that the video camera essentially is bringing more terror and hate into the world.