WEEK 10
Happy 10th week everyone!
One aspect that I loved about this week's readings is that there's a focus on the idea that media plays a huge role in the perception of politics. The readings note that the radio played a huge part in Evita's success as an orator and political figure. It got me thinking about in this contemporary society, how does a figure implement media to promote or incite discourse on a particular subject? If the internet is the platform (and a huge one) what is the media? I suppose the blog post is one idea to discuss ideas. However, I figure that in this contemporary landscape of hyperinformation and simplification of ideas, twitter seems like the best place to do it. It's discourse in 140 characters or less. I wondered what would the politics of Latin America be if individuals like Evita or Vargas used the platforms at play today. Would the meaning be removed? Simplified? Recontextualized completely? I'm not entirely sure. The passages regarding music as a political platform were interesting as well. Within North American popular culture, pop music has been instrumental in depicting various points of the political spectrum. Jazz music, folk music, and hip-hop have always been means of discussing politics in ways that are nuanced, visceral, or both at the same time. It was an interesting passage to look at.
One aspect that I loved about this week's readings is that there's a focus on the idea that media plays a huge role in the perception of politics. The readings note that the radio played a huge part in Evita's success as an orator and political figure. It got me thinking about in this contemporary society, how does a figure implement media to promote or incite discourse on a particular subject? If the internet is the platform (and a huge one) what is the media? I suppose the blog post is one idea to discuss ideas. However, I figure that in this contemporary landscape of hyperinformation and simplification of ideas, twitter seems like the best place to do it. It's discourse in 140 characters or less. I wondered what would the politics of Latin America be if individuals like Evita or Vargas used the platforms at play today. Would the meaning be removed? Simplified? Recontextualized completely? I'm not entirely sure. The passages regarding music as a political platform were interesting as well. Within North American popular culture, pop music has been instrumental in depicting various points of the political spectrum. Jazz music, folk music, and hip-hop have always been means of discussing politics in ways that are nuanced, visceral, or both at the same time. It was an interesting passage to look at.
Mass media for sure plays an important role in politics, as for what you question, i think the meaning of their speeches would not be removed but maybe diminished. I think that as an individual during times of crisis (such as the ones in Latin America) having an speech on twitter will not give the same comfort as listening to the voice and that "physical" manifestation of the charisma of whoever you are listening to. Its true that the main idea could be delivered but i dont think it would produce that relief that people is looking for.
ReplyDeleteHi Moses, happy week 10! I love your point about how it's different today and rather than the radio, it's the internet. It really reminds me about how I see Justin Trudeau's posts on Instagram and Facebook quite often, always posted twice: in English and French. Today's politics are further complicated by social media, and I always think about the current US president's twitter, and the white house having to say that yes, every tweet he sends out into the world is an official statement, and this got him into trouble in his supreme court case. I think social media forces our leaders to be fantastic writers as well as orators, as well as maintaining a good social media presence. Not too many posts, but not turning their social media into a ghost town. It's very interesting to think about how it complicates the political process!
ReplyDeleteYou ask an intriguing question! I found this notion of Music being a political platform interesting as well! When I was reading this week's lesson, I thought it was kind of obvious and sensible that media and Radio could help politicians but I did not think of Music at all. So I agree; it sure was an interesting passage to look at!
ReplyDeleteHappy week 10 to you as well!
ReplyDeleteWith regards to your question about how different Vargas' or Evita's political impact would be, were they to use modern forms of media, I definitely think that your point about things being simplified and recontextualized is right. A big requirement of modern media is that your material must be concise (as is seen in the Twitter character limits) and straight to the point. Given that past forms of media, especially the radio, were tailored to suit long-winded speeches and orations, I definitely think that Vargas and Evita would struggle to make their point in as few words and characters as possible. I don't necessarily think this would completely wreck the political career of either figure, but they may not be as well-received as they were during their era. Overall, awesome post!