My essay in response to an assignment in “Mass Communications”
earned a “B” with the hand-written comment “this is an elaborate cop-out.”
"Every
time I am asked to write a review I feel like Sancho Panza being asked to
become Don Quixote. I am realistic enough to recognize the powers that be, my
status as one of the masses, and my desire to enjoy whatever I'm allowed to
have. Occasionally I am outraged at a piece of trash or delighted by a true
work of art; however, to strike at individual creations within the system goes
against the principles I hold most dear.
I
doubt that any other form of government has ever granted its citizens so much
freedom of expression. The individual in the United States is limited only by
his own abilities or motivations. Granted, the opportunities have not always
been equitable, but this is largely the result of man's inhumanity to man
rather than of legal obstacles. Most important is the right to express one's
hopes, fears or dissatisfactions; the quality of each expression is secondary
and subjective.
The
media are, of course, tools of a government by which to control or
"mediate" the masses. This control may range from absolute propaganda
reinforced by violence to the dissenters to absolute freedom of expression
circumscribed only by the tastes of the audience. All the nations of the world
subscribe to some form of control consistent with their political convictions.
In the People's Republic of China the news media as well as entertainment media
are highly nationalistic and designed to instill certain attitudes in the
masses. I shall reserve my judgment (or lack thereof) on the merits of such a
system, though I know that it can be only as "good" as its leader.
Under
Hitler I personally experienced what it is like to live with highly controlled
media. Even though I was very young I sensed that something was amiss when
Hitler was screaming through our black table model radio, and I saw my parents
wide-eyed with fear one minute and disagree in hushed voices the next. Opinions
were never openly expressed, and many of my questions were met with evasions.
All music was of the nationalistic type and large rallies were held to arouse
the masses. Children were popular entertainers reciting very inspiring new
poems. I made my debut at age four at a firemen's dinner-dance with a poem
about Hitler's "Eagle’s Nest" in the Alps. I remember my family
treasuring books from the pre-Hitler days. They had been hidden during the
collection of books which had been declared "verboten". Those books
published in that era were total propaganda, and, as I recall, very dull to a
young enquiring mind. It is difficult for me to imagine to what extent these
media might have influenced my mind if Hitler had not been stopped in his
insanity. Somehow I believe that my mind would have remained my own as it has
under the influence of the opposite extreme of nearly unrestrained media.
In
our political system it suits the government to let the masses be opiated by
the relatively harmless daily fare of television. Those that have a little (or
a lot) of talent can become the entertainers or the financiers and the rest of
us are the audience. This does seem to be the ideal way to keep the masses
happy and in line. Should the masses overreact to the freedom and get out of
line, the government would soon control the media by regulation or
strangulation.
The
real value of this system is that it also gives the dissenters freedom of
expression. Those that see wrongs being committed by the government or other
factions can use any medium to persuade others to their points of view. Those
that wish to make financial profits may also use the media to entertain. This
gives rise to wide choice of media, from live entertainment of the rawest kind
to mild comic books; from classical music to "payola" recording
companies, from underground newspapers to sophisticated textbooks.
As
a member of the masses I appreciate the opportunity to choose according to my
own tastes; I also appreciate the efforts of others, be they financially or
altruistically motivated. While I can tell the difference between what I like
and don't like, I feel totally unqualified to judge on the value that one
person's offering may have to another person. It is particularly difficult for
me to take an isolated book, television program, magazine or movie, criticize
its statement, and evaluate its influence on the masses because I see each as
an example of a priceless freedom.
I
only hope that I may always be free to choose for myself how I should be
informed and entertained and that wiser people than I are allowed the
opportunity to voice their opinions in any medium whatever."
The
professor’s comments started a chain reaction within my brain that very nearly
cost me my life. I looked up “Cop-out” in the dictionary and found that it was
someone who doesn’t do what he should do. This was my turning point: I promised
myself I would never be a cop-out again!
When
I say that being called a "cop-out" nearly killed me, I'm
being completely truthful. I tried to please everyone around me by meeting their
needs. I had taken my duties as homemaker, student and tutor far too seriously.
Also, since my figure had become somewhat matronly, I began to diet myself into
a skeletal shadow of my former self and refused any kind of food or medical
help. Within a few weeks at this pace, all I could do was sleep for hours and
stay up for a few minutes at a time. When I was at the point of death, my
husband sat sadly by my bedside and listened to my incoherent whisperings.
Suddenly I felt a rush of warmth throughout my person. For a moment I was
stunned. Then I said, "I'm going to take a shower." Then I got up,
took a shower, ate a decent lunch and took up life where I had left
off.
I
decided to write a rebuttal and deliver it to the professor in person.
"Mr. Siegel,
I
fail to see that my paper was an elaborate cop-out. To the contrary, if I had
reviewed someone else's creation just to get a grade, I would have to consider
myself a cop-out! I probably could have pretended to be sufficiently critical
to suit you, but that would have compromised my principles. I tried to
demonstrate in my paper how I feel about mass media, and if I failed to do
that, I deserve an "F". Talk about copping out! Instead, I got a
"B" and few snide remarks, such as, "Are you serious?" You
bet I am! Deadly serious! The very reason for my attending school, and the mass
media class in particular is to attain the skills needed to make a judgment or
a contribution. Right now, I don't even know exactly what I have in mind, but I
do know that any improvement of the world must start with me improving myself.
With that I do not mean to say that I don't care what anyone else does; quite
the opposite, I care, I care, I care. As a matter of fact, I see clearly the
injustices, the misinformation, and the infinite examples of man's incredible
ineptitude.
I
also see my own limitations and my potential. I am not an expert in sociology,
psychology, anthropology or any other kind of ...ology. I am, however,
gradually expanding my knowledge. By attending your class I had hoped to gain
an insight into the workings of mass media; instead I found myself listening to
various and sundry opinions of other students. Valuable class time was spent
discussing the relative merits of "Jaws", bantering small talk about
"Engelbert Humperdinck", or whether or not Susan Carpenter
"thinks so, too." I learned one thing from this class, though, and
that is, if one can appear to have all the answers even before the questions
are asked, one is considered qualified. I'm not sure what you consider an
"A" paper, since it is obviously not based on anything presented in
class. Oh, oh, I can feel myself getting carried away...I digress!
You
asked me if I was serious. The answer is yes, I feel very strongly about the
power of communication. Every culture (or form of governing) must somehow
communicate with constituents. A totalitarian system uses the media to tell its
members what they must do to survive. Its leaders suppress any attempts at
two-way communication because they recognize the power of language. Once
released, this power changes the masses into people: talking, writing, and
thinking people. This same power of language is accepted and practiced in our
culture. I have not denied it. In fact, I am aware that our culture is a
dynamic entity. We are members of a society which, as a whole, is greater than
its individual parts. This society or culture is not a finished product; it is
a living, and as such mortal, being. Each member has a responsibility to use
self-respect, self-restraint, and self-discipline to prevent the destruction of
the culture. All this sounds very idealistic, and it is. That is precisely my
point.
Unfortunately
or fortunately, we are all human and as such subject to human weaknesses, the
seven sins: greed, avarice, etc. If we somehow corrupt our culture through our
two-way communications, there can be only one foreseeable outcome. Someone will
have to protect us from ourselves. This protection may take on some very
unpleasant forms.
Alright,
so where does that leave me? Am I to be totally despairing or blithely
optimistic? Should I start at the top and work down or start with myself and
work my way outward?
Sincerely, Marianne
I got an A
for the course!
Yes, the
power of the word was impressive! I had found a new weapon with which to fight
the world! For the next few weeks I
wielded my weapon so much that I nearly drove my husband and children to
distraction. Fortunately, my habit of practicing logic and calm in a storm
throughout my life prevailed and pulled me back from the brink. Instead of
simply throwing words around, I began to write letters to people I considered
experts on various subjects. I asked them questions rather making statements. I
received lots of answers. Sometimes a lengthy correspondence developed; at
other times, one sharp response sufficed.
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