The reception of media events depicting pain, loss, triumph, resilience or any other aspect of life to which all humanity can relate, often elicits the construction of a “we”[1]. Statements like, “We sympathize with you” and “We are praying for you” were conveyed from people around the world in response to the earthquake in Haiti. In this era of globalization, media events like hurricane Katrina, the Chilean miners’ rescue, the earthquakes in Chile and Haiti can now be accessed well outside their geographies and followed by the citizenry of the world[2] almost immediately. It is quite tempting to think that all media events are about some kind of shared experience or events of a consensual nature, the kind of events that elicit a “we” .
In the book, Media Events in a Global Age(2009) , Dayan proposes the four characteristics of an “object” of a media event .
Namely, “emphasis”; to imply the symbol of the event, “performativity”; to imply the specifics of the events constitution in time and space, “loyalty”; to imply the nature of the receiving communities, and audiences, and lastly, “shared experience”; implying the broader performance and constitution of the event in the receiving communities, and audiences[3].
As comprehensive as Dayan’s definition may be, I find the assumption that the object of a media event is always one of a consensual nature, or a shared experience quite lacking. Hepp and Couldry provide a new perspective on the same issue. Their perspective calls for one to rethink the form and context of media events[4] as defined by Dayan. Their definition of a media event, “certain situated, thickening, centering performance of mediated communication that are focused on a specific thematic core, cross different media products and reach a wide and diverse multiplicity of audiences and participants[5]” transcends the typical model of consensual, shared experiences as suggested by Dayan. By Hepp and Couldry’s definition, the term “media event” also encompasses “conflictual media events” like the sexual abuse scandals in the Catholic Church and the world of celebrity culture as well. So, yes. Snooki’s hair, or Lady Gaga’s medium-rare steak outfit is as much of a media event as the tragedy that befell America on September 11th 2001 or the historic election of America’s first African American president.
The election of Barack Obama, the son of a Kenyan “goat-herder turned economist” [6] to the highest office in United States will always be ‘The’ media event of my life time. I can definitely say that I saw history being written on the day President Obama gave that key acceptance speech. That was a moment like no other. People from around the world gathered before big screens in parks, stadiums and churches while others huddled around radios in the wee hours of the night, waiting. Waiting with pride, tears in their eyes and holding onto their neighbors’ hand. It was indeed the dawn of a new era in the land of the free.
[1] Couldry, Nick/Hepp, Andreas/Krotz, Friedrich (eds.): Media Events in a Global Age. 2009. London, New York: Routledge 2009. p11
[2] Couldry, Nick/Hepp, Andreas/Krotz, Friedrich (eds.): Media Events in a Global Age. 2009. London, New York: Routledge 2009. p286
[3] Couldry, Nick/Hepp, Andreas/Krotz, Friedrich (eds.): Media Events in a Global Age. 2009. London, New York: Routledge 2009. p286.
[4] Couldry, Nick/Hepp, Andreas/Krotz, Friedrich (eds.): Media Events in a Global Age. 2009. London, New York: Routledge 2009. p288
[5] Couldry, Nick/Hepp, Andreas/Krotz, Friedrich (eds.): Media Events in a Global Age. 2009. London, New York: Routledge 2009. p287
I wrote in my post that I thought people tended to remember the bad events more. When I think of media events, that's what I think of because that's what gets covered in the news. But Biribwa is right, the election of Barack Obama was a media event of huge POSITIVE impact, and I was one of the ones cheering. I think one of the contributing factors to his victory was the effect of new media (youtube, twitter, blogging, Oprah, Late Night TV) and his campaign's embrace of it. I was one of the ones affected and I went out and voted for the first time in my life.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately,tragedy seems to have a bigger proportion of media coverage but I wish there were more media events that inspire people and celebrate triumph.- like the rescue of the Chilean miners.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama's campaign was absolutely in tune with the recent trends you noted above.He embraced the media and internet in a way that set the trend for other campaigns to come. I feel like his internet approach brought the election closer to other people around the world.
I agree that most people do remember the tragic events more than the triumphant events. Though I will always remember the day president Obama got elected I think september 11 will be a time in my life that I will never forget. Another point that was made in your comment was how well Barack Obama embraced all that was around him media wise. That is a great point, I also agree with that because I do believe that he used his resources very well and that is something that drew people all over the world to his campaign. People tuned in to watch his speech from every part of the world. It wasn't just one step ahead for the Amercian people, it was a step ahead for many other people watching from Kenya, France, Africa as some examples. This was an event that impacted many other peolples lives rather than just Americans. You made some very great points in your post.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lindsey.
ReplyDeleteFrom the readings on media events, I felt like it was almost too simplistic to refer to 9/11 as a media event and also apply the same term to Lindsay Lohan's DUI or Snooki's hair. I absolutely agree with you on how life changing 9/11 was. It surely changed the course of many lives around the world.
I tend to agree that something like Snooki's hair isn't worth calling a media event. For something to be a media event I think it needs to be "history worthy" if you will. I don't think in 150 years our great grandchildren will read about the escapade of Lindsay Lohan but I'd bet considerable money that Barrack Obama's election and 9/11 will be mentioned in the history classes....
ReplyDeleteGreat point Soriano. I thought Hepp and Couldry's definition was a bit too loose in that regard. I absolutely agree with you; including celebrity culture waters down the whole meaning of a media event.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I believe your points on the worthiness of media events, I don't think it's up to us to decide what is or isn't a media event. The experts are the ones who came up with the term, set the definition and criteria:
ReplyDelete...three domains introduced by Hepp and Couldry: mediations of shared social purpose and solidarity; mediations of conflict; and mediations of charisma and celebrity.[1]
If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, well then it's probably a duck. I don't believe what happens to Snooki should be important enough to follow on national tv, twitter, facebook, and youtube but apparently I'm in the minority.
[1] Hoover, Stewart M. “Conclusion: The media events debate: moving to the next stage”. Couldry, Nick (ed.): Media Events in a Global Age. p289. (2009) Print.
Very well said Cindy!
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