Media Artifact: Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Essay Example

 Media Artifact Before analyzing the media artifacts, it is pertinent to that media as an infrastructure, is petitioned into three parts. One is the artifact, in other words, it is a device that is used to both convey and communicate information. The second part is the activity, or rather practices that people usually use to either share, or engage a communication. Thirdly, it is the social arrangement. Social arrangements can also be organizational forms that actually develop around artifacts and activities. Having put that across, this essay will illustrate a media artifact that obeys the theory of Marxist, in the book “Critical Media Studies: An Introduction by Ott and Mack”. The chosen artifact here is the Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a TV series aired in the United State some times back. According to Vaughan,& Whedon, (2008)Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is an artifact that ran for almost 144 episodes, and it was divide into several seasons. This programme was aired between the years 1997 all the way to 2003. This jockey film had mixed messages of romance, comedy, drama, horror, as well as action. Analyzing its plot-wise it is pertinent to note that Buffy did center its exploits as a chosen one, who by chance found herself residing in the Sunnydale, CA. Notably, this was a small town located at the top of the mouth to hell (Mitchell & Hansen, 2010). Buffy was plucked from a life of partying and cheerleading and was made to vanquish demons and slay vampires, although not at her will. At the commencement of the series, it is true to note that Buffy considered her superpowers to be an imposition. However, for those who managed to watch the entire series, they will actually concur that at the end of the series, Buffy’s thoughts had been changed. She no longer viewed her superpowers as an imposition; rather she had courageously embraced her role as steely general in a war that was not ending however hard they fought against forces of darkness. Her three years of learning was a revelation to her that high school is hell, after which in the following seasons, she managers to navigate through collage and then in the latter seasons, the narrators portrays her in a manner that she had to face the expected grown up responsibilities. Having illustrated that, it is perfect to understand that this artifact, however long it was, many could followed it up to the last season, hence portraying a sense of interest and expectations (Whedon et al, 2007, p.11). Evidently, the TV series literally narrated the idea of a chosen one. At the age of fifteen, Buffy regardless of her sex was chosen to hunt demons and vampires as well as forces of darkness. She manages to fight the challenges of high school, with the company of Xander and Willow and up to the end of the journey where she manages to save the world. She was expected to stand against all her opponents and fight for her victory and the victory of others. Being a slayer, she understands this tale by heart, and so, despite the fact that she tries so hard to be simply a normal girl, the truth according to the episode is that she cannot escape from her destiny. This media artifact contributes positively to the life of human being, for instance the struggle of Buffy to save the world portrays the hardship people usually go through o acquire their destiny (Hoechsmann, & Poyntz, 2012). Now, having perused through the above media artifact, the pertinent thing is to connect it to the Marxism, a theory noted by Mack and Otto in their book titled ‘critical media studies.’ It follows that the book illustrates this theory as a theory and at the same time a political movement and as a social tool motivator (Ott & Mack, 2010). This theory is actually rooted in the idea of society all the way in the history of class struggles. Actually, it is of no offense if the theory is assumed as a theory that literally does not make sense of the entire world via the perspective of materialism of historical grounds. First, the TV series runs on a series of perfectly formulated episodes. Secondly, Buffy understand the world by actually heeding the fact that high school life can be hell at times, and this is incurably true to some extent. Deeply, Marx understood or rather believed that the material world leads human thoughts. This affirms that concrete, external, as well as the social existence actually determine the consciousness of the ground. In affirming this, many argue that Marx is materialistic and that he opposes the idealistic perception. This philosophy affirms social existence is actually determined by ideas. He further concurs that societies will change over time in line with the material. In other words, the material conditions of any given society will automatically change over time. Precisely, this theory is illustrated in chapter two of the book. Cumulatively, the theory examines the ways in which profit motive and capitalism influences the media ownership patterns as well as the marketing practices. Having said that, the most important thing to evaluate is the relationship between the TV series outlined above as a media artifact and its relevance to the Marxism theory. The truth remains that, media is information, and so the media ownership is related to the pertinence of information that a media gives to its audience. It follows that Buffy dominated the media market from 1997 all the way to 2003. These were almost 144 series, arranged in seasons, with this artifact, the owner or the TV owner wanted to make profit and at the same time to own the media, in other words, he or she wanted to dominate the market. That is why, a media artifact as this one can be aired for that very long time, in the media industry, and there are some people who forgot about other Medias just to glue on this TV station while airing the above media artifact. Moreover, at the same time, the TV made several profits by employing the relevant marketing strategy. For instance, during all the period, which these episodes were aired in the TV, several advertisements went on, hence benefiting the TV station owner and the advertisers as well as the owners of the commodities being advertised. That is the secret behind the illustration of the theory that profit-motive will automatically influence market practices and media-ownership. References Hoechsmann, M., & Poyntz, S. R. (2012). Media literacies: a critical introduction. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell. Mitchell, W. J., & Hansen, M. B. (2010). Critical terms for media studies. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Ott, B. L., & Mack, R. L. (2010). Critical media studies: an introduction. Chichester, U.K.: Wiley-Blackwell. Vaughan, B. K., & Whedon, J. (2008). Buffy the vampire slayer. Milwaukie, Oregon: Dark Horse. Whedon, J., Jeanty, G., Owens, A., & Chen, J. (20072011). Buffy the vampire slayer. Milwaukie, Oregon: Dark Horse Books.. Read More