The Numbing of the American Mind - Assignment Example

Article summary The changes in society on the perception and acceptance of new values indicate the increasing change from traditional media to current media control. Today, the media want to control how the society thinks and behave. In fact, after the September 11th attack, media has played a significant in shaping a new approach to life including response to disasters and challenges. The main problem with the whole situation is that humans are tuned to reason, or behave in a way that does not encourage thinking outside the box.

Consequently, humanity tends to behave the way the media has tuned them. In response to the psychological tuning, the society describes each event in relation to the presentation offered by the media industry. The success of the media in shaping the society is evident in the way it shapes the people’s behavior. The shaping of the new buildings and towns has led to the erasure of the history. Currently, in order to access the traditional architecture of a city or town, the remaining areas which are considered forgotten play a pivotal role in shaping the traditional architecture?

The crucial question is why the change of buildings and can the traditional buildings be conserved. The approach has ensured that events that occurred in the past cannot be revisited easily because of the continual erasure of the features that may bring the issue to remembrance. In fact, issues such as having animals in captivity have eliminated the need for nature. Wolfs and dolphins in captivity will behave differently compared to those in the wild (Zengotita 34). The wild adventure is not thrilling anymore as a result of the ever increasing access to caged animals.

Natural things have become limited and precious with some being considered icons. In the past, camp out involved a close encounter with nature, this has changed exceedingly. However, the current societal changes have made it impossible for the events to be undertaken. The leading force of discouragement is the media. Consequently, the media have taught the challenges and tragic encounter as the only probable encounter creating fear within the society. Thus, changing preference from nature to visiting of animal orphanage or caged animals.

In addition, even the advertisement of products and services are exaggerated because they depict lack of realism. For instance, the advertisement of SUVs includes depicting of the abilities that the car cannot obtain such as crossing rivers and extremely difficult terrain. With such challenges, it is evident that the media has ultimately shaped the focus of the society. Realism has been substituted by virtual system, which includes the use of social media platforms in communication. The combination of the different genres of music is also a product of social change.

The combination of all the different genres leads to the creation of a mix-tape, which is prevalent in the contemporary society. Such changes are not instigated through personal choices, but the influence of media on the decision making process. Therefore, the control of the mind is given to third parties who set the agenda and visions of individuals in the society. The media have contributed significantly to the numbing of both American minds the focus of the world. Even after the influence, humanity is still urged to accept the changes and move on, which is a driving force for the acceptance of the different changes in the values and morality.

Works CitedZengotita, Thomas De. "The Numbing of the American Mind: Culture as Anesthetic ." Harpers Magazine April 2002: 33-40. PDF.