Hegemony enables for me to understand a lot of what is broadcast in the media today by allowing for two separate companies to show two very different sides of a single story. It is important for the public to be aware of the impact that hegemony has on the media industry.
By definition, hegemony is having influence or authority over another group without having any consent from the controlled group. This, for the most part, works because of the fact that many Americans stick to one media source. The government plays a large role in determining what we, as Americans, view in the news and print.
An example of hegemony that can be viewed by the public in this day and age is what we, as students, read in our textbooks. Whichever group of politicians has control over the government also gains significant control over what students read. Recently, a huge debate sparked over whether or not the concept of evolution should be in textbooks and consequently, school curriculum. On one side it was argued that schools should follow strictly to what originated in the Bible's text, and the other that we should further develop the separation of church and state. Although one ruling was recently passed, there are many more which have yet to have any form of legislation. Because these political forces have so much power on forming new laws and text, students have very little control over what they read and are taught in school. In this sense, it is apparent that hegemony can even control the minds of the young students.
NY Times Textbook Battle
No comments:
Post a Comment