Week 2
Information is vital to our society, even though it may not always be obvious. Without information, society as we know it simply could not exist. One of the most significant ways in which we use information is to make decisions. These don't have to be important decisions, but they can be.
Manipulation of information is also becoming increasingly common (and important) in today's society, which serves to underscore its importance. Various parties try to manage information, whether it be to sell a product, a person, an idea, or something else, in hopes that the information they present will be significant enough to change viewpoints. One of the best examples of this is political commercials. Take, for example, those between Bush and Kerry in the 2004 presidential election.
Even though the average person probably doesn't stop to analyze these commercials, the methods used to present the information can be quite interesting. When looking at the Bush and Kerry commercials, there is actually quite a bit of similarity. Both of them invoke imagery that is designed convince the viewer that the candidate is patriotic, believes in the country and the people in it, and can successfully defend the country from outside threats. The information they use to get this point across is what differs, however.
Bush uses emotional imagery and experiences to both make himself seem more approachable and human, and then moves into a strong message of an uncompromising defense of America. He tries to show the viewer that he cares and, even though it's hard for him, he's doing what he thinks is right.
Kerry, on the other hand, gives the viewer a lot of information about himself, rather than the general position statement that Bush gave. It is focused on showing the viewer that he is experienced in combat personally and has a long history of serving the country, both politically, and in the military. He also has people give descriptions of experiences that show he is caring. The commercial, just like much of Bush's, is trying to bring Kerry down to a human level and show that not only does he know what he's doing, but he also cares and is passionate.
Both commercials are also similar in their imagery and especially in their music. Both use a soft, patriotic soundtrack. Bush uses many American flags and much red, white and blue. Kerry invokes a similar feeling, but a little differently, by using black and white images to invoke a feeling of nostalgia.
This is just one small example of how information can be manipulated (and why it can be important to consider how it is being manipulated), how it can help people make choices, and why it is important.
posted by Brendan at 11:57 PM
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