Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Media and Sovereignty

Media and Sovereignty by Monroe Price

In Price's article, he introduces his topic by posing the idea that as new technology in information exchange are developed there is always a response by those who feel threatened. The article is based around the topic of controls and limits on the information conveyed through media and concludes in an examination of the current situation in India. One main idea presented is that internet has efficiently overwhelmed physical and legislative boundaries to communicate information that otherwise would not be conveyed. This is presented as the idea of "technologies of freedom", which are also said to help in the spread of democracy. Information growth expands the national economy and international trade, and also reduces separatist identities and the possibility of genocide and war. It is argued that the state is having trouble controling this flow of information, and this is threatening the stability of some cultures and communities. Price points out that in theory, one can recognize a "death" of state power in creating law, however in every day reality the laws of the state are needed to fulfill the need for order and security, reguations of decency, and moral controls. The article also posed the idea that the influences of media create a sense of identity for people and the cureent technological freedom may have affects on the physical map as people are exposed to different media. In some countries, it becomes a question of protection or social unrest that may result from miscommunication or the acquisition of information that may cause citizens of a country to reevaluate the current powers and restraints on freedom. Governments must take into account the history and culture of the areas they rule when making decisions about protection from certain types of media.

As I read this, I was troubled by the thought of a power determining the tastes and preferences of the people it rules. How much say should the government or other ruling power have over what is available to people? Should the power remain in its position of its very ability to rule was only acquired based on a specific understanding that was created for its nation by a media source it created? But I recognize as well that we must have a basis understanding of issues such as morals and human rights that is common among a people in order to even have a functioning community to govern, and creating 'peace' for the people who are dominated with the help of media may not be so horrible. As long as people have access to reality and understand the system they have come to accept in a broad understanding of the conditions in the world. I understand that as an American citizen I have a certain identity, but it also means that I must come to accept some things to be truth and may not even be conscious of all of the underlying beliefs that come with being raised in our society. I also think it is important to quickly point out the influences of TNC's in this overall power of media in society in relation to state power. States have allowed this consumer culture to be indulged and spread, and its impacts have been widespread. What would our world be like without media and mass communication at the click of a button? Would there even be such a concept as globalization?

पास
Mandy Simmons

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