What is the Message?

It is crazy to think of the things kids look up to as role models.  While I never looked up to Barbie, I was a fan of the Power Rangers and they were a huge part of my childhood.  I remember waking up Saturday mornings to watch the new episode and I was always so excited when they were on TV and I remember wanting to be just like them when I grew up.  I acted like them and I learned from the show, something I realized is much more significant than I ever thought.

It never really occurred to me just how much media can affect a person’s life at such a young age.  Children begin to emulate the things they see and interact with in media and it can be both good and bad depending on how you look at the idea.  When I look at things like Barbie and see how it is teaching Children to strive to be this “Perfect Woman” I wonder if the producers are taking this idea seriously.  How many television shows are trying to bring up complicated issues for its viewers to learn from?  I know Parks and Recreation on NBC does deal with a female lead and she often is looked down upon in her job because she is a woman.  But there are still a lot of issues they never discuss on the show. 

It was weird to see an issue of relationship abuse on a show like A Different World.  There are episodes that deal with things like Date Rape, HIV/AIDS, and even the huge topic of racism.  These things are not nearly discussed as much on television today as you would think.  The only places I can think that some of these topics are Law & Order, but that is a completely different style of show. 

I guess what concerns me are the many messages that people are absorbing through media without even knowing it.  I wonder if the producers of this media are taking into account the future consequences that can come from their media, whether it be a doll like Barbie or a hit TV show.