Media Ethics Issues and Cases Chapter 10

The Ethical Dimensions of Art and Entertainment

Chapter 10 stood out to me because the presence of over-arching and guiding ethical principles throughout the chapter were as apparent as the other chapters. It outlined the ethical dilemmas that arise when art, entertainment, and news collide, but it did not provide an abundance solutions to these problems. Nonetheless, it got me thinking.

I was shocked that I never realized the reason for the blatant use of racism and stereotype in TV ads. After reading, I know that the advertisers have to start with what the receiver of their message already knows and then work backward to establish their overall message. We all know what a librarian looks like: they have thick rimmed glasses, their hair is always in a bun, they are women, they are white.

An average Google search of "librarian" will help you see what I mean.

The presence of stereotypes in art and entertainment leads to another question dealing with accuracy. Can truth be found in art? and should we as the consumers hold entertainment to a certain standard when it comes to truth? Throughout the chapter I was presented with many blurry lines. The distinction between truth and entertainment is complex and (in my opinion) it needs to be looked at on a case by case basis. 

Book Banning: censorship is a problem that is widespread - even in American libraries - that has had little legal intervention. Again, the line is blurred between truth and entertainment. In the case of Harry Potter, books have been banned from public libraries because Christian extremists have claimed that it promotes witchcraft.

Reality-Based Crime TV: television shows including Dateline, America's Most Wanted, and COPS also blur the line between truth and entertainment. These shows do not fall into a single category, they are part entertainment, part infotainment, and part news. They are cheap and easy to produce and gain a large following quickly. 

Based-on-Reality Films: The film Invictus is a true story with a clear artistic vision. The reality-based entertainment industry calls into effect the "theory of uses and gratifications". This theory states that the audience will use media to satisfy certain needs and wants, and these desires impact the message they take away from the media. 

The main problem with the shows that claim to provide entertainment and news (or infotainment) is they usually have a license in entertainment. This licencing allows these shows to bypass accuracy, fairness, and balance.

Reality Shows:  Differing from the Reality-based Cops TV, reality shows very rarely claim to provide news. Think of John and Kate Plus Eight, or Keeping Up with the Kardashians, these shows have changed the way that my generation things about truth and accuracy. 

I watched John and Kate Plus Eight when I was younger and I remember my dad telling me that each episode was planned and edited, he also informed me that the expensive trips to Disney World they went on were not paid for by the family. My entire perception of reality television from there on out was changed. I never delved into a reality-based series again.

Documentaries: "Art that sometimes looks like journalism" is the phrase used when describing documentaries. I love them, they are my favorite genre of movies. As someone who does not have time to watch season after season on Netflix, and doesn't have any interest in Reality Shows (obviously), I enjoy starting a documentary instead on the off chance that I may have time to waste. After reading this chapter, my love for them has not changed. I just need to remind myself that "documentaries seek to tell the truth from a point of view influenced by context."

Overall, I see how difficult it is to differentiate between truth and entertainment. As a student of Communications, I now vow that if something looks fishy when it comes to reality being portrayed in the arts, I will look deeper into the issues and research to find truth and accuracy.