I own you!

This blog is in response to class on Wednesday October 31st.

Class today was very fun and very interesting. I really enjoyed Mark’s lecture, not that I don’t usually. My main interest was the discussion on media hegemonies and learning about the different corporations that own various companies. I was really fascinated to learn how it was all interconnected.

I am shocked to learn that Disney owns Us magazine and the history and biography channel. I found this very amusing. Similarly, with other major companies owning corporations. I think this is most shocking because a particular image is given to each channel, separate from the other corporations and channels owned under the same name. People expect the two to be related or similar in nature. For example, if Disney owns Us magazine, it is an odd thought because Disney is widely recognized as a child’s company.

I also find it fascinating how such ownerships affect what individual channels produce and publicize. This is interesting because it takes place without viewers knowing. It really reinforces the idea that the medium is the message and that everything we hear has some form of bias. It is never the exact message or idea, but a modified version to fit a particular image.
The website Mark showed us called www.theyrule.net was very neat. It best illustrates the entangled mess of large corporations and how everything is connected.

I am trying to decide how I feel about corporations being related, or in business with other corporations so much that it alters what I am seeing. How does this affect me? How does Disney owning Miramax and the ESPNZone affect me? Why should I care?
Each company seems so distinct, and separate, that it is hard to tell that they are owned by the same corporation.

I suppose all I can do in regards to this situation is to be aware of who owns what and which companies are in control of the message I am being feed. This allows me to eliminate any potential bias the stations may have.

I never understood why businesses were always frowned upon if they owned a large amount of smaller corporations. The object of opening a business is to become rich and successful no? And when they do, people get upset at them. I can see now that it is important to have variety and diversity to achieve different influences. I am also aware that smaller companies often flounder quickly if larger corporations own everything, that the smaller company has a right to attempt to be successful. I still feel sometimes it is selfish somehow. I should look into it more.

The rest of Mark’s lecture really spoke to me about being aware and knowledgeable about what I do. Everything I do affects someone, or something and ignorance is no excuse for harmful actions. Before I engage in something I should know about what I am doing, that is common sense and yet, there is so much that I do and do not really investigate. I do not want to be a crazy, cautious person, never partaking in anything, but I can still inform myself about things.

I need to learn more about things in my life! People take so much for granted!