The Media Constructing Identity

In many ways the media can be seen to construct or make collective identities. We are surrounded by the media and in the 21st century music has become what specifically young adults or young teens are what the media mainly target because they are in a still in a developing stage in their lives making them a easier target to influence. The mediated message that is being passed on is through many different types of media such as the radio, television, magazines and social sites such as Facebook, Twitter etc website which is found on the Internet the a different source of mediation because of the individual behind the account who has the choice.

Music has always had an impact on identity, but it’s the type of person that listens to the music that depends upon how an identity is constructed. For example in the music industry the genre of the music people listen to can help construct the identity in a stereotypical way. For instance young boys may be influenced in a bad way if they were to listen to only rap in where most songs are about either sex, money, drugs or crime. This does not necessarily mean that rap is always a bad influence but it can be dependent of the audience because it helps build character. Just like the music video magazines can affect both genders. Specifically looking at Cosmo magazine just by the cover of the magazine it can speak to many viewers and influence them-selves. For example a male can be influence to think that all woman are meant to look like the cover model.  Woman can still be influenced in the same way from this types of magazines but through the eyes of a female the message would be think that they need to look like the cover model in order to live a happy life. Keeping in mind all people have freedom of will in where they chosen not to be associated with the media and turn away from the "ideal woman should look like". Laura Mulvey argues that the mediated world have made all audience to look at any woman in the media from a male perspective. Meaning that even woman are watching a movie in where the genre is Romance