¶ … media, even today, has such a profound impact on popular culture as that of print media. Since man first scribbled and chiseled onto stone tablets, words have persuaded and guided people to do, to conform, to think in certain ways. With the advent of Johannes Gutenberg's printing press, and the consequent development of movable type, words have served to mold and conform ideas. With the 20th century development of "yellow journalism," newspapers went beyond simply conveying information, beyond providing news to people, and served to sway people as journalists sought. This paper will discuss the roles that print media have had on the development of American popular culture as well as discuss some of the trends created by print media and how such trends have influenced consumerism, work, social responsibility, happiness, the human body, as well as justice, law, and order.
Print media has had a profound and significant impact on all individuals throughout history, but perhaps no other society has been so inundated with print media as has been the case in the United States. Every day, we are bombarded with messages and innuendos, proclamations and absurd claims, from the well respected New York Times to the oft maligned "Enquirer," we are besieged with information seeking to gain some foothold on our thoughts, on our opinions, on our voting...
Such unabated assaults on our collective and individual psyche in America has prompted scorn, ridicule and disdain for drivel, but such opinions or truly in the eye of the beholder; what we read, we believe, and often, what we believe, is confirmed by what we read. This selective process only provides fodder for those who seek to rebuke "the other side" of an issue.
Print media has evolved from the earliest iterations of printing presses and type writers to large conglomerates ruled by big business. Print media is a booming industry that thrives on ever increasing profits and readership. Consequently, the importance of communicating imperatives to gain some profit are significant, but perhaps there is a larger goal with print; to convince others how to think and behave and act and vote and eat and live. Of course, as with any big business, such devices are not altruistic; they are designed to bring others into the fold. How could we not be swayed given the constant delivery of messages, the constant presence of signs and banners and bulletins must certainly affect the mindset of individuals in significant ways.
The simplest forms of such persuasive messages involves, of course, advertising. Every day we are unwilling participants in a game designed to get our business, our patronage, our trust and, most importantly,…
