1. It is not advisable to simply emphasize the "public opinion orientation". The mass media has the function of a "safety valve" by releasing emotions and social discourse. Diversified expressions are used to alleviate contradictions and maintain the relationship between members of society, thereby confirming the stability of society.
In today's era, new media platforms such as Weibo have given people greater freedom of speech than before. The Chinese people, who have become accustomed to silence, behaved a little bit of astonishment in the face of this sudden freedom. After the astonishment, there is a joyous carnival. This kind of carnival faintly creates a situation that is out of control, so the government will require the media to play a correct role in guiding public opinion. In the theoretical system of magic bullet theory, the people's fear of the existence of media power is itself a part of the belief system of mass media. Putting it in the context of China, the several special historical periods in history can explain and confirm that the Chinese people have a great fear of the media. Therefore, for netizens who are always in a state of emotional riots, It is not accidental to produce media skepticism. Therefore, in this case, it can be said that simply emphasizing "public opinion orientation" is not advisable, because the audience often has a rebellious mentality to understand the information, which confuses the truth.
In "Wagtail Dog", the repair team wanted to distract the public. It first spread rumors about the B-3 bomber and the situation in Albania, and then denied it as an official official. Out of habitual speculation, the mass media will naturally follow suit, so the repair team succeeded in forging the public opinion environment they wanted under the seemingly embarrassing situation.
The masses have something to say, and their opinions need to be conveyed and valued. The "safety valve" function of the mass media is precisely to relieve social contradictions by releasing multiple expressions of emotions and social discourse. When Schumann's story provoked people's emotions to a commanding height, such a scene appeared. The repair team took advantage of the night to go to the street, hung all kinds of old shoes on the tree, and drove the little boy to tell everyone. In fact, this is looking for an outlet for emotional expression. There are two situations when people release their emotions. One is that they are calm, and the other is that the released emotions are responded. This emotion will be amplified. In the end, as they thought, throwing away old shoes not only expanded the public's post betting on Schumann, but also greatly stimulated their desire for protection. People think that they are speaking for the neglected and weak, defending the American dream, and upholding the responsibility of American citizens. The world thinks this is the cry of the American people and a buffer of social conflicts. This is a very wide-ranging and hugely influential one. The movie show made them unaware that it was a scam from beginning to end.
2. The assignment of social status in the mass media is actually a means of interfering in the ideas and behaviors of the masses.
The magic bullet theory of the 1920s and 1940s said that the media possessed irresistible power, and the information they conveyed on the recipient is like a bullet hitting the body, and the medicine is injected into the skin, which can cause a direct and quick response; they Can influence people's attitudes and opinions, and even directly control their actions. The "Wag the Tail Dog" filmed in 1997 is actually an exaggeration of the earlier magic bullet theory. The "American hero" character of Schumann originated from the concept of "shoes." The repair team found the name Schumann based on the phonological rules. This "hero" first had a simple name that was easy for the public to accept, and then had a simple name. True identity. The war hero who the masses thought, was moved, and called for, contrasted with the insane prisoner who tried to assault women and was shot to death by a shotgun in the truth. The magic bullet theory spread by the masses once again gave the audience a huge impact. Sense of fear. In such a world where power can change all environments, what else can we believe in? I think this is an effect that the director deliberately exaggerated and tried to get. The purpose is to prevent us from being influenced by the media without knowing it. On the other hand, the whole process of erecting Schumann's image, from the positioning of his heroic character, to the popularity of old shoes, to the deliberate proliferation in the mass media, the repair team wrapped up all illusions with an emotional shell with the color of the American dream. Success allows people to accept all orders.
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