Media construct reality. Obviously, the hit television series CSI, is quite unrealistic, at least to most sensible people, but a strange phenomenon called the CSI effect disturbes some veiwers sense of reality through a number of methods. This strange concept is changing people's perception of how real crime scene investigations actually occur.
Generally, a crime scene investigation takes quite a while; much longer than what CSI depicts. This can heavily distort the opinion and even standards of judges and other court evaluates. The convincing imitations on this show of how real crime scene investigators work to distort viewers into believing that technology, such as databases, devices and other futuristic gadgets, actually do exists. This raises the standards, and lowers the patience, of people everywhere.
For sake of an example, think of a family that has just had a member murdered, while ignoring the morbidity at hand. This hypothetical family is emotionally scarred and furious, and they want the criminal to be punished. "In CSI this would have been figured out already". But the problems for the actual crime scene investigators don't stop there. When they do finally find sufficient, or previously sufficient, evidence (which could include witnesses, alibis, or video footage) the judge asks for more. What he is looking for is material evidence, because its so easy to find with the all new high tech gadgets. This may seem absurd, but this kind of thing is becoming more and more real, all based on the images being displayed through the media that constantly distort our perception of how things really work.
This is what people don't understand; CSI is a production designed solely for the entertainment of it's viewers, not for the purpose of educating in any way.
The media triangle can be used in this situation, to examine the audience that is being altered. Through the very theatrical and dramatic production, a false understanding is adhered. Because the audience does not see how this production that actually makes the show entertaining, their thought are directed towards a reality that does not exist. "If this is how it is being portrayed, it must happen kinda like that", but the problem with this thought is, is that the word kinda is not fully understood, and usually ignored.
Now this is quite a general statement, and obviously media texts appeal differently to everyone, but it is safe to say that the population of these impressionable people is growing almost exponentially.
For sake of an example, think of a family that has just had a member murdered, while ignoring the morbidity at hand. This hypothetical family is emotionally scarred and furious, and they want the criminal to be punished. "In CSI this would have been figured out already". But the problems for the actual crime scene investigators don't stop there. When they do finally find sufficient, or previously sufficient, evidence (which could include witnesses, alibis, or video footage) the judge asks for more. What he is looking for is material evidence, because its so easy to find with the all new high tech gadgets. This may seem absurd, but this kind of thing is becoming more and more real, all based on the images being displayed through the media that constantly distort our perception of how things really work.
This is what people don't understand; CSI is a production designed solely for the entertainment of it's viewers, not for the purpose of educating in any way.
The media triangle can be used in this situation, to examine the audience that is being altered. Through the very theatrical and dramatic production, a false understanding is adhered. Because the audience does not see how this production that actually makes the show entertaining, their thought are directed towards a reality that does not exist. "If this is how it is being portrayed, it must happen kinda like that", but the problem with this thought is, is that the word kinda is not fully understood, and usually ignored.
Now this is quite a general statement, and obviously media texts appeal differently to everyone, but it is safe to say that the population of these impressionable people is growing almost exponentially.
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