Lobotomy

Don't use percentages if you're making a guess, it discredits your argument.

magnora

Yeah, I regret using the "95%" in the title. I posted it on reddit with the word "largely" in place of the 95%. It's also just inaccurate because there's not a complete 1 to 1 relationship between the media and our culture, so while they may own 95% of the media, they may only own (let's say) 80% of the culture, if it's possible to quantify such a thing.

pitenius

I'd add to this that the extension of copyright has also controlled and monetized our literary/media heritage. In 1910, the first film adaptation of Frankenstein was made of the 1823 novel, with nary a concern of attribution. Steamboat Willie was released in 1928. We stand as distant from Steamboat Willie as James Whale did from Mary Shelley. What do you think the likelihood of your Steamboat Willie video game surviving public release is?

rocket_robin_hood

Its why they call it a boob tube, I think. Either way its fucked up how much influence the media can have on every aspect of society. At least its not like in the 80's when there wasnt the internet.

pray_the_gay_away

Very very accurate analysis. Well done.

Empire_of_the_mind

while the media culture is certainly driven by this limited crew, actual culture is driven by additional factors as well. don't let yourself be fooled into thinking that they have ALL of the power, they most certainly do not.

RedditIsPropaganda23

The power to influence public opinion is HUGE. It can change an innocent to guilty and the guilty to innocent.

Empire_of_the_mind

do you know what culture is?

magnora

As long as people buy in to the idea that the views of TV basically represent the views of the public, they do have all the power. People are thankfully losing faith in this idea, but it isn't happening fast enough.