Factual Versus Fictional Media Portrayals On Cultural Stereotypes Summary

In the article “The Impact of Factual versus Fictional Media Portrayals on Cultural Stereotypes” Sheila T. Murphy ,an associate professor at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California; suggests that media can influence societal decision making through continued portrayals of gender and racial stereotypes. Though there are compelling points being made in this article, the author uses speculative examples to clarify her arguments. In her introduction Murphy (1998), states that “Perceptual baggage includes our unique idiosyncratic collection of experiences, needs, and desires as well as more common culturally shared beliefs.”(p.166). She bases this statement on the psychological theory of Jerome Bruner. Who believed that decision making was rarely a reaction based on external environments affecting a neutral mindset. She employs examples such as the O.J. Simpson trial to speculate if the exposure of sports positive media could have swayed the jurors in their final decision (Murphy, 1998). However examples of this nature are not very effective, as they involve subconscious inclinations which are difficult to prove and rely heavily on speculation. Murphy conducts a research study which provides compelling evidence, on how media representation can affect the attitudes of the general public. Towards …show more content…
From my interpretation of the article I believe that her argument may also parallel the theories of Mary Wollstonecraft, who discussed the importance of education in the associations we make between concepts. As well as that of Susie Orbach in The Illusionists, where she discusses the saturation of media messages on beauty standards, in the minds of the public across the globe. These theories all mention the influence that information presented to us can have on the way we perceive ourselves and others. Murphy uses a similar ideology when outlining her research