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Media Studies Assignment

The document discusses the "magic bullet theory" which assumes that media messages are directly injected into people's minds and accepted entirely. It notes that research has found media can create effects like violence, fear, and influence decisions. However, the theory is too simplistic as people are more sophisticated. Examples are given of the 1938 "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast causing panic and how the US and Germany used media propaganda differently during World War 2 to influence public opinion.

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Rabidh Ganju
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54 views

Media Studies Assignment

The document discusses the "magic bullet theory" which assumes that media messages are directly injected into people's minds and accepted entirely. It notes that research has found media can create effects like violence, fear, and influence decisions. However, the theory is too simplistic as people are more sophisticated. Examples are given of the 1938 "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast causing panic and how the US and Germany used media propaganda differently during World War 2 to influence public opinion.

Uploaded by

Rabidh Ganju
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Media Studies

Presented by Rabidh shafiq


What is magic bullet
theory?

• The "magic bullet" and


"hypodermic needle" models
originate from Harold Lasswell's
1927 book, Propaganda Technique
in the World War.
• The magic bullet theory, sometimes
called the hypodermic needle
model, assumes that a media
message is ''injected'' wholly into
the recipient's consciousness and is
accepted entirely at face value.
What are the effects?

• Research about the negative


media effects focus on the
individual’s physiology, emotion,
attitude and cognition.
• The media can create violence,
fear and arouse sentiments. The
content can make and unmake
the decisions of people.
• People can kill depending on the
effect. Sex can be on the rise if
subject of the particular media is
mostly on sex and obscenity. In
short, fear, violence, sexual arousal
etc. can be achieved through the
kind of effect the media extends to
the audience.
Strengths and weakness

Strengths:

• Sees trends
• Large number of participants and sometimes extend over a long period of time.

Weaknesses:

• Too simplistic
• People tend to be more sophisticated.
Examples

• After a radio broadcast in


October, 1938. Listeners who tuned
into a “War of the Worlds” program
about Martians landing in New
Jersey and attacking people
mistakenly thought the program
was real. Hundreds of people
called police and fire departments
for updates, and just as many
rushed to the store to purchase
emergency supplies to protect
themselves. The incident became
known as “the panic broadcast,”
and it promoted a basic
hypodermic needle theory.
Example 2

• During second world wars media


plays a vital role in both United
States and Germany to made
influence in the people’s mind.
• The Germany Hitler’s Nazi used film
industry for Propaganda and they
produced lots of movies about their
achievements which made a great
impact in Germans mind. Later the
United States also used its own
Hollywood and produced films like
“Its Happened one night”, “It’s a
wonderful life” and Mr. Smith goes
to Washington” to portrait
Germany as Evil force which also
made impact in Americans Mind.

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