The media and written word can multiply prejudicial language like festering bacteria because they can be easily widespread in the community. Movies and television have the ability to spread prejudicial language based on the likeability of storyline or characters. A television show that is extremely prejudicial and well liked is Family Guy. Sure, Family Guy makes light of serious situations, although in real life they are serious. The fact that people like Family Guy’s characters and storyline help spread prejudicial language. Also, books can spread prejudicial messages in language like Hitler’s Mein Kampf, which was prejudicial against the Jewish race. This influenced a lot of people to follow in these prejudicial messages and ideas against the Jewish race. Music can also create prejudicial language among society because it can make something sound “cool”, and most important it can come off as acceptable. Songs have the ability to make prejudicial language acceptable because they are catchy and cool sounding. When a song is catchy people tend to sing it, and that message that the song is projecting is unknowingly enforced by that person. You see it all the time, someone will be singing sort of song, and not even realize what they are saying. Sometimes they don’t even know all the words, like me. Movies, television, books, and music all have the power to increase prejudicial language.
Wanda Sykes was trying to extinguish the wildfire of prejudicial language with her commercial, and I think that’s what we all need to do. We all need to grab a brimming bucket full of water, and smother the fire at the base of the blue. It is okay to watch shows like Family Guy, although we shouldn’t implement those hateful ideas or messages into our lives. In fact, it is sort of a guidebook on how not to act. In addition, books that share hateful language should be put aside. Finally, music that expresses prejudicial language should not be repeated like a squawking parrot. We all need to look at what influences our lives, and examine ways to take out prejudicial language.
Works Cited
“That’s So Gay.” ThinkB4YouSpeak. Ad Council, n.d. Web. 13 April 2011.
The word “gay” has taken on different meanings over the years, and I have also noticed that there is an overtly negative connotation to the way that the word is sometimes being used these days. However, I have also noticed that the word “gay” is also being used by some people today as a way to describe any form of affectionate between any people, not just between “gay” people or same sex couples. For example, if my kids see my wife and I kiss, or just sitting there being casually nice to each other watching television, they will say, “Awww, look at you two being gay together.” I have also heard some of their friends in high school and middle school use the term the same way. I will joke back at them if I see my daughters sitting on the couch sharing a nice moment, and use the word the same way. This way of using the word “gay” is a new application of the word that does not have negative undertones. Words tend to change over time and that change is not always for the bad, but we do have to continue to be conscious of the way that we use words and how our use of language can negatively affect groups of people.
ReplyDeleteOur society has come a long way into eliminating some prejudice. Yeah it still exist, but at least pat ourselves on the back; we got a black president! And it is not too long ago when the majority of people in the states did not accept the black community. I would say that prejudice towards women will last for a very long time. I know that we accomplished a great movement, but prejudice towards women still exists.
ReplyDeleteFamily Guy; the fat lazy guy who has a hot wife. I’ve notice this a lot in the media where there would be the fat lazy guy who has a hot wife or girlfriend. I see those a lot in the movies. I don’t think I’ve seen a fat lazy girl going out with a hot guy, have you? And the idea of how women is considered fat when she is completely healthy; and the idea of how women should be skinny as skin and bones; when did anorexia become so attractive?
Even if people such as Wanda Skyes (I love that commercial by the way, I think shes hilarious), it will be really hard to get of prejudice. Not saying it’s impossible, but it will take a long time for people to learn and change their customs. And yes, people should really “realize what they say.”
If these activist groups want more support they should stop being bullies themselves. I agree about stopping prejudice but our kids need toughening up. Learn to brush off what people say and they will eventually see it isnt getting them any attention and stop. No amount of lawsuits is gonna stop it. We in America needs o get over oursleves and stop overreacting.
ReplyDelete