Summary of News-Making: The Pseudo-Event
From education and consumption, to personal relations and public affairs the news media
in the United States captures our attention by littering it with pseudo-events. As
advancements in technology made it possible for journalists to communicate more easily,
the media began to blossom into the national scene instead of the usual local news and
events. More and more technologies were developed that in turn helped the media expand
into a salable commodity. The rotary press, cameras, the telephone, radio, and the
television are all examples of those advancements. When the media could broadcast across
the nation, they were able to make a small event into a seemingly enormous event just by
the number of people that were exposed to the news.
As news became a round-the-clock event, reporters needed to find ways to beat repetition
in reporting that news. Now reporters must go and find news to report to keep the
airwaves and TV's flooded with new events.
Long Summary of: Peanuts
Peanuts is one comic strip that has been in everyone's lives now consistently for many
years. It gives inspiration to some people. Charles Shultz uses unique analogies for
everyday items that makes them easier to associate with life. Many of his ideas, such as
"The Great Pumpkin", have become American past-times.
Charlie Brown represents the "little man" figure; a person struggling to succeed in
life. Many other comic strips have portrayed this also, but none have lasted so long.
This figure has been portrayed in musicals, movies, and toys. Charles Shultz has put
together a real artform according to his own definition. His definition is that
something can only be recognized as art if it makes the same impression on a future
audience as it did in the present. Since Peanuts has been around for four and one half
decades, I would say it was brilliant artwork.
Short Version: Peanuts
Peanuts is a comic strip that has been around for many years. It meets the requirements
for artwork, simply because this generation, (1990's), respects and observes it in the
same perspective as the generation, (1950's), whom was first exposed to it. Generations
to come should have the same feelings.
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