Mass Media And Hyperreality Essay

Mass Media and Hyperreality: Media’s construction of reality and its impact on society post 1990s

Dissertation Proposal
Mediums of mass media have become the primary sources of information dissemination in today’s world. Technological advancements have not only increased the forms of mass media but have also expanded their influence on the society.
Media has the ability to not only reflect culture but to also create one. Through a series of visuals, messages, and discussions, media can form a public consensus on what comes to be considered right or wrong in a society.
Discourse, in its basic sense can be understood as a written or spoken communication of information or thoughts. French philosopher Michel Foucault in his book The Archaeology

By highlighting the events around the world and their significance for the society, media plays an instrumental role in forming the opinion of the masses.

But what happens when the information put forth by the media is not true? What if the media instead of displaying the ‘real’, constructs it? What if the media instead of mirroring the reality becomes an exponent of hyperreality?

Scope of the topic
The paper will be an attempt to analyse the concept of hyperreality and its status in today’s society. The dissertation aims to throw light on instances of the hyperreal in mass media-cinema, advertisements, news media and other mediums post 1990s. The paper will aim to evaluate the link between hyperreality and advertising and the resulting trend of consumerism. The paper will also put forth examples of news media constructing hyperreality and presenting one-sided and sometimes false representation of reality. The paper also intends to evaluate how this representation affects the society.

Chapter Outline
Introduction
The introduction will aim to trace the trajectory of our growing dependence on media and its role in shaping

A. Simulation
B. Simulacrum

2. Mass Media and Hypereality

The chapter will revolve around the connection between mediums of mass media and hyperreality. Cinema, advertisements and other forms will be analysed to reveal hyperreal undertones. The chapter will also deal with media’s wide reach and how it presents its own representation of reality as the reality.

3. News Media and Hypereality
News media is perceived as the harbinger of ‘true’ and ‘fair’ representation of events, therefore a separate chapter is required to understand its link with hypereality. It is important to examine media’s representation of certain events to see how society perceived media’s representation of the event as the ‘real’ event itself.

Coverage of the Gulf War, Iraq War, Kargil War and Hurricane Katrine, along with other instances will be analysed in the chapter.

4. Society and Hypereality

The chapter will be concerned with the impact of a hyperreal world on the psyche of society. Louis Althusser’s work on the concept of Interpellation will be incorporated to gauge the influence of hyperreality on individuals.

5.