“Compare and Contrast the Approaches of Cohen and Hall Et Al. to the Role of the Media in Relation to Social Disorder”
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- Date Submitted: 04/22/2013 07:04 AM
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This essay focuses on different perspectives on the role of the media in relation to social disorder. Two distinct theories, the one of have looked at the topic from different perspectives; on the one hand how media influencing the public opinion analysed by Cohen, on the other hand Hall and al., focused their attention on what is orchestrate behind the media.
Stanley Cohen and Hall et al. were both concerned with social disorder and disorderly behaviour. In particular, they were concerned with the way disorderly behaviour was ‘mediated’. The mass media have an immensely powerful role to play in mediation. However, while Cohen focused on the amplified effects created by the media on specific events; Hall et al. emphasise the important role played by the media in constructing crime and disorder.
Even though all social scientists seem to agree that 'Social order is key principle of living together ' (Silva, Reflection on ‘Ordered lives’, Audio CD 3 ) and that disorderly behaviour involves perpetrators and victims, no common definition of such concepts can be concurred. Distinguishing between disorderly and orderly behaviours is therefore not straightforward
No definition of disorderly behaviour can be easily formulated; its meaning is not universal and changes from place and time. In addition to it, there appears to be an important difference between the way social scientists and other investigators approach the problem. Some social scientists focus on finding an explanation both to disorderly behaviours and to what induces people's bad behaviour. Others instead are more concerned with the way society defines and deals with disorder. An example of the latter can be perceived in the interpretation given to the role covered by media. According to a first sociologic approach, the media, by some extend, while portraying certain behavioural patterns such as violence on the video, can influence people's behaviour or lead them to an anti-social disorderly...
Stanley Cohen and Hall et al. were both concerned with social disorder and disorderly behaviour. In particular, they were concerned with the way disorderly behaviour was ‘mediated’. The mass media have an immensely powerful role to play in mediation. However, while Cohen focused on the amplified effects created by the media on specific events; Hall et al. emphasise the important role played by the media in constructing crime and disorder.
Even though all social scientists seem to agree that 'Social order is key principle of living together ' (Silva, Reflection on ‘Ordered lives’, Audio CD 3 ) and that disorderly behaviour involves perpetrators and victims, no common definition of such concepts can be concurred. Distinguishing between disorderly and orderly behaviours is therefore not straightforward
No definition of disorderly behaviour can be easily formulated; its meaning is not universal and changes from place and time. In addition to it, there appears to be an important difference between the way social scientists and other investigators approach the problem. Some social scientists focus on finding an explanation both to disorderly behaviours and to what induces people's bad behaviour. Others instead are more concerned with the way society defines and deals with disorder. An example of the latter can be perceived in the interpretation given to the role covered by media. According to a first sociologic approach, the media, by some extend, while portraying certain behavioural patterns such as violence on the video, can influence people's behaviour or lead them to an anti-social disorderly...