Media images do not simply reflect the world, they re-present it; instead of reproducing the "reality" of the world "out there" the media engages in practices that define reality
-Croteau, "Media and Ideology" (168).
Raeann: I don't necessarily believe that they re-present, I do believe that the media does have a way of changing things around, and never really tell the entire story or the whole truth...I also do not believe that media engages in practices that define reality, they just know how to grab a viewers attention whether it is true or false.
Croteau: But, that's just it, Raeann. These mediated images are not operating under the same definition of reality that you may be. For the media, reality is simply something to be constructed. The creators of media aren't under any false illusions, they don't think they are showcasing what is "real", they know that they are creating what viewers will view as "real". By doing this, it allows the dominant ideology to be spread through the media unquestionably. People will take in the things that they view/see/read and take it for truth, when the real truth is that the images of "real life" have been tainted by what the dominant society wants the viewer to see, and eventually believe.
And it is because of this that we are left to wonder what truly is reality. Can we even trust the "reality" we see with our own eyes? There is a great likelihood that even the world we look at with our own eyes has been tainted by dominant society's ideologies. Once we begin to think with the dominant ideological framework of society, we begin to view the world through such a lens.
And it is because of this that we are left to wonder what truly is reality. Can we even trust the "reality" we see with our own eyes? There is a great likelihood that even the world we look at with our own eyes has been tainted by dominant society's ideologies. Once we begin to think with the dominant ideological framework of society, we begin to view the world through such a lens.