Throughout this semester, we have focused on the role of media in our lives and how it affects the world we live in. While we have mainly discussed technological forms of media in class, we know that media exist in all forms depending on our own definitions. From phones to games to fashion, media's impact on our lives is a direct result of one particular media form: money.
Money is an "extension of ourselves" because it is the primarily way through which we show the world what is most important to us. In addition, it is the way society shows us what "should" be important to us. The ways through which we use money is a great indicator of how we live our lives and what we see in the media reveal who has the money. Both active and passive audiences are not free from the influence of money's power and neither can deny that American culture revolves around the importance of money in both societal improvements and rampant corruption.
Money is power and authority. It influences all other media forms in a way that nothing else can. The profit-incentive of numerous media forms clearly shows us that money plays a huge role in what we perceive as reality. What we see on television to what we hear on the radio are very often influenced by the wealth of those we see on television (Cosby) or the economic class of who is actually listening to the radio (Invasion from Mars). Even more importantly, the wealth of the people behind the media controls what we see/hear. Money is the message and that message is clear: the more you have of it, the more powerful you'll be in the world of media. all It is the driving factor behind many decisions and the attainment of monetary wealth is the goal of most individuals.
