Mass Media Role in Malaysia
Topic:
Compare functionalism and critical theory perspectives on media and society. Which could be the most appropriate approach to understand the media role in Malaysia? Please elaborate with examples
There are many theories, approaches or model to look at the perspective of media and society in Malaysia. In order to understand media and society in Malaysia, we have to look at the meaning of Functionalism Theory and Critical Theory on mass media and society.
Functionalism theory attempt to explain media’s role in the operation of society. By using functionalism, we can explain how media influence the society. Social Institution like family, government, media, education and others. Functionalism also inteprest how social insitution contribute to the stability of the whole society. Each of the institutions is inter-related to each others. For Example, a cell needs nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, vacuole and etc. A cell needs this entire component to function properly and maintain. Without one of the part, the cell will have trouble producing or even staying alive. So mass media are interrelated to others. For example, government needs mainstream media to inform public about the current situation of our economy. (Crossman, A. n.d.)
Critical Theory attempt to question the status quo regarding political issues and provide alternate ways of interpreting the social role of mass media. Critical theory is to understand the beneath the surface of social life and understanding of how the world works. (Turner, B. 2000, Mar 7 and 9. Marxist theory claasical terms like “Base & Superstructure” like mass media (Superstructure) and captalist (Base) . For example, the elite or rulling class control some of the mass media to share their beliefs to control lowe class, to use for captalism and the mass media simply disseminate the ideas of worldview of rulling class, and deny or defuse and alternative ideas (Turner, B. 2000, Mar 7 and 9). According to Horkheimer,
Compare functionalism and critical theory perspectives on media and society. Which could be the most appropriate approach to understand the media role in Malaysia? Please elaborate with examples
There are many theories, approaches or model to look at the perspective of media and society in Malaysia. In order to understand media and society in Malaysia, we have to look at the meaning of Functionalism Theory and Critical Theory on mass media and society.
Functionalism theory attempt to explain media’s role in the operation of society. By using functionalism, we can explain how media influence the society. Social Institution like family, government, media, education and others. Functionalism also inteprest how social insitution contribute to the stability of the whole society. Each of the institutions is inter-related to each others. For Example, a cell needs nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, vacuole and etc. A cell needs this entire component to function properly and maintain. Without one of the part, the cell will have trouble producing or even staying alive. So mass media are interrelated to others. For example, government needs mainstream media to inform public about the current situation of our economy. (Crossman, A. n.d.)
Critical Theory attempt to question the status quo regarding political issues and provide alternate ways of interpreting the social role of mass media. Critical theory is to understand the beneath the surface of social life and understanding of how the world works. (Turner, B. 2000, Mar 7 and 9. Marxist theory claasical terms like “Base & Superstructure” like mass media (Superstructure) and captalist (Base) . For example, the elite or rulling class control some of the mass media to share their beliefs to control lowe class, to use for captalism and the mass media simply disseminate the ideas of worldview of rulling class, and deny or defuse and alternative ideas (Turner, B. 2000, Mar 7 and 9). According to Horkheimer,
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