Blog #2

Discourse or conversation is "powerful" because it can create new ideas or different views on topics. Conversations between people from different backgrounds can provide inspiration for making their own life better. It can help make the world a better place. Discourse can also be "dangerous" because it can create chaos. New or old ideas are used to make bad choices towards another group of people. This makes the world better in their eyes. The media are the means of controlling the effects of certain discourses. The news on television gives their point of view; the view they want you to trust and believe. Another news network will tell and show you a different perspective on that topic. Discourse from rival news channels will differ on what they believe is true. When labels like "political" or "unpatriotic" or "emotional" are attached to discourse, it gives people an idea of what is going on. There are words that the media uses to convey a direct meaning of the story. When people hear "political" they think politics, Congress, the President etc. "Unpatriotic" gives the viewers a bad impression of an individual or a place. "Emotional" makes the viewer feel for the people who are experiencing a mishap or accident. Words create feeling which causes concern of what is happening around them.