Jump Cut: Conflict and Contradiction in the Mass Media

The author of this articles explores the evolution of thinking about mass media's role in society, and discusses the positive and negative aspects of mass media, and ways that it can be in conflict with corporations, governments, and society. He references various writers and perspectives on mass media and includes many examples to demonstrate ideas. He looks at the different forms that media content may take, and factors that limit that content. He discusses hegemony and the viewing experience, and hegemony and the social use of media. He concludes by emphasizing that the left leaning critic of media must always account for the media's larger context. (Published: March 1985)