“It is the social system that makes violence popular, not the 'baseness' of the citizens: the roots of violence are to be found in society, not in individual morality. So it is predictable that the movement to eradicate violence from our screens would be led by middle-class moralists. By 'blaming' social violence on television they avoid having to consider the uncomfortable idea that it might be their own position of social privilege that actually provokes most violent and criminal activity among the disadvantaged. Television and the apparent gullibility of its 'mass' audience become convenient scapegoats upon which to displace the social responsibility of their own class position.”
— John Fiske, Understanding Popular Culture
Tagged: Class, Mass Audiences, Media, Media Wars, Scapegoat, Television, Violence
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Understanding Popular Culture

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