Abstract
This paper examines the origin of the term "sex sells" and explores the ways in which it has been used. The various media types which utilize this strategy are presented and, with the use of examples, are discussed in further detail with their impacts on society as a whole.

From the Paper
"The culture we live in is carried on the back of advertising (Twitchell, 1996). In today's society the use of sexual behavior is a common means in which to aid in the selling of product. It can be seen in virtually every mass media, as well as in some other areas which can only be viewed by older individuals' everyday. Millions of viewers' tune into their television sets to shows that are based around human sexuality. Television shows such as the Jerry Springer Show and the Jenny Jones Show, all contain episodes which include strippers, lesbians, transsexuals, and countless other sexual topics. Human sexuality is a topic which appeals to the masses and thus is why it is so widely used in advertising and mass media. In many cases it is the exploitation of others which intrigues many viewers to tune in and pay large amounts of money and/or buy large amounts of products. The term "sex sells" is often a common reference which is used to describe the use of human sexuality and its ability to sell products. This essay will focus on many of these areas in depth and help reveal the hidden, but more often than not, noticeable use of sexuality in advertising."

Tags:advertising, products, exploitation, society

Abstract
This paper examines how athletes as a collective group are becoming harder and harder to admire and how there are many factors contributing to the demise of the sports hero. It looks at how there are three main contributing factors to the destruction of the sports hero, the media portrayal of the athlete, the exploitation of the athlete's personal life and the monetary value and salary focus of today's athletes.

From the Paper
"It has been reported by Children Now that 90% of American boys watch televised sports. The media exploits this fact. Athletes and advertising agencies cater to a younger generation. There are athletes in movies, TV shows, and some even have produced albums. They endorse apparel, fast food, sports drinks and video games. Many marketed strictly to children and teenagers. These athletes therefore become familiar; they are everywhere and the child wishes to become just like the athlete that is so popular thus buying the products and the athlete becomes an instant hero. Many children do not know the specific stats of their sports hero, or even their greatest accomplishments. All they know is that they want to be like the player that they see everywhere as well as own the merchandise that they endorse."

Tags:athletes, endorsements, media, salaries, traditional

Abstract
This paper explains that, in the recent Muhammad cartoon controversy in Denmark, Cultural Editor Fleming Rose and the Danish newspaper "Jyllands-Posten" sacrificed what Muslims consider their freedom of religion to preserve Denmark's press freedom and the Danish people's freedom of speech. The author points out that, by examining the timeline of the controversy including the backlash to the cartoons, the views of Muslims around the world, Denmark and its values and Fleming Rose's explanation and apologies, this cartoon was not a malicious anti-Muslim act but rather one journalist's attempt to draw attention to a dangerous change in Denmark's freedoms and rights. The paper contends that the North American press coverage of the story fueled the situation by not including the back stories of both the Muslims in Denmark and the strong Danish tradition of freedom of speech.

From the Paper
"On September 30th, 2005, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published 12 editorial cartoons depicting Mohammed along with an editorial by Fleming Rose. Muslims in Denmark and around the world were outraged, and reacted by filing a complaint against the newspaper with Danish police on October 27th. By January 6th of the following year, the investigation was discontinued as no law had been broken. Danish Imams put together a dossier containing the 12 cartoons published by Jyllands-Posten, along with pictures from another Danish Newspaper, Weekendavisen, hate-mail consisting of pictures and letters they alleged were sent to Muslims in Denmark, and a televised interview with a prominent Dutch Member of Parliament and Islam critic, Hirsi Ali."

Tags:heritage, marginalize, freedom, backlash, apologies

Abstract
This paper discusses how the issue of film and television violence remains controversial as we head into the 21st century and how a direct link between the increased severity of violence in the media and the behavioral disorders of children can clearly be seen in their increased desensitization, acceptance, and fear of violence as well as the increase in aggressive behavior and crime amongst youth. The paper attempts to show that while film and television has played a major role in violence- related behavioral disorders, the history of violence in the human culture has engrained violent tendencies in our entertainment. The paper also examines how, although parental warnings and restrictions upon violence have been established, marketers continue to target children and parents continue to supply their children with violent media, rendering it ineffective.

From the Paper
"The history of media violence began with the Roman spectacles in which professional fighters would battle each other, wild animals, and convicts, often to the death, for the entertainments of thousands in amphitheatres across the Roman Empire. During these events, the turn of a thumb would decide whether a man would live or die. By the fourth century, Roman gladiatorial games were declining in popularity as many thought them to be "an unthinkable monstrosity," and by 438 A.D, they were abolished (Bok, 1998, p. 22). Even though the era of the gladiators was ended, the mass public's thirst for blood was not quenched. Thousands have historically attended public executions, whether it is the beheading of King Charles I of England or the public hangings of those accused of witchcraft, during the Salem Witch Trials in colonial Massachusetts. "

Tags:desensitization, aggressive, behavior, crime

Abstract
This paper is about how society has changed due to technology and how much humans depend on technology and what a big part of our lives it is. It discusses how the technological revolution has changed the way we function and looks at our dependency on technology in our day-to-day lives.

From the Paper
"Only a few years ago we were not able to pick up the phone and call our neighbors without the operator's assistance. Parents would have to send telegrams to there children at college to go to the central post office to receive their long-distance phone call. But today is much different. We have come a long way with our new technological advancements. We have gone far beyond just being able to direct dial any country in the world. Going a day without cellular phones, fax machines, computers, and satellites would pose a great challenge. Society has quickly moved into the information age. The information age is a time in which the internet has provided us with endless amounts of information. With the Internet, we have instant access to information, people and an array of services. The internet is almost becoming a necessity in our lives. The personal computer is a necessity in many people's lives. The dependence on computers is growing and the question is, are we too dependent on our computers and the internet?"

Tags:media, information, systems

Abstract
This paper explores the issues behind the 2004 NHL lockout. It is an unbiased essay providing viewpoints from both the owners and the players. It also looks at the effect the lockout will have on fans and the general sporting community.

From the Paper
"The National Hockey League's players are locked out and it seems that the 2004-05 season is in real jeopardy. It is a battle between the players and the owners, and a controversial question is who is responsible for the lockout? The owners, lead by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, are concerned with the rapid increase of player salaries and the subsequent loss of revenue. The players are represented by Bob Goodenow, the executive director of the NHL's Player's Association, and feel that they are not responsible for the current situation. It is the owners that have set their salary expectations. The athletes are willing to compromise on issues such as revenue sharing and initiate a luxury tax model; however, they are refusing to negotiate with the owner's about a salary cap. These conflicting sides have both contributed to the dire state of the game, but the owners and the players must also consider the impact the lockout will have on their fans and the sporting community."

Tags:athletes, community, economy, fans, hockey, negotiate, owners, players, salaries, sporting

Abstract
This paper discusses what body image is, what exactly is being viewed by women in women's magazines and then why these images have the effect that they do. It then discusses women's reactions, how they make them feel and how viewing women's magazines can affect their self-image. It then goes into detail of what could be done to fix this.

From the Paper
"Flip absent-mindedly through any young women's magazine and in between the titles and pages of "4 Hot New Makeup Looks" and "Little Signs He's The One", you'll see dozens and dozens of women who all look the same. Women advertising one thing or another, all with the exact same incredible makeup, all with skin highlighted with professional lighting and computer touch-ups, all pouting in that sexy manner and leaning in the same seductive poses? all perfectly sweet, sexy, and skinny. All with perfect bodies."

Tags:dieting, disorders, eating, esteem, media, self

Abstract
Using symbolic theory and identity theory, this paper describes the internalization of symbols portrayed in the sexual consumerist culture and looks how these unattainable standards make self-verification near impossible. Self-verification--a matching of self perception and perceived identity standards--is a crucial part of one's self-esteem. The inability to feel we've attained the society standards creates a disturbance in our cognition and makes us feel incompetent and unworthy. This paper looks behind the production of fashion magazines and what implications these consumerism-driven values have on today's young women's self-esteem.

Outline:
Sexuality & Consumerism
Symbolic Interaction with Identity
Behind the Production of Fashion Magazines
Internalization of Identity Standards in Magazines
Implications of Low Self-Esteem
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Self-esteem plays an important role in both our cognition and behavior. As Cast & Burke (2002) suggest that self-esteem serves as a self-motive directing our behavior; to an extent where we could be creating opportunity structures or social contexts that allow self-verification. Young women are at their transition phase in entering womanhood. They are unattached to major life demands, still exploring in the field of romance and sex, finding their identity. This explorative stage leaves their self-esteem and identity particularly vulnerable especially when they are the targets of the consumerist market. Sexual consumerism projects certain values that symbolically interact with young women's identity; and in turn has an effect on their self esteem. There are two main values in the contemporary brand of "femininity": being sexually seductive and attainment of physical beauty."

Tags:femininity, beauty, image, media, fashion, magazines

Abstract
This paper looks at the role that the media plays in portraying and delivering news with special reference to the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Towers. The author argues that the way the media depicts news creates a situation in which reality becomes indistinguishable from film making. The media's use of techniques such as slow motion, repetition, development of characters and formation of anticipation in the audience in delivering news, is so similar to the way films are made, that to discern between boundaries of the media and real life becomes impossible.

From the Paper
"The Spectacle of horror, which took place on September 11th 2001, has left daunting unforgettable memories in the minds of all on lookers. The events of that day influenced so many individuals because of the vast reach of the media in our day-to-day lives. What happened on September 11th 2001 leaves many believing that real life has become indistinguishable from the movies. The increase in media control has taken off with in the cultural industry over the last 30 years. Televisions became mainstreamed into the family home in the 1970's with the invention of colour TV. These days more then 11 million Canadians have cable television. The mega trend of corporate capitalism in the post-industrial world has 7.5 million households online. Hollywood and American cinema account for the 2nd largest product surplus in North America. Ironically before the September 11th 2001 tragedies top grossing industry was the Airline Industry. Both the film and airline industries have seen drastic declines in profits since September 11th 2001."

Tags:cultural, industry, media, role, terrorism, war, cinema, movie

Abstract
This research attempts to examine the extent to which the media influences the lives of adolescents. The author attempts to investigate how the media impacts the socialization of the youth culture and whether the media is so powerful that it has come to replace other socialization agents such as the family, school and peers. The author examines the way socialization agents impact stages of development and how each contribute to another aspect of the individual's forming personality and attitudes. The author makes use of various sociological theories for supporting evidence.

Table of Contents:

Chapters

1.0 Statement of Research Problem

1.1 Research Problem 2

2.0 Introduction to Theoretical Perspectives

and Review of Literature 3

2.1 Introduction to the Media as an Agent of Socialization 3

2.2 Getting to Know the 3

2.3 The 4

2.4 How the Media Socializes 5

2.5 Media as an Industry 5

2.6 Development of Gender Roles

and Consciousness of Achieved Status 6

2.7 Global Impact vs. Role in North American Society 7

2.8 Pros and Cons of Media Dominance 7

2.9 Independent and Dependant Variables 8

2.10 The Test 8

2.11 The Respondents 9

2.12 The Choice of a Questionnaire 9

2.13 Possible 9

2.14 Validity of Respondents 10

2.15 Questionnaire Distribution 10

2.16 Questions to Answers 11

2.17 Conclusion to Theoretical Perspectives

and Review of Literature 11

3.0 Administration Overview 12

3.1 Time Schedule 12

3.2 Budget 12

3.3 Ethical Issues 13

4.0 Measurement Overview 13

4.1 Existing research 14

5.0 Analysis Overview 14

6.0 Implications 14

6.1 Practical Applications 15

Figure #1 The Questionnaire 16

References 18

From the Paper
"There is a problem in Canada that youth are unaware of the significance of the media and its influence on their day-to-day lives. The main questions that will be investigated in the research and hopefully answered if not fully understood by the end of the study would be as follows: How important is the media in the socialization of Canadian popular cultured youth? Is the media the most influential agent of socialization in a teenager's life? Has the media replaced the family, school and peers for being the centre of acquired knowledge for youth? Existing sociological theory suggest we have varying agents of socialization that have different effects on us at different stages of our development and life course. Agents of Socialization are people, groups or institutions that teach people what they need to know in order to participate in society. During the elementary years of school peers are the most important influence. A peer group is a group of people who are linked by common interest, equal social position, and similar age categories. Even as adults we are still influenced by our peers. In this study it will be discussed that the media because of its worldwide accessibility has become a great contributor to socialization than the peer group between the ages of 15-18. The stage of development, which will be conveyed, is called anticipatory socialization (to be discussed in further detail in the theoretical discussion section). This influence at the ages of 15-18, which is referred to, as adolescence will carry on for the future generations as a vital agent of socialization through, out their adult lives."

Tags:agents, candian, culture, film, music, pop, popular, socialization, sociology, television