Friday, September 26, 2008

Week 2: How can media promote democracy?

There are many different ways media can promote democracy but the key is that it this is much more easily accomplished through independent media. Mainstream media usually has a corporate sponsor and will have some control over the content they let air, be published, etc. One of the best ways media can promote democracy in my opinion is through music. One of my favorite bands, Rage Against The Machine, has been making great music throughout their entire career and all the while had strong political messages in their songs. Music can speak to people on issues that may be lost among them otherwise. Another band, Flobots, did a song entitled "Same Thing" which had some lyrics that I didn't quite understand the meaning of. The notable one of these was "Free Mumia and Leonard Peltier". Now I did not know who these two men were, why they were needing to be freed, or even if they deserved it. Well by this one simple line I was inspired to look up these two figures and learn not only the answers to these questions I had earlier, but make my own judgement on the matter at hand. One lyric in a song consisting of three verses, 16 lines each, a chorus, and some killer guitar playing encouraged me to go figure out what I believed was right and wrong. Music can, and does, promote democracy in many ways.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Welcome to the mind of Alex Siddons...

Here is where I shall be posting my innermost secrets and thoughts for all of you to nitpick at and fuss over. We shall see how this develops and what not.

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