Our need to express and create is powerful. It provokes experimentation and inspires artistic cultural expressions such as visual art, dance, writing, theatre, and music. These cultural expressions are taking on a new shape and meaning in contemporary society.

One form of media that has become increasingly popular in today’s society is mass media (mainstream media). It consists of radio, television, magazines, newspapers, and of course, the Internet. Mass media’s primary objective and purpose is to inform, educate and entertain the largest possible audience. An important facet of mass media is its ownership and consumer-based motives.

On a daily basis we are bombarded with messages and advertising, but we are able to think critically and analyze them... (more)

Our need to express and create is powerful. It provokes experimentation and inspires artistic cultural expressions such as visual art, dance, writing, theatre, and music. These cultural expressions are taking on a new shape and meaning in contemporary society.

One form of media that has become increasingly popular in today’s society is mass media (mainstream media). It consists of radio, television, magazines, newspapers, and of course, the Internet. Mass media’s primary objective and purpose is to inform, educate and entertain the largest possible audience. An important facet of mass media is its ownership and consumer-based motives.

On a daily basis we are bombarded with messages and advertising, but we are able to think critically and analyze them based on how money, values, political influence, and corporate ownership affect the content within. When we do this, we are practicing media literacy: the ability to separate fact from fiction as well as understand the nature of media.

Issues of representation must also be considered in a media analysis. Are diverse people and viewpoints represented? Do we see varied representations of class, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, social role and occupation, or only stereotypes? It is easy to see how the dominant Western culture in our society sways and influences every decision relating to mass media and how little minorities have a say in what goes on in the communications industry.

Beyond simply receiving, we too can create the messages. Independent media is thriving on the Internet and young activists are behind the surge of empowered citizen-driven communication.

This section contains pages on independent and mass media, intellectual property, censorship, television and film, advertising, writing and publishing. We invite you to understand how arts and media affect our lives and how we as consumers, are becoming more imaginative, creative and media literate.