American History

In this time capsule I will attempt to represent as clearly as possible the effects of modern media in America. Currently, as technology has become increasingly advanced the means by which we understand and interact with the world around us has changed. Just twenty years ago, no one could have predicted the effects of websites such as Twitter or Facebook in communication and self-promotion. In the same way, no one could have suspected that printed media would see such a massive decline. Most important, in representing modern American cultures lovehate relationship with the media, is the effectiveness of the media as not only a political but also social tool. Media has always affected Americans opinions and beliefs. However, the effect has grown and become distorted as more and more information is being made readily available for an individual to determine these ideas on their own.

Each item has been listed below, with the intended meaning of each item as well as any misunderstandings they may create when discovered in 200 years.

As the modern news era is quickly turning from print to online resources, the capsule should hold a copy of a major U.S. newspaper. Within 200 hundred years, such periodicals will likely be extinct. There is the chance that the newspapers meaning may be misconstrued to have something to do with a particular headline.

A print-out of the most recent tweets on Twitter of Ashton Kutcher. While the viewer may initially see significance in Kutchers public personality, a review of the tweets and the third item on this list will show the uniqueness of this form of public forum.

A print-out of the most recent status updates of a random individual on Facebook or MySpace. Both sites, like Twitter, represent a modern media forum. However, more so than Twitter they show the propensity of the modern American to sensationalize the mundane.

An iPhone 4 with instruction booklet. The phone itself may be taken as a representative of mobile technology but when combined with the instruction booklet, an explanation of the applications and the other items in the capsule the viewer will be able to see how important being plugged into the world was for Americans in 2010.

A mini-netbook, with USB ports, to be used to view items 6-9. This item is also important when viewed in the context of items 1-3, it can be used to illustrate the dominance of the internet in the American media culture.

A memory card which contains episodes of such news-opinion shows that have become more and more prevalent on networks such as Fox News, CNN and MSNBC. Included will be clips of Glenn Beck, Bill OReilly, Chris Matthews, and Rachel Maddow. Those who open the capsule may at first be led to believe that the topics discussed are the important factor. However, they will help to illustrate how factual news programs have become interspersed with opinion rather than pure fact.

To show the effects of misinformed media in the arena of politics and society, a memory card with the clips of Shirley Sherrod of the USDA that was incorrectly cited and used to tender her resignation on the grounds of racism, the reactions to the video, and the actual story printed a day after her resignation that cleared her. At first, this may be taken as indicative of broader social implications of race in the early 21st century but in the context of the rest of the items, it will help to illustrate the power of non-traditional media to influence those in even the highest office.

A memory card with copies of popular political blogs. In particular, the conservative blog that first broke the incorrect story of Sherrods speech before the NAACP, and an equally popular liberal political blog. These will illustrate the change in American attitudes that has people getting their information from sources other than the traditional journalists.

A memory card with clips from YouTube. The clips should represent a broad range of the sites content. By placing clips of cute kittens beside the threatening image of a gun-wielding militia member or terrorist, this will show how the lines between the serious and unserious sides of modern society have blurred.

A copy of an entertainment magazine such as US weekly, to show the importance of non-news media in the American cultures outlook on the world. It would be especially effective if a magazine was used that had the same date as the newspaper in item one. This will show the divide in media between real news and entertainment news.

Once all the items have been compiled and the time capsule sealed, it should be buried beside the Hollywood sign in California. The placement will help put the capsule at close range of several major colleges and universities in Southern California such as UCLA who currently has a media psychology course of study. More importantly, the placement of the capsule will help to represent the growing sensationalizing of the world through the eyes of the media, whether it is individual social networking, political blogging, or traditional news sources.