I’ve noticed I tend to post things here most when I should be studying. Anyway… so that I can kind of say I’m studying, I figured I’d give ya’ll (I use American AND Canadian slang!) a quick lesson in media theory.
 
One concept I’ve learned about is called “moral panic.”
 
A moral panic is described in the following way: “A situation in which something (a person, group, event, etc.) comes to be defined as a threat to societal value and/or interest.”
 
The following tends to happen once a moral panic has been defined:
 

  1. The threat is presented in a stereotypical fashion by the media. (AHHHH! Threat! Panic!)
  2. People with high cultural capital (figures of authority) denounce the thing in question. (IT’S THE DEVIL!!!!)
  3. People with high cultural capital offer solutions to the “problem”. (Kill it!!!!)
  4. Ways of coping with “the problem” are defined. (Maybe if we just ignore it, it’ll go away)
  5. The condition disappears. (It really hasn't, but we’ve moved onto something else)

 
Now that we’re all on the same page, I figured I’d ask you what our next moral panic should be about. What should we get up in arms and march in protest to our respective government bodies about? In the past, moral panics have been about raves, mods, and goths.
 
I’m thinking Barney would be a good option. He’s always freaked me out. There's something off about his tail swagger. Plus, Barney wasn't nearly as cool as Polkaroo.
 
Other options could include:

  • Kate Gosselin’s hair
  • Blagojevich’s hair
  • Cow tipping
  • Tights worn as pants
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