“Culture jamming is a form of communication that can come only from outside commercial culture, not from inside the media industry.” (pp. 214) Culture jamming is meant to use mass media to criticize consumerism and advertising, typically being aimed at brands that are highly recognized. According to the definition provided in the text, I do feel satirical news reporting, seen on shows such as The Daily Show and The Rick Mercer Report, would be a definite form of culture jamming. The main purpose of these shows is to ‘make fun’ of serious political topics that are hitting the media.
Going along with the popular topic of my previous blogs, Miley Cyrus is one individual who is recently been all over the media. Miley is an innocent celebrity attempting to live her life. Unfortunately, her actions are all over every media platform. I recently watched the CMA awards, hosted by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley. Not only did their opening skit contain fragments aimed at mocking Miley, but they brought it up more than once throughout the show. Although this award show is not a news broadcast, and has the sole purpose of entertainment, is it necessary for Miley’s actions to be made fun of at every opportunity? I think not. Culture jamming has the goal of “… raising [awareness of social and political issues] as well as using the media to criticize.” (pp. 214) and that is exactly what Carrie and Brad did. The broadcast used the media to criticize the actions of Miley.
With this being said, the CMA award show is not a satirical news report. The Daily Show is though. After some research, I did find an episode in which Jon Stewart, a host of the show, wore the infamous nude “bathing suit” Miley wore as she preformed with Robin Thicke, and ‘twerked.’
As entertaining as I found this, I felt that it was unnecessary for the CMA awards to do this to Miley. As the text also outlines, “it is the form of communication, as well as content of individual messages, that makes culture jamming subversive.” (pp. 216) The example I provided clearly displays why this could cause a problem. I couldn’t imagine watching my life be made fun of on public television. Its hard enough being the girl who shaved her head at Brock, never mind the celebrity who shaved her head, who appears on every form of media there is. Fight the power Miley.
Overall, television shows such as The Daily Show and The Rick Mercer Report are not a useful addition to the public sphere, although they are entertaining.
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