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The History of the Media Monster and its Effects on Mental Health
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Introduction
The media has forever been evolving. Media was a very important part of winning World War II as it brought in more soldiers to fight and to keep the United States citizens aware of the current happenings throughout the world. After the war ended, the media prevailed. This resulted in the toxicity of the media becoming evident through invasive paparazzi and online cyberbullying. The reality of fame is a double edged sword, leaving celebrities in anxiety riddled and depressed. -
Introduction Part 2
The media is known to infiltrate female celebrities are the main topics in the media game. The media has been known to use female celebrities for the male gaze. In other instances, they will use personal celebrity issues as as way to gain viewers, listeners or buyers to raise ratings and to get more money. -
Uncle Sam
Though it was used in both World Wars, Uncle Sam became well known during WWII. This poster was and advertisement from the media in order to grow the United States Military. This is a prime example of the media attempting convince US male citizens ato join the military. Uncle Sam is known as a "national personification of the federal government." Uncle Sam was portrayed in the media as the symbol of patriotism. -
The Rise of Marilyn Monroe
A prominent figure known to all of the media, Marilyn Monroe was one of the first victims to fall due to the media. Marilyn Monroe, born as Norma Jeane Mortenson, was a well-known actress and entertainer. With the majority of her stardom occurring in the 1950s, she starred in movies such as “Gentlemen Prefer Blonds” and “The Seven Year Itch.”Marilyn Monroe rose to fame soon after World War 2 in a movie titled, 'Niagara' which was released in 1953. -
Marilyn Monroe Media Struggles
During her time in the limelight, Marilyn Monroe suffered from two miscarriages, which of course made headlines. Hedda Hopper, a very popular magazine gossip columnist wrote, ''Have you a complex about losing babies? You lost two unborn children, one in 1958 and the other in 1959. Is it true that, in sorrow, you even put vodka into your bouillon? Marilyn, don't drink... It won't bring back the baby." This is just one example of the media taking a stab at a celebrity -
Marilyn Monroe Media Struggles Part 2
With articles such as this, Marilyn Monroe's personal life was put on blast by the media. Having a personal crisis such as this be all people talk about, Marilyn Monroe began to drink and became addicted to substances. Her anxiety and depression only grew from there. -
The Death of Marilyn Monroe Part 2
Marylin Monroe suffered from Bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression. She reached for fame in any way she could, going as far as becoming as sex symbol in Hollywood. The media forced her to feel an overwhelming sense of stress and lack of self-esteem. This resulted in multiple suicide attempts, which finally succeeded August 4, 1962 of a Barbiturate overdose. Though she was depicted for the male gaze, she was a symbol of beauty. Unfortunately, the media played her death as a death to sex. -
The Death of Marilyn Monroe
In an FBI Reprocessed document titled, The Vault, there is evidence of Marylin Monroe beginning to struggle with her self worth. A quote from Marylin Monroe in an article published on December 2, 1962 states, “I have never understood this sex symbol business, but if I’m going to be a symbol…” This quote targets sex symbols in the media. Marylin Monroe was a member of PlayBoy Bunny when her stardom began in 1953. -
Princess Diana and the Media
Princes Diana was thrown into the limelight for the media. She became known as a royal rebel as she often went against the rules of the monarchy. After marrying Prince Charles III in 1981, she had a rude awakening of how disgusting the media is. -
The Revenge Dress
In 1994, the media published an article revealing the affair Prince Charles III was having with Camilla Shand during his marriage with Princess Diana. In the midst of their divorce, Princess Diana had not been seen by the public or the media since the announcement of the affair. She finally emerged for Vanity Fair event at Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens. She attended this event in a skin tight, short, off the shoulder black dress. -
The Revenge Dress Part 2
This sort of outfit was out of uniform for the royal monarchy. Easily enough, this sent the media flocking towards Princess Diana. Princess Diana used this as her key into using the media to her own advantage and to create chaos. This however did not make her life any easier as she was practically exiled from the royal family. -
BBC Interview
Princess Diana grew weary of her mental health issues put on her by the media, causing her to struggle with anxiety, depression, and bulimia. “It gave everyone a wonderful and new label, ‘Diana’s unstable; Diana is mentally imbalanced. Unfortunately those seem to have stuck on and off over the years,” Diana states in the interview. Princess Diana was able to have control more a moment in the media.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpTc01QQMxU -
The Death of Princess Diana
Two years after this interview was released, Princess Diana was killed in a car crash on August 31, 1997. The newspapers released targeted the royal family with many conspiracies about her death. One found in the National Archives Catalog titled “Grief Reveals ‘New’ Britain.”It was not until after her death was Princess Diana recognized as a modern monarchist. -
The Death of Princess Diana Part 2
Princess Diana used the media to her advantage the best that she could. She understood that the media was toxic and twists stories left and right. Unfortunately, though the media saved her from her life in the royal family, the media is responsible for her death as well. -
Britney Spears Claim to Fame
Only a year after Princess Diana’s death, on October 23, 1998, the hit single “Hit Me Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears was released when she was only sixteen years old. Britney Spears quickly rose to fame as she became a young sex icon. The media portrayed her as the princess of pop. -
The Portrayal of Britney Spears
Britney spears was known for scandalous clothing and somewhat inappropriate music for her age. However, her 'innocent' claim to fame began to spiral as her and her husband, Kevin Federline announced their divorce. "Her erratic behavior during this time—at one point she shaved her head and was briefly hospitalized—resulted in her being placed under a court-ordered conservatorship in 2008," on article says. -
The Portrayal of Britney Spears Part 2
The article is titled, “Family’s shocking decision to put Britney in Mental Hospital.” This article cover portrayed Britney as psychotic. The media does not elaborate on stories if it is not in their best interest. Since she was very young at the time, she had little say in what the media put out about her. Britney Spears was ridiculed into isolation while still expected to maintain a strong stage and media presence. -
#FREEBRITNEY
Britney Spears has been heavily impacted by the media, causing her to lose custody of her kids, all to keep the fake persona the media is forcing her to keep. -
#FREEBRITNEY
In order to maintain a media presence on new social media sites, Britney Spears maintain the persona the media casted her as. She has since posted videos and pictures to try and keep herself as the a young sex icon the media has portrayed her as. It has gone so far that people on social media are trying to speak on her behalf. But is this just a way for the media to get more gossip, drama, and viewership? -
How is the media effecting everyone else?
Though celebrities tend to be the main target of the media, everyone is effected by it. Whether it be because we fixate on looking like someone we see on the internet or being bullied online. “Most adolescents and young adults use social media; 35% report using at least one social media platform “almost constantly,” and 54% say it is difficult to “give up” social media,”(Social Media and Adolescents’ and Young Adults’ Mental Health). -
How is the media effecting everyone else?
“A review of data collected between 2004 and 2010 via survey studies indicated that lifetime cyberbullying victimization rates ranged from 20.8% to 40.6% and offending rates ranged from 11.5% to 20.1%,”(Social Media and Suicide: A Public Health Perspective). The media will always be a monster, and unfortunately we may never be able to stop it.