2. Fairly recently, Hugo Chavez has been re-elected for
another six year term that staples his presidency in Venezuela. This
is obviously an event that will affect millions of people within a
society. Such an event will be communicated to the masses
through many different media outlets.
3. I have chosen three different newspapers that covered the Hugo Chavez’s re-election to examine
through a communication perspective. I have articles from the NPR, CNN, and LA Times.
4. • The theory of Society precedes the individual will be used to
understand these different media sources.
5. The theory explains that there must be social relationship with society that produces individual behavior.
I felt this was an appropriate perspective because of the relationship an election has on the society and
the individual.
6. • Let’s start off with the article from LA Times “Venezuela
President Hugo Chavez wins election, officials say”. This article
begins with the fact that Hugo Chavez wins by convincing voters
to vote for him. These voters are of the lower class and allow
him to maintain office even with problems such as a flaccid
economy, rising crime, and polarized society that scissors
through the country. This is an interesting way to begin the
article. Even though the economy is not doing well, crime is
increasing, and there are conflicts within society Hugo Chavez
still regains the people’s trust to direct society. It doesn’t seem
as if the article is trying to undermine Hugo Chavez, but just
state the hurdles he overcame in order to regain his Presidential
position.
7. Saussure, Freud, and Durkheim said that society creates meaning into the individual. Looking into this introductory of the article again
it can be questioned what made these voters choose Chavez for another six years. From this perspective it would say that individual
was influenced by society. That doesn’t seem like a far-fetched idea when it comes to a political election.
8. • Advertisement is probably bombarding ideas down the
individuals’ throat painting a picture of how it thinks society
should look. The individuals would feed off of these ideas and
construct a vision of their society should be.
9. Depending on what interest the voter the most they will use these preconceived ideas to
pick a candidate based on how effective they get their message across.
10. • Although the people have the
power to elect who they want in
office, why do they elect that
person. Is society creating meaning
within the individual or is the
individual thinking on their own? It
would seem that if the society you
are in is mostly poor and have a
bad economy then you will be
shaped by these ideas.
11. The article then goes on to say that Chavez goes to twitter to thank God and his supporters.
This brings me to another way of looking at it.
12. • Chavez is an individual with the responsibility to take care of his
society. He reaches out through twitter as an individual to reach
millions of people.
13. Where is Chavez getting his meaning from. As president he has to cater to the needs of the public,
therefore relying on society to give meaning to his work. When Chaves sent out his twitter message, it
shows he recognizes the greater role society plays.
14. • The article finishes by saying Chaves has transformed
Venezuelan society. This perspective gives the impression that
an individual can give meaning to a society. Chavez delivered
free medical care, housing, education, and cut-rate groceries to
the poor. Chavez has the opportunity to give meaning to his
society, through his individual beliefs. Is Chavez doing this
because he really believes this is what’s right or is it because he
is influenced by society and responding to its needs.
15. “Venezuelan election officials: Chavez reelected as President, defeats Capriles President, defeats
Capriles”.This article begins by saying Chavez beat his opponent Henrique Capriles Radinski.
16. • It explains how Capriles criticized Chavez for inconsistencies,
infrastructure shortcomings, and corruption. Chavez battled
back by highlighting his accomplishments within housing,
education, and health initiatives. This is similar to the LA Times
article. Here we have Chavez being tested by his policies by his
opponent and he still wins. It reports that Chavez has been
President since 1999. Could this have been enough time to
instill his way of government that the people just accept this
way of society?
17. The article explains this has been the highest participation in the election ever. There was a heavy emphasis on controlling the violence. Chavez
had troops stationed at the polls to prevent an outbreak of violence. It evident that violence is a big part of this society. How does that work with
the theory? If the military is watching over the citizens to prevent violence that mean society is stressing a meaning of peace. If citizens are still
willing to engage in violence does that stem from the individual. Maybe an act to break away from the confides of society.
18. • Violence would communicate a rebellion against what society
wants them to do. Violence doesn’t have to be the only way of
rebellion, so why violence. Is it being communicated through
the community therefore stemming from society?
19. This has been Chavez closes opponent he has ever had. Chavez won the election by ten percent, which shows there was a large percent of the
country that wanted a change, but even a larger percentage who felt things will be better as they were. The culture that Chavez has instilled is still
heavily influenced throughout the country. It seems through these articles more time than not society precedes the individual.
20. • The last article is from NPR “Chavez Wins Another Term As
Venezuela’s President”. This article begins like the rest
explaining how Chavez faced his most challenging opponent in
years. After words, it says that once Chavez won he was carried
through the Presidential palace singing the national anthem.
This is interesting to look at that wasn’t mentioned in the other
articles. It seems almost routine to sing the national anthem,
especially during this moment.
21. What’s interesting is the values that the nation stands for. I don’t know Venezuela’s national anthem, but I’m sure it contains values
that the country stand for. This is another example reinforcing societies influence over the individual. A person sings the national
anthem proudly and embraces it. This would seem to say that people hold these values dear and it develops individual attitudes.
22. • Alex de Tocqueville said that American society tended to make
people downplay social institutions. Although this isn’t America,
it’s still a Democracy. As much as an individual may ignore that,
it becomes evident how society is influential through these
articles. What is also seen is that the individual has the chance
to influence society. The article goes on to say that the
President controls much of the televised airwaves, and billions
in oil profits that were used for giveaways like new apartments
and appliances.
23. The President is one person with a lot of power to sway a nation in a certain direction. With heavy control over televised
airways, it’s almost scary the influence he has. Wrapping up the three articles, there were many examples between the
relationship between individuals and society. It’s an interesting relationship that draws from each other.
24. • It seems society has the more heavy influence based on the
articles, but individual still has the opportunity to break into a
new way of living.
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