This week I came across something very interesting while watching a television program in London. One aspect for these journal assignments is to take note when we, as consuming viewers, are subject to subtle messaging within our daily lives here in London. This week I was watching the television program CSI:Miami in my flat in London and came to realize the program’s blatant product placement and social political agenda that was implemented into one of their episodes. At the end of the episode, a scene featured a conversation between the main detective, Horatio Caine, and his son. His son is currently fighting in the war in Iraq and Skyped in from Afghanistan to talk with his dad. During their Skype conversation on the computer, the Skype logo was visibly apparent on the screen. Consumers of this program are unknowingly being subject to product promotion through the implementation of this logo. What was most interesting was the conversation that took place between the father and son. The son was blatantly promoting the war in Afghanistan and relating conservative social ideals to influence the viewing audience. The program turned from a form of entertainment to a media platform used to project political ideals onto an audience. For example, Horatio asked his son how his time in Afghanistan has been. The son responded by telling a story from his day in which him and some fellow soldiers helped in building a school for the children of the struggling country. One quote included, “It was amazing to see how our work here is changing the lives of the people here. We gave those kids a chance at a new life today.” Horatio responded to these comments by expressing how proud he was of his son and how important it was for him to continue his work there in Afghanistan. The average viewer is unknowingly being influenced on the social political attitude of a network demonstrated through their television program. By visually displaying a soldier in Iraq and portraying his life there in such a positive way, it creates an image for the viewer of what is going on there. It is obviously an incorrect depiction and therefore, it is wrong of this television program to be implementing such political agendas that have such strong influences on their consuming audience. The conservative agenda of this television drama is a blatant form of media used to influence social change within society. It is evident the writers of the show are working to promote support of the war in Iraq. Every one has the privilege to have opinions of their own and I believe it is wrong to give such a constructed view of the war to consumers who have no real insight into what is actually taking place there. The show is giving a representation that they hope their viewers will believe as real because at the end of the day writers of a television program are creating a visual world for the audience to think of as real. It is important for all viewers to be aware of the subtle messaging taking place on television today. Here is the father and son discussed from the episode:
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