Sad Bitch Guide to Agenda Settings

Whenever we talk about the word 'agenda' it is usually related to important points to be discussed in some kind of meeting (how boring) or its the plan of someone who is probably evil. And there ladies and gentlemen is the most concise, accurate and unorthodox definition of what mass media is in our society- evil, but fundamental. A part of what makes the media so powerful is agenda settings.

Classic Puppets-on-a-string image

I'm sure you're all wondering, what is Agenda Settings and why the hell should I care?

Essentially Agenda Settings in the Media is essentially the social construction of reality, concerning four main areas: Public, Policy, Corporate and Media Agendas. It is the process of mass media presenting certain views, foregrounding issues that is in the media's interest. Fun Fact: Did you know that on any average day you are presented with at least 3000 images that help to shape your construction of reality.


Essentially what I'm trying to say is that the reason you think owning those $250 high heels that you'll only wear once is important, its probably because the media told you it is. If you think someone is evil, the media told you they are. And if you truly believe that supermodels are that skinny, its because the media made you believe they are (or you haven't heard of Photoshop yet).

The Great Kerr Photoshop Incident of 2013

Candice I love you, but either eat a steak or stop using Photoshop

A shaped reality is actually a dangerous thing, mainly because it filters the information that reaches us in order to reach a unified reaction. My personal favourite way of describing a filtered reaction is one I was taught in school.

Woman in a tight, short, red dress walking around a dark street late at night.

Jessica Rabbit has had more boyfriends than me and she's not even real.

Slut Game is strong

Of course the usual reaction would be something along the lines of 'prostitute,' or 'one-night-stand,' seeing as we are taught to believe that every girl in a tight dress after dark is probably a skank (I went to a Catholic School).

How do we know this girl didn't leave a party to get more beverage refreshing ice, or perhaps she's self-conscious and simply needed milk.

So if it is public opinion that every woman wearing a short, tight dress that shows off her sweater puppies is a raging whore, how did that opinion come to light? If every woman was labeled a slut for wearing a revealing dress, I would already be up on the crucifix with a crown of thorns around my head (I work at a Catholic School, so I'm in the Easter spirit).

It's the Season for it

Clearly it is through the messages we receive through the media that defines us as a society, but it is already common knowledge that we live in a constructed world.

I'm not going to say this is always a bad thing. This is the hot fire of truth I am about to spit at you, so prepare to get burned (lousy dramatic pun unfortunately intended, so now I'm ashamed of myself).

We could never live in a world where reality is not already constructed for us for mainly two reasons;

1) Human history is mainly a series of people fighting with each other due to different opinions. Unless you're Emperor Caligula, who decided to go to war with Poseidon and ordered his solders to throw spears at the ocean (Maybe because Poseidon didn't wave back- another awful pun) - remember this whenever you feel bad about yourself. Imagine if we lived in a world where there is no construction about how to act, feel, react, or behave. This construction shouldn't rule our lives, but god-willing at least the majority can be on the same page (Sorry if you're the minority).

The Great Emperor Caligula, who ordered the mass stabbing of the ocean.

And 2) Humans are lazy and we really don't want to think for ourselves

My Daily Motto