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I don't believe that the media "causes" anything. As a journalist, I think that wording is troublesome. What I do believe is that the media carries powerful messages about what it means to be alive and involved in current society. Especially in terms of reality TV and the messages it carries about what is normal behavior and how you can go about improving yourself (through consuming and competing). As much as people believe that the media portrayal of women effects their personalities and self esteem, I believe the media portrayal of masculinity through sports programming and dramatic violent shows effects men and their beliefs about the world and what it means to be a man.
Anyway this is long winded but essentially I think television and other media informs the way in which we see the world, the morals we choose to adopt and the traits that are considered acceptable for certain "types" of people. Media informs and reflects our stereotypes. I believe that media portrayal of violence says something important about culture, and certainly affects the ways people see the world, which in turn motivates them in their actions. I don't believe that watching violent media causes a person to go be violent, although it may trigger those who already have a predisposition for violence. I believe media interacts with people in very complex and nuanced ways, depending on their deeply held political, personal, moral and religious beliefs.
ugh or Breaking Bad just cause I got bored. We also watch most of our shows on Showtime or HBO like Shameless (US version), Californication, Game of Thrones, True Blood ect...
