Communication and the Mass Media

Source

I recently caught 500 Days of Summer with my friends. The movie goes like this: Boy meets girl. Girl meets boy. Boy believes in love but girl does not. Boy and girl fall in so-called love anyway but at the end of it all, girl marries boy number two. Well, it was not an ending I particularly favoured.

Ever since I started this communication module, it has made me think more about the media objects I take in. I would actually analyze the media object in greater detail and like you can guess, catching a movie like 500 Days of Summer was just not the same like before.

I found myself thinking about what were some of the objectives and communication tactics used behind producing of 500 Days of Summer. Sure, 500 Days of Summer served as a form of entertainment but is there more to it? Was the show trying to warn society of the future dynamics of relationships which could be potentially heartbreaking for most? Or are they hinting at the increasing power and control of women over men?

I felt that the producers had used the agenda setting function to capture the audience’s attention and perhaps seek to raise more awareness on love in the modern world and the changing dynamics of relationships. Given modernization and globalisation, it is inevitable that with it comes changing mindsets too. I felt that Summer (the girl) was representative of the increased freedom that individuals in a “relationship” seek these days. She did not want to have a status with Tom (the boy) and she did not want to think about their future. This definitely showed the contrast between relationships then and now. In the end, she left him for another guy and Tom was left heartbroken. 500 Days of Summer sure portrayed love to be something that was increasing unattainable and complex.

500 Days of Summer also promoted alternatives to relationships. Instead of the traditional marriage, living together and having kids, the movie was the contrary. In the movie, Tom and Summer lived together even before getting married. Also, they did not think and plan for the future unlike most traditional relationships. The show definitely brought to light the changing dynamics of relationships these days such as cohabitation and lack of family planning.

Overall, like any movie, there will bound to be hidden meanings behind the movies. It is only whether we, as audiences, are able to decipher these hidden meanings and judge for ourselves. Movies can certainly influence us but ultimately, we are the ones who make meaning to the movie. Although the movie does not promote love in a positive light, I am still a believer of love. I still believe that there is love out there somewhere sometime and as far as the dynamics of relationships go, why bother so much when two people are in love?

This brings me to the end of my final entry for my communication module. I hope you have enjoyed your journey with me these 7 weeks! Adios!

Reflection: What is Singapore's culture?

What exactly is culture? There are many different definitions but I know one thing is for sure: culture is a complex phenomenon with no definitive answer to it. How I see it: It is a way of life, thinking and attitudes by a group of people.

So have you ever thought of what makes Singapore truly Singapore? Well, we do not have a well-defined culture as we consist of a diverse mix of people. I would say our culture is diverse and is constantly changing but there are some trends I have noticed over the years here. So I would like to share with you some of the increasing cultural trends in Singapore in the paragraphs to come.

Think Satay Bee Hoon and Katong Laksa and most would think of Singapore. Over the years, the number and types of food outlets have grown. There has definitely been an increasing interest in food here. After all, Singapore has been well-known for being a food paradise for some time. It hosts a variety of cuisine from all over the world. Perhaps why I say Singapore has a food culture is because one of many Singaporeans’ pastimes is food hunting! Also, there is the annual Singapore Food Festival and continual expansion of the food industry here. Just look at the newer malls such as Vivo City and Ion Orchard, which boasts new food outlets from across the world. You can also be assured you can find 24-hours food outlets here such as those 24-hours Kopitiam outlets and fast food chains which span across the island. If you do not call this a food culture, what is it then?

Then, there is also the culture of entrepreneurship being cultivated increasingly in Singapore. According to statistics, Singapore is the world’s best place to do business! It is no wonder there is proliferation of the entrepreneur spirit in Singaporeans these days. Take for instance local companies such as Schu, Charles and Keith, Raoul and Thai Express. These are just some of the many successful household names that have gone regional and global. There have definitely been many government efforts to encourage entrepreneurship too. SPRING Singapore for example, just launched its young entrepreneurship scheme called YES! Startups November last year with the aim of nurturing and encouraging young entrepreneurs. Therefore, many have come to know Singapore as a leading hub for entrepreneurship these years.

The last trend I have observed is the increased attention being paid to the performing arts scene in Singapore. Just look at the success of The Esplanade, which hosts an increasing variety of global class acts, signalling the growing demand by Singaporeans. How about the growth of TheatreWorks and stand up comedy in Singapore? There is also the annual Singapore Arts Festival which only gets bigger and better year by year. Other evidences of a growing performing arts culture scene in Singapore include Baybeats, Live ‘n’ Loaded, Fuel Festival, SingFest and Ballet Under The Stars. See, there is a whole host of performing acts each year to cater to the growing demand that you will be spoilt for choice!

Above are just some of my interpretations of Singapore’s growing culture. It is not wholesome due to Singapore’s diversity but it is some of the things I would associate Singapore with. How about you?

Group communication

Newspaper article source

The link to the newspaper article above is taken from The Financial Times on October 11, 2009. It shows us the climate talks between a group of world leaders at Bangkok. This group of people are discussing about the details of a climate deal that is to take place in Copenhagen later in December this year. However, this climate talk between the group was not efficient, evident by their lack of progress in their discussion.

Group communication is something that everyone partakes in at some point or another in their lives. So what are some of the main characteristics of group communication?

Firstly, we see interdependency between the members of the group. In the newspaper article, the members of the group count on each other to cooperate with one another to attain shared goals – to improve the climate of the world.

Secondly, there is obviously interaction between the group members as seen by the talks they engage in. Without this fundamental interaction, members would not be able to communicate ideas and information across to the others.

There are also shared behavioural standards where members are expected to behave in a certain way. The members involved in the climate deal for example, are expected to carry out and uphold certain climatic actions and failure to do so could lead to arguments and perhaps even getting “kicked out” of the group.

Sometimes, people communicate in groups because they want to tap on this larger pool of energy and resources. With this, they are better able to meet their own interpersonal needs such as cost-savings and a better climate to live in in this case. Plus, with common goals, it is easier to garner support and commitment from members of a group, which makes working towards the goals an easier one.

The problem with group communication is that there will almost always bound to be disagreements between members. In this instance, the developing and developed countries are in disagreement because both of them feel that the other party is not doing enough. Perhaps they feel like they are being “cheated” as they have done their part and the other has not. Although they are both working towards the common goal of slowing down climate change, there are arguments over how each handles the process of doing so.

So the question I am curious about is: Should group members be more concerned over fulfilling one’s individual needs or the group’s needs?

The natural instinct is for humans to serve one’s own needs over others’ first. Perhaps most can only truly help others after one’s needs have been met. If we are dissatisfied over our unmet needs, how can we be in the right frame of mind to cater to others’ needs?

However, sometimes achieving the group’s needs first actually promotes a more conducive environment for members to help one another meet individual needs.

Having said all that, I feel that whichever way, as long as both the individual and group’s needs are met at the end of the day and everyone’s contented, anything goes. There are different ways to go about doing things but there is one thing everyone should work towards: understanding the many approaches available and satisfying both our individual and group’s needs eventually. This is what I call effective group communication.

Reflection: Communication in interpersonal relationships

Today, I will be focusing on communication in interpersonal relationships. I am sure this is one topic that is close to many of our hearts. Communication is vital and the role of communication in interpersonal relationships can be further divided into three sub groups: engagement, management and disengagement.



Shown above is my personal drawing of the engagement process, which starts from the first interaction with the other partner. At this stage, it is probably known to many of us as the dating process, where partners “chase” one another and get to know one another better. I personally love this stage of a relationship the most because of the butterflies I get in my stomach and that warm fuzzy feeling. Does anybody feel me?

Anyway, at this stage, communication speeds up. It picks up in terms of frequency and breadth. We interact more with the person with the aim of achieving a richer interpersonal relationship with the person. Communication helps us to decipher whether we are suitable for the other person or not.

I personally feel there are too many reasons to name as to what makes one person gravitate towards the other but physical attractiveness and similarity are top on my list based on personal experience. Whatever the reason, as long as it makes you happy and you are able to deal with your conscience at the end of the day, that is all that matters I feel.



The second drawing is the management process of interpersonal relationships. During this stage, communication is vital to maintain the relationship. Communication here is also often more in-depth and thus, the quality of the relationship greatly increases too.

Communication comes in the form of self disclosure here where parties share information about one another, to maintain and further build trust, the basis of all relationships. Without trust, the relationship would crumble over time because we would not feel secure with the party, leading to a spiral of problems.

During this period, there would also bound to be conflicts and couples have to communicate to resolve their issues. They use communication to dictate if they should continue to develop the relationship or break the relationship up.



Communication, or the lack of it, can often lead to relational dissolution. There is disengagement of communication here where there is little or no communication. Since two parties decide that they do not want to have much to do with one another anymore, it is only natural that communication is minimal at this stage.

To me, the top reasons for break ups are betrayal of trust, violence and differences. However, I feel that break ups can be prevented with enough quality communication. With communication, you are able to clear things up with one another and bring across your thoughts, feelings and ideas. It might be possible to work things out but I understand this is easier said than done and it all depends on the context of the situation.

Interpersonal relationships on a whole need lots of quality communication and commitment for it to last. So, you should only enter into one if you are serious enough and ready for it! All the best for all your future relationships people!(:

P.S Pardon my not-up-to-artist-standard drawings!!

Communication: Two halves make a whole

Webclip source

Communication is fundamental in our daily lives. We communicate through two different ways- verbally and non-verbally. Together, these two help create meaning to what we hear and observe. Shown above is a clip taken from popular television series – Gossip Girl. I will be thoroughly evaluating how verbal and non-verbal communication, together, help bring meaning to the receiver. In the excerpt, Blair is being featured as an outcast from the group.

We all know the usefulness of language. Here, language helps establish the main characters in the clip, namely Blair, Georgina and Vanessa. They can be seen dominating the conversation, especially Blair and Georgina.

Through language, we can also tell the relationship between Blair and the rest. She is clearly not very well-liked here from the hostile use of language towards her. Examples include the majority showing no interest toward her and one of the girls even asking Blair to shut the door.

Also, we are able to establish the play of power here. Georgina is obviously the one who has the most authority as she is the main one talking and dictating what they shall do. Blair, having a fair share of lines, does not get the attention of the group, showing how she is being overpowered here.

Many of us tend to overlook the value of non-verbal communication. Take for example the use of kinesics here. We see how Blair feels like an outcast through her false smiles and her symbolic retreatment backwards. On the other hand, Georgina steps up and forward towards Blair and has her hands on her hips, showing Georgina overpowering Blair.

There is also evident use of paralinguistics here. Notice how Georgina’s tone towards Vanessa and Blair differs. Towards Vanessa, she is enthusiastic whereas towards Blair, she is sarcastic. Blair also talks in an uncomfortable manner where she tries to pretend to be chirpy. All these show how Blair is not being and feeling welcomed by the group.

Then, the producers have made use of objects and artefacts to convey meaning too. Notice how the use of the door symbolizes Blair not belonging to the group. She “intrudes” the room unwelcomed by entering through the door and at the end, is “thrown out”. The door represents the separation between Blair and the group. Also, her personal invitation is being used as a coaster by the group, showing their disregard toward Blair.

Very often, people say that eyes are windows to the soul. Here, we can see the insecurity and jealousy Blair feels when she is being rejected by the group. The glare from Georgina’s eyes and the group’s general lack of eye contact with her reaffirms her feelings.

The lack of touch toward Blair also makes her feel like a stranger when contrasted with Georgina giving a tap on Vanessa’s shoulder while praising her.

Lastly, there was been clever use of proxemics here. Clearly, they maintain a social and public distance from Blair while the others have a personal or intimate distance with one another. This just reiterates how Blair is being outcast by them.

So, we can see how verbal and non-verbal communication complement one another and thus, not one should be undervalued. In order for us receivers to decode a message most accurately, we should keep in mind to take into account both forms of communication.

Bad image for Singapore?

Video interview source


Featured above is a short clip of an interview with Miss Singapore World 2009 winner- Ris Low. She tells us more about herself in the clip and also gives us some advice on fashion.

Initially, I had quite a good impression of Ris Low as she looked bubbly and interesting in the photos of her. However, this impression took a downturn when she started speaking. I found myself in disbelief at her poor command of English. Her pronunciation of words was somewhat horrendous and she struggled with expressing her thoughts. Is this lady really representing Singapore in Miss World? And what would others think of Singapore upon meeting her?

You see, what I have just done was to formulate a perception of Ris Low, based solely on the short clip of her. Establishing a perception on things is inevitable. Our perception is based on our interaction with our surroundings and experiences and in this case, it is based on watching and hearing the video.

Perception includes the process of selecting, organising and interpreting information presented before us. In this case, the majority of us would choose to focus only on the negative aspects of Ris Low, namely her poor command of English. Why? This could be based on societal standards of a representative of Miss Singapore World. In most cases, people would akin a Miss Singapore World to an elegant, beautiful lady who carries herself off with poise and class. Thus, perhaps Ris Low has been much criticized by the public because she has not met up to these standards.

After watching this video, many people, locals and foreigners alike, would probably develop a bad image of Singaporean women. People often remember more of the bad than the good of things and likewise, this unflattering image of poorly-spoken Singaporean women would probably stick with people over a period of time. Consciously or unconsciously, this cognitive schemata comes into play when people view Singaporean women now.

This brings us to think about the credibility of the management of Miss Singapore World. Do they not have a certain set of criteria such as being able to speak well? Being a representative of Singapore, it is very important that the most suitable candidate is picked as image is at stake. A bad image can easily ruin business opportunities, social relations and etcetera, in the short or long run. I am very much appalled that this is the best we can go. I am confident that there are many more suitable candidates for Miss Singapore World out there!

To be fair, we are all capable of perceptual errors. Perhaps we judge too much based on the way she speaks and carries herself. Perhaps we have overlooked the fact that this could all be due to her nervousness? How about the failure to appreciate her confidence? Or maybe she has other good aspects of her that the video failed to bring out that makes her the most suitable candidate for Miss Singapore World.

All in all, I still think this video being circulated around the Internet will bring Singapore’s image some shortcomings and also, the ripple effect of a bad image. I just hope people do not generalize Singaporean women and let us all hope the next Miss Singapore World would do a better job at carrying herself off!

Loving your body, loving you

(Magazine article source: Shape Singapore, September 2009 issue)

The above article is taken from September’s Shape Singapore, a mind and body fitness magazine for women. It features several women giving their take on how they learn to love their own bodies. The purpose of this article was to help body-conscious women learn to embrace their bodies.

Let us face it, we humans are visual creatures and I am no exception. I personally do care quite a bit about how my body looks and therefore, I found this article interesting. This article is very effective in reaching its aim of helping body-conscious women love their bodies more through various communication techniques used.

Very importantly, they have adopted the use of visuals to get their message across. Notice that not only are they good looking, they also exude positive energy through bright-coloured clothing and “positive” settings. For example, Jade Seah is radiant in tennis attire and Shirlyn Tan very into her music performance. All these contribute to create a very upbeat and encouraging atmosphere. This use of pathos certainly makes the article more convincing as we strive to look and feel as happy as the women featured in the article.

Then, the layout also contributed to the article’s success because of the informal style adopted. Body issues are usually very sensitive topics and thus, few are open to discuss about it. Therefore, this creative and fun layout lends a more light-hearted tone, making women more susceptible to reading up on this article. This light-heartedness also makes it seem less severe and therefore, making some feel more encouraged.

After looking at the photos, one would naturally look at the text and the use of text has been very intelligently used too. For one, the main points are in a different colour from the other text. This gets the message across to readers more clearly as it emphasizes what one can do to feel better about one’s body. This use of logos is effective as it shows readers that learning to embrace one’s body is within their reach in small, simple steps. This is further emphasized by the bolding of the main points. The length of the text is also kept short, making the message clear and contributing to the light-heartedness of the article once again.

Upon further evaluation, one can see that they have used mostly celebrities. If not, it is the use of other famous female figures. This lends credibility to the article, making readers more convinced of their ability to turn their negativity to positivity. They have even carefully picked out women from a range of age groups to further emphasize that everyone can do it. This use of ethos can be further seen at work with the photos of Singaporean celebrities being enlarged as they are more well-known among Singaporean women as compared to the Shape Run 2008 10km winner or a sailor from Team Singapore.

Although it might not be realistic as the women featured are mostly from occupations which require them to look good or in the process, look good in the first place, the article contains all three persuasion techniques, making it an effective persuasion to convince women that their unique bodies are beautiful. After all, beauty is the eye of the beholder and learning to love your own body simply makes you a happier person.