Media is an important part of our daily lives. We consume it through various channels like TV, radio, internet, social media etc. Media has its own power that influences our thinking and actions. It helps us to know about the world around us but also has some negative impact too. Media has changed society's perception about things. Especially when it comes to gender roles and expectations, media plays a major role. The image that media portrays is often unrealistic and idealized, which creates certain expectations in people's minds. This leads to disappointment when they fail to achieve those ideals. In this essay, I will discuss how media images project unconscious desires onto the audience and mask their unaddressed emotional needs.
Gender Roles
We are exposed to a variety of media images such as advertisements, movies, music videos, and television shows. These all create certain stereotypes regarding men and women.
In most commercials, women are shown cooking or cleaning while men are doing outdoor activities such as mowing the lawn or fixing cars. This portrayal is wrong because nowadays both genders can do everything. Women have become more independent and can take care of themselves without needing anyone else's help.
These false images create confusion in the mind of the audience who believe that if they don't follow those norms, then they won't be accepted by society. Thus, media projects unconscious desires onto the audience and masks their unaddressed emotional needs for acceptance.
Sexuality and Intimacy
Media also gives an unrealistic picture of sexuality and intimacy. We see perfect bodies on TV screens and magazines; we think that everyone has to look like that to be attractive. But it isn't true, there are many types of bodies, and each one is beautiful in its own way. Media makes us feel inferior about our body type, which leads to low self-esteem. It also creates fake expectations from partners and relationships. People start believing that sex should always be passionate and intense. Sometimes, people get so much influenced by media that they ignore the personality traits of their partner and focus only on physical appearance. All this leads to masking of emotions and unaddressed needs. The audience gets disappointed when reality does not match the idealized image.
Media plays a major role in shaping our perceptions, thoughts, and actions. It projects certain unconscious desires into our minds and hides our real emotions. We should understand the difference between reality and fiction. We must appreciate what we have instead of comparing ourselves with others. It is necessary to be aware of media messages and not let them influence our lives too much. By doing so, we can live a happy life without any regrets or disappointments.
What unconscious desires are projected onto idealized media images, and how do they mask unaddressed emotional needs?
"Media images can be seen as a reflection of our idealized selves, but they also have the power to create an aspirational gap between reality and fantasy. This dissonance can cause individuals to project their unconscious desires and emotional needs onto these media figures, creating a sense of longing and yearning for something that may not be attainable.