Chunk4; Illnesses and Planecrashes??

In the last chunk of Glassners novel Culture of Fear, he addresses the fear of metaphoric illnesses and the fear of plane crashes. It was said that some illnesses were created in the media to criticize the government. When illnesses were greatly publicized people became more scared purchasing more medicines and and making some medicines and operations a greater demand. This caused people opportunity to receive more money from the government and corporations. Glassner believes that metaphoric illnesses will either always be around or that more will be created. Glassner also tells of the fear of plane crashes. He tells of how the media and people pay little attention to research and statistics. In reality there are more car crashes than there are plane crashes. Plane crashes are 1 in 4 million so the fear of flying is produced by the media. It seems throughout this book that the media is the root of our fears and stereotypes of the world.



1.Could it be that the fear of flying for some people is the fault of the media?

Chunk 3: Black Monsters and Ilegal Drug Use

In this section of the novel Culture of Fear, Gassner adresses the sterotypes of Black Men. He tells how the media covers crimes commited by black men making white men seem as if they are the victims and couldnt possibly commit the crimes that black commit. Also because of how the media exploits rap music, it is said to be the reason for most violent acts in America. Gassner tells that Rock music is just as if not worse then Rap but is not potrayed as bad or misleading. However beacuse the media makes Rap music seems more worse than it is, society believes that Rap music is the cause for crime in our nation. Gassner also adresses how the government focuses all their attention on illegal drugs. The media puts such fear into society about different types of drugs and what it can that everytime one drug is undercontrol another drug comes about causing fear all over again. He talks of date drugs, crack , and why people are so afraid of it. The government focuses so much attention on drugs, that they dont even focus on the most important issues in our nation.


1. Since the government shows so much attention on drugs use , could this be a reason why people are so afraid of the problem?
2.Does it seem that racism is displayed through out the different genres of music that is played in our society today?