Socialisation and Transmission of Cultural Heritage (Major and Minor Functions of the Media - iii)

We are what we are because of the phenomenon of socialisation, which is social and psychological adaptation to society. Socialisation initiates a child into the accepted norms of society and makes it “human.” Society has a collective personality. As members of a society, we do not approve of certain behaviours. Our behavioural patterns are in conformity with norms established over a long period. When a child is born, it has a blank brain. It is the parents and elders that initiate the child into social norms. Left to itself, the child may not learn these norms and consequently an untrained child will behave antisocially. “Potty-training” too is part of socialisation!

Respect for conventions is essential for social living since unconventional behaviour of an individual is not tolerated by society. Anyone who behaves unconventionally is considered either as a “nut” or “intolerable.” But sometimes we have to be patient and persuade the unconventional, and respect the unconventional person and his or her views, instead of trying to destroy anyone or anything. Dissenting views are to be respected in a democracy. Sometimes, ignorance may be the cause of our own intolerance. The media must make us tolerant instead of fanning our intolerance.

The media socialise and also transmit our heritage to others, particularly the generations downstream. Whenever a violation of social norms takes place, the media report it.

The media also transmit history and cultural heritage. This is why some look upon journalism as “history in a hurry.”

But more than literature, journalism is history and that too, social history. We can learn many things about a particular age if we look at the periodicals of that age. Future generations know much about the past though mass-circulated newspapers, historical writings, contemporary journals, programmes on TV and radio, films, and videos.

Whatever is culturally admissible for the present society is conveyed through the media, which also condemn what is unacceptable.

The media, more often than not, conform to the majority view. Violations and minority views are reported to make course corrections and act as pointers; sometimes they present dissenting views as worthy of support. At other times, they condemn dissent. But in all democracies, citizens should have the right to dissent and the media should uphold that right. Human rights include not only the rights to the fulfilment of basic needs but the right to education, right to work, right to live a safe and normal life in any part of the country, and the right to dissent from the majority. 

Despite all the changes brought about by science and technology in the past 100 years or so in India, the fundamental character of the sociocultural life of many Indian scientists and the majority of Indian citizens in general has not changed much. (The established media usually reinforce cultural practices rather than oppose them vehemently even when found harmful to society. Examples include loudspeakers, helmets, and places of worship obstructing road traffic. Occasional expressions of political objections are there, but nothing serious and permanent to oppose religious goondaism).