Our Access To The Truth example essay topic

the "truth" by those in positions of power and influence, such as the satirical "Frontline" series, which parodies contemporary current-affairs programs. Whilst a newspaper article entitled "Chopping decision to use a psychology student, rather than expert, and. ".. just slap him in front of a bookcase... ". is a further example by the conversation between Jas and Brooke. When Jas question's Brooke as to whether or not the story really was about a Sportswoman being dropped for poor form, Brooke sarcastically responds "There's a lead story Jas, Player dropped due to bad form. That's groundbreaking stuff".

During the interview with Allison, the sportswoman, Brooke prompts. ".. how many of team have it in for you... ". to which Allison replies "Most of them". However, shortly after the interview, Brooke rephrases the question to "How many of the team are gay?" lending the interview a new meaning, a meaning which was not originally intended to be portrayed and one which has been created through false representation. Again highlighting the way in which representation influences and shapes meaning. This use of comic exaggeration and contrast, typical of parody, raises questions about the ethics of journalism while demonstrating the power which the media holds. The power to manipulate, influence and subvert the "truth" whilst "tarnishing the reputations" of the "small fish" involved, and in effect impeding society's access to the "truth" however subjective it may be. "This Night of Nights" supports the assertion that our access to the truth is impeded by the powerful, and emphasises the domination the powerful and influential have over this "truth".

After discovering that that Telecom has been "bugging" people's telephone calls, the Frontline Team prepare an expos'e, believing that it is their duty "to inform the public, regardless of the consequences", however this attitude is soon abandoned when, Telecom, one of Frontline's major sponsors, asserts it's influence upon the Team's directors. Again, the hierarchical power structure of the media is highlighted, exposing the hypocrisy of the industry and questioning the ethics of journalism, a subject commonly explored in "Frontline's" satirical parody of actual current-affairs programs. Satirical techniques such as irony play a major role in "This Night of Nights", as evidenced by Brian's comment. ".. As the media we have a duty to report what we learn, not sit back and decide what people should and shouldn't know", contrasting with the actions of the Frontline team, as this is precisely what they do. Mike Moore's comment, "So we go from attacking to endorsing them?" accurately describes the influence which the powerful, in this case Telecom, have in controlling, manipulating and selectively choosing the "Truths" to be represented.

This selectivity of representation means that often the meaning of a text can be changed dramatically. It can therefore be clearly seen that our access to the "truth" is indeed impeded, hampered or even completely denied by the powerful. The television series "Changi" has been criticised as an "appropriation of history, (intended) to suit the sensitivities of television audiences", an appropriation which has been subject to the manipulation and influence of the powerful. Christopher Ban tick, a senior lecturer of History at Melbourne's Trinity Grammar school, believes that "Changi will do nothing for the much needed development of a secure and well researched sense of Australian history" which explores the brutal and inhumane treatment of Australian Prisoner's of War at Changi, a statement supported by the casualty figures of Changi. Of the 20,000 P.O. W's captured by the Japanese, only 14,315 survived, nearly a third of all P.O. W's died at Changi.

This horrid and brutal atmosphere of the P.O. W camp is not conveyed or expressed to audiences in the television series "Changi" and is indicative of the way in which our access to the "truth" is impeded by the powerful, as the visual representation of the realities (or non-realities) of "Changi" influ flight receipts which allegedly prove that Versace could not have met with Monte. It is believed that this case provides a clear example of the ways in which our access to the truth is impeded by the powerful. The huge power which a company such as Versace posses in influencing the media surely demonstrates that the factual "truth" is often suppressed for either financial gain or positive representation and consequentially society's access to the "truth" is limited and in the hands of the powerful. and coupled with the newspaper text "Journalists targeted in Afghanistan", illustrate the fact the powerful have the ability to impede our access to the truth not only.