Framing

The concept of framing helps me to understand how a simple image that media presents could affect how we think. During the Iraq War, the two Medias cropped the original photo in two ways in order to persuade their audiences.


Framing is basically how media presenting images and arranging words so that audience could interpret the messages the way media wanted. The dictions, phrases and pictures that media uses will definitely influence how we think and comprehend. Media Framing plays an important role in the society because it not only leads audiences to a certain perspective to see things, but also determines what and where audiences draw attention to. Gorge Lakeoff, a professor at UC Berkley, says that framing are perceptual—They are analogous to optical illusions in terms of whether the glass is half full or half empty. In conclusion, framing is how the media manipulate our viewpoint through its word choices and images.

The picture on the left best illustrates how media framing can twist things around by just presenting different parts of a picture. The left part of this photo reflects how the captive was abused, which could simply instigate audiences to advocate a war. On the other hand, the right side of this photo depicts a totally different story which American soldier treated the captive well. From this perspective, the anti-war media can also use this photo to persuade audiences. Media filters and selects the information they desired so that they can direct audiences’ judgment.