The medias role in modern society plays the role of the clergy in feudal Europe. The media imposes itself with all the grandeur and pomp of the ideals of a modern world, liberty, justice, truth and the enlightenment of mankind. However just like the papacy of old, Influence (Capital) is the only motivation.
The media in modern society not only markets to all the insecurities and fears of the population. (For example: the teenage working class boy who craves affection from his father, to deal with this he buys a pick up truck, drinks beer and refuses to educate himself, because the medias portrayal of a working class father figure as an aggressive, beer swilling football watchin' handyman. Every man needs a garage full of tools, a couple pick up trucks a big house, as well as emotional scars.) They actually create many of the insecurities and fears which they market to! For example the teenage girl who's complexion and body shape are not quite what she wants them too be (look at the standard she appraises beauty as) is a much more active consumer than somebody who is confident with their looks.
The most profitable products are those which advertise the satisfaction of something which cannot be. (Tobacco/beer/makeup etc...) To fuel the pursuit of happiness is the livelihood of the corporate world.
The one insecurity almost all teenagers in our society suffer from is that of peer acceptance. This of course is exploited by modern advertising. We are now supplied products to express our identity, be it by the music we listen to, the clothes we wear, or how we spend our spare time. This marketing strategy which exploits the sub-conscious motivations of people results in impulsive or irrational consuming. As all main stream media is now advertisement we are constantly bombarded with information which is intended to instigate irrational behaviour. Reinforced with sit-coms and movies this behaviour seems "normal".
The vast majority of people live very shallow lives. They work 8hrs a day 5 days a week to make some rich man richer. In debt for their entire lives, every morning when they have to rise they are reminded of their bondage. No great thoughts, no unique experiences, merely a peasant. Peasants don't care about politics, peasants don't care about foreign policies, peasants care only, but intimately about their personal lives.
The only thing which separates the serf from the free man is education.
