Radio as source of information
To a society that had no television, no internet, and all the other sources of information we have today, Radion was pretty much the only source of information, entertainment that people this time had. Therefore was very important to the people as seen, and as Allen explains, one can tell how vividly and fondly he remembers those days. The role Radio plays in uniting, informing, and entertaining the listeners is enormous. Joe associates memories of his childhood had inspirations from certain sounds and songs from the radio. This shows how crucial the role of radio was for the people then. It was the main tool that influenced their socialization and civilization. It was a socialization platform that, in turn, influenced their lifestyle and cultural practices.
Every person listened to the radio during this time from the young and people from all backgrounds. As such, it was basically the only thing that united the people at a time when racism and primitive thinking was at an all-time high. It was thus a significant factor in teaching people about new ways of thinking and seeing things. They defined each other based on their differences, and the role of radio in trying to bridge these gaps was very crucial. It introduced families to new lifestyles and improved the socialization of the people. Radio can therefore be credited for being the agent that inspired civilization and enhanced social relations.
During early radio time, bias was a major issue; cultural, gender, and racism were some of the main biases people experienced. Racism was prevalent during this time; people were classified according to their races. Some races lived deplorable conditions lives due to their differences. Cultural biases were also a common thing. Cultural differences divided people and segregation for people who were considered to have inferior cultures. As much as civilization has evolved since the early days of radio, modern society’s bias is still a serious problem. There are still a lot of cases of racism, sexual biases, orientation, and cultural ones. So in terms of change of the bias from that time to now, not a lot has changed; society today still has a lot of prejudice.
According to Joe, music was essential in his childhood and one of the reasons he loved listening to the radio so much. It made his childhood more memorable as the pride and happiness it gave him are evident as he narrates the story of his childhood experience. For instance, he says most of his important memories have been associated with some of the music he listened to. He speaks nostalgically and evokes the little kid in him that listened to the music all that time.
The impact of music in my childhood mimics these sentiments as the music was just as influential in my childhood. Music was an important part of our social life when growing up, and we were huge music lovers. Music entertained us and taught us about life. Like Joe, we associate music with the experiences it created in our lives; for instance, listening to certain music can remind me of an activity I did while listening to that song. It spiced up my life experiences and makes the memories more colorful; it brings the kid in me out.
The role of radio as the main source of information and entertainment from the golden generation of radio has changed completely. It influenced cultures and set new trends, and it was crucial for all Americans as it encouraged diversity among Americans. It was the quickest way for people to have access to information. However, with a lot of technological advancements between now and then, the role of radio has somewhat been redefined. The rise of the internet and television has ensured that radio is no longer the fastest or the only access to information. People can get entertainment from a whole lot of other sources out there. However, this does not mean that people do not listen to the radio anymore, no! People still do but not with the same enthusiasm as those before them. The radio has also evolved and become more diversified, and the distance between the author and the listener has been reduced. Listeners are now able to enact their tastes online. Listeners can cooperate with the author to produce the show by contributing materials that can be the topic for programs. Though not as popular as it was during the golden age, radio is still part of people’s lives. Still, its role has been altered by the many changes that have occurred over the years. In turn, it has adapted to become closer to the people, which has given it a different dimension and hence redefining its role in American society.