Browsing by Author "Murigi, Mwangi Stephen"

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    Identity Formation of the Youth in Nairobi: The Role of Television
    (Tangaza University College, 2007) Murigi, Mwangi Stephen
    Over the last decade, in relation to the liberalization of the economy and the airwaves, most Third world countries have seen an incredible development of media outlets, especially in urban centers. Because of global media monopolization and higher advancement in media technologies from the West, many African countries have found themselves receiving information and media content coming from the West. This one-way flow of information has led to a kind of contemporary colonization, which is psychological in nature. Through the media, Africa has progressively embraced 'western" values and ideals that have lead to the loss of indigenous cultural identities in the continent. The urbanized dwellers are generally consistent with the style of life proposed by the media. Some of the youths even consider their cultural practices as backward, without first understanding what they represented. Being a youth, I have noticed that, it has become very fashionable to be 'westernized'; to dress in the latest 'western' designer fashion, talk with an American accent and even adopt the western types of food. The mass media can be used both positively and negatively, and this applies for the consequent effects as well. My project suggests that we can use the media positively. It attempts to counter the effects of television resulting from the negative use of the media, effects such as identity loss and confusion, which ultimately leads to a low self perception or image.