Tropic of Orange (Karen Tei Yamashita)

In Karen Tei Yamashita’s “Tropic of Orange” the role of the media during the spiked orange epidemic depicts the orange itself as a harmful hazard, yet beneficial health supplement at the same time.  This contradicting depiction exemplifies the media’s attempt at remaining relevant in order to maintain its credibility while also supplementing its investors. During this process, the media fails to inform their watchers with unbiased information. It is due to this failure that people are influenced in a variety of ways because of the divergent forms of news being shared. Despite the warnings, people continue to try and obtain illegal oranges to fulfill different desires.

In this passage, it is interesting to observe the actual updates of information. While the media is sure to alert people of the potentially dangerous threats of the contaminated oranges, the media also presents a positive representation of oranges—giving a confusing, skewed perspective of the situation at hand. Talk shows discuss the health benefits of oranges and vitamin c, encouraging consumers to continue to indulge in oranges.  Companies like Sunkist and Dole are to make public statements—a scare like this could ruin their business and build mistrust in their product.  The role of media in this situation is therefore being used to meet different agendas.  Media must answer the questions and concerns the people have, while still providing positive support for the businesses that advertise with their station, including orange companies. At the same time, another reason for the positive spin of information comes from the lack of information.  Media is a constant presence and must always have informative, relevant news.  The following breakdown of the media releases further depicts the breakdown of released information:

>First twenty-two minutes: Spiked orange alert—several oranges found to be laced with unidentified chemical.

Meanwhile, talk shows discuss the effects of fresh squeezed orange juice and its ability to clear complexions.

>Next twenty-two minutes: Spiked orange scare—two orange related deaths reported. Talk shows continue to act as an advertising agent, describing the secret of weight loss as having a glass of fresh O.J. everyday.  At this point, one can wonder how this information is possibly relevant? Media stations report what they know—at the time one can only assume they had very little information surrounding the actual event and therefore spoke about the orange itself and its health benefits.

>Next twenty-two minutes: Illegal orange scare—chemical breakdown of spiked substance linked to cocaine. Talk shows still discuss how fresh O.J. clears up problems with arthritis, gives mental boosts, and increase muscular surface naturally.

>Next twenty-two minutes: Illegal alien orange scare—imported with an unidentified natural hallucinogen plus traces of rare tropical snake venom.

Talk shows still don’t stop discussing the importance of vitamin c in the areas of intelligence and strength.

>Next twenty-two minutes: Death oranges—oranges go underground and the crisis becomes an international affair.

This is finally the point when talk shows stop discussing oranges for hopefully at this time they realize oranges and their wonderful health benefits will not be available during this crisis.  This encourages them to offer the substitution, to find an alternate solution to the lack of oranges. Media then takes advantage of this situation and begins promoting passion fruit.

In this breakdown, it is evident that media’s role is not purely to inform the public.  It is used for marketing and advertising in order to manipulate profits and public opinion.  This is where the role of media becomes dangerous.  A television station must carefully consider the news it provides because people form a trust or mistrust based on credibility.  Media must also consider their moral obligations, for they are a heavily influential source that help people form opinions and make decisions. It makes me wonder if any trustworthy, unbiased source of news is available, or if hidden agendas and the desire to always have "the inside scoop" will always produce unreliable information.