It seems like the public sphere has never been perfect and Habermas' critique of the public sphere is not too unrealistic. It's interesting to note the correlation between the decline of the public sphere and the rise of the consumer. As society grows in its population, people become less involved with the larger community and more self-centered. The downfall of the public sphere could be a result of a people who just stopped working together and started looking out for number one. Kellner says, "Struggle among groups to advance their own private interests characterizes the scene of contemporary politics." I would even say that it comprises society in general. I definitely agree with Habermas that the job of the media has definitely shifted. Kellner says that the media limits the public sphere because its "themes" and "discourses" must first be approved by media corporations. This particularly reminds me of the war in Iraq and how the news only briefly mentions fallen soldiers where Britney Spears gets five minutes of glory every day. I wonder how we as a society has let this happen? Habermas would probably say it has happened because we have become spectators and consumers and do not offer an opinion. I would have to agree.
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