Commercial jazz, soap opera, pulp fiction, comic strips, the movies set the images, mannerisms, standards, and aims of the urban masses. In one way or another, everyone is equal before these cultural machines; like technology itself, the mass media are nearly universal in their incidence and appeal. They are a kind of common denominator, a kind of scheme for pre-scheduled, mass emotions.

Summary

This quote highlights the significant influence of mass media on the urban masses. It suggests that popular forms of media such as commercial jazz, soap operas, pulp fiction, comic strips, and movies shape the way people think, behave, and perceive societal standards. The quote emphasizes that regardless of individual differences, everyone is affected by these cultural machines that have a universal presence and appeal. It further argues that mass media act as a common denominator, creating a predetermined scheme for eliciting mass emotions on a large scale.

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