The functionalist perspective in sociology would likely contend that the role of the mass media is to provide socialization, enforce social norms, and create social stability and cohesion through public events. From this viewpoint, the mass media helps maintain social order by transmitting values and norms to society and promoting social integration and solidarity.

The three basic elements of the functionalist perspective in sociology are: the emphasis on the interconnectedness and interdependence of societal institutions, the belief that society tends toward equilibrium and stability, and the focus on the functions that social institutions serve in maintaining social order and cohesion.

The conflict perspective criticizes the functionalist approach for overlooking the power dynamics and inequalities that drive social change. Conflict theorists argue that focusing only on the functional aspects of society ignores the need for social change to address systemic injustices and power imbalances.

The three approaches in looking at culture are functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionist perspectives. The functionalist perspective views culture as serving specific functions within society, the conflict perspective highlights power dynamics and inequality within culture, and the symbolic interactionist perspective focuses on how individuals create and interpret culture through their interactions.

Randall Collins, a prominent sociologist, has noted that the functionalist perspective's focus on maintaining social stability and the conflict perspective's emphasis on promoting social change reflect the contradictory nature of society. This highlights how society strives for both stability and change simultaneously.