Only Connect By William Cronon: Course Analysis

* The use of parental warnings and violence advisories made the programs more of a magnet than they might otherwise have been. Parental Discretion Advised and PG-13 and R ratings significantly increased boys' interest in the shows, although they made girls less interested in watching. (14)

Since television came into existence, it has evolved into a useful tool to spread ideas, both social and political, and has had a great effect on the generations growing up with these heavily influential shows. To these younger generations, television has taken the role of a teacher, with the task of creating a social construction by which many of us base our personal beliefs and judgments on. This power allows television shows take the opportunity to address problems in a manner that many audiences can take to heart. Many television shows present controversial topics in a comical matter, in some ways to soften the blow of hard-hitting reality at the same time bringing attention to the issue being addressed. In the television show,

In William Cronon’s Only Connect, Cronon discusses what it means to be liberally educated and why it is a good thing. Cronon explains that he believes that liberal education helps human talent grow, therefore it states that he believes the main goals of getting a liberal education is freedom and growth.

The main reason we watch TV is for entertainment where we can view shows and movies. Shows and movies expose individuals to a variety of cultures and values that they do not see often. Another use of television is for information such as news, political views, and advertisements. Televisions inform us of news around our community and world, and also persuade us in buying products or donating money to a cause. An ongoing controversy has risen such tha televisions can be harmful to children because of the vulgar language and violence shown through modern day shows or even celebrities. Viewing too much television can be time consuming and may even discourage children to go play outside and be social. Watching the newscast has changed my life by informing me of the violence that goes on throughout my community. Also, a negative effect of watching too much television has taken up my time when I could have been doing more productive tasks.

Television is the mainstream of our culture. Violence on television has been a topic of conflict since before 1950. There have been repeated debates on how to protect children from the harmful effects of violence on television. Television is one form of modern media that influences the everyday lives of people. Televised violence has a major effect on how children perceive the world and how they behave. "American television has become the most violent in the world. It is for this reason why researchers have focused their attention toward television violence" (Cantor & Hoffner 424-4-25). Children enjoy watching television and now with the increased technology of cable and movie

For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by my social environment and felt compelled to analyze the underlying facets of human communication. As opposed to readily advancing my own opinions, my nature has always been to observe, listen, and try to find solutions on a case-by-case basis. This interest in analyzing social interaction has not only helped me to understand others but is has also been an innate gift that I believe has assisted me in persevering through some of the most difficult personal challenges I have faced.

William Cronon’s Article “Only Connect…” The Goals of a Liberal Education is about his view about a liberal arts education. In his article Cronon states the values in character that a person with a liberal arts education possesses. His views however are obscured. Cronon believes that there are certain values that set liberal arts educated people apart from other people. When looking at the values one can see that any person could hold these values not just those who are educated in the liberal arts. Why would you chose a liberal arts education? Why did I choose to fly across the country to come to Southern Virginia University and get a liberal arts educated? Part of the answer lies in Cronon’s article, but

As a graduate student in School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, I have acquired so many skills ranging from corporate communications, public relations, brand communications, advertising, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), advanced writing, public speaking, just to mention a few.

Children are also drawn to more mature programs in order to make them feel older and more mature by watching them, which is why the swearing and nudity need to be cut out. I support this view mainly because of an experience I had when I was about five years old. I snuck into the TV room without my parents knowing, and when I was flipping through the channels, I stopped on a channel that was showing the movie Die Hard. Just from watching a short segment of that movie, I quickly learned the “f” word and said it in class the next day. This initial view on censorship is significant because it can prevent children, who are the most influenced by TV, from practicing what they see. They will not learn these words or actions at an early age, like I did, and therefore will not get into trouble in school or teach them to other children. The downside to this stance is that it violates the right of freedom of speech.

In the article “TV’s Negative Influence on Kids Reaffirmed” by Jeffrey M. McCall, he addresses the issue of how TV has a negative influence on children. McCall states that young children and toddler’s cognitive ability does not develop as well when they have television in the background while they are playing. McCall also argues that TV has a very influential role in the teen pregnancy rate and how early teens become sexually active. To further prove his point, McCall proclaims that children and teens that are exposed to too much Television and video games become socially awkward and have trouble interacting in society. McCall also says that the networks are rating their own programs carelessly which is leading to shows that should be blocked

Saturday morning cartoons contain twenty to twenty-five violent acts per hour (Stranger & Gridina, 1999). Pediatricians warn that media violence can be especially damaging to children under age eight because they cannot readily tell the difference between real life and fantasy. Many violent acts are perpetrated by the "good guys," whom kids have been taught to emulate. Even though kids are taught by their parents that it's not right to hit, television says it's OK to bite, hit, or kick if you're the good guy. This can lead to confusion when kids try to understand the difference between right and wrong. And even the "bad guys" on TV aren't always held responsible or punished for their actions (Nemours, 1995-2009). “These violent behaviors are learned,” said Dr. Slutkin (Herbert, 2010, p. 1). “They are largely formed by modeling, the almost unconscious copying of one another (Herbert, 2010, p. 1). And then they are maintained by the social pressure of peers (Herbert, 2010, p. 1). It becomes normal to reach for a gun (Herbert, 2010, p. 1). TV is full of programs and commercials that depict behaviors such as sex and substance abuse as cool, fun, and exciting. Studies have shown that teens who watch lots of sexual content on TV are more likely to initiate intercourse or participate in other sexual activities earlier than peers who don’t watch sexually explicit

The increasing amount of violence, foul language and sexuality available to children on TV is harmful to their development. What was once a time for children to watch TV with content suitable for their age is now directed for an older audience, Family Hour. Statistics show that this is the time most children are watching television with their family members. Despite knowing this, “Since 2000-2001, the amount of sexual content during the Family Hour has increased by 22.1%” (Parents Television Council 55). A poll done later in March of 2007 asked the general public if they thought there was too much sexual content on television. 79% of those that participated in the poll stated that there was too much.

This hype was called “The Moral Panic. ”A moral panic is said to be the term for an issue that is exploited by the media and moral authorities in society due to its controversial nature. When a media panic occurs, it is usually when an episode, person, group, or condition emerges to become defined as a threat to societal values and interests. This occurs when the situation is stylized in stereotypical fashion by the mass media including people who are usually “right thinking people”. (Cohen, 1973) When the moral structure of society is seen as threatened, there are many steps that happen that turn the controversy into a media panic. The TV show’s main goal is to be an inside look at the lives of average teenagers as they struggled with substance abuse, emotional issues, and sexuality. Some viewers might go into depth with this meaning, though. This mix of topics led the Parental Television Council (PTC) to strongly oppose the show. The show was rated TV-MA on MTV which means the content is unsuitable for audience members under the age of seventeen. This rating caught the attention of many people and activists groups, such as the Parental Television Council, that would publicly oppose the show’s content. The controversy stirring because of the show involves the Parental Television Council giving a “red light” because the show may include explicit dialogue, violent content, or mainly images that are unsuitable for children. Older viewers refuse to acknowledge the meaning behind the show’s purpose because of these reasons. The group of protesters against this show explains that teenagers being displayed influence younger viewers to commit crime or violence on school grounds, at home, or even attempt to commit other wrong-doings. These protesters feel that the behavior on the show is “too graphic and extreme” for a young audience or for young actors to be

The United States constitution gives Americans many rights. One of those rights is the freedom of speech. The Supreme Court has started hearing arguments in a case that could rewrite the rules for television stations now prohibited from pushing nudity or profanity on public airwaves. In the United States, while most American families view television shows with nudity, violence, and profanity as a threat to the traditional family structure. Some see it as their right to have those programs available to them on television. In The New York Times article “More Than Ever, You Can Say That On Television” by Edward Wyatt, the author addresses that the issue is not that the language and content on television is more inappropriate that previous years, but that it is show during all hours. I believe that these programs do not reinforce family values; they have a negative influence on children, and should be show after 10:00 PM.

Television is a big part of today’s society. Everybody watches television, including the children. There is a potential problem with letting children watch television. Ask this question, would someone let their own child watch some of the programming that they watch, too? Some of these programs are intended for the adult generation, not young children. Violence has a major role in television these days. Letting children watch this violence could corrupt their minds and eventually lead to bad behavior. There needs to be a limitation on the types of television programming that parents let their children watch, because violence in television can negatively affect children.