The Causes And Effects Of Television Shows In America

Everything comes with negatives. “But it is much later in the game now, and ignorance of the score is inexcusable. To be unaware that a technology comes equipped with a program for social change, to maintain that technology is neutral, to make the assumption that technology is always a friend to culture is, at this late hour, stupidity plain and simple"(Chapter 11 Page 5). It is extremely important to acknowledge and understand that technology can drastically change a society. For the purpose of this essay the technology is television and the change is our culture valuing entertainment over substance, which is turning us into a nation who sits back and lets people run the country the way they

In an article ' The Plug-In Drug ' the author Marie Winn discusses the bad influence of television on today's society. Television is a ' drug ' that interfere with family ritual, destroys human relationships and undermines the family.

     What role does television play in society? For decades we have seen many parts of our world rapidly going through changes in technology. Today’s society has been transformed by means of communication and the available information through mass media. Most Americans rely on television for news, sports, and entertainment. Television is just one of the many examples of how technology has changed our lives. Since the invention of the television in the early 1900’s, it has played a very important role in our lives. Having a television set in the home has become very essential in today’s society. We depend on it to entertain us with its sitcoms and to inform us about current world issues. The

Television is one of the greatest inventions to ever be created, right? Lucian Dorneanu, an editor of Softpedia, stated, “Wherever a television is on, it draws attention like no other piece electronic in the house. It can be source of amusement, knowledge, or, misused, of violence and almost self-inflicted psychiatric disorders.” Today television is having a huge impact on people more than ever before, by doing more harm than good. Television is supposed to be bringing entertainment and laughter to every household, by showing a positive way of life. Although, over the years, talk shows became one of the most watched on television. These talk shows are causing violence, teaching bad habits, loosing family value.

Television has impacted the American Culture greatly since it was first created. However, the first impact allowed a nation to become closer by learning important information in a timely manner. The programs available in today’s culture has vastly grown. Television programs has created a massive monster in the American Culture with the effects ranging from violence, rape, rage and even murder. The first programs of the era had a more religion family value.

Television has acted as a moral barometer and guide to Americans since the 1950s. It evolved from stage, to cinema, to small screen, bringing outside influence into intimate home settings. Television sponsors and programmers became paid influencers invoking a negative impact on society. Reviewing television and its history as a medium of social, cultural, and political reform, reveals it has the potential to unwind the damage done by past negative messaging in future broadcasting.

Television is a persuasive intermediate of mass communication. Today it has been argued that television does an unsubstantial job of portraying race and ethnicity. The current programming and advertising shown on television today, advances one’s ethnocentric view of American culture, and validates many existing racial stereotypes.

The invention of television has impacted American society positively, because it helps spread information faster and influences the way people think about important social issues. It is estimated that about 15 million Americans watch the Cable News Network, CNN, at least once a day and millions more tune in abroad (Stark). In the news culture, information has become presented to the public quicker throughout the years. This causes news to be digested faster as well. In fact, events, such as election results or political choices, have become frequently analyzed before they even take place. For example, the effects of Clinton’s bombing of Iraq, in the summer of 1996, were being explored before a weapon had even been fired (Stark). The spread

Approximately twenty five billion dollars is spent on advertising a year, a number far greater than the amount spent on education nationally. Why so much money? Jerry Mander in his book Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television, lays out the numerous problems that exist with television, a problem that cannot necessarily be improved. In essence, technology is not a tool that is neutral. Mander describes that in different institutions and technologies, such as advertising, mass production, militaries, the basic structure of particular technology or institution establishes its influence on the world, the types of individuals that will make use of it, and how people will use it. Television is a tool that established the kinds of effects it will have on peoples lives, how people will use it, and who will use it, and if such technology continues to be used, the kinds of effects and political forms that will result from it. Mander develops four arguments throughout his book.

TV today has a great deal of constructive outcomes and impacts on our public and American culture. TV gives us supportive data, different types of instruction and diversion, which can provide some beneficial outcomes on the public. On an everyday premise, TV keeps us educated with a lot of supportive data. However, viewer must watch with wisdom. Viewers must remember the television is a tool to stimulate our thoughts, ideas, and creativity. It should not a be used as manual to shape an individual’s identity or ideas. TV has dependably been a wellspring of contention in the United States. How it influences our public and the general population have sparked inquiries that individuals have been mulling over as far back as televisions creation.

WIth the invention and the increased popularity of the Tv came new issues for the American people. One of the most concerning for the people then and now is that the youth of that generation and this generation were losing social skills and valued their education less. Kids spent more time watching television and less time reading and writing. Grades were not the only thing decreasing in the lives of the youths. Kids stop going places and doing activities outside which, over time, weakened kids muscular build and physical condition. Not only was their muscular build affected but there eye sight was diminished. These problems are still relevant today. People stay inside rather than go outside and be active. The Tv allows people to be lazy, directly affecting other aspects of their life like physical and mental health.

With the arrival of television to households around 1947 mass visual media for entertainment, news, advertising and perhaps education, spread across the globe. This was about to change the life of millions of people that from then on spend many hours a day watching television. We can consider this as a positive or a negative thing but in any case it is an evidence of its

People very often debate whether technology is good or bad. Many people believe that technology can only cause harm to their lives and society, while many others strongly defend the technologies which have made their lives much more leisurely and enriching than it could have been several hundred years ago. In my opinion, both of these views are correct to an extent, but I also believe that what should be examined is not whether technology in its self is good or bad, but rather how we as humans use it.For decades now, television has been accused of contributing to the dissolution of the American family and the destruction of the minds of those who watch it. However, although the TV has been involved in this, the problem roots not with

“The truth is, everybody changes every day and some things are more devastating than others, but we never are the same. There are two ways to deal with these changes: you either accept them or you fight them like hell all the way” (Law and Order: Special Victims Unit). In America, the majority owns a television or has some sort of electronic device that they can watch their favorite shows on. Some television shows can have an unconscious impact on viewers. Television series Law and Order: SVU is a show that can cause an attitude and behavioral impact on viewers without the audience ever knowing. The show itself contains heavy sexual themes and media violence that is based loosely off of real crimes or stories that were “ripped from the headlines”. However, in the beginning of the show they give warning that states, “the following story is fictional and does not depict any actual person or event” (Law and order: SVU) which provides viewer’s comfort that the episode is not real. Even with this forewarning there is still an impact on viewers that watch the show. The type of effects a sexually themed television program such as Law and Order: SVU can have on viewers includes desensitization, priming, excitation transfer theory, construction of social reality, and the cultivation theory.

Think back to the television you used to watch as a child. Many of you may think of harmless, funny cartoons or maybe family television shows that had a life lesson or message at the end. Television has changed a significant amount over the years and some would describe the era we’re in now, as “The Era of Reality Television”. It seems that our generation seems to enjoy getting the inside look on the dramatic lives of others, rather than worrying about our own lives. Also a fairly new concept that has risen during our generation, is watching television programs that give health advice. No longer do some go to the doctor’s