Television

 

1.Track your television viewing for one week. (If you don’t watch television, WATCH SOME!!) What did you learn about yourself? What did you learn about television? What does television provide you (fulfillment of a need -- See Chapter 15)?

 

I must admit, after putting a T.V. in my room, (I grew up with a mother telling me never to do this) I have become pretty addicted to watching it! I enjoy the background sound and the constant entertainment when I am doing various things in my room.  But I have learned that I like mindless TV.  I have realized that when I am watching TV I like to zone out of my stressful, busy life and focus in on, “Rock of Love Charm School” which provides me with nothing but the feeling of being dumber after, yet I am totally satisfied as I get to see girls get eliminated off the show.   I enjoy watching “Kath and Kim” a mindless show that requires no thinking whatsoever.  I live for The Office so I can pretend that my life is somewhat associated with the characters for 30 minutes of my week. 

I learned that Television provides you with what you want.  If you want to watch sports, it has channels with every game you can imagine.  If you want the news, they’ve got it covered.  If you want mindless entertainment, you’re golden.  TV hits every person, catering to the wants and needs of each person. 

So for me, TV provides me with my escape from reality. It gives me a break from my life where I can literally think about nothing, and during these stressful college years, that’s exactly what I need. 

 2.Many people would say that television has had a greater impact on society than any other form of media. Do you agree? Why or why not

I believe that TV has a huge impact on society, but for myself personally I believe that magazines influence me more.  When I am on TV I rarely compare myself to characters because they seem real.  They are portrayed as real people with real lives that can relate to the viewers.  They aren’t cropped, or photo shopped, or made to look skinnier than they are; they seem like real people.  But when I look at a magazine I immediately do a check list of what is wrong with me compared to every model or Hollywood star in the magazine.  Its like I go through this process of self loathing where there is not one good quality about myself as I look through a fashion magazine. 

But as far as other things like violence, language, obesity, or decreased levels of creativity  I believe that Television has a huge impact.  I believe that children these days are lazier than they used to be and not as creative.  I remember when I was young I was outside every day playing with my neighborhood.  I was making up games with my sisters and digging up buried treasure in my backyard.  Now I feel like it is a rare occasion to ever see kids playing out in the street because they have entertainment right in their living room.