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the influence of the media
effect and limitations of mass media
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The impact that television (A.K.A.- TV) has had on mankind in the last 50 years, is rivaled by few other inventions throughout modern history. Recently television has been given a bad wrap, seen by many people as a cruel invention, a 'boob-tube'; mesmerizing and brainwashing its viewers. People have forgotten TV is an educational and entertaining tool used in the everyday lives of people around the world. Without TV and its many advantages where would the world be at this very moment, certainly not in the information age that it is in now.
The average person watches on average ten to fifteen hours of television during a week. This seems like an awful lot of time to be sitting in front of a television, but this time can be extremely educational and entertaining. A television equipped with a cable system has a number of educational channels. For example, PBS, The Discovery Channel, The History Channel, The Food Channel, and even MTV are all educational channels. Documentaries, ranging from The Civil War to baseball to home repair are always airing on television. A person can learn things from television that they otherwise never would have even heard about. In other words television can be a great instrument in educational learning.
Entertainment is also another major part of why television is such a great tool. Everyone loves to be entertained and watching television is a pleasurable experience, it offers something...
Steven Johnson in “watching television makes you smarter” believes that the complexity of the shows' plots has a cognitive value, nutrition for the viewers. Dana Stevens arguments this fact by also stating that television only “teaches you to watch more television”, the complexity of the new shows help you understand how the show will turn out. However, they do not help you for real life events that the shows try to depict. In my opinion, television is just a fun thing to do occasionally to relax and get your mind off of the regular life. It can teach you some things however you should take them in consideration.
In our society entertainment has become an immense part of our daily lives. We spend extensive periods of time watching TV, which in general has become a habit for many individuals, and a necessity for others. In the article Television as teacher by Neil Postman he argues that television does not help us learn what is necessary for further education, and that it shouldn’t be utilized as a main learning tool because it undermines the techniques applied in teaching centers. Some of these technics are obtaining a previous education before practicing the advanced learning, paying attention to the material being provided, and retaining the information given for future references. Nonetheless I agree with Postman’s point of view that Television is
...he excess usage of television leads to addiction and dependency which affects our thinking and both social and cultural aspects of our lives. It denies us chances of contributing fully to the society and fills us with matters and information, which may be wrong and ineffective to us. It brings a lot of confusion and conflict to our society because of its distorted information. Its so-called updated information is situational, based to certain contexts, and may be of less help for us. However, the proponents make it appear reality, manipulates their messages to suit their situations, capture attention of its users and gain attention. So many times the television is not designed to give us the information, which helps us but which suits a certain situation in a confined area and it is not neutral. Therefore, television addiction is non-productive and should be banned.
Television has given each of us a podium to voice our ideas on all sorts of social and political issues and share information with one another. It has brought out stress-free ways of communication and provided us with simply accessible means to reach out to people in numerous parts of the world. Thanks to technological development, we have been capable to achieve a podium that allows us to present ourselves to the rest of the world. The negative influences of television that are a result of an overexposure to it, are most often talked about. It is accurate to a certain degree that television has affected the society in a negative manner. But, unquestionably, television has proved being an enjoyment.
In Steven Johnson's article "Watching TV Makes You Smarter" he discusses the intellectual merits of television programs. The essence of Johnson's argument is that the complexity of certain current shows can get one to think at a higher cognitive level, and that shows have become more "cognitively demanding"of their viewers over the past few decades. Johnson's argument, that is in favor of watching quality television and the benefits that one can get from it, is reinforced by some good points the author makes. Johnson is effective in his argument and was very convincing. Viewing certain television programs can in fact benefit one's cognitive capacities, especially in children.
Of course, everyone can agree that television has become an important fixture in our lives. This machine makes it possible for people at any place or time to learn, laugh, and discover the many wonders of the universe from their living room chair. It also allows those who dislike the idea of reading a newspaper, browsing the internet, or listening to a radio station a simple alternative for staying caught up on the news. Television has been seen as one of the most effective ways for reaching out and influencing the masses since it caught on in the 1950’s. TV affects the way people view politics, fashion, social culture, and the world itself. From news stations broadcasting across the country and keeping us all up to date, to movies and TV shows playing for pleasure, television keeps our society connected and entertained.
As similar their names might sound, a television is not like a telephone. A telephone connects two people's minds to each other, while a television only sends pictures and sounds to one person's eyes and ears. In fact, if you let television affect your mind too much, it can cripple your imagination. You might have more images stored in your mind, but you will be out of practice for generating new ideas. Television does not provoke original thought.
Before television existed people had to depend on Radio stations to receive their little bit of entertainment and news. But in 1878, the invention of TV began. The first TV made didn’t look anything like the way TV’s look today. It was a mechanical camera with a large spinning disc attached to it (Kids Work). But as over the years, of course, inventions of different TV’s progressed and by the 20th century about 90 percent of our population had a TV in their household (MGHR). Television today is mainly used for people take a break from their life by relaxing and enjoying some entertainment.
Television is an invention that has revolutionized the way people think, comprehend and receive information. Although television in today’s world is not the leading media source, however it still remains to be a prime example of media influenced outlet of information. Television over the course of the past few decades has intertwined its way into society’s day to day operation and will remain to influence people’s decisions.
It all started with a guy named Philo Farnsworth in 1927,when the television was first invented. In a book called Television: Technology and Cultural Form by Raymond Williams, who was a Welch academic, novelist and critic, noted, “Television was invented as a result of scientific and technological research. It powers as a medium of news and entertainment was then so great that it altered all preceding media of news and entertainment.” Many speak and say the television has altered this world. Television was invented as a technological research and then became so popular amongst the people as entertainment. Beyond any doubt, this source of mass media has and is changing our lifestyles. Television is with us wherever we are, it eventually becomes a part of us. We watch TV as we eat breakfast, eat lunch, and eat dinner. Television wakes up with us and goes to sleep with us. It gives us pleasure, it is sometimes boring us, and most definitely challenges us.
Since its introduction in 1946, television has been one of the most important sources of information for mankind. After its debut, television rapidly spread throughout the country and for many it became the gathering point around which the family would meet to talk about the latest news. In the many years since its introduction, television has gradually developed to the one we enjoy today but at the same time this development brought some major changes to its quality. As a matter of fact, I believe that television today is very different to the television I used to watch when I was younger.
Another good thing about TV is the ‘News’, with the news on everyday, in lots of languages, everyone can keep up to date with everything that is happening around the globe without having to go to the trouble of actually reading it in a newspaper.
Television has become one of the major entertainment providers in our modern life. It sits in the living room of about almost every home in the world and it is the one thing that most people like to come home to after a long day of work or school. Not only does it give us something to laugh or get scared at but it also provides us with valuable information about what is happening around our local community and around different places in the world. But, as good as this sounds, Television may be affecting us without even realizing it. Being one of the major distractors in today 's society, it gets us attached to its content in which a lot of people spend a lot of their time watching. Being thus, watching too
First of all we are going to go back in the past, talk a bit about “television” history, and how television became something necessary in a household.
In conclusion, Television gives to children many types of entertainment with useful education. However, the television could use unnecessary channel for children without their parents controlling. The television could be a remarkable coincidence for the children.