Television has become one of the most essential tools in our modern lifestyle. It is hard to comprehend to what extent it has shaped our society as we know it. For many Americans television is their daily source for entertainment and news. Because the images on television look so real our mind can be fooled into believing what we view is reality. We must constantly remind ourselves that what we view is not necessarily the truth, possibly spoiling the whole experience.
Our economic reliance on television is overwhelming. The heart of the television industry is consumerism, this is not just about seeing new things or ideas, but selling them. The television news industry is also a money making business, they must deliver a good story to their customers to make a profit. The news industry is very biased toward conflict because it draws in viewers. Bad news and tragedy on broadcasts are the center point, making the world look like a more dangerous place than it really is. Often times the most important news can be boring, as we watch the television to unwind we do not want to be faced with real life situations that cause us to think. Instead, reporters will focus on more mind-numbing stories like celebrity news. On an unconscious level sitcoms and reality television can mold what we perceive as normal behavior in every way. This is similar to how children learn to talk by listening to others communicate, viewing a certain situation on television can be perceived in the same way.
Television is nothing without images, and as Americans we can not be good consumers without adequate advertising. Television has changed how we understand the world, and as a result many of us have become less inclined to seek out relevant and valuable information for ourselves. We tend to accept what is spoon fed to us without analyzing possible bias that can be very subtle and easily overlooked. Every aspect of television is intended to draw us in, as a result we must struggle to think for ourselves and understand why we feel inclined to make the decisions that we do.
There are so many people who watch television and believe whatever they see on television to be "true". I've had people tell me that the only real news is the news that is on CNBC. I myself noticed the difference in reporting between American newscasts and Latin American newscasts when the Iraq war started. The American telecasts were so biased and left out relevant news about the war. We were definately being spoon-fed news about the war.
ReplyDelete