Friday, July 15, 2011
TV and Society
Hmmmm...What did I learn from this reading? Well, the word 'thence' (apparently meaning 'then hence') for starters. And that Mr. Williams' 'z' key on his typewriter (1972!) didn't work (realiSe, organiSe, too funny :). Seriously though, this reading was a trip. It did make me think about how we decide to use (or not use) any new given technology is what makes or breaks its social meaning. And I did learn a lot about the history of the development of television.
More interesting (at least to me) to write and talk about, though, was this particular quote early in the chapter:
"If television had not been invented, this argument runs, we would still be manipulated or mindlessly entertained, but in another way and perhaps less powerfully."
I guess we know Mr. Williams' stance on TV! Mindlessly entertained?! He had obviously never seen America's Got Talent. I mean male pole dancers, high dives into blow up pools, Sharon Ozborne...need I say more?! Ok, Ok, my sarcasm's getting the best of me again.
TV is a very powerful form of entertainment that does manipulate us to a great extent. And I found it very interesting that he predicted had TV never been invented that we'd have been 'mindlessly entertained' in some other fashion...did someone say Facebook!!? I partake too, not baggin, just calling it like I see it. Perhaps not less powerfully, Mr. Williams. You should see how addicted the teens of today are to the Internet in general and especially sites like Fb. Great insight from the 70's, and a great read...'til next, Sharxjay.
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Sharxjay,
ReplyDeleteLOL (weird that we can now officially write that in a class because it is part of the Oxford English Dictionary…though I am not sure how I really feel about it)! You are cracking me up here, I wondered if I was the only one who noticed those interesting little type-o’s.
When I was reading the article I was transported back to 8th grade and my science teacher who always had some random phrase (like how every Friday he ended the class by saying “Remember my CHP friend always says..” and we would all chime in “I never unbuckled a dead body” and he would finish by saying “So buckle up people, I want to see you Monday!”) would say come Monday morning “What did you do over your weekend? Let me guess…TV, TV, and more TV? That stuff is bubblegum for the brain.” Ever since then I have called TV bubblegum for the brain. Long story short, your post and the chapter made me think about how TV is brainless action, thus bubblegum.
My husband told me something interesting last night, John Mayer apparently is quitting or breaking from Twitter because he is “addicted” and is not doing his job (aka writing songs). I am not a Twitterer…tweeter? Whatever. So perhaps this escapes me, but I guess I have a hard time seeing how people can become so addicted and engrossed in these online mediums to the extent that it negatively impacts their lives. I feel the same way about TV. I think this all ties into the chapter because it shows the power these kinds of mediums can have over us (even if I don’t always understand it).