Twenge states, “To many older people, it’s funny. But too many younger people the main consumers of the reality shows on, say, MTV it shapes their views of the world” (pg 7). Narcissism is shown often, and without hesitation on reality TV younger viewers are being conditioned by the depiction of narcissism. Slowly, the excess amount of narcissism seems normal. For instance, on “America’s Next Top Model” young viewers wish to be thin, tall, and overall a model, but go about it in the wrong ways.
I would definitely say that Comedy Central's Daily Show with Jon Stewart and the Colbert Report are part of the "media" that affects people’s opinion. These television shows are a way to provide comedic relief to the issues our economy faces; however, these shows still have an impact of how the viewer will understand an issue at hand. It is very difficult for anyone to be completely unbiased and with constantly hearing other people’s opinion through the media. We cannot make a decision of how “we” feel about the topic. Thus, democracy and a fair voting group become tainted.
The younger generation think that is what they should do since that is what they see on TV and the internet. Divinecaroline.com state “Reality shows have become very popular and teens have begun to realize that you can become famous just by being a bad girl, teen mom, or a crazy party animal who likes to do nothing but drink and “smush,” like the cast members on Jersey Shore.” Shows like this are giving teens the wrong idea. Why should the cast be paid so much for setting a bad example? This country is supposed to be looked up to as a great clean country. With shows like this on air for the world to see it is a disgrace.
What are important to consider about programs like this are, what messages adolescents are receiving from these types of television shows and how much is at face value. They can’t necessarily digest the amount of satire or the relation of these jokes to real life situations. In Peacocke’s article, Family Guy and Freud: Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious, she exhibits the notions of any Family Guy fan but explains that although the motive of this show, even throughout all the dark humor and twisted jokes, it should not be taken seriously, just a means to find entertainment or a quick laugh. An adult maybe about to pick the syntax of the show apart but how badly does the show fester in younger minds? Seeing various age groups watch this show I can see that many of them aren’t laughing at the well-structured jokes Family Guy makes but at the simple ones or scenes they personally think are hilarious, like fat jokes or making fun of teachers.
Comedy or Subliminal Messages Often times in comedic television subliminal messages underlie the punch lines. Television shows such as Family Guy feed unintentional messages into the subconscious that can unknowingly, shape and mold one’s views on a variety of topics. Anyone who has ever seen an episode of Family Guy can attest to the offensiveness, weirdness and extreme bluntness of the show. Nevertheless, those that are offended by the show usually do not see how it transforms real life situations into ones that Americans can humor themselves with. One article in particular, Antonia Peacocke’s, Family Guy and Freud: Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious, speaks upon the overt offensiveness within the show.
How people are influenced by the show Duck Dynasty We are living in the day and age of “Reality TV”. No matter what channel you turn to on your television you could find some sort of reality TV show on at some point during the day. A lot of the reality shows that are on, whether it be day or night, show behavior and language that is unsuitable for children and adults to be influenced by. While some people choose to watch these types of shows for the entertainment value I don’t think they realize the actual influence it has on their life. On the other hand, there are still some reality shows on that influence people in a positive way.
That is where the person either thinks that they already look like someone on TV or they believe they don’t need to. Deep down on some level they are envious and it is not their fault. They have been programmed since young that they are supposed to look a certain way because of what they have seen in movies. Women are supposed to be skinny with perfect bodies and the men are supposed to be chiseled and muscular, and that’s not how everyone is. This is the biggest type of persuasion and the most dangerous, the reason I say this because not only do people judge themselves on how they look but they judge everyone else.
Television shows like the cartoon “Static Shock” taught its young viewers about things like peer pressure and gangs. While shows like the “Jersey shore” and “Teen Mom” create stereotypes and bias towards the people the supposedly represent. “…will he not have a pain in his eyes which will make him turn away to take refuge in the objects of vision which he can see, and which he will conceive to be in reality clearer than the things which are now being shown to him. ?” (Socrates 1) This quote is basically saying that people are afraid to go against the mold and be like everyone else and sacrifice their beliefs and quiet the voice than to
Bad conformity can be found everywhere, especially in the media. TV shows and Advertisements depict people being perfect and beautiful looking when it’s mostly airbrushing that makes them look that way. The Youth then begin to think that’s what people should look like and they want to look like that. Knowing that they can’t look like the models in the Advertisement, the youth sometimes become depressed. The belief that Physical beauty is more important than intelligence is a very common habit throughout the world, especially in schools and as a result, people may often conform to accept values of appearances rather than focusing on the values of a persons gifts and talents.
The media not only distracts society from reality, but also provides temporary pleasure; for example, television instantly fulfills the wish for relaxation. If people have the self-control to sample television in small doses, it can be relaxing without being harmful. However, when television is integrated into the daily routine and becomes "necessary," people rely on it for artificial happiness. Depending on entertainment for pleasure is detrimental to health and mind. For some people, entertainment yields greater joys than physical activity does.