It has been said that today’s television programing is a powerful medium that influences society in more negative ways, than positive ones. 65% of television users say television is bad for the American Society. Television has a negative influence on society, because it attempts to define what is acceptable and unacceptable in our society. Carlo Blacken says, “Television is a powerful medium that influences society in more negative ways that positive ones. The surge in plastic surgery is an indication that television conveys a certain image.
However what had formerly been viewed as a charity program aimed at helping helpless mothers, and females, was now being seen as a waste of time and money. America’s increasing economic problem caused great resentment toward welfare programs and to their recipients. White middle class America did not like the ideas of their tax money going to support other, especially when many of the white middle class had full time jobs. Nationalized reports of welfare fraud were all it took to convince the middle class that all welfare recipients were lying and cheating the system. Americans who felt overtaxed had something to blame it on now the more they resented welfare the worse the stereotype became, soon they were all drug users, who never intended to work just live off welfare, and the only reason that their children were starving is that they were spending the money on other things.
In today’s society conformity and deliberation have taken over the lives of many as the concept of individuality goes astray. Throughout Soren Kierkegaard’s text, The Present Age: On the Death of Rebellion, he explains his thoughts on his beliefs that this age has lost a sense of inwardness and has become more and more ambiguous with the self. In addition to this, he also stresses the dangers that are associated with these loses. Furthermore, he argues that “the most dangerous, if also the most respectable of all diseases” is “to admire in public what is considered unimportant in private – since everything is made into a joke” (Kierkegaard 9). In this essay I am in agreement with Kierkegaard that in the present age, we as a society lose character in the process of reflecting upon what we are ought to, and expected to do.
Finally, illegal substances are supported, such as marijuana and cocaine, through comedic gestures. The criteria used for social humour in these sitcoms are politically incorrect and are unacceptable forms of humour. Most of the audience that watches “rude TV”, such as Family Guy and American Dad, are at too young of an age to be responsible and mature enough to watch the shows. A lot of them will get influenced negatively; they will be convinced to learn the ill manners and shamelessness supported in the shows, because they are thought to be humorous, the coarse language is taken lightly as well teaching the audience to use it as well to be humorous. The Parents Television Council released a list of the 20 most popular shows among kids from ages 2-17.
But apparently the networks disagree because they keep making more and more reality shows. I personally think Jersey Shore is the worst. To be honest, the reality tv craze makes me sick. It makes me sick to think that instead of coming home and watching an intelligent, well done show, with heart like “House” people are choosing to watch these shows that I swear are deteriorating their brain cells. It is just lunacy, there is no other way to describe it.
The continued threat of a terrorist attack has effected the citizen’s way they live everyday life. The aftermath of 9/11 has caused many citizens to become fearful. It also caused many to be more aware and cautioned of their surroundings to be prepare for any situation. But, it also caused many Americans to become very stereotypical and discriminate, which effected many citizens that are Muslim and Middle Eastern descent. The attack on the U.S also damage the economy and also changed many laws to protect the nation.
The dialogue is that of being a “futuristic [...] setting of a ‘garden of pure ideology’ and the ‘security’ that [Americans] should feel from all this” (Berger 149). But in the world of politics, many candidates attempt the role of the ‘hero’; this being the case, Paul also makes an effort to show viewers the failures of other candidates. Paul’s theatrical-themed advertisement, “Conviction not Compromise” uses many fallacious arguments to convince it’s viewers that both Republicans and Democrats have over time, destroyed hope within the American Dream. Given the current social and economic status of America, the idea of being left jobless and unable to survive, instills fear into the hearts of many. In the advertisement, Paul uses intimidating imagery and frightful half-truths, in order to magnify this fear of the opposing administration’s role with America.
Ignorant television shows that promote stereotypical and degrading behavior have become a big hit in today’s society. Shows such as South Park and Family Guy are just the tip of a huge deleterious iceberg. The saying “man behind the madness” is an appropriate phrase to describe the responsibilities that the people in our society have dealing with the good and evil in mainstream media.
We live in an extremely judgmental and unforgiving society, of which corporations are more than aware. They are the first to exploit our anxieties and insecurities by bombarding us with images of an unrealistic ideal. We are lead to believe we are falling short of the ‘perfect life’ and with our so-called shortcomings in mind; we strive towards an unobtainable goal. In doing so, we spend copious amounts of money on ‘must-haves’ only to be faced with the inevitable disillusionment when, in fact, the diet pills do not help us shed three stone in a week, and the hair re-growth serum leaves our scalp as bald as before. This, above all else, is what gets to me.
Televisions were considered to be anti-war influences because the media showed horrible things happening in Vietnam that cause the public to give less support. The media not only affected the nature of the war to the public but it also changes the minds of Americans on their own people. "Critics in the government, the military, and elsewhere claim that the media was dominated by the antiwar journalists who poisoned the American public against the war by delivering superficial and negative coverage of the conflict. (pg 177 Walter). This shows how Walter noticed that people attentions were grabbed by the over coverage the news released.