Sex on TV 3: Analysis - Literature review Example

A Content Analysis of the Article: Sex on TV 3 Introduction Over the years, there has been a growing concern over the effects of media on sex, particularly on how media affects the sexual behaviour of youth. Recent trends around the globe have shown that a great number of youths have been engaging in sex due to frequent exposures to a wide array of mass media. On the other hand, culture has also been part to blame as viewers are overwhelmed with sexual imagery, even in cartoons, and prime time news of sexual assaults. Outside the home, the impact of mass media, particularly television can neither be denied nor inhibited. Sexual images can also be seen in billboards, video games, magasines, the Internet, and other sources of information and innovation. For purposes of discussion, the content analysis was solely based upon an article on “Sex on TV 3.” Although the chosen source came from a foreign source (in the United States), it is assumed that the article is also applicable in a European setting as the effects of television on society’s views on sex goes on a global scale. Objectives Aside from the article’s qualitative content, this paper is also aimed at analysing its quantitative content in relation to the topic of “sex on television”. Furthermore, it is also aimed at establishing and analysing the existence and frequency of concepts in the article through conceptual analysis. Specifically, this content analysis aimed to: 1. Identify and determine the frequency a word(s)/phrases and its related meaning pertaining to sex and other identified codes; 2. Analyse and extrapolate necessary information related to the identified words or texts. With the aforementioned objectives, this analysis can be a helpful tool in exploring the implications of television on the youth’s sexual knowledge. Methodology Since the analysis is limited, the sampling method was only derived from the Sex on TV article. The frequency of phrases with the word “sex”, “young”, “teen” and other related phrases were counted and written. Furthermore, data or figures related to the content of the article was described, enumerated and extrapolated. Data generated were produced through word counts in a word processing program such as Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat. Coding was limited to word or phrase count and identification. Due to limited time, data was based on frequency analysis rather than statistical analysis. Results and Discussion The following were the results of the conceptual analysis: Words related to the word “sex” – 148 Phrases related to the word “sex”: 27 types of phrases Sexual imagery Sexual dangers Sexual socialisation Sexual behaviours – 80 Sexual health – 84 Sexual scenes – 97 Sexual situation Sexual issue – 91 Sexually active young people Sexually transmitted disease Sexually active teen girls Sexual and social identities Sexual information – 182 Sex on television Sex on TV Sexual content - 85 Safer sex – 19 Waiting to have sex Sexual activity – 79 Sexual messages – 87 Sex issue - 155 Consequences of sex Sexual intercourse - 90 Sex references - 150 Sex ballad Eye sex – 150 Sex on a couch Words/phrases related to the word “Young” - 13 Words/phrases related to the word “Teen” – 34 Words/phrases related to the word “Television” – 20 Words/phrases related to the word “Kiss” – 10 Words/phrases related to the word “Intercourse” – 25 Words/phrases related to the word “Adult” – 3 Words/phrases related to the word “Male” – 1 Words/phrases related to the word “Female” - 0 Given the aforementioned results, it can be revealed that the article was basically about sex and implications derived from television. This is manifested in the 148 words pertaining to the word “sex” and the 27 types of phrases related to the aforementioned word. Among the phrases which had the word “sex”, the phrase “sexual information” was the most mentioned phrase among the category with 182 phrase count, followed by “sex issue” with 155 and the phrases “sex references” and “eye sex” with 150 phrase count respectively. These phrases implied the fact that the article was basically created for “information” purposes as well as to bring out “awareness” on the different kinds of sex that was and still occurring on television. On the other hand, there were 34 counted for word “teen” and 13 words for the word “young” as compared to the words “adult” (3 words), “male” (1 word) and “female” (0 word). In this regard, the article mainly focused on the implications of sex on young individuals, particularly the teenagers. The lack of word specifications for male and female may indicate that the data used by the article did not rely on any sexual preference or gender. Hence, it generally implied the role of television in delivering sexual information in the hearts and minds of teenagers. It can also be viewed that teenagers depict roles on television which requires some degree of sexual intimacy or sexual behaviour. In one data presented in the paper, it was deduced that teenagers may also prefer those television shows with higher intercourse content. The question now is how safe is sex on television? How sex is portrayed on television? How much sex is portrayed? With having 150 count on the phrase “sexual reference”, the data presented in the paper indicated that there is indeed some degree of sexual reference with the kind of television shows the media has been programming. Such reference may either be branded as positive or negative, depending on the television viewer. This was further expounded by a data on the paper suggesting the percentage of safer sex reference television shows and the types of sexual content being seen and watched. On the other hand, the 90 phrase count on “sexual intercourse” also suggested that there were indeed some television shows which imply the act of or simply talk about sexual intercourse. Data on the paper suggested that there was a gradual increase on the degree of information with regards to sexual intercourse. Aside from word count, the article’s use of shades of the color white, purple and light blue may indicate and symbolise the degree of sexuality being depicted in the entirety of the paper. Furthermore, it may also indicate the degree of neutrality in the manner to which the data was presented. Conclusion In the final content analysis of the paper, despite the degree of limitation of the word count analysis, it may be deduced that television has a great contribution in society’s awareness on sex and sexual concepts, particularly among teenagers. Regardless of gender, sexual information is relayed through depiction or implied acts of sexual intercourse through some sexual scenes. Although this paper is only limited to quantitative conceptual analysis, it has established the fact that television has a higher degree of sexual reference that is being portrayed among varying television programs. The safety of sex being played out may not be quantified, but evidence support the fact that the prevalence of sexual content and motives cannot be over-emphasised. With the aforementioned paper aimed at informing the youth on the implications of sex on television, such information dissemination can act as a means to educate the young, and parents alike, in processing sexual information being consistently shown on television. Works Cited Colorado State University. Content Analysis. Available from: http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/research/content/printformat.cfm?printformat=yes [accessed August 2006]. Holsti, Ole R. (1969) Content Analysis for the Social Sciences and Humanities. Reading, Mass. Kaiser Family Foundation. (2003) Sex on TV 3. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Menlo Park, CA. Read More