Reality Television: Oxymoron by George F. Will - Article Example

?Hajer Rawag Sakovich English 100 July 31, Argumentative Essay George F. Will a journalist for the Washington post writes about politics and other relevant topics. In his article “Reality Television: Oxymoron” Will argues that, the supposed "reality-TV" is not doing any justice to Americans and the actions on TV such as; violence, sexuality, and people doing stupid things for money are in a way degrading people. Will says, “So entertaining seeking a mass audience is ratcheting up the violence, sexuality, and degradation, becoming increasingly coarse and trying to be-its largest challenge-shocking an unshockable society.” Will also discusses how these shows are desensitizing Americans; that these shows are taking away the ability for people to feel emotions and blindly laugh upon what is on TV and the intensity of laughter promotes such enacts ("The Desensitization of Young America and the Media"). I agree that TV shows are conveying nasty messages to children, inculcating aggression, belligerence, thereby dehumanizing people and not allowing them to express emotions. I could understand this because of my personal experience, I grew up playing and not watching TV, on the contrary a vast difference in nature could be observed in my cousin who grew up watching TV for prolonged periods. Essentially, a wisdom is required to discriminate between good and bad. I grew up in a large family instead of tuning to TV, I easily entertained myself as I had the company of my sisters. On the contrary, my younger cousin was a TV addict at the age of 11 years. He used to enjoy watching TV shows such as family guy, American dad, and the Simpsons. These shows imposed a detrimental effect on my cousin’s views on life, and his sense of feeling, exposure to violence which was displayed in his language and mannerism. At such a young age he made use of bad words and used to degrade himself to procure what he wants. At times, his younger sister would tell him to do stupid and inappropriate things with a reward of candy. This is similar to the Wills view about the stupid acts that children or adults mimic after watching the TV shows and seek appreciation of others. Kids today are growing up watching these TV shows, and learning how to present themselves in life from the actions televised. On an average children are watching a total of 25 hours of television weekly; “The Media in the Home survey found that 28 percent of all children shows contained four or more incidents of violence per show a number that media experts consider high” ("Television's effects on kids: It can be harmful"). Exposed to violence at such a young age not only affects children now, but also as they grow and develop into adults. I agree with Will when he says, “America, Determined to amuse itself into inanition, is becoming increasingly desensitized”, people are laughing at things that would normally be depressing. I remember when my cousins once came over they said nasty and terrible things to each other, offending the other person. Rather than protecting the individual suffering, they laughed about it because that is what TV does. On television, calling someone fat and stupid is something we laugh about, but in reality these actions hurt individual's feelings. So, in real life when children bully, the crowd around them or “audience” would laugh. Reality-TV shows are displaying bullying on TV and assume that it is permissible. Fox pays Gordon Ramsey millions to bully contestants on “Hells Kitchen”. Americans are following these forms of bullying without even realizing them. Such actions not only impede cognitive development of the individual but also hampers the psychology. With repeated incidents of such acts, an individual who is being harassed starts developing hatred towards others and in due course of time they develop hostility against the people who are constantly bullying him/ her and eventually for the whole society. Such actions germinate the seeds of anti-social behavior. Hence, what started with a gag or laugh culminated into a rebellious conduct. In 2005, South Park showed an episode called “Ginger Kids”, where the characters kicked red-headed individuals. As an outcome, 14 students beat up a 12 year old redhead in school, imitating the show. Are we watching these shows that are teaching America's youth to execute awful actions such as bullying because it is entertaining to them? To imitate seems quite simple and is considered as a normal human behavior, what one observes is followed. I watched some reality -TV recently and was in shock from the actions being performed by little toddlers for money. In the show: "Toddlers and Tiaras", little girls and sometimes boys are spray tanned, covered in make-up and dressed almost half naked for a grand supreme prize of money. I was astonished by the thoughts these budding minds are inculcating to ignore the limits and boundaries or norms set by the civilized society and cross these barriers to get money. Such thoughts if instilled at the tender age would definitely leave lasting implications not only in the minds of performers but also in spectators ("Toddlers and Tiaras and sexualizing 3 year-olds"). "In February 2007, the American Psychological Association released a report on the sexualization of girls that found that girls' exposure to hypersexualized media content can negatively impacts their cognitive and emotional development" ("Toddlers and Tiaras and sexualizing 3 year-olds"). Shows like these are telling young girls and mothers that it is permissible to tell your daughter that she is not beautiful and to “fix her up” for a reward. A psychological implication on the minds of participants that ethics and cognitive development do not have any say. In this show, these young children are growing up to be: “divas” with an attitude. What implications are going to be in their minds in long run? These shows are sexualizing little girls and giving blasphemous ideas to people about little girls. It could be imbibed from this and similar shows that parents of young girls could live their dreams through their children by inspiring and aspiring them to be the part of such reality shows, indicating that the meaning of being civilized need to be redefined. Many shows like "Keeping up with the Kardashins", "The Bachelorette", and "Jersey Shore" negatively alter America's youth. These shows present ideas of cheating in relationships, partying all day, and doing pathetic and immoral actions because it is cool. Young boys and girls who are watching these shows try their best to imitate them; the characters in such shows are individuals who are looked upon by the mob to be one of them. In a study conducted by The Girl Scout Research, it was found that adolescent viewers were “allowing these TV-like elements to invade relationships with their friends and families” ("Adverse Effects of Reality TV on Girls"). Such acts are making individuals consider that breaking the bonding either of friendship or family bonding is acceptable in the society. Hurting the feelings or boys or girls is normal and should be tolerable. However, considering the fact that, human bonding and relationships are not like animals as there is a room for emotions in the relationship it is a performance that perpetuates immoral and disrespect. Besides reality shows numerous game shows are also organized where people receive money for doing unintelligent things, thereby imposing terrible effect on people. Such shows are not only degrading adults and people who need the money but are also sending a strong message to the children that by doing inappropriate and treacherous actions for a reward is well acceptable and entertaining. Moreover, "wipeout" contestants are hit with large rubber objects to amuse the audience, and gather TRP (Television Rating Points) for the show, as these points decide the popularity of the show. With the globalization in market and media, people across the world are able to view the shows and such shows are conveying the message to the audience that one can keep the dignity and respect apart and should adopt any method to earn the money by chance or to be the winner; highlighting the fact that those who possess money are also powerful and to earn money is easy and simple, as by performing stupid acts one can spin money, a kind of promotion to perform brainless acts and how well one can criticize and humiliate others publically. People today do not feel the same way as they did in the past. Today, killing your father on TV would be considered comedy when in the past it was considered inappropriate. People are just laughing at everything. People today are not spending time to stop, think, and feel. Americans are so wrapped up on what is funny that they are not feeling any real emotions. However, TV shows are now deciding the culture of the nation and hence the image of the country at an international platform. What is displayed on the screen is followed by the mass in some or the other form. Essentially, blindly watching the shows not only depicts the dumb head and brainless approach of the spectators but also shows the tolerance of people to spend their precious time in watching the stupid acts. Wills has condemned the fate of the spectators but the question is why every person could not think that it is mere degradation of the culture. Humans are sensitive and emotional beings on the planet then how these reality shows are desensitizing these intellectuals to laugh over the brainless acts. The power of these TV shows have a significant impact on Americans and their behaviors; shouldn't the production of such shows be banned to promote a healthy and meaningful acts in the society. We as Americans support and watch these shows blindly, laugh on the stupid actions without giving a thought that the actions being performed are promoting violence, sexualizing toddlers, degrading oneself, appreciating being untruthful to family and friends. By just clicking a button, we are supporting all those television producers who create such shows and cease us from expressing our feelings in front of family as when family meets every member is eager to watch what is going to be the next move in the shows instead of discussing something meaningful and constructive for the progress of family members, sharing experience and happening of the day to reach to the solution of nay predicament. Thereby, diverting the congenial family atmosphere and meaningful discussions as the time is taken away by the discussions about the happenings and incidents being displayed on the TV shows. I think Americans need to change their viewpoint about what they find to be humorous and should reconsider is it worth watching such foolish and worthless acts, should such acts be promoted? Work Cited "Adverse Effects of Reality TV on Girls". Web. 31 Jul. 2012. . "The Desensitization of Young America and the Media". Web. 6 Aug. 2012. . "Television's effects on kids: It can be harmful". Web 31 Jul. 2012. . "Toddlers and Tiaras and sexualizing 3 year-olds". Web. 31 Jul. 2012. . Read More