For and against Popular TV Shows and Media - Essay Example

For and against Popular TV Shows and MediaSummary In this chapter the author showcases different viewpoints, who speak for and against popular TV shows and media. The experts who speak against television, state that there has been an increase in violence and anti-social behavior due to the influence of violence portrayed in popular TV shows like ‘24’ They fear that this media is taking things too far and very soon we will be watching explicit acts of violence or dangerous stunts as performances in reality shows.

Even Antonio Peacock agrees that sometimes TV shows like ‘Family Guy’ take it too far. Naomi Rockler states that today’s media has decreased our critical skills and have given more importance to petty consumerism. Sherry Tuckle is also not happy about the manner in which cell phones and computers are undermining our public spaces and community. On the other hand, Steven Johnson argues that, though certain TV shows and video games do ‘dumb us down’ the sophisticated ones deepen our intelligence and even Amy Goldwaser has asked to broaden our negative mind-sets on modern sources of information and communication i.e. the e-mail and internet.

It is Gerald Graff, who concludes the debate by pointing out that it is not only necessary to consider what media texts the audience consumes, but what matters is the content that we absorb and the intellectual attention that we give it. In his words, “It matters less whether we read Marvel comics or Macbeth, as long as we theorize about it in analytical intellectual ways”.Watching TV makes you Smarter 1. ‘Woody Allen ‘Sleeper’ movie dialogue movie and Steven Johnson’s argument.

The dialogue from ‘The Sleeper’ stresses upon discerning subtle humor and the ability to analyze a complex social situation. Steven Johnson is arguing against the generalized view point that television is encouraging violence and anti-social behavior. He tries to point out the merits of allowing children to watch popular TV shows like ER, Fear Factor, Law and Order or Grand theft Auto and other reality or gaming shows that will develop the cognitive abilities in your child. The belief that acts of violence in Iraq and Guantmano was mitigated due to the influence of hit TV series “24”which led to audience’s either committing crimes themselves or causing them to tolerate acts of violence is not correct .

We must keep in mind that Hit TV series like ‘24’ have multiple narrative threads and story-lines.. ‘24’ has twenty one distinct characters, with, a clearly defined personality, who have motivations, obstacles and a specific relationship with other characters. Which increases the viewers , memory power and ability to infer and analyze complex social situations.2. Johnson’s Argument on the Intellectual effects of Television Watching. Steven Johnson speaks of the merits of watching TV and the way media and entertainment have evolved for an audience and culture that has become cognitively and intellectually more demanding.

He believes that the ‘alarmist view’ of popular media has been seriously overstated. He acknowledges that there are certain TV Shows and video games that do tend to ‘dumb us down’ but the intelligent ones help us in developing our analytical skills, build our social skills by increasing our ability to infer and analyze complex social networks. Popular media culture stresses upon an experience, which is akin to a cognitive workshop and is not a server of negative messages. In his words “Sophisticated ones (TV shows and video games) deepen our intelligence and sharpen our ability to follow multiple plot-lines and narratives.

” He believes that modern televised intelligence is on the rise and has developed cognitive benefits normally associated with reading which are: attention, patience, retention and the parsing of narrative threads. Multi-threading: Steven Johnson also speaks about the trend of complex multi-threaded narratives which has evolved over the decades. He has used the example of the popular TV show Hill Blues: According to him “Bochco’s genius the Hill Blues, was to marry complex narrative structure with complex subject matter.

”In modern television drama, multi threading has become a crucial part of modern television drama. Many recent hit TV shows makes the audience ‘focus ‘to follow the plot; Shows like Lost, ER, Alias exercise that part of the brain that maps social networking , fills in missing information and collects multiple narrative threads . Sleeper curve: Steven Johnson has also stressed upon the development of the sleeper curve over the ages and how popular media culture has become cognitively more demanding.

Using ‘The Sopranos’ as an example, Steven Johnson has pointed out that the hit TV show, connects to three different threads at the same time , and every single thread builds on events from the previous episodes and has around 20 recurring characters at one time. Sleeper curve is based on the theory that that the mind likes to be challenged and a child’s mental faculties increase as he solves puzzles; detects patterns or unpacks a complex narrative system through his favorite TV drama or reality show .

The rising sleeper curve is a map of development in onscreen threads and narratives, but it also shows a development of a cognitive mindset. The Media Moguls who were accused of dishing out “Dumb simple pleasure” have intentionally introduced these cognitive changes in modern media to develop an intelligent audience which is more profitable for the TV channel. Creating confusion: The television shows of the present popular culture refuse to hold the audience’s hand and continuously switch between texture and substance of the dialogue, using The popular sit-com shows The West Wing and ER as an example , the author says that though the verbal exchange is fast and the dialogue is difficult ; the narrative threads and story line requires the audience to infer, where information is lacking, stress their memories for previous threads to explain a current situation.

Thus intellectually developing, the mind of your child.Reality Shows and gaming Shows: According to Steven Johnson Reality Shows are greatly influenced by games and where they have several competitive tests which are growing more challenging over time and the intellectual labor of probing the systems rules for weak spots and opportunities , -The pleasure in watching such shows comes from an audience which enjoys watching people competing in a complex high stress environment. Reality programming has brought the feeling of competitive involvement and the need for second-guessing to television episodes where a child will develop social dexterity and resourcefulness, which he would otherwise have to develop in a football field.

Though we are under the impression that video games are bad for our children we have to remember that these games develop their mental faculties of a child by teaching her how to solve problems and manage resources. Kids mature faster as they are able to recognize patterns and analyze complex social networks. Conclusion: Popular television shows have evolved over the decades from single threads to multiple threads and story lines. They encourage cognitive thinking, development of critical analytical skills and understanding of complex social networks and platforms.

We must consider these points before assuming that television is the bane of all social evils.