Film, Television and Society - Research Paper Example

Information INTRODUCTION This report analyzes and discusses the history of television and film in USA and itsimpacts on the society. The report discusses the modernization over the years, which has been observed in the era of 1970s within the framework of the US television and film industry, and how it was reflected in the society. In 1948, television first became available at homes, businesses and institutions mainly as a source of entertainment, medium of advertising, and news. It was all new invention of the time and everybody was interested in the entertainment that TV offered having become an absolutely vital part of American civilization (Fielding, 71-73). Decades before in 1970, TV had turned into one of the most popular media and everyone used to watch different programs telecasted on TV on a daily basis. At that time, many people observed great impact on the social and cultural behavior patterns due to TV popularity and also witnessed benefits from it. In comparison with the other media, such as radio, theaters, and literature, TV has been perceived as the propulsive in the US and this was a new era in its democratic civilization (Williams, & Williams, 91-92).  1970’S TELEVISION HISTORY IN THE US The era of 1970s offered a rich variety of shows in the television of the US. Wide range of programs from comedy to reality shows made their way (Hill, 39). The era had great fascination with the programs that were aired on top three channels including CBS, NBC and ABC that had exclusive content to be shown. Furthermore, CBS and NBC were the leading channels with positive ratings while programs telecasted on ABC had initially poor ratings however the ratings of the channel gained momentum with the passage of time (Creeber, 42-43). The comedy programming in the television noticed declined in the 1970s. Important to mention is the situation of comedy. The innovation offered in the comedy in early 1970s was presented in The Marry Tyler Moore Show. The show changed the typical comedy boundaries with single women shown to be happy single or not being the part of workforce. Along with comedy the variety shows also noted decline in the era. The era persistently made efforts to revive the declining shows; however, the efforts didn’t produce fruitful results. Such as in 1973, new shows that were introduced increased the number to 28 but most of the new shows were cancelled. Similar evidences were reported in 1975 to 1977 but majority of the efforts failed. This constant failure reflected boredom of viewer for the various programs that were significantly similar and other emergent trends in the society (Dunnett, 126-127). The era of 1970 in US television is also regarded "The Decade of Norman Lear." This show characterized the Lear and Bud in situation comedy of an American society with an opportunity to see the various dimensions that were earlier considered as restricted domain by other channels. The shows casted different aspects of women rights identifying pressing women for identifying her true strength. For example, One Day At A Time presented the success of single mom in gaining success in the their lives. The show presented single mom as Heroes. All In The Family was another show despite being the controversial gained much popularity. The show depicted the ways with which American family deals with issues. Various taboos in the American families were pushed aside in this program that created complexities. The news on television was given more acceptance than newspaper. The era viewed the increased influence on the television by the government. For example, the government banned the cigarettes advertisement on television and caused broadcasters loosing revenue of around US $ 200. In addition to this, the influence of US government was also witnessed in the government attempting to gain the support for the defence policies. The television in the era of 1970s also gained some greater exposures to country political conditions and other related matters. For example, the broadcasters made the Watergate Scandal and Nixon as important news to be made public for 14 minutes. Moreover, the scandal was presented for more than 300 hours that created greater pressure in society. This extensive coverage also increased the pressure on the Nixon was led to impeachment followed by resign. Intensity to cover more and more events with greater details also brought in some bad news. The primetime sports on NBC covered the 1972 Olympics and in urge to provide greater details to the public took broadcaster at length. For example, broadcaster Jim McKay in the Olympics of 1972 also covered in detail the Palestinians hostage game to athletes of Israel even to the point of their killing. The important segment of Television program included morning shows that maintained growth in 1970s era. In addition to these, there was dramatic series that changed the society dynamics. The dramatics developed the respectable audience as wit family programs like the “The Waltons” and “Little House on the Prairie”. These family programs were in contrast to the hip cultural trend prevailing in America. Another important mark achieved by the television in this era was mini-series about the love affairs in America. These mini-series such as Roots being among the most remarkable ones contented the love affairs between American and African. This had an increasingly positive impact on the society. The barrier between the American and African due to the racism was broken. 1970’S FILM HISTORY IN US The 1970s was reflected as an era of disappointment. 1960s had great optimism to offer in movie content. 1960s was being regarded as the era of Cultural Revolution in the country where much attention was given to the revolutionary content such as sex related content. The revolutionary 1960s could not continue momentum in 1970s. The movies of 1970s were high disappointments. The notable event in the 1970s included the split of Beatles. The other event reported that had negative impact was death of Janis and Jimi. The era also reported the events such as Nixon matter of resign, Non Aligned Movement etc. Glamour industry had feather haircuts and so on. All these had gone altogether wrong in contrast to the high revolutionary optimism of 1960s. Hence, reflection of all these were well seen in the horror movies of the 1970s era. It is noted that as the decline in societies are to take flight the horror movies make their place with block busters. 1970s US horror movies also made way out of these conditions and big budget movies dealing with contemporary societal issues were launched. The movies of the era also had significant focus on addressing legitimate fears related to human psychology. 1970s was also the monumental as Hollywood revived after decline in Hollywood studio system in 1960. The revival gave space to the young energetic lot of the alternative film makers. Hollywood also welcomed alternative film makers to make ventures to regain the lost audience. Since new entrants were the first generation to grow up with television; therefore, there was high level of experimentations and innovations with the objective to find the formula for regaining the audience. 1970s viewed movies testing two distinct avenues in search of blockbuster; first, independent / alternative that presented movies in environment outside the studio system of Hollywood and the other being the ones produced in the true American culture. The characteristics of the era were increased restrictions on the language usage, the content characterized much adultery leading to sexual content, rising level of violence etc. Most of the content in the movies of 1970 had contained high level freedom of all aspect with respect to above mentioned factors. New film maker had set rules of not compromising on the film offering with mediocre content. There was wide stretch in every aspect from subject to technology and cultural factors and movies maker set the trend of questioning the realities such as Watergate Scandals, Nixon’s power decline, rising dis-faith on institutions, rising drug usage and other crises etc. Hence, the overall the era had raised much questions about the darks side of the American societies (Hill, 2013). To mention few films that covered above aspects includes movie presented in 1974 entitled The Parallax View. The movie presented political matter of senator’s death investigation. Another societal matter of campus protest by students was made subject of The Strawberry Statement presented in the year 1970. The Movie was an adaption from James S. Kunen's journal. It supported the student strike at Columbia and counterculture message by MGM was exploited. Similarly, another presentation of the era included Jaws by Even Spielberg in the year 1975. Jaws covered the Watergate scandal conspiracy in a metaphoric form. Hence, the movies centrally focused on the issues and presented the rising hopelessness in the society due to wider disappointments. CHANGES IN 1970S IN US SOCIETY DUE TO FILM AND TELEVISION As films and TV was increasingly adopted medium people and so society had received significant impact from the presentations. Furthermore the effect had been vices versa as the films and TV programs developed content from the happenings in the society in many fronts mainly political and economic areas (Heller, 97). The society witnessed a transition from social movements to a different society that was centrally driven by the social activities. Increasingly the concept of freedom and exploration of the weaknesses of society led people to escape from the real world issues in form of tension free life at disco parties and specifically night disco. Also women freedom took a new momentum towards uni-sexuality etc. In addition support to the women in these programming that presented women especially single women as hero led to the women and other minorities fighting for the equal right all around life such as in work places and houses (Berger, 22). TV programs like Charlie's Angels favored women to take up equal shares even in fields that were centrally defined for men (Kubey, 131-132). Another factor that was raised from the freedom was loss of grounds that binds the society. The religious, social and even governmental grounds of society were increasingly losing its strength. The society was more inclined to free love, trends of rock and roll, changing genders etc has immense impact. In addition to this, the rising freedom orientation and frustration led to usage of drugs in society. People increasingly relied on drugs such as cocaine to continuously keep the energy level high and nitrate to arouse sexual abilities. The disco parties for all night had to offer these artificial energizers to keep people going on. The other negative impact from these factors resulted in promiscuity within constantly rising heterosexuals and homosexuals set in society. Further, the events that led to the faith withdrawal on government and related institutions that ultimately formed the content for movies such as spies and detectors’ provided reason to people for not being accountable as governments are also involved in unethical activities. All these led to situation that can be defined as rising illusions in the society. The stretch of the society towards widening of boundaries was facing greater confusions between factors that was earlier characterized as the rebellion. Hence, in accordance with Herbert Hoover who stated that disrespected government forms the reasons for society to lose its moral ground. Furthermore, such situations results in the immorality injected and poisoned in nation (Croteau, Hoynes, & Milan, 52). CONCLUSION The above document attempted to comprehend the conditions of society transition from one state to other as result of the infusions from media of communication. TV and film selected as the medium for transmitting these changes. With central focus on the programs aired on TV and content that formed the subjects of film the document entails the varying factors reflected. Though there has been constant debate on the fact of the TV and film picks up subjects from surrounding and so happened in the 1970s era but at the same time the fact remains that such content further had devastating impact on the society. The worsened impact as concluded is the societal condition where government loses all morals and reflections are observed in the society’s conduct. Works cited Berger, Arthur Asa. Media and society: A critical perspective. Rowman & Littlefield, 2012. Creeber, Glen. The television genre book. British Film Inst, 2001. Croteau, David, William Hoynes, and Stefania Milan. Media/society: Industries, images, and audiences. SAGE Publications, Incorporated, 2011. Dunnett, Peter. The World Television Industry (Routledge Revivals). Routledge. 2012. Fielding, Raymond. A technological history of motion pictures and television: an anthology from the pages of the Journal of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. Univ of California Press, 1967. Heller, Dana. The great American makeover: Television, history, nation. Palgrave Macmillan, 2006. Hill, Annette. Reality TV: Factual entertainment and television audiences. Routledge, 2013. Kubey, Robert. Creating television: conversations with the People behind 50 years of American TV. Routledge, 2013. Williams, Raymond, and Ederyn Williams. Television: Technology and cultural form. Psychology Press, 2003. Read More