Essay/Term paper: The impact of television

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Technology

The Impact Of Television


Since the beginning, there have been mixed reactions to television and
it was E.B. White who wrote "I believe that television is going to be the test
of the modern world, and in this new opportunity to see beyond the range of our
own vision, we shall discover either a new and unbearable disturbance of the
general peace or a saving radiance in the sky. We shall stand or fall by
television, of that I am sure." (Murray 7) White was correct, it would either be
beneficial or detrimental to society. Ever since the first television station
was licensed in 1941, our lives have been effected by the presence of television.
However, this effect is not for the negative since it is used from simple means
of entertainment to a widely used, invaluable, source of information. It is also
an excellent aid in preparing children for school and assisting in educating
children after they have begun school.

Every day millions of people turn to their televisions as a form of
escape from the pressures and stress of day to day life. The television, to them,
serves the purpose of entertaining them for a half hour or an hour at a time.
This is the purpose of sitcoms, such as the popular NBC produced shows Friends
and Fraiser, each appealing to different audiences, but both comedy bases for
purposes of entertaining. Humor is not the only approach used in television
entertainment. Shows, such as NYPD Blue, use thick plot lines and heavy drama
to draw the viewer in. Entertaining society through this media has become a
multibillion dollar industry. Top movies like Jurassic Park, which grossed 390
million dollars, bring millions of people to movie theater, which are basically
large televisions, for the soul purpose of entertainment. Movies are not
restricted only to theaters since they are available on video cassette and even
broadcasted into millions of homes each day. The privilege of television as
entertainment should be used, but not abused. For instance, watching six hours
of television every night, stopping only to eat and sleep does not promote and
active lifestyle, however, on the other end of the spectrum, never watching any
television does not expose a person to a vast array of entertainment and
information.

Television is able to show different roles in society and therefore
people are able to better understand others experiences and responsibilities.
Along with this idea, people should know and understand current events of the
world to help them better understand the effects of these events on society.
Television has become the fastest media, reporting on today's event, as opposed
to yesterday's events written about in a news paper. Since there is not an area
in this country, or an area in the world that does not receive a television
signal, this, along with the fact only 2% of the population does not have a
television, ensure that this is an extremely assessable media. Society has taken
advantage of this by broadcasting the days news and information, regardless of
which part of the world it took place in, over television signal so that 98% of
the society can view it and become informed. This is not to say that television
is the best source for news and information, but it is the most current.
Documentary show are very informative on one particular chosen subject. These
shows help society better understand the world around them. For instance, a
documentary show about the wars in the middle east can explain why there is a
war and more importantly, the effects on the residents in this area. When a
documentary is shown two stories are told; the verbal information presented and
the progression of pictures. An emotion can be portrayed very effectively by
means of pictures. The viewer now is not only told that the children in the
middle east are left without food and shelter, he/she is able to see the
children suffering. This aspect of television makes it an invaluable asset to
today's society, and especially beneficial to children.

Studies estimate that before the age of 18, children have watched
fifteen to twenty thousand hours of television. What kind of impact does this
have on a child's ability to learn? In a survey of seven hundred fifty 10-16
year olds it was revealed that 82% of them confirmed that television can teach
young children the difference between right and wrong. United States congress
concluded that television has the capacity to effect society in a positive way
by educating and informing children. "Studies show that television can
effectively teach children special skills, assisting in preparing for formal
schooling, as well complement skills taught in classroom. For example, programs
such as Sesame Street and Mr Roger's Neighborhood have been shown to enhance
attentiveness and perceptual abilities." (The Impact of Television on Children's
Education) For younger children, viewing educational programs or cartoons can
increase academic performance. As little as a half and hour per day can improve
test scores on a variety of subjects. Although it has been argued that
television tends to a reduction in reading and verbal skills, shows such as
Sesame Street are addressing the issue by showing words to improve reading and
encourage viewers to read along with the characters. It has been shown that
there is actually a demand for more educational and informative programs for
children.

Society has been effected and will continue to be effected, not only by
television, but by media in general. Television is a constant form of
entertainment and excellent source of information that is assessable by millions
of people. The education content in children television is beneficial to
preschoolers and students alike. However, television has been the blame for many
of societies faults because it is easy to contribute it to violence and a social
lack of initiative. Television is such a small part of a much larger picture and
its benefits far outweigh its faults. The idea of television as an informative
and education media must be embraced in the future to receive its full benefits.
Even the thought of a society without television is incomprehensible to many.

Bibliography

"Background Information: The Impact of Television on Children's Education."
Http://haas.berkely.edu/~atham/background.html (October 21, 1996)

Murray, John P. "Children and Television Violence." Kansas Journal of Law &
Public Policy, 4, No. 3 (1995), 7-14

"Top 50 Movies, 1993." The World Almanac and Book of Facts. 1995