Category: Television

Introduction

Reality TV broadcasts programs that are meant to portray how various activities happen in reality. However, they often exaggerate the reality of those activities to create a thrilling program for the viewers. According to health experts, childbirth is exaggerated in reality TV. Reality TV portrays childbirth as a painful and dangerous experience yet it is not in real life. This form of description imparts fear and wrong perceptions to many women, across the globe. Traditionally, midwifery was a commonality practiced, within the community, to help women through their labor. This was done by midwives who had experience in childbirth.

Childbirth was taught to the majority of women in the community because it was perceived to be their duty. Later on, childbirth was handled by professional doctors in hospitals. Given the advent of hospitals, the need for midwifery decreased and eventually, the majority of women lacked the know-how on childbirth. This created an information gap, which is being filled by the media. Through reality shows on childbirth, women across the globe get birth information. The only reservation is that media programs are not always accurate. This essay seeks to highlight the media portrayal of childbirth and actual reality.

Genesis of Media Reporting and Childbirth

The 19th century represents a period when childbirth was a task done by community women. This meant that pregnant women were to be assisted during labor by their fellow women at home. The women who assisted during childbirth were called midwives. The midwives applied their knowledge of cultural knowledge and traditions. However, this trend changed in 1900 when childbirth was incorporated into the doctors tasks. The number of doctors was increasing gradually; hence, childbirth became synonymous with the doctors. The media campaigned for the abandonment of the midwives because they caused a lot of pain to women.

They also argued that doctors could perform childbirth without the women experiencing any pain. Initially, women were reluctant to seek medical birth since it did not incorporate local culture. Continued media influence made a majority of women lose faith in their traditional methods of childbirth. This change of perception resulted in a high number of women going to hospitals for childbirth services.

Doctors apply only medical knowledge when assisting women through childbirth. Childbirth knowledge, as a result, can only be received during labor since a majority of women lack that experience. This has created a vacuum of the uncertainty of childbirth. This vacuum is being exploited by reality TV, which is misrepresenting, the concept of childbirth. The majority of women believed perceptions from these reality programs due to a lack of information on the issue.

The media have undergone a series of evolutions in casting their programs related to childbirth. In the 1920s, the media treated childbirth as a natural phenomenon that occurred without any complications. It further depicted childbirth as a biological role for women. All media programs portrayed childbirth as a private affair since it was related to sex, which attracted a barrage of taboos. During the 1930s and 1940s, hospitals were predominantly used for childbirth.

This period was marked by decreased infant mortality rates. Maternal complications were easily dealt with effectively reducing maternal deaths. The media came up with programs that demonized traditional childbirth for causing high mortality rates. They reflected on the loss of life due to traditional practices. As the hospital intervention was growing in its sophistication, the media were focused deeply on reporting about various methods and equipment for childbirth. There was a lot of innovation in this field that became the subject for the majority of media programs. The 1980s marked the advent of fictional programs on childbirth. Fiction depicts that the process of childbirth is a highly sophisticated process that involves complex equipment and technology. It portrays the womens reaction with a deceptive exaggeration of their emotions.

TV Childbirth and the Reality

The majority of expectant women have a high degree of interest to watch TV programs on childbirth. They claim that the programs are not only instructive but also make them aware of what to expect (Gabriel, 2011, p.58). However, most analysts think that these shows are often not accurate. This, thus, gives a misguiding perception of what transpires during childbirth. In these shows, labor takes too long and is somewhat a tedious process. All the shows depict childbirth as an excruciating process that is rife with fatal complications. Further, almost all women in reality shows are portrayed to scream in agony during childbirth.

These perceptions induce this form of reaction to the majority of women at labor. For instance, a woman who believes that labor is painful; will always experience pain during childbirth. These shows also portray midwives and women who give birth naturally as backward and uncivilized. The shows portray natural birth in a demeaning manner and thus the rising preference for cesarean births. Doulas are not spared either in these TV shows. They are delineated as demented human beings. The majority of critics of TV shows think that the shows are not factual hence should be watched for entertainment purposes only.

The prevalence of commercial broadcasts has triggered the propagation of dramatized and inaccurate shows on childbirth. The women and girls who watch these shows develop a misconception about labor and birth. The information vacuum created by the rejection of doulas and midwives is filled by information in magazines, the internet, and TV. The effect of media on childbirth is tremendously significant to the extent that the majority of women prefer getting information from TV shows to attending prenatal clinics. This exposure to inaccurate material has left many women vulnerable due to the enormous negative influence of the shows.

This negative depiction has forced the midwives and doulas to sensitize women on the myths surrounding their role in childbirth. A study conducted by Clement in 1997 about TV childbirth revealed many disparities from real childbirth. In TV shows, childbirth is associated with complications and uncertain labor outcomes. This scenario underscores the thrill that these shows intend to pass to the viewers, which is not the reality. According to the findings from the study, about 75% of women gave birth in hospital while the rest were at home (Varney, Kriebs, & Gegor, 2004, p. 463).

TV shows describe the births at home as accidental and attribute them to failure of timely access to the hospital. Premeditated births at home were risky and unpredictable. In British TV, the Majority of women believe TV births are not real. These births occur unexpectedly in stadiums, in class, in toilets, or in any other place. The drama is created due to failure to access a health facility.

The studies carried out by Clement found that most TV shows exhibited labor as an emergency. Labors attracted rushed reactions from doctors with the family members drowned in panic. This move is purely for purposes of comedy, as it does not happen that way in reality. These were responded to by doctors who were dressed in surgical caps and dust coats all the time. In Britain, maternal care was provided by midwives who never put on theater gowns. In TV shows, few births involved their partners partly due to the emergency laborers. The intensity of birth is depicted as extremely agonizing and exhausting.

Common to the majority shows is the emergency treatments accorded women in labor. Anesthesia is commonly used during labor, to remove the pain. These statistics compelled Clement to conclude that the inherent variations between TV shows and reality were a world apart pointing to the inaccuracy of TV childbirth. According to studies by VandeVusse, in a majority of laborers, there was regular check on the fetal heartbeat rate and blood pressure checks.

He further stated that about 73% had epidural services whereas about 27% used Pitocin to stimulate labor. Midwives were portrayed as offering minimal medical interventions and irregular fetal observation. The midwives did not provide induction and epidural. The midwives used methods like walking, bathing, and standing to reduce pain. TV reality shows described medical childbirth and midwifery as employing unique approaches.

Conclusion

Negative publicity imparts misconceived perceptions to women about birth. These wrong perceptions have influenced adversely to decision-making capacity by women, partly because of tokophobia that has been imparted to the women. The majority of young women are avoiding pregnancy, natural birth, or even regularly terminating a pregnancy due to fear. It has also caused the majority to opt for elective cesarean to natural birth. In conclusion, midwives, doulas, and other people providing care to pregnant women should provide adequate sensitization about the TV shows, depiction of childbirth, and the actual reality.

References

Gabriel, C. (2011). Natural Hospital Birth: The Best of Both Worlds. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Varney, H., Kriebs, J. M., & Gegor, C. L. (2004). Varneys Midwifery. Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Introduction

Future fulfilment and success that is enjoyed by people in their adult life depends mainly on the emotional as well as the intellectual development that was experienced in their childhood. The experiences are derived from direct experiences that results from interactions with people around us and indirect experiences that are attributed to the ever growing media sources in the technological world we are living in. In the modern world, the media sources have been taken over by the mass media which incorporates the television; its most prominent and prevalent category. Television is attributed to influencing the societys perception on the real world through the images it depicts. It has however experienced its share of negative and positive criticism. Despite this, it has continued to be adopted throughout the world hence becoming the favourable mass media device. Over the years a lot has been said and written over the impact of television within our society.

Argument for positive effects of TV watching

The general perceptions and explanations that are attributed to the effects of television in the social life tend to incline on the negative aspects thereby disregarding the other factors that bring about the positive effects of television. Television is considered as a socializing agent (Fisch 112, 113).

One of the functions of the media is to depict the current happenings in the modern world. These happenings are often depicted in the television dramas or the news. For instance while dealing with violence, the media plays its role by indicating the threat it poses and implies the appropriate response that arises from the threat. The focus therefore needs to be shifted from the simple journalistic idea, if the reality which is expected to be captured by the media is to change the motive media of images that are structured to have a role in the determination of social agendas.

Educational Television programs are regarded to have a positive effect on childrens cognitive development as well as social development in adults. There are programs that encourage prosocial behaviours within the society. Positive effects have been identified in the variety of different cultures as they advocate sharing and respect within the society. Among the positive effects of prosocial shows are the increase in interaction levels and a decrease in aggression levels among the viewers as the effects will be will be visible in the real world. Watching TV programs has also been regarded as another way of fostering group identity as teenagers or viewers are known to identify themselves with media preferences (Parke and Clarke-Stewart 307).

Argument for negative effects of TV watching

According to Straubhaar and LaRose, violent behaviour effects from television have received a lot of attention from researchers than any other antisocial behaviour. Teenagers are regarded to possess the biggest percentage of television viewers. This therefore means that majority of the studies conducted are based on the teenagers within our society. The effect of television on the youngsters and teenagers at large has been an issue of concern in the public domain. This is because it is difficult for the youngsters to comprehend the difference between the current world they are living in and the world they perceive in the small screen. In the current world teenagers tend to spend numerous hours in a day watching the television without supervision. This hence creates room for possibility of harming the young developing mind with contents that are regarded as antisocial behaviour and as well as violent behaviour (Straubhaar and LaRose 407).

According to Martin, majority of the experts laid the blame of increase decay of social behaviours on the television and other forms of the media. It is these forms of media that glorify the unacceptable norms of the society such as drug use and irresponsible sexual behaviours. When these behaviours are seen or encouraged over the televisions the viewers are attracted to them and tend to try the theoretical behaviours practically. This therefore indicates that the viewers imitate what they see or hear over the various sources of media. The fact that the television or the film industries glorify these behaviours, they bear the burden of causing a decline in moral behaviour and increase in moral decay within the society. In the modern world majority of the rap and rock songs are incorporated with messages of violence in their lyrics. This will bound to increase deviance among the teenagers as the forms of entertainment known to them glamorizes the themes that are inclined to deviance behaviours (Martin 89).According to the cultivation theory, television addicts are mainly less concerned with violent acts as they perceive these acts as justified and they can tolerate it. The viewers perception on violence is moulded according to what he or she sees on the television thus in time, violence is not viewed as problematic but rather as an acceptable behaviour. The cultivation theory suggests that addicts of the television often perceive the world in a frightening and violent dimension which is contrary to the situation at hand. In addition to this, these viewers tend to be victims of the same violence they are watching. In summation, the violent televised shows are one of the root causes of violent behaviours in the social world as they tend to be more desensitized and aggressive to the aftermath of watching these programs in the sense that they consider the world revolving around them to be fearful, a phenomenon regarded as mean world syndrome.

Stand

Despite the various factors that contribute to the negative development of behaviours within the society, the one factor that cannot be ignored is the impact the television has in shaping the behaviour of the whole society we are living in. Media violence is one of the factors that are attributed to negative and antisocial behaviours among the developing teenagers and the society as whole. Human beings tend to imitate what they see a process called observational learning. It is at this stage that the youths are normally curious in trying out any kind of behaviour. The observational learning has been described as one of the main psychological process upon which the effects of media violence are based especially in a teenagers that are developing.

In April 6, 1998 the Time Magazine wrote an article that indicated that a time was coming when the debate on media violence will be put in the same platform as the one the debate on tobaccos impact on health was kept on. In addition the article went on to condemn researchers who dont bother in debating over the increased bloodshed over the television that is bound to affect the viewers witnessing it.

Slapstick humour as well as other comedic elements has a way of camouflaging scenes of moral decay. As from its definition, it is regarded as humour achieved from physical action, slapstick humour has been incorporated in various television shows. There are several reasons as to why comedy which is one of the many television shows is regarded to condone violence. Some of the reasons include: 1) in comedies, the seriousness of the violent scenes is downplayed leading to the notion that violence is just another trivial by the viewer; 2) violence is camouflaged by excluding it from the schemas; and 3) when combined together humour and violence will result to downplaying the level of violence.

As regarding the deviant behaviours some of the entertainment shows are centrally focus on portraying a negative perception. The music entertainment shows that depict singers advocating on the use of drugs such as marijuana are bound to instigate negative and deviant behaviours among the teenagers. Majority of these singers are depicted in a lavished life of comfort that is yearned by majority of the teenagers and the moment they portray the use of drugs and other negative sexual behaviours as a common way of life, the teenagers will incline to the newly acquired way of life by trying out the same behaviours shown on the TV.

Conclusion

A lot of the attention from the researchers while conducting their researches has mainly been focused on the negative effects that television has as opposed to its positive effects. While considering the due care that is needed in showing the various programs to the viewers, it must be noted that television when used sensibly will give rise to numerous benefits. However the current form of media has been used to instigate negative social behaviours within the society we are living in.

References

Fisch, M. Shalom. Childrens learning from educational television: Sesame Street and beyond. NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. 2004.

Martin, Gus. Juvenile justice: process and systems. CA: Sage Publication Ltd. 2005.

Parke, D. Ross. and Clarke-Stewart, Alison. Social Development. NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2011.

Straubhaar, D. Joseph. Media now: understanding media, culture, and technology. CA: Thomson Corporation. 2006.

The occurrence of the CSI effect is widely discussed in scholarly resources such as Public Understanding of Science, for instance. By the example of the article, derived from this journal, one may see that the impact of the SCI effect is tracked in the minds of regular television viewers (Cole 130-146). The research, made by the author, proves that for the majority of those who watch the series the borderland between fiction and reality becomes blurred. The main goal of the study was to identify to what extent different factors had contributed to the programs high level of credibility and how they affected the viewers perception of TV reality.

As Steenberg states, the CSI franchise has solidified the now conventional iconography of popular forensic science in visual culture (3). Eventually, the main purposes of the article were to define how the CSI effect had led to a distorted way of thinking and, thus, peoples wrong perception of events. The study brightly demonstrates how the CSI effect makes a pernicious impact on the way judges, attorneys, and regular citizens make conclusions regarding crimes. The author highlights that although, the storylines are fiction. Their effect is real (Cole 132). People tend to believe those police departments work exactly the way they are shown on TV. Despite the fact the program creators apply for computer graphics to more precisely reflect their vision of a particular situation (the way a bullet penetrates tissues, etc.), viewers still accept the given information as a reliable fact. This statement proves that a detailed depiction of how the crimes are being investigated and solved makes the influence of heavy forensic television program viewership on perceptions of scientific evidence and juror decision-making (Mancini 543).

The key research questions, the author is attempting to answer, are narrowed down to two major sections: how the actual reality is becoming distorted by a mentioned effect and to what extent this fact influences the minds of regular citizens and judges in particular. Knowing that the CSI effect does exist and may alter the trial strategies, the researcher applies various approaches and methods of data collecting (Hayes and Levett 220). Thus, to prove the claim of Maeder and Corbett that higher frequencies of TV show viewing make viewers increase their expectations regarding evidence, the author refers to a quantitative method of data retrieving and provides tables where main statistical figures are gathered (89). These figures show that jury consultants and judges are influenced by the CSI effect to the degree of 90 in percentage equivalent (Cole 135).

In addition to the mentioned quantitative method, the researcher also uses a qualitative approach to the data analysis. With regards to the fact that quite often the public formed opinions not based on crime statistics, but rather how the media represented crime the author expresses his view of the situation and tries to highlight the premises for their occurrence (Ogletree and Sarat 23). His opinion coincides with the one this review is backing. The CSI effect does have an influence on the way trials currently operate and the way they make decisions. Expectedly, the reasons for this fact lie in the mass media misfeed and distorted depiction of facts by the program creators, which leads to the wrong comprehension of the given information.

Works Cited

Cole, Simon A. A Surfeit of Science: The SCI Effect and the Media Appropriation of the Public Understanding of Science. Public Understanding of Science, vol. 24, no. 2, 2015, pp. 130-146.

Hayes, Rebecca M., and Lora M. Levett. Community Members Perceptions of the CSI Effect. American Journal of Criminal Justice, vol. 38, no. 2, 2013, pp. 216-235.

Maeder, Evelyn M., and Richard Corbett. Beyond Frequency: Perceived Realism and the CSI Effect. Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice, vol. 57, no. 1, 2015, pp. 83-114.

Mancini, Dante E. The CSI Effect in an Actual Juror Sample: Why Crime Show Genre May Matter. North American Journal of Psychology, vol. 15, no. 3, 2013, p. 543.

Ogletree, Charles J., and Austin Sarat. Punishment in Popular Culture. NYU Press, 2015.

Steenberg, Lindsay. Forensic Science in Contemporary American Popular Culture: Gender, Crime, and Science. Routledge, 2013.

In the research of Alissa E. Setliff and Mary L. Courage Background Television and Infants Allocation of Their Attention during Toy Play, the authors address the influence of background television on infants environment. The issue of the effect of TV on the distribution of their attention during the play was raised. Those who spend time at background television while playing may have many disadvantages in their later childhood (Chonchaiya, Sirachairat, Vijakkhana, Wilaisakditipakorn, and Pruksananonda, 2015).

88 infants at six months of age took part in the study. Due to such circumstances as somnolence, fussiness, crying, and parents interruption material from 28 of them was eliminated. Consequently, the final selection included 60 infants (30 female, 30 male). It is important to note that that the average age of infants during the research was 26 weeks. All participants were Caucasians, mainly middle class, who were enrolled from the information base where the data was provided by parents. 52 of infants returned at the age of 12 months to take part in an additional session. However, five of them were eliminated because of fussiness, crying, and somnolence. The number of participants was 47 (22 female, 25 male) (Setliff & Courage, 2011).

The initial analyses did not reveal any differences in primary indicators of attention to toys or to television between those 13 participants who took part only in the first session and those who participated in both. A year later, when infants were two years old, 37 of them took part in additional session (Setliff & Courage, 2011). During this procedure, three of them were eliminated because of equipment errors. 34 participants (19 girls, 15 boys) were examined at an average age of 100 weeks (Pempek, Kirkorian, & Anderson, 2014). Preliminary researches did not show differences between infants who participated in the previous sessions and those who took part in all procedures. Such equipment as analog cameras was used for the research. The first sessions participants were presented with bright-colored toys with movable parts that met age requirements. Infants in the second procedure were given seven toys as well as the same as was provided for six-month old participants. As for the third session, it should be noted that new models of age-appropriate toys were given to infants.

According to Setliff and Courage (2011), the distinction between exposure to television that is background and that which is foreground is an important one that was first made by Anderson and Evans who defined foreground television as programming to which young children show sustained attention (p.612). 30 clips were randomly generated for them. The first session participants were provided with ten minutes of TV programs. For the second and third sessions, infants were presented with other clips. Participants were secured in a childrens chair in the room and freely playing with toys. During the first half of the procedure, the TV was on, and the rest of the time it was off.

Parents were situated in the same room sitting behind the infants. The length of participants gaze at toys and television was judged by observers by viewing digital files in a real time condition. According to data provided by parents, 42 per cent of them reported on having at least two TV sets. Furthermore, their children at six months age watched approximately 40 minutes of TV programs while at twelve months they watched one hour per day (Pempek et al., 2014). The number of participants who had TV sets in their bedrooms was not high.

Various types of visual attention that represent the participants interest for toys and TV were taken into account: gaze duration and an overall number of glances. The results revealed the fact that infants directed their attention to toys rather than to TV (Setliff & Courage, 2011). The first goal of the research was to observe how background television influences the infants attention while they are playing. The following two issues were whether TV attracts their attention and how programs may hold it. The results revealed that at the ages of six and 12 months infants prefer playing to watching TV disregarding the type of programs provided as television interrupts their activity. One may note that when TV was on, the average length of childrens looks was considerably shorter than when it was off since infants focused their attention during 26 seconds (Pempek et al., 2014).

The above data states that programs were successful in gaining infants attention but not in holding it. For most infants, TV did not become a foreground activity. This should allay the concerns of those who contend that the typical fast pace of current television programs compels visual fixation in young infants who find themselves unable to look away, regardless of comprehension (Setliff & Courage, 2011, p.631). The failure of TV to attract infants attention is evident since the length of the gaze depends on such factors as viewing context and whether a parent co-views with the infant (Setliff & Courage, 2011, p.631). It should be noted that toys preference depends on the order of programs presentation. Participants, who were shown a program at the end of their session, were more distracted by TV in comparison to those who were presented with it during the first half of session.

The average length of a look to TV in the second group was twice more than of the first (7 seconds against 3 seconds) (Setliff & Courage, 2011). Hence, this order reflects a change of TV over time and familiarity with toys. According to Setliff and Courage (2011), infant-appropriate TV implemented in the study was beyond the comprehension level of the studied group, and it performed as a distractor rather than play. Furthermore, distraction of attention is more likely to decrease during the childrens growth. During the study, no differences of age distractibility were obvious. One may note that the study of the same group of participants who were reexamined at the age of 24 months indicated that they do not spend that much time looking at TV as they did at previous sessions (Pempek et al., 2014).

To conclude, TV presence in the life of infants may constrain their attention and interrupt from their activity. Despite the fact that children continue to engage in ongoing activities while exposing to background TV, watching programs may diminish their attention. Moreover, it even could slow down cognitive processing. The main concern is that diversion of attention from playing due to their frequent looks to TV. Play is considered to be the main factor of infants cognitive and social development, where they practice their motor habits and discover objects characteristics.

Reference

Chonchaiya, W., Sirachairat, C., Vijakkhana, N., Wilaisakditipakorn, T., & Pruksananonda, C. (2015). Elevated background TV exposure over time increases behavioural scores of 18monthold toddlers. Acta Paediatrica, 104(10), 1039-1046.

Pempek, T. A., Kirkorian, H. L., & Anderson, D. R. (2014). The effects of background television on the quantity and quality of child-directed speech by parents. Journal of Children and Media, 8(3), 211-222.

Setliff, A. E., & Courage, M. L. (2011). Background television and infants allocation of their attention during toy play. Infancy, 16(6), 611-639.

Introduction

Television shows are very popular with children in the modern society. These shows have overtaken the outdoor games as a favorite leisure activity, especially among the children below twelve years. Games such as hide-and-seek, athletics, and football are not common among children in the current society.

Those who live in urban centers have been more addicted to these shows. There has been a debate in the public domain about the real effect of television shows. While a section of the society argues that television shows are beneficial to children because they are educative, others feel that they have a negative influence on them. Each of the two factions has reasons, which support their opinions.

Children are spending more time watching television shows than ever before despite this raging debate. In this argumentative paper, the researcher seeks to give reasons, which prove that television shows have serious negative influence on children.

Discussion

Exposure to some television shows promotes violence among children. Most of the shows, which are meant for children, contain violence, which may affect children negatively. In these shows, life is demonstrated as being full of physical wars that one must win in order to be considered a hero.

At this early stage in life, children learn a lot from what they see and hear from their immediate environments. They watch movies where heroes kill villain violently in order to achieve victory. The victory they receive after committing such actions show that violence is cool. Children learn very fast and come to realize that the only way they can have their way is through violence.

Most of the cartoons that are very popular among children below ten years also have violent actions that involve destruction of property and even killings. These children would grow up knowing that life is defined by physical force. This may not affect them only, but also people around them.

Television shows have also been associated with risky behaviors, especially among young teenagers. It is not possible to control the channels that children can access in the house. In various cases, children end up watching shows, which are meant for adults. They are exposed to information that may corrupt their minds at very early stages.

Given the fact that they are very curious and eager to learn, they may end up engaging in risky behaviors that may not be good for their own health. For instance, alcoholism among the adolescents has largely been blamed on shows, which present the habit as being cool.

These children would then indulge in these habits seeking acceptance among their peers because of their desire to associate with the characters they see in these shows. In some cases, a child would try to imitate some of the habits they see in the characters at school. This increases cases of indiscipline at school.

Television shows have had serious negative impacts on the physical health of many children. As mentioned before, children now spend most of their time watching television than playing physical games. This affects their normal development.

Physical activities not only help in the development of bones and muscles among children, but also their brain capacity. Reduced physical activities may bring physical complications among children such as obesity, retarded growth, or weak bones that can easily break when little pressure is exerted on them. Some of the television shows advocate for violence.

Television shows such as wrestling always create temptation among children to try the moves made by these professional wrestlers. Several cases of broken bones or even death have been witnessed as young children try to practice these dangerous moves. When they see these activities in their screen, they believe it is normal and can be practiced without straining.

Conclusion

Television shows may have a number of good benefits for children in our modern society. However, its negative impacts far outweigh these benefits. Children who are constantly exposed to violent shows may end up being violent. They cannot reason rationally like adults to realize that what they see is fiction. Some children are exposed to adult contents, which may make them develop risky behaviors that may have serious consequences in their life today, and in future.

Health experts have also insisted that television shows have reduced the time that children spend in physical activities. This makes them vulnerable to health problems such as obesity, coronary diseases, and weak bones. Parents may not have control over what these children watch. This makes the situation even more delicate. Their curiosity to learn about various issues, especially those that parents prohibit them from, put them at serious risks in their normal development.

The growing popularity of television as a form of mass media has resulted in the development of many comedy genres. They can appeal to people who may differ in terms of their educational level, political views, age, family status, employment, and so forth. In many cases, it is difficult to classify television comedies because film-makers may combine the elements of different genres. For instance, one can refer to animated sitcoms that may include some components that are typical of drama (Stabile 9). Overall, television comedies can differ considerably in terms of such criteria as the setting of the movie, the number of actors involved in the film, the themes explored by the authors, and the use of cinematographic techniques; in turn, this paper is aimed at examining the key attributes of sitcoms, television comedies, tragicomedies, and animated comedies because these types are of great interest to many viewers.

It is possible to argue that TV comedies have a rather long history, and they were produced even at the time when television was only beginning to grow in popularity. In particular, they were released in the late thirties. For instance, one can mention Starlight that was produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation in 1936 (Newton 27). In addition to that, it is possible to mention Pinwrights Progress that is viewed as one of the earliest sitcoms. This television series was released right after the end of World War II. Since that time, there have been many movies that can be described as comedies, and much attention should be paid to their primary attributes and distinguishing traits.

At first, one should discuss situational comedies or sitcoms that represent recurrent characters; moreover, their action usually takes place in the same setting (Mills 28). For instance, the characters can work in the same organization. In this case, one can refer to the television series named The Office. Apart from that, sitcoms can explore the experiences of people who know each other for a long time; in many cases, they have similar lifestyles. For instance, it is possible to consider the famous sitcom Friends. Apart from that, such movies can portray the life of family members; in this case, one can refer to such a sitcom as The Middle. It depicts the life of a middle-class American family (Spangler 472). A single episode of such television comedies usually lasts for approximately 30 minutes (Mills 28). The chief peculiarities of this genre are examined by Brett Mills, who discusses the reasons why the production of such films has become an important part of the show business (10). It is probably the most widespread format. Such movies enjoy popularity among various social and age groups.

Apart from that, one should consider the so-called sketch comedies that consist of short and unrelated vignettes (Harrison 13). In particular, these narratives are not the parts of a larger plot. They can explore various themes such as relations between family members, co-workers, friends, and so forth. Additionally, they depict people, who represent social or age groups such as teenagers, students, police officers, journalists, and so forth (Harrison 13). Among the most famous sketch comedies, one can distinguish Little Britain that presents a satirical description of the British lifestyles or values (Harrison 13). In addition to that, it is possible to mention Monty Pythons Flying Circus. Overall, this type of television comedies can be useful for exploring for various issues such as social or economic problems, peoples values, conflicts within families, and many other topics. In this case, film-makers are not limited by the necessity to follow the plot line. However, one should remember that sketch comedies often reflect the issues that are familiar to the representatives of a particular culture. For instance, Charles Harrison argues that it is often difficult to adapt such shows to the needs of foreign viewers (Harrison 13). Apart from that, the elements of sketch comedies can be observed in various television shows. These shows often feature two or more comedians who perform on stage.

It is important to remember that film-makers can incorporate the elements of different genres such as comedy and drama. Therefore, they can explore various themes such as the role of mass media in the life of individuals, healthcare organizations, crime and so forth (Britton 94). This type of movies can be called comedy-dramas. They may even highlight the experiences of individuals who may struggle with some psychological problems. In this case, it is possible to mention such television series as Psych or Moonlighting that depicting the work of detectives and police officers (Britton 94). One should bear in mind that such television comedies can take place in different settings as such healthcare organizations, law firms, police departments, and so forth. Apart from that, many sitcoms have the elements of comedy-dramas. For instance, the television series named The Middle highlights the experiences of a family struggling through the recession that began in 2008 (Spangler 472). It is possible to refer to the scholarly article written by Lynn Spangler who notes that the characters of many sitcoms may live from paycheck to paycheck (Spangler 479). Thus, these fictional individuals are not isolated from the trends affecting the entire American society. These examples are important for showing that the boundaries between different types of comedies often can be blurred. Furthermore, such television series can be useful for understanding the social and economic problems faced by the community.

Additionally, the production of television comedies may involve the use of different cinematographic techniques. For instance, some cartoons can also be regarded as television comedies. As a rule, their plot and setting are typical of sitcoms and comedy-dramas. In particular, one should consider such comedies as Simpsons, Futurama, or South Park. They usually explore the experiences of some recurrent characters such as family members or close friends. At the same time, they can explore such themes as the role of religion, domestic violence, unemployment, psychological problems of children or adolescents, and so forth. Thus, one can say that television comedies can combine different formats. It is one of the trends that can be distinguished.

Overall, these details are important for showing that television comedies have evolved considerably during the last 70 years. They can serve the needs of viewers who may have various values and attitudes. The main trend is that film-makers can apply the elements of different cinematographic genres. For instance, they prefer to use the elements of comedy and drama since this approach is useful for exploring a broad range of topics. It is important to consider such types as sitcoms, animated comedies, comedy-dramas, and sketch comedies because they are the most popular formats.

Works Cited

Britton, Piers. Reading between Designs: Visual Imagery and the Generation of Meaning in The Avengers, The Prisoner, and Doctor Who. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2010. Print.

Harrison, Charles. Difficulties of translating humour: From English into Spanish using the subtitled British comedy sketch show Little Britain as a case study. New York: Anchor Academic Publishing, 2013. Print.

Mills, Brett. The Sitcom. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2009. Print.

Newton, Darrell. Paving the Empire Road: BBC Television and West Indian Immigration. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2011. Print.

Spangler, Lynn. Class On Television: Stuck In The Middle. Journal Of Popular Culture 47.3 (2014): 470-488. Print.

Stabile, Carol. Prime Time Animation: Television Animation and American Culture. New York: Routledge, 2013. Print.

Cannon arguments on TV violence

The articles, Honey, I warped the kids, and The Hollow Crusade against TV Violence elaborate on the impacts of TV violence programs. They illustrate how TV programs have affected society, since the early 1950s (Cannon 1). In these articles, the authors argue on several effects emanating from increasing programs on TV violence. To comprehend the current effects of TV violence, one has to analyze the authors main points and their common grounds.

In both essays, the authors argue that violence is harmful to society. As affirmed by Cannon, the effects of television violence were witnessed as early as 1954 (Cannon 1). Though the TV industry was relatively young, its negative impacts across society had already been experienced. This issue came into public scope when it was reported in the first congressional hearings held in 1954. Additionally, the television industrys bizarre marketing power was felt across American society immediately after the inception of the television industry. Despite such phenomenon, when one analyzes of worlds societies prior to the invention of the TV is done, it can be realized that violence was on the increase.

Both Cannon and Todds arguments denounce TV violence. Todd claims that he has campaigned against movie violence for more than two decades, since the times of The Wild Bunch and The Godfather. Similarly, Cannon argues that numerous groups calls to curb television violence over the years, should act as a reminder that society as a whole, is gaining concern on the effects of TV violence.

Similarly, both Todd and canons arguments on TV violence have resulted in numerous adverse effects on society. Referring to David Nasaws findings in the 1910 film shows, Todd shows that forty percent of the sampled films were unfit for children (Gitlin 1). These films encouraged vulnerable children to engage in violence through their themes. Using the Deer Hunter show, on the TV cables in the year 1982, Todd attributes that several people killed themselves while playing Russian roulette because of the show (Gitlin 1). This implies that in the process of movie emulation, some individuals end up losing their lives. In addition, the author claims that the increasing carnage, suicide, and murders might be a result of TV violence.

An analysis of the two articles reveals the different opinions held by both authors concerning the effects of TV violence. Cannons arguments assert that the current increase of violence in society is due to the effects of TV violence. To support his claim, Cannon indicates that there have been more than three thousand studies, all aimed at finding the relationship between real violence and TV violence.

Out of eighty-five major studies conducted, only one research failed to illustrate the linkage between TV violence and crime (Cannon 1). Subsequent reviews by independent social scientists affirmed that indeed there was a high correlation between TV violence and societal violence. Similarly, Cannon uses TV violence research conducted from the year 1973 to date to support his arguments (Cannon 1). Throughout the research analysis, negative impacts resulting from TV shows within the society are illustrated.

Todd argument regarding TV violence

On the other hand, Todd claims that violence in society is not necessarily caused by TV violence shows. As indicated by evidence from the article, the author disagrees with the universal beliefs on TV violence. Despite the fact that he considers various TV shows as a disgrace to society, he elaborates how other factors have perpetuated violence (Gitlin 1). Citing the current increase of violence in society, Todd argues that those advocating against media violence are making grave mistakes. In this regard, he argues that they should be treated like those advocating for pornography shows. He believes that these individuals are trying to distract the medias real purpose of airing appropriate shows, aimed at reducing violence within the society.

Unlike Cannon, Todd claims that the media played a role in perpetuating violence in society, way before the introduction of the TV shows. He maintains that in the past, English and American middle-class people blamed the media for inciting the working-class youth, resulting in numerous demonstrations and strikes (Gitlin 1). Thus, the article suggests that society should solve other factors that cause violence, before targeting TV shows as the main cause of violence in society. Based on his arguments, he believed that poverty, discrimination, and increase in unemployment rates in our societies should be blamed for the rise in violence.

Another major difference between Cannon and Todds arguments is that Todds arguments are more realistic because real-world violence is not only perpetuated by the media, but also by other social factors. Thus, the need to minimize the increasing violence rate within our society demands that all root causes must be addressed (Lamson 4).

In my opinion, the increase in violence in society should not only be attributed to the TV violence shows, but also to the decay of societys morals (Freedman 34). Thus, TV companies should abide by the code of ethics. This ensures that whatever is aired has appropriate content only, especially on childrens channels. Likewise, the TV companies should air more family shows, comical shows, and other non-violence shows at the expense of violent shows. Equally, parents should protect their children from extreme TV violent shows by ensuring that their children watch the right shows under their observation.

Works Cited

Cannon, Carl M.. MotherJones JA93: Honey, I warped the kids | Mother Jones. Mother Jones | Smart, Fearless Journalism. Version 1. no publisher, 1993. Web.

Freedman, Jonathan L.. Media violence and its effect on aggression: assessing the scientific evidence. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2002. Print.

Gitlin, Todd, Imagebusters: The Hollow Crusade Against TV Violence. MEDIA AWARENESS NETWORK. Version 16. The American Prospect, 1994. Web.

Lamson, susan. tv violence does it cause real-life mayhem. The arts, media studies and popular culture . New York: no puplisher, 1993. 4. Print.

Introduction

The modern television (TV) is a complex phenomenon. The TV is not homogeneous; in fact, its genres, styles, and ways of addressing the audience are extremely numerous, which makes describing the purpose of TV more difficult (Miller 2010, p. 9; Bignell 2012).

The TV of different cultures and countries is also usually diverse; it both reflects and shapes the worldview of the communities that it serves (Penati 2012). Still, certain general tendencies do exist, and in this paper, the key features, functions, and outcomes of TV usage are going to be described.

Television: A Brief History

The word television appeared in 1900, coined by the Russian academic Constantin Perskyi, but it seems that people had been dreaming of the possibility of transmitting images for centuries (Miller 2010, p. 2). According to Catholic Church, the first transmission took place in the 14th century, when Saint Clare of Assisi had the vision of images from a midnight mass cast upon the wall (Miller 2010, p. 2).

In the twentieth century, the saint then became the patron of television, and this story appears to reflect the desire of people to be involved in the magic of a personal TV set. In the 1920s and 1930s, the technologies of television were developing fast, but before the 1950s, there were few TV viewers (Miller 2010, p. 2).

The upcoming TV distribution was anticipated both with interest and wariness: TV was expected to become an informer, an educator, a personal miracle, and a personal curse. It was expected to provide experience and spread lies, ensure world peace or provoke conflicts, educate people, and make them passive and indolent (Miller 2010). In the end, the TV turned out to be everything it had been expected to be.

Television: Features, Functions, Outcomes

Functions and consequences of TV are numerous; apart from that, they are also not always immediate or obvious. Here, we will try to mention as many of them as possible.

Miller (2010), for example, mentions the physical object (TV set), that is designed, produced, consumed, and then disposed of. This object has a value for the global economy, technological development, and even environmental situation (it is a pollutant, it requires electricity, its production produces waste and so on). However, the primary functions and consequences of TV are typically described as those that have a connection to human development.

One of the specific features of TV is its ability to present the real world and provide information about it. In fact, TV was not initially expected to fulfil the entertainment function, only the informative one (Bignell 2012). This feature, however, was very often misused. Indeed, TV has been used for propaganda since its creation, in every country it entered, including Nazi Germany (Bignell 2012).

Another specific feature of TV, its domestication, gives particular power to the messages sent through it; people trust TV, and it is not difficult to use this fact for a proper or improper purpose (Penati 2012). As a result, according to Miller (2010), TV became the most important cultural and political device in peoples homes (p. 8).

Another function of TV is established in the cited statement, that is, the ability of this (or any other) type of media to become a cultural mediator. Indeed, what can be used for political reasons, could also be used to ensure the communication of cultural values, proper or improper ones.

The capabilities of TV as a promoter of all kinds of negative stereotypes is a notorious fact that has been researched in modern studies; its capability of mitigating the negative tendencies and promoting the correct values is not denied either (Ndlovu 2013).

The educational function of TV is also commonplace. In this connection, it appears to be logical to mention children as the consumers of this kind of product (even though it is obvious that adults are also capable of gaining knowledge from TV). For children, TV offers a blend of education and entertainment, which teachers find difficult to achieve in class.

However, even in this respect, the TV turns out to be nothing but a tool that can be used for a good or a bad purpose. Indeed, the outcomes of watching TV are not always positive for children. TV watching (especially excessive TV watching) can cause psychological problems (that often feature depression, aggression, and sexual behaviour), as well as physical consequences like, for example, obesity (Kettl 2011).

In fact, there is a distinction between a good history [experience] of television and a bad one; when children are concerned, the good history would include a moderate amount of TV watching in the company of the parents (Kettl 2011, p. 60; Abelman 2007).

Parents are capable of providing the necessary mediation by explaining and interpreting, that is, communicating with children, which turns TV watching into another common activity. Indeed, when properly used. The TV is capable of bringing the family together, as it is capable of promoting proper values and providing relevant information.

Future of Television

There is historical evidence to the idea that every new media tends to cause a decrease in the interest to the previous one (Miller 2010). Nowadays, the Internet is effectively substituting things like paper newspapers or compact disks. Should the Internet be considered a threat to TV?

Such a conclusion is not probable. In fact, modern research shows that TV indicators (for example, the size of the audience, quantity of hours spent in front of the screen and so on) continue to grow (Miller 2010, pp. 12-19). This process spurs and is, in turn, spurred by the development of related technologies; the product becomes more and more available; the industry is developing and stays profitable (Miller 2010, p. 19).

This phenomenon can be explained by the fact that the Internet is incorporating other types of media, including TV. In other words, the promise of removing the line between the two media types that have been made by Steve Ballmer (Microsoft executive) is being carried out (Miller 2010, p. 12). Instead of being a threat to each other, the Internet and TV begin now work together to provide their users with new opportunities.

Nowadays, TV is not as omnipresent as it seems to be. There exist countries where people cannot afford a set and the service, which, however, means that the industry has a room for expansion (Miller 2010, p. 2). In fact, the future of TV appears to be most promising. All the worries caused by the ambiguity of this media are well-grounded, but they also appear to be insufficient to put an end to its triumphant conquest of the world.

Here, it should be mentioned that while TV is described as a maker and marker of identity, this media is defined by the people who use it and the people who create it (Brunsdon 2008, p. 128). Therefore, if one finds TV to be a promoter of commercialism and consumerism (and believes it to be a negative outcome), it is not the media that should be blamed, but those involved in its creation and consumption (Brunsdon 2008, p. 128).

Reference List

Abelman, R. (2007) Fighting the War on Indecency: Mediating TV, Internet, and Videogame Usage among Achieving and Underachieving Gifted Children, Roeper Review 29 (2), pp. 100-112.

Bignell, J. (3^rd ed., 2012) An introduction to television studies. London: Routledge.

Brunsdon, C. (2008) Is Television Studies History? Cinema Journal 47 (3), pp. 127-137.

Kettl, P. (2011) Exploring the Mental Life and Home Life of Children: The Role of a Television History. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 16 (1), pp. 60-62.

Miller, T. (2010) Television studies. London: Routledge.

Ndlovu, T. (2013) Fixing Families through Television? Cultural Studies 27 (3), pp.379-403.

Penati, C. (2012) Remembering our First TV Set: Personal Memories as a Source for Television Audience history. Journal of European Television History and Culture 3 (2), pp. 4-12.

Television plays a major role in the lives of people in the modern world. Through television, people are able to obtain news as well as stay entertained. Soap operas are some of the most popular programs aired on television. Coyne documents that popular soap operas attract millions of viewers per episode (346). Many people from all age groups are addicted to these programs. This essay will discuss some of the reasons why Soap Operas are popular among many viewers all over the world.

Soap operas are popular since they have interesting stories that captivate the minds of the audience. Bielby observes that the programs are full of drama and suspense (36). They are able to draw an individual in and provide a lot of enjoyment. Many people, therefore, watch soap operas for their entertainment value.

In addition to this, soap operas are popular since they keep viewers company. At the start, these programs were designed to keep the housewives company during the day. Frisby confirms that the storylines in soap operas keep viewers company (47). People, therefore, turn to soap operas for the companionship they offer. Russel notes that soaps allow viewers to form relationships with characters over time (134). The individual is able to forget about his/her loneliness or boredom by becoming engaged with the characters in the TV program.

Another reason for the popularity of soap operas is that the audience can relate to some of the issues the characters in the program face. Brennan explains that many soap opera characters face difficulties involving a relationship with a lover, friend, or family member (75). Many people in the real world experience these difficulties. The audience can, therefore, easily become interested in and sympathize with the situation of the soap opera characters.

Finally, soap operas are popular since they provide information for social and personal interaction. Humans are social creatures, and interactions with each other is an important aspect of life. Soap operas focus on the interactions among people in various situations (Riegel 202). Many viewers, therefore, watch this genre in order to get information on how to interact in social and personal situations (Frisby 57).

This essay set out to show why soap operas are popular with many people. The essay has shown that these programs are popular since they are entertaining, help keep individuals company, have relatable characters, and they provide information on social interactions.

Works Cited

Bielby, Denise. Whose Stories Are They? Fans Engagement with Soap Opera Narratives in Three Sites of Fan Activity. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media 43.1 (2009): 35-52. Web.

Brennan, Eddie. Soap Opera, Commercialisation and the Proletarianisation of Cultural Production. Irish Journal of Sociology 13.2(2004): 66-83. Print.

Coyne, Sarah. Fancy a pint?: Alcohol use and smoking in soap operas. Addiction Research & Theory 17.4(2009): 345-359. Web.

Frisby, Cynthia. Reaching the Male Consumer by Way of Daytime TV Soap Operas. Journal of Advertising Research 42.2 (2002): 56-64. Web.

Riegel, Henriette. Soap Operas and Gossip. Journal of Popular Culture 29.4 (2009): 201-209. Web.

Russel, Cristel. Consumption in Soap Operas from Brazil, New Zealand, and the U.S.: Production, Products, and Process. Advances in Consumer Research 33.1 (2006): 134-137. Web.

Article summary

The article Why do People Watch Religious, TV? A Uses and Gratification Approach by Abelman applies the Uses and Gratification Theory (U&G), which is one of the various audience theories, to explain the role of Television as a mode of mass media from the point of view of the audience. The article applies the two common uses of television namely ritualized and instrumental, and reveals the need for a third approach, reactionary television, in the analysis of religious programming. The author lists examples of other types of programming where the U&G theory can be applied including sports, cartoons, and news channels, but focuses his study on religious programming. The sample group comprises 210 adults, whose motives and patterns for viewing six religious channels in the United States were analyzed (Abelman, 1987).

Reaction to the article

Considering that the article was compiles in the 1980s, my first reaction was that the research is rather outdated. However, the concepts used in the U&G theory are constant. This fact is supported by the similarity of the results obtained from Abelmans study to a study conducted by Anderson (1996), which revealed that the audience uses the media to satisfy a variety of needs including informational needs, need for identity, need for social integration and interaction, and need for entertainment. The results of Abelmans study are rather predictable and unsurprising. To begin with, the study was conducted more than two decades ago. The choice of television channels was limited, and people were eager to explore new channels to satisfy their multiple needs. According to Horsfield (1984), religion has been a core part of the social and spiritual well-being of individuals, giving them a sense of well-being and belonging in their communities. As such, the emergence of multiple religious channels was instrumental in providing members of the society with a means of Hearing Gods word in the comfort of their homes without feeling distanced from God (Horsfield, 1984).

This notion is supported by the results of Abelmans study, which shows that the prevalence of religious programming is mainly ritualized as seen in coining of the term electronic church (Abelman, 1987). Additionally, the content of commercial television channels has been progressively explicit, causing a lot of discomfort. This has, in turn, been a contributing factor to the increase in number of viewers of religious programming who search for programming satisfaction, in addition to spiritual guidance and moral support.

On the other hand, I would expect a more recent study on religious programming to yield contradictory information. The variation in results would be due to the exponential growth in television channels accessible to people through cable TV. The introduction of digital TV as a substitute for analogue TV has also resulted in a plethora of channels that meet diverse needs of the audience including all news channels, movie channels, sports channels, music channels, cooking channels, and political channels among others. With such a wide selection, users can meet multiple needs from a combination of channels without tuning to one station to satisfy their reactionary needs. While instrumental and reactionary use of religious television may be substituted by other stations available in cable and satellite TV, there would be a significant number of religious programming viewers due to a number of ritualistic reasons. The challenging economic times may be a trigger for people to seek Gods guidance by watching religious television. Additionally, people who work multiple shifts in a day may lack the time to attend a church service, and instead, opt for religious television.

Uses and Gratification from Television News

The U&G research approach can be used for other types of television programming including television news. Television news is useful since it allows individuals and the society at large to maintain psychological balance through the provision of reality information for assurance. The application of the Uses and Gratification research approach on television news would reveal various factors that enhance the mental and psychological well-being of individuals and society (Fowles, 1992). For instance, such a study would reveal the fact that many people make their day to day plans and goals based on the assurances provided by the information relayed over television news. Without information, people would be hesitant about planning for their lives due to issues of uncertainty and anxiety of their environment. The study would also reflect on the importance of television news to both politicians and their electorates. Another vital aspect that may be revealed in a U&G research on television news is the aspect of entertainment from international and national events (Fowles, 1992).

Programming for Reactionary Reasons

According to Abelman (1987), reactionary viewing of television is a vital factor in the study of programming since it examines the aspect of seeking an alternative due to their general dissatisfaction to a particular programming. A study of programming for reactionary reasons can be based on televised sports, for people who are tired of commercial programming. Other types of programming that can permit reactionary analysis of television audience include quiz television, self-improvement television, and music television.

References

Abelman, R. (1987). Why do people watch religious TV?: A Uses and Gratifications Approach. Review of Religious Research, 29(2), 199-208.

Anderson, J. (1996). Communication Theory. New York: TheGuilford press.

Fowles, J. (1992). Why Viewers Watch: A Reappraisal of Television Effects. London: Sage Publications.

Horsfield, P. G. (1984). Religious Television: an American Experience. New York: Longman.