I would definitely say that Comedy Central's Daily Show with Jon Stewart and the Colbert Report are part of the "media" that affects people’s opinion. These television shows are a way to provide comedic relief to the issues our economy faces; however, these shows still have an impact of how the viewer will understand an issue at hand. It is very difficult for anyone to be completely unbiased and with constantly hearing other people’s opinion through the media. We cannot make a decision of how “we” feel about the topic. Thus, democracy and a fair voting group become tainted.
As the technology era advances, people are gravitating closer to a television where as reading a newspaper is considered an interest from the past. The television audience is failing to realize the main point of T.V., including news programs, is to keep people watching so that sponsors and others can make more money through ratings and increased interest in products. In “How to Watch T.V. News”, Neil Postman and Steve Powers state “Anyone who relies exclusively on television for his or her knowledge of the world is making a serious mistake” (x), This statement is true, for television news is not solely reporting what actually occurs. Rather it is reporting what T.V.
Steven Reiss’s article, “why America loves reality TV”, explains that Americans fantasize about being famous. Many Americans believe that if others can achieve fame, so can they. Reiss clarified that contestants from different television shows compete everyday to get the highest ratings out of viewers. Reiss stated: “what seems real about reality TV is that it allows Americans to fantasize about gaining status through instant fame”. According to Reiss reality TV educates viewers its shameless behaviors that are shown by the contestants.
Thinking Outside the Idiot Box In the essay, “Thinking outside the Idiot box” Dana Stevens argues that watching TV should be about your entertainment. It shouldn’t focus on whether it makes you less of a person. Stevens primarily uses a logical argument to support her sarcasm toward Stevens Johnson’s article, Watching TV makes you smarter.” Stevens start her essay off with a lot of sarcasm on Johnson article, “Watching television makes you smarter.” She directs her attention to everyone in the world who watches TV. She states, “ those of us who grew up in caveman days, fashioning crude stone tools while watching Starsky and Hutch, are indeed now better positioned than our forebears to follow such complex narrative fare as The Sopranos” (Stevens 232). This let us know she is not just focusing on one age group.
The Secret Message of a Super PAC While watching the tremendous amounts of political advertisements flow out of a family’s television every day, it is quite amazing to see how many accusations and career ending facts that many of our leading politicians are faced with. Advertisements like those from the super Political Action Committees (PAC) known as Restore Our Future. Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry are two of the politicians that are being scrutinized by the super PAC’s advertisement titled, Too Much, December 21 2011. The main argument that the ad makes is that Gingrich and Perry both are too liberal on immigration and have too much baggage on ethics, and the intended conservative audience would agree that the politicians are not fit for
But in this age of television, it can only be a ratings dream comes true for the tv executives wondering how much to charge for advertising a commercial. What a dream come true also for the moderators of the debate. Knowing that millions of people will be watching and in some sort of way and they being the ring leader of the whole evening. One thing is certain: Gingrich knows about anger. He well understands that many conservative Americans have had enough of being laughed at by Hollywood and by the media chieftains in New York and Washington.
One might try reading a book while on an exercise bike, training the body and mind. Neil Postman was correct in his “crazy” predictions. Television corrupts the nation’s youth and wastes the children’s lives. Simply the fact that there is a need for “TV Turnoff Week” hints to lifestyle problems. Parents cannot let Huxley’s fears for the future come true.
Since Janet Jackson's bare breasted reveal during the superbowl in 2004, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) took large steps to crack down on "oscenities, indecencies, and profanity" usage in television. Unfortunately, they aren't staying away from the cable networks as they ought to. Yet, the FCC is seeming to be biased when it comes to judging what is obscene, indecent and profane, that one can only question if they even know how to define the use of profanity themselves. This especially, is getting cable networks fired up because the FCC now wants to start regulation on the cable front, which brings up concerns as to if the FCC is stepping on the networks' first amendment rights. But, the public knowingly buys their cable services, so this begs the question, can't they edit their television?
Diet of television is the answer. I think parents should not replace a baby sitter for the TV, or even replace them selves for the TV. I know a lot of parents who prefer to sleep 30 minutes alone, and all they do is send their children to watch TV or play violent video games, they totally forget about the damage it is causing to them, and when they grow up parents complaint why their children are so violent with them and everybody else. I think the idea of built-in time-channel lock circuitry is awesome. Imagine a kid solving a puzzle -which will help to develop his brain- instead of watching TV; also this kind of activities will keep him safe from violence.
Bradbury's novel Fahrenheit 451 is a commentary on what he fears will happen to independent thought and intellectual freedom in American society if American citizens continues their trend of reliance upon mass media for information, self censorship of any ideas that could be offensive to others, and conformity to widely accepted views instead of creating one’s own. Political advertisements, toy commercials, public service messages are all examples of mass media in everyday life. We are constantly bombarded with images asking us to buy, donate, or listen to people's views and opinions. We live in an age where the general public is constantly immersed in television acting like sponges and absorbing useless and biased information.