Author Steven Johnson, of the article “Watching TV Makes You Smarter,” argues the evolution of modern television programming has intellectually challenged audiences, rather than stifling complex thoughts—and more, that audiences are craving a more cognitively demanding, complex plot line. Johnson uses multiple examples of drama type shows and even draws positive conclusions from many of the reality shows that are so popular now. He focuses in on a few key factors to take into account when considering the complexity and value of television—the “Sleeper Curve”, televised intelligence, and intentional viewer confusion.…
There is no doubt that television holds a purpose in our society today, but is that purpose brain-numbing or actually beneficial to our brain development? The television, also known as: TV, the boob tube, the idiot box, as well as many other nicknames, has been around for almost a hundred years. Ever since cable TV became popular in the 1950’s, there has always been a worry that people watch too much TV. Most people believe that with exorbitant exposure to the popular media both dumbs us down as well as makes us more likely to tolerate acts of violence. Dana Stevens’ “Thinking Outside the Idiot Box” argues that television does not make you smarter, directly contrasting Steven Johnsons article, “Watching TV Makes You Smarter.” Television has definitely made a mark on our hearts and has most certainly made an impact on society, but too much of a good thing is never a good thing. The propaganda photo about television that was found on Facebook is a good lens that helps me understand Stevens’ argument better. The photo assisted the understanding of Stevens’ depiction and contradiction of Johnsons writing, her discussion about what these “more complex shows” are actually like, as well as her discussion about the national event TV Turn Off Week. This photo clearly depicts that TV does not enhance or benefit in brain production in any way, however it “destroys” the imagination, or what’s left of it, and in return, it fills the mind with complete nonsense, and therefore numbing the brain. The photo, which is a picture of a television, states, “My job is to help destroy what’s left of your imagination by feeding you endless doses of sugar-coated mindless garbage.” As humans, we are very complex intellectual beings, however television has been captivating our minds and bringing our intelligence down.…
Steven Johnson presented the argument that watching certain TV shows can make a person more intelligent. According to the author, shows have only become more complex with different story arcs, threading, and social interactions amongst characters. He argues that certain types of narrative weaving cause a person to actually focus on what is happening and notice the details within the show. To support his argument, Johnson discusses the Sleeper Curve, which is found in certain television shows that cause a person to have to pay attention to things below the surface, such as tracking character relations and making inferences. The article presented comparisons between old and modern television shows, as well as clarifying that “bad” shows can also…
Johnson, Steven. “Watching TV Makes you Smarter.” They Say / I Say with Readings. First Edition. Graff, Gerald, Cathy Birkenstein, Russel Durst, New York: Norton, 2009. 213-230. Print.…
When watching a program, people are focused on the plot, make inferences, and create relationships with characters. Therefore, develops a cognitive exercise for the audience. Johnson informs his readers that there is an interaction between people and a television screen. Some examples he describes are when TV shows allow the viewer to develop a mental outline of a show, when a characters encounter social issues, and giving someone a cultural experience through a TV screen. He includes visuals that show different threads of TV programs, displaying the complexity of their scenes overtime, and how much it challenges the brain. Those graphs associate with Johnson’s term the “Sleeper Curve” (279), which according to him is the most debased form of mass diversion. He says that even if it is just reality television, violent content on TV or video games, and children shows, it still helps people become perceptive. Johnson concludes that instead of people having a negative attitude or having fears of their children being influenced by content of TV or video games, he insists that they both should share the experience. Parents and children will continue to interact with the TV screen mentally and therefore develop skills no matter what they watch. This essay presents in argument that television is good for…
In 2005, a study published in the American Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine found that the harm caused by TV watching shows up even after correcting the data to account for students’ intelligence, family conditions, and prior behavioral problems. The bottom line: “Increased time spent watching television during childhood and adolescence was associated with a lower level of educational attainment by early adulthood.’’…
choices, but I do agree with Johnson that my selections usually fall into the rating and…
I believe that watching T.V supported my literacy. Televisions helped me build my literacy by supporting my critical thinking, problem solving, reading and writing skills. Ever since I was younger I would watch a ton of television. Some of my favorite shows growing up are Sesame Street, Wish Bone, Reading Rainbow and Bill Nye the Science Guy. Because of television, I would always be inquisitive and drive my family crazy with questions. However, I had to face a several barriers as a reader. My First barrier as a reader is that I’m a slow reader. Second barrier, is my reading comprehension is terrible. Ultimately, reading has become very time consuming.…
My mind is constantly being stimulated with new theories and ideas, instead of being drained of all rational thought by the television. I have found that I never lost my deep thinking abilities as I had once worried, they were just hidden behind the complacency of laziness. I also have more time to spend praying and reading my Bible, which has been very beneficial to my spiritual life.…
Steven Johnson argues about watching TV shows makes us smarter by developing our brain. He compares the current TV shows and earlier TV shows.…
She does not think that watching television makes you smarter. However, she does not think it makes you dumber either. She believes that there are certain shows acceptable for children and some that are not. She believes that children, being young and vulnerable to the advertising industry, should be directed in the right path of choosing which television shows to watch and which not to watch. Children are susceptible when it comes to media. They almost act as a sponge; soaking up everything they see and hear and repeating it later on. Therefore, I cannot help but to agree with Stevens on that aspect of media except she then takes it too far when she asks , “Shouldn’t grown men and women be trusted to judge their own dosages, just as they would decide on the number of drinks they can handle at the bar?” (234). I disagree because I can see how some might react to this by saying that sometimes people don’t know their limit and can’t stop. This is 100% accurate when it comes to most things such as drugs, alcohol, and media. People might read that and think that media shouldn’t be placed into such a category, but all three of these things can start as small doses and turn into addiction within the blink of an eye. Parents who watch a lot of television as a child will most likely end up watching more and more television as they get older. If parents are not too concerned…
There are many methods and strategies in teaching EFL learners. In this case teachers should be able to decide whether a method is appropriate or not, which is not always easy.…
Television does contain educational shows. According to Palmer, television is a way that people are educating their children. Preschoolers and young children can learn many things from channels like Nick Jr. From my personal experience, I have worked with children who have watch educational shows like Dora and Mickey Mouse Club House. The children that have watched these shows can communicate better, know the alphabet, knows the colors, knows the shapes, knows animals, and much much. I have found that children who have not watched these educational shows are behind the other children. Now let's look at the consequences of watching too much television.…
Watching television can be educational in both a positive and negative way. In reality shows that teens from the age thirteen and up watch, teens are influenced in a negative way. They see adults acting chaotic; cursing, fighting, screaming, etc. in public areas. This gives people a negative outlook on the world. On the other hand, watching television can be educational in a positive way because there is more to television than reality shows. Television has many positively influenced shows such as: nature, animal, etc. and also negatively influenced shows.…
I know that when I was a child, my family didn’t even have cable, so it was a real treat when I would get to watch a movie, or any television on the non-cable channels. My family pushed the importance of reading books, and figuring out the message in everything I read. Television and media is making us lazy. We rely too much on electronics to do the work for us. Television requires very little brain activity, which is why when we watch it, we tend to zone out, or easily forget what was just said. When watching television we only tap into the emotional side of our brain, and never think logically. Everything we learn from television goes into our short-term memory, but when we use traditional curriculum, we have to think and comprehend everything, which goes into our long-term memory. For me personally, I am a much better learner when I have to read and comprehend something on my own.…