Television in the USA

Television in the American society:
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Television in the American society Generally, television remains the most popular form of entertainment in the United States of America (Huston 1993). In as much as the industry, the technology, and the audience has changed over history, its social, political, and cultural influence remains significant to date. However, debate still exists as to whether television is good or bad for the American society. This article has poured much light on the significance of television in American society. As people living in the 21st century, we find ourselves awash within a constant alleged entertainment and information. Like any other resource, the issue of whether television is a good or a bad thing relies on how human beings utilize it, of which in most occasions depend on what kind of an individual one has been brought up to be (Hillstrom & McNeill 2007).
In an attempt to explore much, two television programs have been considered; Gunsmoke, a western production set in Dodge City, Kansas, which featured from 1955 to 1975. The other one is Good Morning America, an ABC morning television program that has run since 1975 to date. The programs have been selected for their permanence, representing as they do more than fifty-years of nonstop television programming. Besides, the two programs have been picked due to their popularity. Gunsmoke remains the longest running most popular program western ever produced.
Gunsmoke was the first of the most known “adult westerns” offering a series of fundamentally unrelated episodes in which its characters lived out normal life. The play featured fallible human beings facing usual moral dilemmas. On the other hand, Good Morning America has remained to be one of the most popular morning television shows, showing neck and neck with the “Today show.” The morning program has one three Emmys meant for daytime viewing and has nearly six million viewers every morning. GMA has replaced the straight news programming of prior generations due to its appeal to a wider audience, which, at the end of the day, attracts more revenue in terms advertising.
Both GMA and Gunsmoke keep their viewers entertained. However, along with the vulnerability and exhilaration met by a sheriff in the old west, Gunsmoke as well highlighted social crises common to human being. These scripts resolution could not give hand but advocate some political and moral opinions. For instance, Gunsmoke highlighted episodes where individuals habitually took alcohol, and where Kitty and Matt’s incidental intimate relationship was depicted as morally and socially tolerable. It may or may not be satisfactory to carry out such things, but an individual should extremely consider such issues, it seems appropriate, rather than depend on the television drama conclusion.
Along with “Play of the Day” and “Pop News”, GMA as well focus on stories pooled with conversational commentary that may not be of help but promote certain political and moral opinions. For instance, the hosts celebrated Sam Champion’s wedding, the weather forecast man, to his gay partner. Whether this type of behavior is morally and socially acceptable is an issue of contemporary public debate, but presented as a fait accompli on GMA.
The main problem is that the present day passive media exposure is continuous. While this is being inscribed, the author is lending ears to an old mountain North Carolina folksong named “Tempie Roll Down Your Bangs”:
“Tempie roll down your bangs
Tempie roll down your bangs
Roll down your bangs, and see how they hangs
Tempie roll down your bangs”
Apart from being one of the fundamental gambits in making love, that of discussing her hair with a woman, it is a nice innocuous lyric. One can imagine if the song was repeated after every one hour on both radio and television for several weeks. Then beautiful, smiling individuals do it. The scenario is what takes place whenever a commercial is displayed in various markets. Supposing this was a part for shampoo advertisement. Market connoisseurs knows very well that the correct message repeated always enough will persuade a significant number of customers to settle on a decision try the product by changing their feelings and perceptions about the product. All these are acceptable since we know that advertising agents need to generate some revenue. Considering another scenario may be appropriate. Supposing the information was that semiautomatic rifles were risky assault weapons that should not be allowed in the hands of any citizen. Supposing that this information was repetitive on radio and television for several weeks at intervals by beautiful, smiling individuals, as it has GMA. Once more, this information may or may not be true in a way, but it seems that it should receive much intellectual consideration than whether or not to purchase shampoo.
Marketing is a way of propaganda. On the other hand, as well, “Edutainment” is a form of propaganda. As a human being who thinks and reasons out, one should guard his mind against accepting political and social messages at face value while watching the television. Instead, give each the logical attention that it merits. In this manner, television can be of true benefit to the society as a source of entertainment and information, rather than propaganda.

References
Huston, A. C. (1993). Big world, small screen: The role of television in American society. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.
Hillstrom, L. C., & McNeill, A. (2007). Television in American society. Detroit: UXL/Thomson Gale.

References: Huston, A. C. (1993). Big world, small screen: The role of television in American society. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. Hillstrom, L. C., & McNeill, A. (2007). Television in American society. Detroit: UXL/Thomson Gale.