Television’s Impact on American Society

Television’s Impact on American Society
Introduction
Americans way of life has become entangled with television that an entire new approach of acting has been created. Television has been present since the 1950’s, and has only been growing ever sense. It did not take long for the television industry to branch out and take full advantage of this technology’s potential. With the advancement in programming and increased financial support, the world and its marketplaces were brought into the living rooms of viewers. With this, society became exposed to commercial marketing, situation comedies and drama, sporting events, music and theatre, game and talk shows and world news. Television is one of the main sources of entertainment, and is a continuous presence in most Americans' lives. In, “Television Addiction Is No Mere Metaphor” Robert Kubey and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi go on to say, “how easily organisms can be harmed by that which they desire.” (123) The impact of television effects the way American people live and act in their environment, however having and watching television keeps in touch with the outside world through the information it provides across the television with programs such as news as well as educative programs.

American Life
Television has affected the way American people live and act in their environment such as their work place or schools. People who watch television tend to be more aggressive toward everyone and tend to gain weight because of the lack of exercise. In Kubey and Csikszentmihalyi’s article, research was generated by experimenting with people reacting to television, and, “Survey participants commonly reflect that television had somehow absorbed or sucked out their energy, leaving them depleted.”(125) Also in the article, it states that, “after watching TV, people’s moods [were] about the same or worse than before.”(125) The TV show “Bones” that aired October 7, 2013 on Fox is an example of the televisions captivating determination to attract people to watching television. The show is based on a special FBI agent and forensic archaeology. In each episode, it focuses on an FBI case file regarding the mystery behind human remains brought by the Special FBI Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) to the forensic anthropologist, Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel). There are several characters and narratives in the show. This creates the feeling more active while watching the show because of the many situations going at once. People that watch tend to not get bored because if they are paying attention, they have so much information taking in at once. Many television shows such as this one also leave people that watch the shows with a cliff hanger so they will come back and watch it. In the article, “Watching TV Makes You Smarter” by Steven Johnson, he states that people would be “bored by the content of a show like “Dallas” because the show contains far less information in each scene, despite the fact that its soap opera structure made it one of the most complicated narratives.” (141) Constructing the plots of television shows make it more dynamic. It keeps people hooked to television and people tend to lose track of time while watching shows like this because they are relaxed and not stressed.

Connecting with the World
Having and watching television keeps American people that own and watch television in touch with the outside world through watching news or programs that provide current information. In George Gerbner’s “Society’s Storyteller: How TV Creates the Myths by Which We Live” he believes, “[American people] can only [teach users of television technology] how it works and how to use it in ways that are healthy for themselves and for the society,” such as informing of current situation and statuses of the world. (120) Television provides viewers access to arts, music, religion, new technology and information. Such technology is a venue for inspiration and enrichment and it also allows the viewer to become engaged in issues that have personal and societal consequences. Viewers have been able to witness everything from presidential debates to man walking on the moon to wars being fought right in front of them. They have discovered ways to renovate their homes, look like a runway model and give their hearts to Jesus all in one afternoon. The potential for individual and social transformation is incredible. A big chunk of life is captivated by the TV today and people that watch television are connected to a world beyond their immediate community. Therefore, television has been a catalyst in creating the global society experienced today

Conclusion Television stars fill the screens with images and create expectations that are unattainable for most American people that are watching this television shows. Popular shows have put themselves in a permanent spot in the daily and weekly routines of people. With the busy nature of schedules, people are sacrificing time for important things in favor of watching television shows which are filled with violence and sexual innuendo. The problems with television have been well documented and well stated. Not only did the development of television cause a lack of fitness and exercise in America, but it is also serving to corrupt America's behavior in its choice of programming. Sex and violence are commonplace on the screen and are constantly being put on the television, which can literally be seen anywhere. One could say that the television is probably the most counter-productive creation in recent history or a great achievement in American Culture. If America is to get back on the moral and physical track which existed before the television, a change in lifestyle must occur, like the time spent watching television, but also the television companies must be a part of that.