Monday, November 11, 2013
Assignment due TUESDAY! (tomorrow Nov. 12th)
Okay, all, here is your assignment for Tuesday/tomorrow (November 12): Answer (in this thread) this question:
what is the single most significant effect television has had on your life? If you don't watch much TV now think back to days when you did. Or consider the ways TV affects you indirectly.
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My experience with TV has been similar to a roller coaster ride. When I was younger I loved TV, especially cartoons, movies (mainly Disney channel) and would ultimately spend a few hours if not more watching. Then as I became older I fell into video games and TV took a seat on the back burner. Now as I have matured, I am back to watching TV.
ReplyDeleteTelevision has most greatly affected me by giving way for the more "far out" ideas that I harbor in my head to be satisfied. I mean that TV has allowed my interest and intrigue for all things science fiction to flourish. As I faded out of video games I began watching TV that my mother watched. SyFy channel was the most popular channel in my house.
I am not stating that I believe places such as Eureka or Warehouse 13 exist. I am saying that being exposed to all the impossible being possible via TV, has lead me to thinking that nothing truly is impossible. Just because something cannot be true today does not mean that it cannot be true tomorrow. I have always been fascinated by science, and television has allowed my "what if" thoughts to become somewhat of a reality.
As Nelson Mandela said, "It always seems impossible until it's done."
Television had a larger effect on me when I was younger.I mostly watched animated shows such as Rurouni Kenshin, Powerpuff Girls, Teen Titans, Kids Next Door, Dragonball Z, and many others. I was often fascinated by the story telling in them combined with the action. I had a larger interest in those kind rather than something goofy like Ed, Edd, and Eddy, but I still enjoyed humor very much. It allowed me to think of more possibilities for stories. I would often comment on what would happen if Bubbles became decidedly more aggressive or what if Goku didn't come back from the dead, then I would reenact stories via the many dolls I had as a young girl. Eventually this combined with consistently playing video games would lead me to utilized the writing skills I learned from school to craft interesting short stories. If it wasn't for the various cartoons of my time, I would not have such a strong interest in animation. If I didn't watch Rurouni Kenshin and Dragonball Z, it might have taken me much longer to learn about Anime and Manga. Though I am not as active of a television watcher as I was years ago, I still remember all the shows I watched religiously and have fond memories in relation to television. I still look at cartoons, but now I find myself disappointed at some of the ones that exist today. Years ago, there used to be a balance between silly, comical cartoons and serious, story-driven ones; the balance was also kept by shows that mixed both sides. Now many cartoons seem to cater perhaps a bit too heavily to the silly, comical side and no longer does it feel like there's a lot of substance in the manner of plot for kids to both think of and enjoy. It's safe to say my experience is precisely why I am pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Communication and Digital Media right now.
ReplyDeleteI have always been an avid TV user to some extent, but TV has probably effected my life more indirectly and in a societal impact than me having a personal effect such as watching a TV show and gaining something from it.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in an area, where LGBT issues, did not necessarily cause overt controversies, but just something that no one knew nothing about or heard of, much like the rest of the country.
Being gay myself, I did not ever come out to anybody and pretty much denied it myself until I first got into college.
Looking back, I probably would not have been open about it if it were not to the culture recently coming to accepting that some people will turn out to be gay or something else on the spectrum.
I am pretty sure that the main reason that issues like this started becoming more accepted were because of the portrayal of gay celebrities on television, such as Rosie O'Donnell and Ellen Degeneres, as well as shows including gay characters, such as Will & Grace, and more recently Glee, and Modern Family.
I have read in the past that including gay characters on television did help to move the debate along.
The particular shows That I mentioned above I never was particularly a fan of any of them, but I do acknowledge that if it were not for shows that took a risk and showed aspects of society that were previously ignored or shunned.
I pretty much live for the most-part a not too stressful life, but if it were not for television shows that took risks and helped normalize issues dealing with sexual minorities I would have a much harder life.
In general, I think it is always positive when television content portrays aspects of society that were previously considered shunned, whether that be The Brady Bunch normalizing divorce, or All in the Family tackling various issues that are normally kept quiet.
When we start accepting differences in people's lives, and do not hide various experiences or traits people have, it helps us grow better as a society.
I don’t watch TV nearly as much as I used to in the earlier years of my life. But when I did watch it, it was mostly Saturday morning cartoons, whatever was on Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network, kid’s shows with a lot of action (such as Power Rangers, Pokemon, and Digimon), and only very occasionally educational shows like Sesame Street. On average, my TV viewing totaled to about 3-4 hours a day. However, as I got older, other forms of entertainment started to take over my interest, such as video games, internet, and I did a lot of drawing between ages 10-15.
ReplyDeleteI still watch TV shows, and I still did when I was finding other things to capture my interest. Growing up, it was something to bond about with other kids at school or in the neighborhood, and it was also just a fun way to pass time while the weather was bad. But I think the most profound effect it’s had on me is the fact that it opened up my imagination and introduced places that could never exist in the real world. Whether it was the charmingly chaotic world of Pokemon or animated children dealing with adolescent issues in a way that made me laugh like in Doug, or even the concept of a squirrel living underwater and interacting with various sea creatures in Spongebob, I give it credit for being the catalyst for my interest in creating new fictional worlds and creating stories that take places in those worlds. My career path is more focused in cinema, but at the end of the day, watching those shows and becoming invested in these fictional people’s lives is probably what made me want to pursue a career in filmmaking.
In recent years TV has become more a source of discomfort for me than anything else. Like most other American children, I watched TV mindlessly for the better part of my youth. Once I entered high school, I became fascinated with and involved in journalism and politics, and began developing the ideologies and beliefs that now define most of my hobbies, interests, likes and dislikes, and relationships. Once I became aware of the social injustices and systems of oppression that surround me, I was able to see them everywhere. Not only did I find them present in daily interpersonal interactions, but I couldn't escape them in the media. I found sexism, racism, classism, homophobia/heteronormativity, transphobia/cissexism, body negativity/fat shaming, rape culture/victim blaming/slut shaming, in every program I watched, from fictional shows to news stories. I was immediately disgusted by the reality that television, which could easily assist in changing our problematic social culture by spreading awareness and educating, actually does the opposite and perpetuates the inequalities and hierarchies. By presenting these real life issues as entertainment we desensitize our youth, who grow up to serve the systems that oppress them. Even in programs I thoroughly enjoy (i.e. American Horror Story) I see fault in the way characters develop, sensitive issues are handled, and the off-color humor that is so appealing to most audiences. In short, I think television has affirmed in me the horrifying truth that awareness of these issues is not as easily accessible as it could or should be, and that our medias actually perpetuate oppression rather than fight it.
ReplyDeleteI’m not sure if television’s overall impact on me has been a positive or a negative one. On the one hand, television has offered me a path of escapism over the years. If I was feeling stressed, I’d turn to my favorite shows. It was difficult to focus on my own problems when I was trying to figure out if one character was lying, where the other was going, or –depending on the show- if any of them were going to survive that particular episode. It served, and still does, as a fun way to relieve tension while also exposing me to new concepts.
ReplyDeleteAlthough television helps to lessen stress felt towards my own problems, it has the potential to create its own form of anxiety. I’ve noticed with myself, as well as others, a tendency to binge watch entire seasons of shows in one sitting. We become so enveloped in some of these shows that we develop a strange connection with its characters. There are times where I can’t fathom doing other tasks when there are new episodes waiting to be devoured.
While I find it interesting that television has the capability of becoming an obsession, I’d like to think that allowing me to temporarily get out of my own head and helping me understand different perspectives are more significant impacts.
The Food Network is the reason I started to cook and love cooking. I did watch cartoons on Nickelodeon when I was younger, but I loved watching Good Eats with Alton Brown. He has a very scientific approach to cooking. He breaks down cooking into chemistry, uses props and people to explain how ingredients work together and with the environment around them.
ReplyDeleteAs I grew older, I stopped watching Nickelodeon but stuck with The Food Network. Nowadays if I'm not watching sports-center, I'll probably be watching an old episode of Good Eats, Tyler's Ultimate or even Iron Chef. I like to cook for people, its an awesome feeling when people really like what you've made them.
Unfortunately, the food network is becoming less informative and more of a reality television channel. Shows likes "Restaurant: Impossible", "Cupcake Wars", and "Restaurant Stakeout" are all shows that aren't truly about cooking. They focus more on drama then actually teaching people how to cook. This is not that surprising, almost all TV stations have some sort of reality TV show because of their popularity within our nation.
The food network significantly changed my life by showing me how fun and rewarding cooking can be. I don't think I would like cooking nearly as much if I didn't have a television.
Although I deliberately avoid television as much as I can, I'd be lying if I denied that television wasn't an important factor in my life. A significant outcome I have gained from watching television is that it was the foundation to my creative development. As an artist, although I look at television with disgust, I know that if it wasn't for television in my younger years I doubt that I would have pursued a field in visual arts. More specifically I spent much of my time as a child watching cartoons on the channel Cartoon Network. Since I watched cartoons so much I figured why not create cartoons of my own. Soon after, I found myself doodling weird characters and creating silly scenarios for them. I took it a little further and began to create environments for them to live in, including background stories and superpowers. Even to this day, I still those somethings. I create little characters from time-to-time just because it gives me a nostalgic feeling when I was a kid, happily enjoying cartoons.
ReplyDeleteToday cartoons aren't the same as they were before or there are very few because they're replaced with cheesy, commercialized garbage. There is a lack of creativity and story telling within todays cartoons. Its similar to receiving fast-food, its there and you get it when you want but there is no quality. With that being said television has little to no use for me but I won't lie; if Cartoon Network aired the same shows I watched as a child (Dexter, Ed Edd n Eddy, PPG) I'd be the happiest little kid all over agin.
Television is responsible for a large portion of the person I am today. My youth was propelled and defined by an unlimited access to television and all of its wonders. Before I could even communicate, my communication skills and habits were being formed by the messages received when watching. I can easily recognize the television as an influence on my own personal establishments of creative and rational thoughts. Beyond literature, television brought my attention to an otherwise impossible place in my imagination. It prompted me to question the reality of my surroundings, and therefore seek answers within my own self. While my family, of course, had a significant impact on the ways in which I speak and act, the television placed an undeniable influence on my own rhetoric and reaction. The one-on-one time I spent with the television most likely exceeded that of which I spent with either one of my parents, considering their careers. The television allowed an intimacy with information that I could not find elsewhere, and I willingly enveloped myself in the shows and ideas that were the most visually and phonetically appealing. It is impossible to select a single most important effect that television has had on me because much of who I am, the way I think, and the way I choose to live have all been innumerably influenced by the wide range of content I was exposed to.
ReplyDeleteJasmine Manning
ReplyDeleteTelevision was my babysitter growing up. My parents would put on anything that had singing and dancing, preferably Barney, and leave me there to finish what they had to do. I formed a love for musicals or anything that had singing and dancing in it. Nickelodeon had some great sing shows like Gullah Gullah Island and Blues Clues. The Disney Channel was probably the best place to find those corny, but loveable, singing movies where they would start singing just because. I used to sing and dance around my house mimicking those shows.
I don’t really see any shows on air today that would have that little musical touch. There’s a whole lot of nothing on, except for those few gems that don’t pertain anything musical.
I guess television did have an impact on my life because I love entertaining people. My major is media production and hopefully if my plans go right, I will be in front of the camera putting a smile on your face just like those shows did for me.
Compared to when I was younger, I hardly watch television at all these days. Juggling two jobs, school and being in a sorority makes it hard to have free time to indulge in television shows when they air, but I do make sure that I always watch AHS when it on. Nowadays, I watch the shows I keep up with when I have time on my computer, but it usually is me watching a few at a time because I don't have the time to watch every week. When I was younger, I didn't have cable tv until I was in eighth grade, so my television experience was much different that most people I know. I used to watch shows I probably shouldn't have been viewing at such a young age, such as The Simpsons, The Nanny and Will and Grace. Despite this, I loved these shows, even if most of the jokes went over my head when I was much younger. I wasn't really forbidden from watching most TV shows because I had very little to choose from on only thirteen channels. The most significant impact on my life is that I feel like television has made me a more educated and well rounded person. I'm someone who pays attention to details, so I pick up on a lot when I watch television and use this knowledge in my life. For example, one of my favorite television shows is Grey's Anatomy, and while it is not 100% medically accurate at all, I still know a lot of terms and diseases I normally would not had I'd not religiously watched the show like I do
ReplyDeleteTelevision to me was always something for me to talk about with others, or make new friends. I have watched lots of TV shows and cartoons, most of what I watch is cartoons. And while I do get joy out of watching a good story or comedy, what I really like doing is discussing it with friends and family. I spent hours this past weekend discussing how the Following season two would pick up, who the new villain might be, what is and isn't confirmed. TV for me has always been not only entertainment, but a great way to bring people together, in a pre and post show kind of way.
ReplyDeleteBetter late than never right?
ReplyDeleteTelevision was always an escape for me. Something to look forward to, to discuss with others, new stories to get excited about. When I was younger I watched Saved by the Bell, Boy Meets World, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and stuff like that. I feel my tastes hasn't changed too much though now instead of sitcoms I'm watching dramatic one hour episodes. Love stories and stories of friendship and being a hero and all that. I tend to stay away from the darker stuff and perhaps that is reflected in my own life. It's nice to sit down and get immersed in these character's lives and root for your favorite and watch them overcome their obstacles. Especially when many shows delve into storylines that reflect issues you may have in your own life.
I definitely had more interest in television as a kid than I do now. I mostly remember watching Nickelodeon at first. I can actually remember the first time I saw Rugrats and I couldn't have been older than four years old. My siblings and I got many of our ideas for games from that show. We would also stack ourselves on top of each other the same way the babies in the show did to be able to reach toys that our parents hid from us in high places. Rocket Power was one of my favorite cartoons on Nickelodeon. The show was about a group of friends who skated boarded and roamed free on the beach and board walk. I also loved Hey Arnold! In that show the elementary school-aged cartoon characters had adventures all over the city unchaperoned. I think growing up in suburban Long Island I was fascinated by these shows because the kids could do pretty much whatever they wanted while paranoid suburban parents were afraid to let their kids walk around the block alone. I kind of lived vicariously through my favorite cartoon characters in these shows.
ReplyDeleteI started watching shows like Boy Meets World, Dawson's Creek, Even Stevens and Lizzie McGuire as I got a little older. These shows were all about puppy love, teen drama, and awkward adolescence. I would watch these shows on weekend mornings and after school. I got more into the Disney Channel around this time.
In high school I liked the dramatic soap opera-y type shows. The problem with this type of show was that you had to tune in weekly to keep up with the storyline. Around this time I got more involved in after school activities so my viewing time decreased. I watched late night reruns of That 70's Show a lot.
I like funny shows such as The Office and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia because you don't have to keep up with them, you can watch any episode that's randomly playing on tv. I also like to watch The Late Show with Jon Stewart and the Colbaire Report for news. My favorite late late night talk show is Craig Furgeson. I think he's hilarious.
I've always had trouble keeping up with shows as they aired. I like Netflix because I can watch episodes of entire seasons as I please. Although American Horror Story: Season One is the only series I've ever completed.
I prefer movies. I think it is because I really like the characters in most of my favorite movies and haven't come across many characters I'm in love with in television.