Chapter 9

Question 1: Track your television viewing for one week. What did you learn about yourself? What did you learn about television? What does television provide you?

I don't normally watch television, since I'm in college and I barely have time to sleep, let alone entertain myself. However, this week I made an exception. I found that my favorite programs to watch were The Office, Extreme Home Makeover, Dexter, Eli Stone, and some cartoons on Nick and Disney.
The Office was a rather obvious choice for me, since all my friends are into it, and I think it's hilariously funny. It provides me with release and relaxation. Extreme Home Makeover provided me with emotional stimulation and relaxation, as well as some emotional connections to the people on the show. Dexter and Eli Stone both proved mental stimulation and relaxation, and the cartoons were just a time when I let my brain totally shut down and I stared at the bright colors on the screen. I don't think I could even tell you what the episodes were about. I just completely blanked out for half an hour, and it felt wonderful not to think for that amount of time. I don't even do that when I'm trying to sleep.
All the shows I watched, I realized, made me laugh, and they all relaxed me. I didn't watch really intense shows like Heroes because I would have had to make connections with the characters, and I would have had to be too awake to follow the show, instead of casually watching it. Television, I learned, is a welcome release of pressure and stress for me, but I also sometimes got caught up in the shows and forgot all the millions of things I had to do.

Question 2: Critics argue that in trying to "offend no one," the networks tend to offer TV programs that appeal to the "lowest-common denominator." Do you agree? Can you name programs that are definitely for the LCD? Can you think of any network programs that defy the LCD label?

I don't know who says this or how they got to that conclusion, but I have no idea what those critics are talking about. Every single television show that I enjoy--The Office, Gossip Girls, Dexter, Heroes, etc.--has parts of it that would offend someone. I suppose that shows like Friends or Everbody Loves Raymond are most focused on not offending people, and were therefore very popular. But I think that we are gradually graviating away from that safe zone of LCDs into a more risque kind of television viewing.
I suppose that shows don't have a lot of blatant racist humor, or sexist major character, because it would alienate a large part of their audience. But things like sex, violence, and language alienate many people, and they are all still very prevalent in TV shows, and are getting worse. Even shows that seem harmless, like Zach and Cody, from the Disney channel, oversexualize their preteen characters, which alienates some mothers from letting their children watch it. Even shows meant for children, which probably could avoid offending anyone, don't.
However, I do see the point of having an LCD program, just not based on the attempt not to offend anyone. I think that television shows direct their programs to an LCD audience that is based on the wide variety of people they can entertain and stimulate. The LCD is stupid people, and so smarter television shows get lost.

Question 3: Many people would say that television has had a greater impact on society than any other form of media. Do you agree? Why or why not?

I think that if it had been 20 years ago, or even 10, I would have been inclined to agree with this statement. Television is so pervasive--everyone had one, everyone talked about it; it was a social, political, religious, solitary, or emotional experience, depending on the program you were watching and who was with you. It fulfilled nearly every need that people had. Unlike radio, which was also extremely important in its time, television offered visuals. Television changed the way we view news, the way we view romance, comedy, friendship, school, work, and basically everything else. And if it weren't for one factor, I would be inclined to say that television has been the media outlet with the most impact.
That one factor is the internet. The internet fulfills every need that television does--it even has television shows on there, sometimes before they air on your TV because someone has ripped it or it was leaked. It has visuals, it has sound, its superfast, supercompatible, and multifaceted. It has everything that TV has, fulfills every need that TV does, and then it has something more: the ability to communicate. With TV, we communicate, but it is delayed. We will watch a show and talk to our friends about it the next day. We'll watch the news and call someone about a story. But on the internet, we can communicate instantaneously with people all over the world. Our needs of comfort, revitalization, relaxation, and stimulations are all fulfilled by TV and the internet. But the internet also fulfills the need of connection, and that is why it has the greatest impact on society, instead of the television.