Unit 6 Discussion Cultural Role of TV
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Get Help Now!I think television both unites us as a culture and separates us. But if forced to choose, I lean toward television acting as a uniting force.
Before cable and the convergence of viewing over multiple devices, everyone gathered around the TV at the same time to watch popular shows. Before the VHS machine and DVR, people had two chances to see a currently airing TV show, either by watching it during its first airing, or waiting until summer to catch the summer re-run. (Campbell, Martin & Fabos, 2016, p. 222)
At first glance, it would appear that the old model would bring people together: families sitting in front of one living room TV, co-workers around the water cooler discussing the shows that aired the night before. And to a certain extent that was true and I miss those days when my grandfather would sit me down to watch his favorite show with him every week, at the same time and on the same channel. But, for me, just as often, that wasn’t the case.
I remember when the MASH finale aired on February 28, 1983. The entire country was watching, 100 million viewers, except me. (Campbell, Martin & Fabos, 2016, p. 221) Or, at least that’s how I felt. I was working that night. I worked in a call center and almost every person I called and asked to take a political survey, either hung up on me or chided me for interrupting the MASH finale. While everyone I knew was talking about the episode for days and weeks to come, I was out of the loop and had to wait until the following summer to “catch up.”
Before cable and recording devices, people were more or less tied to their TV if they wanted to have the “shared” experience of watching a popular show. Today, we can choose to go out with friends or take a “media free’ vacation for a few days and we know that our favorite shows will be waiting for us to watch at our own convenience.
That doesn’t mean that even in this modern age of hundreds of channels and dozens of ways to view them, that TV is suddenly the great uniter. TV unites us on a micro level. Our friends and family probably enjoy the same shows and genres of shows that we do. But as a country, with so much niche programming at our finger tips, we are sometimes deeply divided on what we watch.
There are shows that both Grandma and the kids like equally, mainstream competition shows, like Dancing With the Stars. But when it’s time to get the news, Grandma may head over to Fox News while the younger members of the family check out MSNBC or the Daily Show.
List of shows that unite us:
Sports: The Superbowl, The World Series, NBA Playoffs.
Competition Shows: Dancing With The Stars, The Voice, Jeopardy, Celebrity Game Night.
Specials: Live musicals like Peter Pan or Hairspray or Dirty Dancing or holiday specials like 24 Hours of Ralphie.
List of shows that separate and divide us:
Cable news shows that are fiercely partisan, like Hannity.
Reality Shows that depict certain classes or ethnic groups in a negative light, like The Jersey Shore or Amish Mafia or Honey Boo Boo.
But there are also shows that may divide us into groups but also unite us with people who share the same tastes. People who love adventure and horror will be united in their love of shows like The Walking Dead. Those who love good writing and complex characters will gravitate to shows like Mad Men or The Wire.
People who like quirky characters and offbeat storylines will share their love of shows like Fargo. We are united, but united in smaller groups of people who enjoy specific kinds of TV. That’s something we didn’t have when there were only 3 channels to choose from and creators where forced to make programs that would only appeal to the widest audience. Overall, TV today is better than it’s ever been. It’s been called a renaissance.
