According to the article ‘Life According to TV’ by Harry Waters, television programs affect the way people see the world around them in real life. Television shows tend to portray different people in various ways depending on their race, gender, lifestyle and age. On the other hand, certain TV programs ...
According to the article ‘Life According to TV’ by Harry Waters, television programs affect the way people see the world around them in real life. Television shows tend to portray different people in various ways depending on their race, gender, lifestyle and age. On the other hand, certain TV programs try to educate people on various important issues such as the dangers of criminal activities and violence. TV shows have also tried to turn the lens on the hidden victims in the society such as the elderly, blacks, women, blue-collar workers among other groups of people.
It is noted that the number of male characters outdoes that of the female ones in the ratio of 3 to 1. Females are regarded as weak and passive compared to the powerful and effective men. The female population is also type casted as lovers and mothers whereas males play a variety of roles. In comparison, more than 50 per cent of men with children and families work outside their homes whereas only 20 per cent of married women that have children work outside their home. This is the same case that applies to those who are over the age of 65 years and are underrepresented.
TV programs have negatively influenced many of their viewers. This paper will discuss the shortcomings of television. We will look at a TV show called “A 1000 Ways to Die”. This show presents more of a medium treatment towards black people. They are more of an image than of visibility. There are questions that come across when one sees that whites dominate nearly all TV programs. One of the questions is whether white people have the right to keep black people out of their neighborhoods. There is a great number of those who are employed in the television industry holding blue-collar jobs. This counts for about 6 to 10 per cent whereas the real work force counts for 60 per cent.
According to the TV show under investigation, other races are purported to be overweight since they exist on junk food and alcohol. Such depiction could have a negative impact on young adults as they would believe that weight is not a bad issue since this is what they see. Television should act as the main source of pervasive information about health; it should employ medical personnel to fully highlight certain issues. However, this is coupled with the compliancy that it has on the unhealthy lifestyle that leaves both the doctors and patients disappointed and frustrated. TV also provides mass entertainment through the programs offered to viewers. This therefore is a way of enhancing that people utilize their leisure time in the way that is most beneficial.
Televisions should come up with programs that involve viewers in active roles through their contributions other than just listening without making any contribution. This will ensure that viewers get their ideas heard and will benefit many people.
Various groups of viewers are affected differently by the show under investigation depending on their age, gender, race and the social economic status. “A 1000 Ways to Die” show usually contains scenes that are unsuitable for young kids as they may develop unacceptable behavior through copying what they see in the program. The show depicts criminal scenes, scenes of violence and scenes that go against the moral standards of the society. There is therefore a need for its developers to revisit their program so that they can ensure that they meet the need of every viewer. There is also a need to ensure that similar shows meet the moral standards of the society as a way of attracting more viewers.
There are many unrealistic ideas that have been brought by the programs on television. This perfectly applies to our case since “A 1000 Ways to Die” contains many scenes of violence whereby there are lots of killings and crimes committed. The show affects its viewers to an extent that they tend to fear the environment they live in. They at times think that what they see on TV is the true reality and, therefore, are worried about their security. Those programs that contain crime scenes and cases of violence should be broadcast when most young viewers are not around since they may have negative implications on their afterlife.
It is very important that people do not much dwell on the unrealistic episodes they may see on TV but rather only view those programs that are of positive value to their daily life. These may be educative programs that are about health issues, those programs that are based on the development of both the state and the individuals through coming up with the ideas that will assist them set up income generating opportunities and those that are entertaining to reduce the daily stress incurred through daily duties.
Life in TV is, however, of great value since there is much information viewers are able to gather from the well informed characters who come to represent their views in the shows. They tend to educate potential viewers on matters like health, education, science and technology and ways that would help to boost the social economic status of individuals. However, TV shows hosts should ensure that they do not provoke gender disparities in the society. TV programs should involve more women as characters so that the viewers see so that there is balance in gender. This will help the society in general to view women as valuable people rather than undermining them.
Those who are above the age of 65 years should also participate in TV shows. This is due to the reason that elderly citizens have greater experiences and could effectively educate potential viewers. The mass entertainment should also meet the acceptable societal moral values in order to ensure that the moral life of all people is upheld. There should de racial balance in the jobs offered in the television sphere. Individuals representing different races should be treated equally; the available jobs should be distributed without any favors. One race should therefore not be dominant over the others.
Those programs that negatively affect the viewers’ life should be excluded from television in order to enhance good impact on people viewing different programs, especially the young who are most affected by those programs. Viewers should not be influenced by the negative depictions that various programs bring about.
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