Television is a part of everyday life. Whether we make a conscious effort to seek it out of simply end up watching it in passing as we fall asleep on the couch after a long day we interact with television. We often find that TV influences us in simple ways such as the phrases we use like “Let’s get out of here” common on many TV shows and movies. However, TV has an even greater influence on all of us. It influences culture.
TV will at different times bring people together or pull them apart. A great example is during terrorist attacks on the nation. We often have news stations encouraging a sense of togetherness and banding together against a common enemy. The opposite happens when political tensions come in to play. News stations often have a bias towards one side such as the Democrat or Republican. This means that depending on an individual’s preference they will watch the station that favors their affiliations and not have the chance to get to understand what the other party has to offer.
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This was not always the case though. In earlier days such as the 1950s and 1960s TV focused on being a source of entertainment with largely comedic programming being the highlight. The shows featured largely white middle class families that extoled family values. The news in those days was also less biased. Over time things have changed quite a bit. More inclusive and controversial TV started being created. This begun with the inclusion of single mothers with Murphy Brown and the LGBT community with the advent of Ellen.
The reactions of people in the society were varied with some truly detesting of this practice and others glad to see real life as it was every day. I believe strongly that TV in today’s world is a reflection of our culture as compared to earlier years when it was a form of escapism.
Examples of TV shows that unite us are
Friends
Full House
Seinfeld
The Simpsons
Examples of shows that divide us are:
Game of Thrones
The Tonight Show
Scandal
Keeping up with the Kardashians
