One strategy is that at TV show will present a situation or problem where the main character is shown acting on a particular choice and it's consequences. The viewer tends to think about the alternative choice and the consequences it would present. Examining the consequences helps the viewer decide what further actions need to be taken by making that choice. This helps the basic process of clarifying our values. I find myself doing this when I watch a show where a character has to choose between two paths, and I always try to think of the consequences of the other choice. Doing so helps me see both paths clearly and helps me decide what my values are by the choice I would make in the same situation.
Another strategy is to help us deal with the emotions that come out when we watch a program. TV is a window to our current culture influencing and shaping our values in this society.
The programs give us model behaviors, examples of good and evil, and illustrates masculinity and femininity. The things that are important and people are concerned about always end up on TV in some form. It not only appears on the evening news or documentaries, but in series and movies. It brings these issues, conflicts, ideas, and pressures home. We encounter these things everyday of our lives, and TV can be a place where we exercise our values and beliefs. It can also teach us to stick up for our beliefs. There is no need to change what someone believes in because a character on a show believes otherwise. Those beliefs make up who we are, and TV shouldn't change who we are from what we see others do.
It's important to be a selective viewer because certain shows will lean towards the evil side than the good and other shows just show the good. Even too much good is a bad thing. Sometimes you need the evil side to see what good really is.
People have started to see that TV is not entirely a bad thing. It has benefits that people have overlooked. The Center for Media Literacy explains, "many people now realize the importance of identifying positive television programming... those shows which expand awareness, broaden understanding, deepen perception." It stimulates are mind and exercises are brain on a daily basis. Without TV we would not be aware of important problems around the world or be able to listen to other perspectives on an issue.
TV is a catalyst to discussions by presenting facts and opinions about our culture and raising important questions. When my family and I watch the news or a program where an important event is being portrayed, we always discuss each other's opinions and alternate decisions that could have been made. I love doing this because it helps me develop my values and beliefs. Additionally, it brings my family closer to each other because we are all relating to a similar subject. Instead of being a passive observer, people can actually immerse themselves in TV and have repeated discussions to exercise their values and beliefs.
So is it possible that we should watch more TV because it will help us understand what we believe in? Maybe, but at the same time we have to remember to be selective viewers and try and keep the balance between good and evil.
Source:
Center for Media Literacy:
http://www.medialit.org/reading-room/stay-tunedtv-can-be-good-you
The programs give us model behaviors, examples of good and evil, and illustrates masculinity and femininity. The things that are important and people are concerned about always end up on TV in some form. It not only appears on the evening news or documentaries, but in series and movies. It brings these issues, conflicts, ideas, and pressures home. We encounter these things everyday of our lives, and TV can be a place where we exercise our values and beliefs. It can also teach us to stick up for our beliefs. There is no need to change what someone believes in because a character on a show believes otherwise. Those beliefs make up who we are, and TV shouldn't change who we are from what we see others do.
It's important to be a selective viewer because certain shows will lean towards the evil side than the good and other shows just show the good. Even too much good is a bad thing. Sometimes you need the evil side to see what good really is.
People have started to see that TV is not entirely a bad thing. It has benefits that people have overlooked. The Center for Media Literacy explains, "many people now realize the importance of identifying positive television programming... those shows which expand awareness, broaden understanding, deepen perception." It stimulates are mind and exercises are brain on a daily basis. Without TV we would not be aware of important problems around the world or be able to listen to other perspectives on an issue.
TV is a catalyst to discussions by presenting facts and opinions about our culture and raising important questions. When my family and I watch the news or a program where an important event is being portrayed, we always discuss each other's opinions and alternate decisions that could have been made. I love doing this because it helps me develop my values and beliefs. Additionally, it brings my family closer to each other because we are all relating to a similar subject. Instead of being a passive observer, people can actually immerse themselves in TV and have repeated discussions to exercise their values and beliefs.
So is it possible that we should watch more TV because it will help us understand what we believe in? Maybe, but at the same time we have to remember to be selective viewers and try and keep the balance between good and evil.
Source:
Center for Media Literacy:
http://www.medialit.org/reading-room/stay-tunedtv-can-be-good-you
Question, how many times do you think you would come across a situation like a TV character would come across? I doubt I will ever come across a situation like John Locke (Lost), Jack Bauer (24), or Raymond (Everyone Loves Raymond) comes across on a show exactly.
ReplyDeleteI am not too sure TV shapes our values and beliefs, except for news shows which tells us the news and we get an opinion about the situation from what we here. However, TV does allows us to develop the ability to make our own opinions.
Everybody Loves Raymond is a sitcom and is based off of real life situations that people have gone through. That is what they base their stories off of. I agree that it is rare that you will ever encounter a situation like Jack Bauer or John Locke.
ReplyDeleteI feel that TV helps test your values and beliefs and yes, it does help you develop skills to make your own opinions. By testing them you can see if you still believe in your values.