Media Chatter

Movie theatres have become a very popular spot for entertainment in today’s society.  Many people go to the movies to check out a popular new movie where as others go on a date with a significant other to spend some one on one time with that person.  Movies are often a very inexpensive, although that has changed as of late, to get entertainment while not having to put a huge hole in a person’s pocket.  In today’s world movies have also become a spot to spend money.  Many people not only buy their movie tickets, but also every snack under the sun and a huge drink to go along with it.  Movie theatres are often popular with the teenagers as it is a place parents will often let them go without having to be supervised.

I personally don’t go to movie theatres that much today.  My schedule is pretty full with basketball and school so therefore I do not have much spare time to be able to go to the movie theatre and sit down and watch a film.  Another reason is the inflating prices of movie tickets.  Tickets have increased in price substanially since I was in middle school and high school.  The prices of today’s matinees were the prices of a ticket during the evening hours when I was still growing up.  When I do get some extra cash and have some spare time though, I will normally go with a couple friends and watch one of the latest movies that have come out just to enjoy myself and take some stress off from my normal schedule.

I really enjoy watching movies.  I have a DVD player at my house and have two shelves full of movies and DVD’s. When I am at home and feel that there is nothing on television I will often find one of my favorite movies and pop it in the DVD player and enjoy watching the film.  I will often watch some of my favorite movies of all time, which includes Glory Road, Coach Carter, Remember the Titans, Taken, Cool Runnings, and many others just to pass the time without going to sleep or doing some other boring activity.  I don’t really watch too many movies on my computer because alot of them take so long to download and also because they sometimes take alot of memory space up on the computers hard drive.  I would prefer to watch a movie from a DVD player because the screen is alot bigger and you normally can hear the film’s audio better.  Also, if you are lucky enough to have one of the new high definiton televisions, your movie will appear in a better resolution with a more clear picture. 

Watching movies has always been one of my favorite hobbies to do in my spare time.  There is nothing better than hanging out, getting a snack and a drink, and relaxing and watching a movie.  It is always better when you have friends or a special someone to watch that film with.  Movies continue to be a very popular source of entertainment in our society today.

American made films are not only appealing to the American public, intead they are quite popular around the globe. According to Variety magazine the international box-office, consisting of twelve countries: Germany, Italy, South Korea, Austrilia, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Spain, Mexico, Japan, Russia, Hong Kong and France, had at least two American made movies in their top ten listings for the week of September 18-24th. While these twelve countries had at least two American movies in their top listing most of them were placed in the top three. However, Japan was the only country that seemed to have more independent films represented. Many of the international countries had either, Up , Final Destination , or Pelham 123 in their top ten listings. These films also were popular in the United States, especially the film Up, a child fiction animation.

The role United States-based films has on the international level is very influential. Because of this the American culture has the oppertunity to reach out to the world in anyway they seem possible. This influential advantage the United State’s film industry has on the world can allow for American directors to make a positive impact on a global scale. One popular American film that had a positive influence was Wall-e . This movie touched on negative role humans have on green house emissions by making dramatic accusations on what really could happen if society continues to be less aware of their carbon foot print.

Although Americans have the opportunity to positively influence the global world, by doing so they also are pushing their views on other global cultures. Because of this I believe the United Stated role in the international film industry should not be as signigicant. The popularity the United States film industry has on the world lessens independently owned film businesses in other countries to succeed in toping the American movie business. The outcome for this results in a more centralized expectation for what a movie should be like. This centralized expectation does not give for much oppertunity for other cultures to compete with the United Stated film industry which also results in less diverse movie production. When there is less diversity in what is being shown in box offices around the world, it makes us less understanding of the world around us. Less diversity also lessens our appreciation of different ethnicities. We become less familiar with experiencing other cultures views on executing a film and more familiar with the American way of producing a film. However, most importantly we become less familiar with the many cultural ideas and creativity from the world around us.

These days the movie theaters are a very popular place to attend and enjoy a new movie. Most people enjoy going out to the movie theater and catching a good movie but it really is not for me. Do not get me wrong, I will go every now and then to watch a funny flick,  but usually not. With me being a college student, my money income definitely is not anything to brag about. It seems as if the prices at the theater keeps raising by the day. I mean $3.25 for a small soda? C’mon! That is just outrageous. Tickets these days are usually around $10 and if one also decides to eat at the movies, by the time they leave the movie, they have already spent around $25. Not to mention with me having a girlfriend, if I were to pay for her also I would be in the hole for a month or so!

With me being a student-athlete, when I am not in class or sleeping, I usually am at practice so I am always on the move. That is why when I do actually have some free time, I enjoy to just watch a DVD on television in my room with my girlfriend. By me deciding to stay in and enjoy a DVD at the comfort of my dorm room, I save myself around $20. I just enjoy this much more than going to the movies because there, one might have to deal with loud customers in the theater or even another person’s cellular phone ringing during the movie. At the movies there can just be a lot of distractions. Also when a person is enjoying a DVD, if he or she needs to use the restroom, the movie can be paused while they attend the restroom. At the movie theater, if a person decides to use the restroom they can miss significant parts of the movie and when they return from the restroom, will not have any idea what is going on.

When I am watching a DVD in my dorm room, I enjoy sports movies or comedy. I can relate to the sports movies and can understand where they might be coming from. I do not really need to elaborate on why I enjoy comedy movies because who doesnt? I think almost everyone enjoys comedy movies or if they dont, something is wrong. Some of my favorite movies are Friday Night Lights, Major League, Wedding Crashers and Step Brothers.

Don’t get me wrong, if one is not struggling with money and has the free time to attend their local movie theater, than go for it. With me being so busy with juggling school and sports I never really have any free time. If i did have the free time however i would probably be a more frequent visitor of the movie theaters…

Ch 7 Question 3

Today the two main markets for the film industry are the movies that are currently in theaters and the movies that have been released to DVD.  Personally, I am a pretty big ‘movie-watcher’ whether it be in the theater or on a DVD.

My first reaction to ‘How often do you go to the movie theaters?’ was “Hmm.. I really don’t visit the movies that often..”; and then I started counting. Since I’ve moved to AU about 6 weeks ago, I have gone to see 4 movies in theaters which is about one movie for every week and a half I’ve been here. In my opinion, actually going to the movies is more fun for group outings with friends. It can also be good for a ‘date night’, especially if you don’t know them all that well yet. Being somewhat on the line about the issue, I did a little research to see what others had to say. Some readers on USATODAY.com decided to voice their opinions on the issue:

“We used to go to the movies all the time. But on top of the prices and trying to find a quality babysitter and with DVDs coming out just three months after they’re in the theater, we just stay home. I prefer DVDs — I can control my own volume, I can pause it and don’t have to worry about other people talking. It’s more peaceful.”

—Romell Johnson

“I would never stop going to movies. Regardless of DVDs and high tech products and everything I will still go. Like American League Baseball, going to a movie at a multiplex is truly a time honored tradtion. It’s an icon of sorts.”

—Steve Wakimoto

The second part of the question asking about how often I watch DVDs on the TV or my laptop would yield a much higher response. I couldn’t even answer this for the amount of time I’ve been here at school, considering I’ve made a habit of going out to the front lawn and watching movies on my laptop.

If I were to make a decision on which experience I preferred, I would probably choose just getting a 5 dollar DVD from Wal*mart or visiting the beloved RedBox for a movie that would end up being far cheaper than a single movie ticket, especially if it was a night showing. Being a ‘poor college kid’, this is very important. However, I certainly wouldn’t turn down a trip to the movies if a group of my friends were going or it was something I was really looking forward to seeing.

Chapter 7 – Question #3
     Today the movie theaters have become more of an expense then a pleasure. It seems as though the cost of going to see a movie theater has rose to an absurd price, and unless the movie is really an interest to me I will wait for it to come out on DVD to rent. I think to save going to the theater as a date night, or a chance to get out of the house, something you do on a special occasion because it is becoming so pricing. My attendance to the theater is probably limited to only once a month, if that.
     Like I said, I will try to wait until it comes out to rent or buy on DVD, unless the movie is really intriguing, and it doesn’t seem like something I can wait on. Watching movies is something I’d rather do then watch television, so I would have to say that playing DVD’s are definitely a weekly routine of mine. As far as watching movies off the computer, that is something that is not of great interest to me, because the quality of the film is not as good as the one in the theater or off a DVD. And the download time and internet connection is not always that great so something movies seem to have drag time, which can be really annoying and frustrating.
     Although going to the movie theaters is an exciting occasion because of the large screen, sound and change of scenery, now a day’s is not all that’s is cracked up to be, like it once was. The popcorn and candy is another fun part of attending the movie theater but you could spend more money on popcorn and candy then you would on actually purchasing a movie of your own. Also you have the inconvenience of other movie watchers; ignorant, rude, loud people can ruin your movie experience and one could miss important parts of the movie. Another reason I would prefer to watch my own DVD in the luxury of my own home would be the convenience of the stop/pause/rewind button. Whether you need to take a bathroom break, or there was a part of the movie you wish you could watch again that convenient feature is something I don’t take for granted.
     So the question today is would you rather go to the movie theater or play DVD’s and after seriously thinking which experience I’d prefer I would definitely stick to renting or buying my own DVD and save going to the theater as a special occasion like a date night, or a night out with friends.

Sometimes going to a movie costs an arm and a leg, if not your first born son. This is why I only go to a movie once every couple of months and usually only if I really want to see a specific movie at that time. I will read reviews or get opinions from friends or relatives who saw the movie. I also know a couple of theater employees, so they usually give me an inside scoop into films. I never go to a theater and just pick a movie, because this has often come back to haunt me.

Usually, I tend to buy DVDs more than going to an actual movie. DVDs offer several advantages that the theater just cannot provide. I can watch them at my own leisure, usually I buy DVDs at reduced prices, such as used movies. Also, while watching a DVD I can control the movie I watch, such as pausing it or skipping the boring part. Another feature DVDs recently have is the inclusion of a digital copy that I can upload to my computer. This allows me to watch the movie without the disc and even put it on an iPod.

The only real advantage that the theater has is the fact it is the first place a movie can be seen, and then you have to wait several months for the movie to come out on DVD. For theaters to start attracting more crowds and more income they need to lower prices at least at concessions. $6.50 for a ticket is not completely outrageous, but $5 for a drink is stretching it. Theaters say that concessions account for a large amount of income because ticket revenue is often used to pay the studios the movies come from.

Theaters should start looking to somehow lower prices, at least at concessions. For instance, raising ticket prices may give the theater the ability to bring down concession prices. Also, theaters could look into other sources for income. They could start renting their theaters out to local functions such as small play houses or churches. Advertising is also another alternative. I usually do not look at the ads they run before movies so it would not matter if they added more to the screen.

Until theaters start lowering prices, my main form of movie entertainment will come from DVDs. Though more expensive than a movie ticket, they still have unique advantages which I’m willing to pay extra to have. Theaters just do not offer the advantages to compete, and even though I still go from time to time, DVDs are just the way to go.

I would love to be a film producer in today’s movie industry. All it takes to make a good movie is either sex, drugs, or violence or any combination of the three. Last week my suite mates and I decided to go see Jennifer’s Body the day it came out. This wasn’t because the storyline looked good or because it tried to deliver any kind of message at all, it was because the trailer showed the hottest actress alive, Megan Fox, taking her clothes off and being extremely violent.

If I was a film producer, and I had a chance to make a whole bunch of money on a movie that featured a ton of violence and sex and drug use, I would not hesitate to make that movie. If parents do not want their children to see my movie, that is fine because I will have millions of teenagers and young adults paying the 7 to 8 dollars it costs to see my movie. Rating systems are in place for a reason, so I don’t see a problem with the movies that are being made today. 

Movies are fine the way that they are and as long as there is a demand for violence and sex and drugs, there will be movies like Jennifer’s Body, or Inglorious Basterds, or Half Baked which have no moral values, will continue to be made. It’s the job of the parents to control what their kids watch, not the job of the film industry to stop making money.

Movies, like everything in our lives, have evolved. Do you ever wonder what’s next when it comes to film production? What level can Hollywood go to next, and what possible new theme can be created that a movie currently doesn’t exist about? Everyday movie theaters carry many different types of films from comedy and romantic films to horror and action films. Everyday, moviegoers select their movie, butter their popcorn and enjoy the show. Movies, just like music, play a role in our mood, decision making ability, and our outlook on different subjects. Look at the movies today and then remember that many people list either Casablanca or Star Wars as the greatest movies of all time.  Have you ever sat through the previews, as you anticipate viewing your show, and ever thought to yourself, “Where have all the decent movies gone?”

Movies today portray the values and desires of our society. Look at the themes of today’s popular movies: murder, suicide, sex, nudity, cursing, cult, paranoia, and the list goes on and on. The movies with these themes pack the theaters nightly and consume our minds with filth. Horror movies and violent movies make people loose their grip on reality and develop mental health issues and in some cases, act out what they see in a movie. This is why some movies get bad publicity and wind up getting banned. The irony is that because its banned and gets bad press more people will want to go and see it; therefore, establishing a cult fanbase if you will.

Positive movies truly make a difference. Look at the success of films like, The Passion of The Christ, Facing the Giants, and Fireproof. Gene Edward Veith of World Magazine says,

“The values of both children and their parents are shaped by the cultural air they breathe. The poet Percy Bysshe Shelley said that poets are the true legislators of the world, and the same today could be said of rock stars, TV producers, filmmakers, and journalists, all of whom have more influence on people’s lives and people’s thoughts than an army of politicians”

Do we ever realize that each time we purchase a movie ticket to a movie that is filled with trash, that consumers (us) are communicating to Hollywood that we love trash, produce more, and we will come and see your garbage. Facing the Giants received a morality rating of Excellent. This movie was a very powerful movie and changed thousands of lives. This film grossed over $10,000,000; therefore, I would call that a success.

I would produce movies full of character building qualities, qualities that promote healthy living and bring about a positive mindset. Hollywood believes that movies that portray values, happiness, and quality- living will not result in big hits and huge profits at the box offices. The movies mentioned totally disprove the beliefs of current Hollywood producers. The truth is, people want to be inspired, people want to be motivated, and movies could play a huge role in this sector of society. I would produce movies that would be the catalyst for positive change.

Chapter 7, Question 3

When I was young going out to the movies was like a really exciting adventure.  Seeing a film on a gigantic screen with incredible sound was a lot more fascinating to me than watching a film at home in the family room.  To this day I have always preferred watching movies in the theatre rather than watching them at home.

I go out to the cinemas quite frequently, but it can be hard making time to do so being a busy college student.  Renting movies can sometimes be more convenient than going out to the movies, such as when there is a movie I want to see that has already left the theatres.  Another time is when I am trying to save money; I can just go to Redbox at Wal-Mart and rent movies for one dollar each. Despite these reasons, staying in and watching a movie at home just isn’t the same as seeing a movie for the first time on the big screen. 

Watching a great film is a whole different experience in the theatre compared to watching it on a regular television.  One reason for this is when many people are around you experiencing the same thing that you are, it makes the movie much more enjoyable.  I like sharing that connection with a bunch of people that you don’t even know, and hearing everyone laugh together at a funny part or tear up at sad parts.  Another reason is that the visual and sound quality is much higher.  Watching a film on a humungous screen helps you see everything so much better like getting right up close to everything that is going on.  The loud, vivid surround sound in the theatre makes it much more real and keeps your attention. 

Watching movies at home can involve distractions, but when going to the cinemas, the movie is the specific purpose and there are fewer distractions.  Some people were commenting about this on an online website and one quoted,

“When you go to the cinemas you have a different mindset, you drove there, found parking, and everything else with the explicit purpose of watching a particular film. That in itself means you focus on the movie more and enjoy it more. Whereas at home you often pause a film and get up and do something else quickly, at the cinema you wait until the last moment to go to the toilet because you don’t want to leave.”

The movie theatre is the best place to take a couple of hours away from reality and get sucked into a great film.  It takes away all outside distractions and allows you and your surrounding audience to enjoy the movie.  It makes the overall experience so much more fun, real, interesting and enjoyable!

The movie has become one of the most popular forms of media in the world since its advent in the early 1900s. According to the Motion Picture Association of America, the industry contributes 80 billion dollars to the U.S. economy annually, and the domestic box office reached 9.79 billion dollars in 2008. The movie is quite the moneymaker!
I must then go on to say that I am a huge fan of the movies. I love watching them with friends and usually find that my weekends consist of some time being spent in a theatre, a room or, on the rare occasion, in front of my computer. Although I enjoy going to the movies and watching them anywhere, the most accessible means are usually in a friend’s dorm room and DVDs. I personally may go to the theatre three or four times a semester, but nearly every weekend I am with people watching movies on a nice plasma screen! This is my preferred means because it is cheaper and much less formal. Not that the theatre requires formality, but to be in a room with many friends welcomes comments and much more viewer interaction than going to the theatre does. It allows hysterical parts to be hysterical for more than the time it usually takes a large audience to stop laughing, and gruesome parts to emit more vocalized disgust! It brings close friends together and allows everyone to enjoy something without the added hundreds a theatre would bring. Furthermore, the theatre can also be extremely irritating to watch movies in. Even in an empty room, people can choose to sit right in front of you; the viewer, or they can decide to talk without including you, thus becoming a hindrance.
A movie lover can also watch movies on their personal computer. I usually do not use this option because of how personal it is. It does not allow large groups to come together to enjoy movies, and has many volume constraints and other annoyances. It is something that I do rarely and only when I really need personal time.
The movie is clearly something that I enjoy. Yet, it is something that I really only enjoy in groups and without much money spent. It is a way to see and hear a story without spending a lot of time reading a book, magazine, etc. It is a way of communicating things that have happened or things that need to be heard. Whenever I watch a movie, I prefer that it be in the midst of friends, in whomever’s dorm room we decide, and with the idea that we will all enjoy this together.

Chapter 7 Question 2
Growing up in a good Christian home came with its consequences…for example: only being able to watch certain movies. Generally they had to have either a G or PG rating along with a good moral story. Now don’t get me wrong, those aren’t bad characteristics for a movie; but as a child grows up and sees a lot more of how the world is, it’s hard for that child to comprehend such things—sex, drugs, profound language and ,of course, the thing that sticks with a protected child the most: scary images…

Well it was my freshmen year, I was 13 years old and I had just got invited to my a friend’s house, who I met in 7th grade, for the first time…and let’s just say she was definitely not raised in a Christian home. I’m not saying she was a bad person; her family just had different values, therefore; less protected then I was.

We had run out of things to do so we decided to sit and watch a movie. She had a lot of movies that I had never seen because I wasn’t allowed to see more than half of them. So having a wide variety, I decided it didn’t matter what movie I picked because I was now old enough to watch PG-13. I noticed she had a lot of scary movies, so I decided to pick one of those.

I picked Darkness Falls. I had never heard of it and she said it was a decent scary movie (not that I would really know what a decent scary movie was…). So she popped it in and the horror began…
Well I went home that night and told my mom I watched a scary movie, she seemed to be fine with it. I was happy that she was okay with it, but I think she knew what she was saying when she didn’t care because she knew what was in store for me that night.

Darkness Falls is about a tooth fairy, which is out for revenge because she was burned alive. So if you wake up and see her when she comes to bring you money she kills you. Her weakness is the light, so as long as you stay in the light you are okay. So that night when I went to bed…as in I had to turn off the lights to do so! I could not fall asleep! I’m talking head in my blankies the whole night and I was sweating so much from the tension and I did not want to uncover myself because I thought the evil tooth fairy was coming to get me so I couldn’t open my eyes…I didn’t want to see her face. It was the absolute most awful night of my life, I can still remember it so clearly…I can feel the sweat, the terror and I just wanted the sun to come up so I wouldn’t have to hide. The face of the tooth fairy is permantly stuck in my head…

To this day I still will not watch that movie because it brings back that fear. I know it sounds crazy but my mom obviously knew what she was doing when she monitored which movies I could and couldn’t watch. I still remember getting up that morning and telling her how I couldn’t sleep because of the movie and she just said, “Well that’s what you get for watching a movie like that.”

So I guess I definitely learned a lesson that day…well that night really. Parents have their rules for a reason…especially with the way the world is today I think they have to be extra careful about what their children watch. A lot of movies these days contain all the things my parents were trying to protect me against: sex, violence, drugs, and of course scary images! Once they’re in, they’ll never leave. Trust me…I experienced it firsthand.

Chapter 7: Question #4

If I were a Hollywood movie producer, I would make films that actually showed and developed a character, with a realistic and exciting storyline that actually related to the majority of the people who will watch it.  Lately, most movies are geared to three major aspects that get people to see the film.  These three aspects are violence, sex, and gore.  When these three elements are combined, a movie generally grosses millions in the box office but leaves little substance that actually appeals to the average person.  How many people are actually secret agents that are able to bring down the evil company while getting the girl that they want?  The answer is simple.  Nobody.  Films are designed to appeal to our fantasy and our desires to be something or somebody that we are not in the real world.  However, when a person delves too much into fantasy, they lose touch with the real world and how things operate with tangible individuals.  They may also lose touch in how to actually relate to others in social settings.  Movies help create a fantasy world that many people look to in order to escape the mundane and unsatisfactory aspects of daily life.  In order to help alleviate the desires to delve into movies that hardly have any substance, movies that actually have character development and a tangible storyline can be a good seller.  Movies that are different from mainstream can do well when a good audience follows.  Movies that represent realism and good character development are Requiem for a Dream, Casablanca, and Passion of the Christ.  Both of these films deviate from mainstream society by producing movies that actually hold a tangible aspect that people can relate to.

Also, certain changes that need to be made, not only to movies, but at the movie theaters is the constant advertisement for materialistic items that people really do not need.  I remember when I was younger that the only things shown before the actually movie would be previews for upcoming movies that were going to come out in theaters soon.  Now, when one goes into a movie, you not only get music and advertisements promoting local businesses, but you also get advertisements for the army or a credit card.  I believe that those advertisements are truly useless because most people do not pay attention to them.  I know from personal observance that many people just talk throughout the advertisements and only begin to quiet when the first scenes of the movie comes onto the screen.  People get enough advertisements from the radio, television, internet, and billboards.  Another media outlet to advertise on is just too much.  People will buy items when they have the money to and when they feel like.  An advertisement for a car is not going to change many people’s minds to get one when they do not have the money to pay for the car in the first place.  These types of aspects are things that I would definitely change at the movies.  Movies that have character development and tangible realism, along with less advertisement in the movie theaters, will make the movie business only grow in order to relate to a majority of their audience.

The movie industry has grown tremendously since when the first motion picture was made in the 19th century. VHS tapes are no longer manufactured, and so movies are now copied onto DVDs and Blu-Ray discs. These forms of entertainment were unimaginable in the 19th century, but have become reality in the 21st century.

I go to the movie theater about twice a month, unless there are more than two movies that I just have to see! Going to the movie theater is such a fun thing to do with friends and family! It is getting to share laughs, cries, or screams at the latest film with the closest people to you. What could be better than that? Movie tickets and concessions can be expensive, but that is the only negativity of the theater.

I watch DVDs on my television probably about eight times a month! I almost never watch movies on my computer. Watching a DVD on your television is like going to the theater, but having the comfort of your own home. DVDs can be costly, but once you purchase a DVD, it is yours and you can watch it as many times as you would like. DVDs have definitely increased in popularity over the past few years, and people prefer them so much more than VHS tapes.

When it comes to my preference between going to the movie theaters to see a movie, or to watch a DVD at my own home, the decision is tough! Midnight premieres at the theater are always exciting, but I would prefer DVDs. Being able to watch a movie at your home is easy going. You can watch the movie when you want to and how ever many times you want to, without paying an extra fees. I say that watching DVDs at home is the best out of the two choices.

MTV makes drama daily, end of story by continuously influencing adolescences in our society today. Every year MTV’s Video Music Awards advertisements promise the best artists performing on stage, with the hottest actors and actresses, and an energetic host. This year at the VMA’s were quite eye-catching and controversial; from Kayne West interrupting Taylor Swift, Pink’s trapeze stunts during her song, Lady Gaga romanticizing suicide, and remembering the king of pop, Michael Jackson. I was stunned by Lady Gaga’s performance, by romanticizing suicide to viewers is not my idea of entertainment.

“Her voice growing more Urgent with every frenzied note. And then, in a wrinkle no one saw coming, Gaga staggered across the stage as blood began to drip form her ribcage and she wailed the lyrics to the song about media vultures. On the verge of tears, she dabbed at the blood, and wiped it on her face and collapsed into a heap while a dance wailed in agony and gently laid her down center stage.”

Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi act can send the wrong message to young teens, teaching them that suicide or even hurting (like cutting) yourself is okay. Once again it seems everyone in America despises Kayne West for making an utter fool out of himself on television broadcasted across the world. At the VMA’s Taylor Swift “You Belong with Me” won Best Female Video of the Year. But Kayne opposed bluntly stating the Beyonce had the Best Female Video of the Year. Fans were shocked, as was Swift. Kayne was booed off stage and asked to leave the remaining of the show. Kayne West demonstrates that we should have morals and respect to others and cannot just do or stat whatever we please without having some type of consequence. I expect a lot of fans and supporters worldwide to change their opinion about West. One positive note I found myself laughing at the host, Russell Brand, he was quite amusing though rude and offensive to some performers.

“MTV has drawn a great deal of criticism for its cultural impact, worrying that its influence has eroded local culture-specific traits among the world’s young people.”

What price will we pay in the future with more teens becoming influenced by MTV’s vulgar programs dealing with sex, drugs and alcohol abuse, and racism?

When I was younger my family of six used to eat together every night around the dinner table, conversing about our days at school or work or home. Every once-in-a-while my dad would get caught up in Jeopardy and we’d have dinner around the TV, sometimes having conversation during commercial breaks. In my later high school years, my mom got sick of dial-up, finally caved in to my dad’s desire for cable, and we bought a bundle package deal. From then on dinners looked something like my dad watching two hours of syndicated CSI: Miami reruns in the living room, my sisters watching Hannah Montana in their respective rooms, and my mom and I sitting at the dining room table trying to talk with the blur of TV noises flowing in from all rooms. We were an all together separate family, secluded to our own cable channels.

While some may say that cable has helped to fragment families from their society, the entrance of cable into my house contributed to fragmenting my family life while driving me into social interaction. With hundreds of channels, each designated to a specific targeted group, anyone can sit down at any time and watch anything they want. Cable makes TV watchers into TV junkies. My dad can watch action-thriller dramas whenever he wants. My sisters can load up on prime-time-teenie soap operas, even my mom has now fallen pray to HGTV. Since I was told I needed to grow out of Cartoon Network, and since MTV no longer plays music videos, and since, at this point, gas was $1.35 a gallon, my family’s obsession with cable drove me to join as many extracurricular school and church activities as possible to escape the boring cable-zombies that lived in my house.

Cable doesn’t always drive people to seclusion though. I was first watching the Sundance Channel when I saw a a documentary on post-Katrina New Orleans when I decided to travel to Louisiana to join the relief effort and work with a church planting movement. Once my sister changed the channel from Soap Net, discovered the Food Network, and got my mom hooked, they promptly bought a restaurant and now manage and cook for the currently #2 rated restaurant in town. They don’t watch much TV anymore.

Cable television can motivate as much as it can seclude. Its effect on a person or society is determined by the minds that tune in.

Television – there is more to television and channel options than just picking up your remote and clicking “guide” and then selecting your favorite show or channel. Cable/Satellite providers have many laws and statues that must be adhered to while providing us with our daily dose of programming. There are these two small, yet impactful words in the cable/satellite industry and those two words are “must-carry”. The United States was the first country to implement the “must carry” mode of broadcasting. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission regulates this area of business and public policy. These rules were upheld in a 5-4 decision by the United States Supreme Court in 1997 in the case Turner Broadcasting v. FCC (95-992). In short theory, this law required cable/satellite providers to set aside broadcast time and space for local affiliates and channels. Although cable service providers routinely carried local affiliates of the major broadcast networks, independent stations and affiliates of minor networks were sometimes not carried, on the premise it would allow cable providers to instead carry non-local programming which they felt would attract more customers to their service. Smaller local channels and broadcast companies felt they were losing a significant marketing opportunity because cable was hampering their access to the homes of thousands of people and posed a threat to their ability to operate a successful business. Also, local broadcast companies felt like the cable/satellite providers were interfering with the consumer’s right to view television and that cable/satellite providers were acting as “big brother” when it came to advertising revenue and deciding on programming availability. Here is an interesting note: must-carry may only be applied if the television station wants to be carried under this provision. This only applies to NCE (noncommercial educational) stations. Station operators are allowed to demand payment from cable operators, or negotiate private agreements for carriage, or threaten revocation against the cable operator. Must-carry is privilege given to television stations, not a cable company.

Must carry rules do not violate the First Amendment and are simply based upon fair competition rules and the freedom of trade. The must carry rules assured that local broadcast television stations are carried on cable systems, allowing access to the local audience that the stations are licensed to serve. The must carry rules are not about obstructing speech or the eradication of any freedoms granted by the Constitution. These rules simply ensure that a local market has the protection to view local broadcast information and advertisement. Must carry rules provide protection for a successful local market and not a take-over by a larger, deep-pocketed cable/satellite provider. The must carry rules were designed to ensure that the public interest was served through guaranteed local broadcast outlets of expression and opinion; the rules did not guarantee that certain messages were said or not said. From the public’s viewpoint, this was neither an expansion nor suppression, but a preservation of the status quo existing before cable made a significant impact on the television industry. From the cable operator’s viewpoint, the rules restricted the choice of channels that it could carry.

The must- carry ruling safeguards truly what is best for the local public interest. This was not a tool to restrict someone’s ability to view the “home shopping” networks, but just ensure local competition has an opportunity to “catch our eye”. This rule truly gives us, the viewer, the opportunity to watch or not to watch. We, as consumers, still have the freedom to grab the remote, press the “guide” button and make the channel selection of our choice.

Paula Rogers
COM 101
September 22, 2009
Chapter 6; Question 6

4). Some critics argue that citizens no longer participate in traditional neighborhood activities and that cable has played a role in fragmenting society, keeping us in our homes. Do you agree or disagree? What has cable done well, and in what ways has it aversely affected society?
Since the growth of cable’s popularity in the mid-1970’s, the ways in which our society interacts has changed drastically. While some changes were for the benefit of society, others have been to its detriment. Many attribute these changes to cable itself, and feel that the fragmented society of today is a direct result of these advances in technology.

In a lot of ways, I do agree with the argument that some critics make. Cable has become one of the factors that have contributed to the decline in traditional neighborhood activities. An example of this would be how much time people set aside for primetime cable shows; time that could be otherwise spent outside the home, getting to know others. Face-to-face communication has become less important in today’s world due to many other advances in technology, therefore it would only be safe to assume that one of these factors is the prevalence of cable television. With cable television shows that are not limited to the restrictions of most network shows, popular movies on demand, 24-hour news programming, and channels dedicated to special interests one can understand why many people choose to spend their evenings ‘glued to the cable tube’ rather than engaging in social activities.
Many of the benefits of cable involve exposing society to other cultural insights that they might not otherwise be exposed to. With news-programming like CNN, a person is allowed to view not only what is occurring in their part of the world, but in other parts as well. Along with allowing room for the personal growth of one’s cultural viewpoint, cable also provides a wide array of various types of entertainment. Not only are there various types of entertainment available with cable, there is also the convenience associated with it as well. The instance where instead of going to a certain sporting event, one simply watches it on cable is a good example of cable’s convenience within today’s busy, modern society.
While all of these factors are many of the ways in which cable has done well for society, there are many ways still in which it has affected society negatively. Although there are numerous programs offered on cable in which to culturally expand one’s viewpoints, it does not necessarily mean that most of society is tuning in to these types of programming. Many people choose to watch the more entertaining program on cable. Channels such as MTV and HBO usually carry programming that is at the very least entertaining. However, entertaining does not always equal informative or accurate. With shows airing on MTV like The Hills, and HBO’s True Blood one can see how sometimes cable offers nothing more than entertainment fluff. The enrichment of society is put on hold in these cases, and we can see how society no longer cares about certain aspects that were once valued, such as getting out to meet the neighbors or participating in social activities.

There is not a day that goes by without me seeing the influence of MTV. These two things have brought a negative consequences, especially-in the case of MTV- on our youth.  Aarron Strong says that,

“a teenage girl said that more girls are making out with girls to attract guys to them. The girl said, “Nobody’s going to say it’s because Britney and Madonna did it [at the MTV Music Video Awards], but it is.”

Besides just the increased in sexual behavior, MTV has opened up a new door to other taboo topics for teens.  Shows like The Real World and other reality shows displays graphic material of homosexuality, drugs and violence.

A recent music video put out by Jay-Z titled, “Run This Town”displays a graphic display of himself and a group of thugs terrorizing and attacking a city.  Quotes from the song include a disregard of authority,

I break the rules so I don’t care
So I keep doin’ my own thing

a disrespect of women

We got a bankhead full of broads

and even a claim to be higher than God

Please follow the lea-der
So Eric B. we are
Microphone fiend
It’s the return of thee God

Not to mention that this music video has been in the top ten most watched videos on MTV recently.  A seven year old has even been reported to steal his mother’s car because he, “wanted to do hood rat stuff with his friends.”

These videos and lyrics may seem harmless but has heavily effect young persons, especially those who do not have a filter for television.

A  Harvard Gazette article by William J. Cromie says this,

Out of 518 videos examined, 76 (15 percent) showed acts of interpersonal violence…Violent videos showed a mean of six acts of violence per 2-3-minute-long segment — a total of 462 shootings, stabbings, punchings, and kickings in the 76 videos.

Cromie even presents the information that the music videos are designed to attract those between the ages 12 and 19.  MTV is designing to influence the future of our society with these graphic and detestable themes.    We have already seen the effects of just 20 years of graphic materials displayed towards teens, it can only get worse.  MTV has provided much entertainment but at the cost of a civilized society.

The networks CNN and MTV have greatly influenced and impacted American culture and society. Although networks, like MTV, have given American culture a bad reputation.

On a positive note, CNN is very sufficient in presenting world news to those who want to hear it. The network is all for the people and wants to keep the people informed for the now and the future. CNN presents the latest news, popular news, United States’ news, and then focuses on smaller, more detailed topics like Travel News. Anything you need to know or want to know, CNN has got your back. CNN has presented a positive reputation to America. As Jim Walton quotes, “At CNN, our view is that good journalism equals good business.”

On the other hand, MTV has severly damaged American culture’s reputation. MTV has only one central theme, sex. This network has presented that theme in many different ways through shows like Real World, Parental Control, and Room Raiders. The show MTV cribs gives off the impression that you have to have all these possessions to make you happy and to be named “the best of the best”. That is not entirely true! MTV has doubtlessly put on a damper on American Society.

CNN has my vote for a quality network,

MTV does not.

Cable television networks such as CNN and MTV have been huge influences on not only American culture, but cultures around the globe since their founding.

Though it faced a rough beginning after premiering in 1980, CNN has been successful in transforming the way the world watches news. CNN pioneered 24-hour breaking news coverage, and continues to feed an ever-growing audience’s hunger for news on a daily basis.

The way the world receives news has been forever revolutionized. It is possible for people to always be informed of global goings-on; to know of a military attack, train crash, or scientific discovery happening on the other side of the world in a matter of minutes.

CNN has not only opened a window of information to the world, but has also opened a door for more news competitors to come in, including main rival Fox News. (But this, of course, is understandable. Who can blame someone for wanting to read good news?)

Some may argue that news has a negative effect on culture, but this is not true. It’s easy to believe that news can be too visual or too harsh or too graphic at times, but it is not any more graphic than what is going on a few channels up at MTV. The difference is that CNN presents facts and insight into what is going on in the world, and if people want to be informed, they need to be able to handle the reality of truth (which may not always look pretty).

MTV, on the other hand, broadcasts perversity and vulgarity as cultural norms.

What once began as Music Television two decades ago has now evolved into “a literal porn channel for kids,” a network dedicated to glorifying promiscuity, homosexuality, alcoholism. Things like these are what weekly shows like The Real World so popular. MTV has now made sex into a casual act that can be caught on tape and marketed to pre-pubescent teenagers, convincing them that it is an acceptable, regular part of daily life.

It’s good to know that debauchery and sinfulness can be glorified and accepted by our culture now.

MTV not only promotes sex in almost every show, but they also frequently advertise a project called 1-800-BESAFE1 (as part of their partnership with Planned Parenthood). This number will get kids free birth control and abortion information, or even connect them to the nearest abortion clinic. Not to mention, all of this is done without any of their parent’s knowledge.

I’m glad to see MTV has got everything under control.

As Bryan Kemper, President of Stand True Ministries, put it: “First they pump the kids full of sex with their programming, then they teach them how to avoid their parents and the consequences.”

The bottom line is that CNN broadcasts news the way MTV broadcasts sex: 24/7.

And while CNN has done an outstanding job of keeping our culture up-to-date and informed of what goes on around the world, MTV has done an appalling job of depleting our cultural values and corrupting my generation.

Chapter 6, Question 4

As time passes, cultures and values within societies change. One of the major aids in changing cultures are the portals from which we receive our media; both news and entertainment. Two of the top broadcasts on cable television today are the news channel, CNN and the ever-popular entertainment channel, MTV. Reaching millions of consumers world wide, these broadcasts seem to have both a positive and negative effect on culture today.

First airing in 1980, CNN was the news channel that provided the consumer with news around the clock. At first, no one took this method of presenting news seriously until they realized how convenient it was to catch up in times of war. Being able to catch up on the news at any point during the day was certainly a positive factor. It allows the viewer to have a ‘heads up’ on what’s going on in the world, even if they only have a brief period of time to catch up. The continuous coverage also allows people to have a better understanding of the news topics by having more time to go in depth on their news stories. Another bonus to CNN is the ‘breaking news’ that was now available in times of emergency or terror. A positive take on MTV would be the strides that it has made in the advertising and just in media in general. It has created a bright, fast paced, ‘dazzling’ visual style in order to attract viewers. By doing this, MTV has made it possible to capture younger viewers attention on programs about various issues today, working as a news program for a younger generation.

We’re going to develop – what we want to do is to provide the viewers with what they want from CNN and that is the news. So when people tune in, they’ll get the latest news, but they’ll also get the biggest story of the day in depth, as CNN does so well.
-Connie Chung

Naturally, everything broadcasted on a certain channel is not going to all be positive. When viewing the effects on society, one must look at the entire picture. With CNN, one could argue that the depth of their news stories is too graphic and the negativity paints a bad picture on war effort. One could also point out the newer reality television on MTV and how it teaches children and teens to go crazy and forget all morals they previously knew. You don’t have to adopt the views of everything you see on the TV. I personally believe that CNN and MTV have had an overall positive impact on culture and society. Society was going to change and is going to change, regardless of whether CNN and MTV are around to effect it. Although I personally do not agree with everything they choose to air, I do think that they have made great advances in the way we view TV.

Ch. 6, Question #5

Current cable companies have legal monopolies in most cities; since the cost to run cable wires throughout a community or city are so high, a city will allow one large company to serve all of its residents with cable television, internet, and even phone services. With a monopoly on all of a town’s residents, the company is then able to recoup its losses from installation and begin to turn a profit. Since most communities and cities already have one large cable company providing them with services, a competing DBS (direct broadcast satellite) company is fighting an uphill battle. This battle however, is beginning to become an even playing ground.

By 2008, U.S. cable companies had thirty-seven million subscribers to digital television, and with their concept of bundling, they were able to provide subscribers with television, internet, and telephone. This idea helped solidify the cable companies’ efforts to monopolize the entertainment provision to communities. Since cable is considered a natural monopoly, most competition is entirely weeded out and non-existent. Clint Bolick, a constitutional litigation attorney, says:

Most natural monopolies turn out to be self-fulfilling prophecies. Once a governmental entity has determined that a certain activity is a natural monopoly, it is within its power to so decree by limiting entry into the market to a single producer. Such is the case with cable television.

So if other cable companies cannot compete with a cable monopoly, who can? The only real contenders in today’s market are DBS companies such as DirecTV and DISH Network. These DBS companies are able to provide more diverse television to subscribers via the use of satellites. Since satellites are not restricted to channel capacity like cable wires are, DBS companies are able to offer more channels than a tradition cable company can. These channels are usually higher quality in picture and sound as well. This makes cable companies nervous, but only to a degree. DirecTV and DISH Network can compete with monopolistic cable companies, but since cable already has a solid footing in most cities, some people are reluctant to switch over to satellite based television.

DBS companies have around twenty-six million subscribers, only eleven million less than cable. This clearly proves that DBS is a good alternative to cable; the main problem is that cable companies bundle their television with internet and telephone services. Paying one monthly bill is attractive to consumers, and this is the one edge that cable companies have over DBS companies. Even though your TV will be all around better with a DBS company, you cannot receive internet or phone service through that, which leads a lot of consumers to cable companies. DBS is certainly competing with cable companies’ provision of television services, but with unique advantages to both sides, neither side has come out on top.

Chapter 6: Question #4

CNN and MTV has influenced and changed our society, as well as global culture.  These changes have been both positive and negative when relating them to a certain station.  With CNN, the changes to our society have been more positive than negative.  CNN is a news network that reports on national and worldwide news twenty-four hours a day seven days a week.  This is good for the society, because citizens are able to be informed and updated on any news story that may affect them directly or indirectly.  Also, CNN allows for the society to be aware of what is going on in politics and the latest reforms aimed towards national success.  With news stations that are continuously on, those who work night shifts or are always on call, will be able to watch the news no matter what time they get back home and still be informed of the latest development of a story.  CNN appeals to all type of workers due to their continuous coverage, and that is a positive aspect to have in a society where different people work all different kinds of hours during the day or night.  With global culture, CNN provides an abundant amount of resources to other stories that are happening around the world.  Those in other countries may even use CNN coverage to detail what is happening in their own country.  Again, this is important for the same reason that it is important in the United States.  Everyone has a right to know what is going on in their country and to be aware of any political aspects that are happening at the moment. 

With MTV, I believe the changes have been more negative than positive.  Before I begin, I would like to state that I have no problem with what MTV shows on their channels, and I know that everyone has the right to free speech and expression.  However, MTV has many “reality shows” that are suppose to depict what the “real world” is all about.  One such show is promptly called the Real World. However, this show mainly puts people together for months in one house, and the main entertainment of watching the show is to see how wasted the cast members get, who gets in a fight with who, and who sleeps with who.  These types of shows depict that it is okay to fight, drink, and have sex with whoever you like.  However, this promotes a negative image of our society to younger viewers.  I am not saying that everyone who watches the Real World will go and do those things, because they saw it on television.  However, there are thousands of people out there who watch enough of these shows to begin to wonder that maybe that is how they are supposed to act when one is older.  There are several studies that have been conducted that reports that television, and the images it provides, do influence younger kids and how they act.  Images shown on the Real World are negative and damaging to our culture, because it does not promote moral standards.  On a global perspective, these shows promote America as a country without moral consciousness and values, which is a bad portrayal of our country and what it is suppose to stand for.  As one can see, both CNN and MTV either provided positive or negative changes to our society as well as an impact on global culture.

Ch. 5; Question 2

Ever since I began college last year, I have had very little time, if any, to sit down and watch TV. Now that I think of it, I do not know many people here at school who have the time to just sit and watch TV for hours at a time.  Some people just keep in on for “background noise.” I know more students who rely on sites like Hulu and network websites to stay up to date with their favorite programs. Starting in January, I will be watching season 6 of ABC’s Lost on the network’s website.

The plot is what attracts me to Lost. The producers are sneaky in their attempts to draw viewers in. They do this by constantly introducing new questions and subplots, which leaves the viewer with no choice but to tune in for each episode for answers. For those who don’t know much about the series, Lost focuses on a group of survivors whose plane mysteriously crashes on a very “special” island. They encounter various obstacles including polar bears, a “smoke monster” and hostile inhabitants. Each character is connected to at least one other character in some way before the crash and the viewer is shown this through a series of flashbacks. Even though watching TV is a passive activity, Lost allows for viewers to actively think about and formulate their own theories about the strange happenings on the island.

Another show I watch is NBC’s The Office. I am not as inclined to keep up with this show as much though because the plot isn’t one where I need to watch every single episode to know what is going on. A recent study by Simulmedia shows that I’m not the only one who skips an episode here and there. They concluded that,

“Television viewers watch significantly fewer episodes of each program than we had anticipated. Program loyalty is the exception, not the rule…On average, only 46% of folks who watched a particular program in our sample watched two or more episodes.”

Considering a study done by the University of Maryland, maybe the fact that I do not watch a lot of TV is a good indicator; they concluded that unhappy people watch a significantly greater amount of television.

If you turn on your television today, virtually any form of programming is available at the tip of your fingertips. Although what’s available to watch over the years has done nothing but progress, my personal t.v. viewing time has certainly decreased dramatically (which may come with the responsibilities of becoming a busy college kid). Over the past month, I haven’t turned on the t.v. to watch a single program or show. However, this will definitely change once the fall returns and all of our favorite programs begin to air their new seasons.  Of these, my personal favorite t.v. show that will begin again is House M.D.

House M.D. is ‘just another doctor show’, but has fantastic scripts and phenomenal acting. It has been  awarded, and nominated for, many different awards including Emmies for most ‘Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series’ to most ‘Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series’.  I, personally, enjoy this show because Hugh Laurie is one of my absolute favorite actors and I will never fail to be impressed by ‘his’ witty comebacks and ingenious epiphanies.

One of my other personal favorites would be the ever popular, The Office. Also a pretty popular option on television today, I have watched the office since it began 5 seasons ago and have still not gotten bored with it. My favorite part about this show would probably be the relationships formed between many of the characters (mainly Pam Beasley and Jim Halpert), and of course Jim’s quick wit and quirky facial expressions.

Television and the content that is accepted on national television has always been a sign of the times. Right now I am watching South Park on television. This is one of the most vulgar shows on television, yet it has been around and accepted for years now. Shows like this teach children that it is acceptable to use inappropriate language, just because it is used on television. South Park also pushes the limits of what they can and cannot say on television, like the one night where the used a certain swear word an insane amount of times, this was one of the funnier episodes of the show, but still it didn’t do anything to make America a better place. These shows and ones like them represent everything that is wrong with America, because with the amount of television that we Americans watch, the makers of these shows can brainwash into thinking what they want us to. The brainwashing starts with explitives on a cartoon late at night and ends up with us being brainwashed into picking a president based on his television ads.

Campaigning has been a huge part of running for president ever since television was invented. It has since grown to where people are already talking about who will run against President Obama in 2012. The problem with this is that we have people who are being brainwashed by whatever television station they decide to watch. Television can cause more problems than good when people use a biased television station as their only source of information. Networks like Fox News are slanted against President Obama and agianst all Democrats because Fox News is a Republican news station. Now if people are only watching rants like this all the time, what are they going to think about the President’s healthcare plan. The problem with our nation today is that we rely way too much on television to make our decisions for us. If we don’t change programing soon we’re going to allow videos like Paris for President decide who becomes our Nation’s leader, because based on this video, Sarah Palin is number two on my list of female canidates for 2012.

I can remember when I was a younger boy probably around ten years old, all that I used to do was spend my days glued to the television. I mean I was probably your real-life version of a “couch-potato” spending anywhere from 8 to 10 hours a day just watching television. My parents used to always tell me I was going to get fat and lazy if I did not stop spending all my free time in front of the television. So that is exactly what I did, I started playing baseball and that started to consume all of my free time, therefore I couldnt watch it as much. Since all my time was devoted to baseball now, I guess I got pretty good at it and was blessed enough to get a college scholarship for it.

Being a student-athlete is a tough thing to do, one is always busy with practice, team weight lifting and games. Not to mention keeping up with your school work, it takes up most of your time. With me being a student-athlete I do not get to spend much of my time watching television, saying I probably watch about an hour a day of it. With me being a BIG sports fan, when I do get the chance to watch some television, the show I tune into is Sportscenter. This show has it all when it comes to sports. It has highlights, scores and input on every single game from baseball, football , basketball, soccer , nascar, golf, and even bowling. Sportscenter is one of the most viewed shows on ESPN and I can always count on that show to find a score of a game, incase I missed it due to practice or games.

A big reason in me loving this show is not only the updates on all the games, but the show also interviews a big-time athlete every week. The interview consists of asking the athlete about anything from what issues he or she is facing, a recent game they played in that they performed real well or poorly. I enjoy watching these because if there is a game were I might not play as good as I would like, I can watch the interviews and see how a big-time athlete handles things like that.

Times sure have changed for me, from when I used to be practically glued to the television screen, to my college days where I am so busy I barely have enough time to breathe it seems. Whenever I do have the time to watch some television, I make sure to watch Sportscenter to see scores and highlights of all of my favorite teams.

Blake May #3

A country’s mass media influences its morals and a country’s morals reflect its mass media. Television is no exception and portrays this idea quite well. Obvious cases of the media impacting a society range from 1984, when the debut of The Cosby Show broke into stereotypical norms and showed “positive portrayals of blackness.” Two decades later, and on a more negative note, the 2003 debuts of shows like The OC and The Simple Life were followed by a trend of young girls developing eating disorders and maxing out their parent’s credit cards on a single pair of jeans. When the patriotic drama 24 debuted on Fox in 2001 it saw great success as Americans fully backed Kiefer Sutherland’s character Jack Bauer in his whatever-it-takes campaign against terrorism. However, by the premiere of season 6 in 2007 much of America had grown weary from the war and tired of Bauer’s antics while a nation that cheered his character to victory six years before where now demanding the show tone down on its torture scenes.

As our TV reflects our morals, it also displays them to the world. I recently took a trip to India where every mansion, house, and shack has a satellite and TV playing a variety of programming, about 40% of which is American. As millions of Indian people watch such quality programming as MTV and The Nutty Professor they quickly form ideas of American culture. All white girls were mistaken for Brittany Spears and “Sexy” was the one English word every native Hindi speaker seemed to know and use to describe anything they deemed as good.

Should the executive duties of a television network fall into my lap tomorrow, I hope that I would consider much more closely the image the programming was portraying of my culture and the morals it was projecting onto the consumer. I would strive to celebrate modesty, respect, giving, and love with the network’s programming rather than promote vanity and compromise. For so long, giants such as VH1 and MTV have glorified the party life and rich living that it has ingrained the desire for material wealth into an entire generation. But with the success of and attention given to such organizations as Invisible Children, Blood:Water Mission, and To Write Love on Her Arms, it is apparent that now, in a generation of extremes, social action sells. That is a trend I am more than willing to prey on.

Television has always been an important and very significant part of my lifetime.  Most people from my generation have grown up with the television and would probably have a meltdown if it was too vanish.  Television can have several levels of importance in people’s lives.  There are the couch potatoes, who all they do is recline on the couch and have their face in front of the tube all day, everyday.  The other end of the spectrum is the active people who seemingly never have time, or have very little time to watch television.  I seem to fall not exactly on the latter, but closer to that than the first choice.

I normally watch about maybe an average of two hours of television a day.  I normally don’t watch much television due to my busy schedule with basketball and also school work.  I just don’t seem to have much spare time to just relax and watch television.  When I do have free time such as on a weekend or an off day I will watch more television than I would watch on a normal day.  Today I have watched about two hours of television.  I watched Sportscenter this morning while I was getting ready for class.  I also watched some cartoons during my break in classes before basketball workouts.  Tonight I watched Shaquille O’ Neal in a swimming competition with Michael Phelps on Shaq’s reality television show.  I didn’t watch the entire hour of Sportscenter but rather probably a half an hour of it, and cartoons probably came out to be a total of a half an hour as well in between classes.  The Shaquille O’ Neal show lasted one hour. 

The programs that I try and watch regularly are most sports programs and shows of that nature.  Sportscenter is one of the favorites because it comes on daily, numerous times and shows a variety of sports highlights.  Another show that I normally try to watch reguarly is The Office.  The Office comes on once a week on Thursday nights.  I also try and watch Spongebob Squarepants whenever I can if it is on.  I have always liked watching cartoons and Spongebob happens to be one of my favorites. 

The main factors that attract me to my favorite shows are sports and humor.  Obviously being a manager of the basketball team I am always around sports and have always been drawn to it.  If my television could only have one genre of shows I would want it to be sports.  Sports have always had a huge impact on my life and I don’t know what exactly I would do if they were taken away.  I am drawn to the competitive nature of seeing athletes compete and playing their hardest to achieve the ultimate goal; WINNING.  There is nothing better than watching a postseason sports event and seeing an athlete and their team lift the trophy at the end to signify that they are the best and the only team to end their season with a victory.  Another factor that draws me to my shows are humor.  I have always been a funny guy and love making people laugh.  I also enjoy when other people make me laugh by a funny joke, prank, or otherwise some other kind of funny action.  I enjoy watching shows like The Office and Spongebob because they are constantly making me laugh.  I also enjoy watching humorous movies because they are most always filled with laughs.  These are the two main factors that draw me to my favorite television shows. 

Television has had a huge impact on this generation and with technology going the way it is, television should continue to improve for the years to come and the future generations.

America is a media centered nation.  In the past sixty years, during the growth of Television, America has completely consumed Television and their programs.  According to Califorina State University whopping 99 percent of Americans own at least one TV and each American on average spends on average four hours each day watching the colored box.    There is no doubt that if certain messages were displayed via television most of America would see it, and even scarier follow it. 

What is even more disturbing is the type of programs that are popular among us.  Such programs like, Lost and Grey’s Anatomytop the charts, but where is the meat of the program.  America’s main media intake has nothing to grow them intellectually.  I am not condemning such programs, I am a huge fan of NBC’s The Office, but I am concerned with the consumption of television programs America is watching.

A change in Television must occur.  I do not want my children growing up on dramatized garbage that displays moral themes that I do not agree with.  There has not been a recent sitcom or any other genre of program that has recently made it big that promotes an alternative lifestyle to the drama driven sex sells genre.

I’m not the only one who would be for a change back towards a more family driven theme on television.  Parentstv.org has backing that would actually fuel the type of launch I am discussing.  As a networking supervisior I want to reach as many people as I can.  Yes, sex sells but according to this website so would family time.  The idea that no one would watch it is proposterous.  This could encourage family time that promoted a clearer value of what a family could look like.

Today technology is so advanced we have our favorite television programs and movies literally at our fingertips with laptops, iPods, and TiVo. Also, every direction we turn there is always a huge flat-screen positioned randomly, ready for viewing. With flat-screen televisions high in demand they are being placed in places like coffee shops, nail salons, and lobbies of libraries. With all these conveniences, it is quite impossible for us Americans to turn our head away from the T.V.

In the average home, a television set is turned on for more than a third of the day — eight hours, 14 minutes, Nielsen said. That’s an hour more than it was a decade ago. Most of that extra TV viewing is coming outside of prime time, where TVs are on only four minutes more than they were 10 years ago. The average person watches four hours, 35 minutes of television each day, Nielsen said.

It is Fall Semester, meaning I am in season with volleyball. I am constantly traveling, practicing, or in the library getting work done, or even on duty for RA purposes. Juggling my insane schedule I end up missing all my favorite television shows, fortunately technology allows networks to have websites where they can post all episodes that have been played, helping me catch up; literally at my fingertips. My favorite shows are The Real World, The Office, and Project Runway. These shows appeal to my taste because for starters The Office is extremely sarcastic mixed with a pinch of dry humor, much like personality making others around and me laugh historically. The Real World is full of drama end of story, I can flip the station and something is always happening. I love Project Runway for the fashion, what’s in or out and helping find creative chic tips.

The evolution of television in America has been very noticeable over the years. From the days when curse words were not allowed to be aired, stretching to the T.V. of today, where almost anything goes and anything shows. Many people make the argument that the quality of television programs has huge impacts on society and our social interactions. Many people argue that television can be a type of mind control, offering networks opportunities to manipulate our minds. Whether you buy into these theories or not, the simple fact is that the majority of us love sitting on the couch, snuggling up with a warm blanket, our favorite snack food, and absorbing our favorite sitcom, weekly drama, or that most anticipated ballgame. Television has truly become a staple in the homes of most American’s.
If I were a television executive, I would relate television programs to “real life”. Hence why reality television shows have become so popular in our culture. Society is affected by mediums of communication and television is a one of those forms most utilized. Reality television became so popular because the shows’ themes centered on situations that everyone could relate to. Reality television got its themes from real life situations and then developed a “game show” out of the concept. Hence, turning real life scenarios into often fun, social situations. William Neal, a popular television producer says:

 ”Another thing to remember is that some things are fun to play, and some things are fun to watch. To truly connect with an audience and have entertainment value in a show, you need both.”

I would make my programs centered on real life situations, while at the same time providing a positive impact on my viewers, especially with children and teenagers. When it comes to positive television with children and teens, content is very important. Positive content in a television program is key. Research has proven that children and teens should avoid programs containing violence or shows that move quickly from scene to scene with advanced language. Studies have proven that smaller children do better if parents select programs without commercials. For children under 6, commercial free programming has been proven to be the best option.

Television is like food, not all food is good for us, yet we eat it anyway. We all know what happens to the human body if we consume large amounts of food that are not good for us. Our bodies decline and we experience major health problems. Well, the same goes for television. Not all television is appropriate or good for us to experience. It is all about choice. Just as the food we eat is a choice, so are the shows that we digest. My shows would be rich in culture, rich in education, while still providing and entertainment factor. My shows would be like a mixture of the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, mixed in with Myth Busters while throwing in the occasional appropriate reality show.

The average person spends about 18 hours per week watching television. That is a great deal of time. That is a great deal of programming to consume. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a recommendation that children and young adults watch no more than two hours of quality television per day. The report also said that children under the age of two should not watch television at all. Television has been linked to poor school performance, violence in children, increased weight gain in students, and day-time sleepiness for teens.

Television is a choice, and I would provide my viewers with a buffet of quality enhanced programs that the entire family can enjoy.