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Television's influence on society
Impacts of media in the lives of children
Television's influence on society
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Recommended: Television's influence on society
The Entertainment in Education
In Neil Postman's book Amusing Ourselves to Death, he discusses the
impact that television has on the American culture. Postman talks about how much the American culture hands itself over to the television and he show the ways that it is being done He shows the impact that television has on the written word, education, and the youth in America. Postman explains how the way teaching has changed to make it easier for our youth to understand and how they aren't bettering the curriculum but making it more entertaining.
Somehow the television has crept into the school systems of America
and is now becoming, sadly, a vital part of the education of our youth. I consider it
a huge problem because we are putting the thing that causes our minds to shut
down in front of us in school! In what way does it cause our minds to shut down
you might ask? At a very young age we are taught that the television is supposed
to be used for fun and entertainment, so the first time that something does not
catch our interests we change the channel. Postman talks about this and makes
mention of the effects a show like "Sesame Street" has on us by saying that there
are many things about these kinds of shows that catch our eyes and please us and
serve as preparation for entry into a fun-loving culture (142). But in reality it turns
out that not all learning is fun and that sometimes effort is required to learn. Postman also says this "Mainly, they will have learned that learning is a form of entertainment or, more precisely, that anything worth learning is a form of entertainment, and out to" (154) .
Postman says, "You will find it is said by some that children will learn
the best when they are interested in what they are learning" (146). Okay sure, by
this point our children are convinced form their experiences when they were
growing up that television is entertainment. So if the only things we are interested
in are the things that catch our attention then what is it that is being taught if we
are learning things that only catch our interest? Things like "The Voyage of the
Mimi" are being used to teach our youth. The television series just mentioned is an
In the first chapter of Amusing Ourselves To Death , Neil Postman's major premise is how the rise of television media and the decline of print media is shaping the quality of information we receive.Postman describes how the medium controls the message, he uses examples which include the use of clocks, smoke signals, the alphabet, and glasses.Postman says a society that generally uses smoke signals is not likely to talk about philosophy because it would take to long and be too difficult. Postman also describes the way television changes peoples way of thinking; a fat person will not look good on TV and would less likely be elected President. On the other hand someones body is not important as their ideas when they are expressing them through the radio or print. On TV, visual imagery reigns. Therefore the form of TV works against the content of philosophy. Postman shows how the clock has changed. Postman describes how time was a product of nature measured by the sun and seasons. Now, time is measured by a machine using minutes and seconds. The clock changed us into time-watchers, then time-savers, and finally time-servers. Thus, changing the metaphor for time changed how we view time itself.
In conclusion, I will say that television has changed the way families were and are because when parents use television as a baby sitter they began to lose touch with their children. Also, television affected how a child would progress physically or mentally. We as parents should spend more time with our children and cut down the television time. The relationships that build between parents and children throughout their lives have a long lasting impact on what kind of person he or she will become.
teachers and students. It is true that students that this will help to increase their reasoning
Television and the visual culture are “creating new conceptions of knowledge and how it is acquired” (p. 145). Neil Postman in his book, Amusing Ourselves to Death explains the effects of television and visual culture on the youth education curriculum. Postman believed it necessary to warn society of the consequences of living in a culture dominated by television. As for my opinion on this matter, I do not agree with Neil Postman’s statements in regards to television and our youth’s education. I believe it is not the crisis Neil Postman makes it out to be.
Sesame Street has an effect on children's development. Their academics become strongly improved through the different sequences of learning activities that Sesame Street provides within the television program. Sesame Street shows a variety of learning programs that deal with numbers,shapes,colours,letters,etc. The cognition part of Sesame Street teaches children how to be interactive, how to compromise and introduce them to new material. Emotional development can be shown in Sesame Street's online gaming and through their songs and also part of their television showing. With these 3 aspects of Sesame Street, children can get just about the same education as a child would in preschool. The television show for children called “Sesame Street” has an effect on children through their academics, their cognition development and their emotional development.
Television has long been a part of American culture. From its conception until today there have been people who believe that television is a waste of time and energy and there have been those in the opposite camp who believe that television should be a part of every American life. There is also a middle ground of people who watch television to keep informed on what’s happening in the world as well as entertained by the latest sitcom, or more popularly today, reality show.
Television altered the way we consumed our free time - people began remaining at home, more willingly than going out to the cinema or other places. Television exposed us to many different cultures on a bigger scale than ever before. Without doubt, the influence of television would prompt marked social change in America, as people began to relate to and emulate the values, concepts and trends of many different television programs like sitcoms that features “African Americans, Hispanics, and other culture families.” Television also played a significant role in the evolution of America’s national identity. Television produced an opportunity for uniquely different stories to be played out and allowed Americans to share different cultural experiences. Television also provided a direct channel for American and other cultures values, humor and style to impact society.
One effect TV has had on how we view things is in the area of advertisement. A few weeks ago in English, my class had quite a discussion on the subject of commercials. A person can tell what type of society they live in by simply watching the commercials during any TV program. One example, in America, is the numerous ads for various types of medication. From this, it is easy to see that our society cares a lot about health care and making sure that they feel healthy.
Before television existed people had to depend on Radio stations to receive their little bit of entertainment and news. But in 1878, the invention of TV began. The first TV made didn’t look anything like the way TV’s look today. It was a mechanical camera with a large spinning disc attached to it (Kids Work). But as over the years, of course, inventions of different TV’s progressed and by the 20th century about 90 percent of our population had a TV in their household (MGHR). Television today is mainly used for people take a break from their life by relaxing and enjoying some entertainment.
I believe that learning is a journey that both child and educator set out on together. This journey is a privilege that I take seriously, realizing that a child’s early years are a key formative time in their life. I believe that it is during this time that important foundations are being set in place that will not only impact them in the present but will also influence them later on in life.
Sesame Street is a TV show directed towards children. It contains Muppets that experience some of the same problems that today’s children face. They talk about being a good sport, getting new kids in their families, having arguments with their friends, and sharing, just to name a few. While helping children deal positively with the things they are dealing with, the show also has an educational aspect exposing children to letters, numbers, and other pre-literacy items. With all of this being advertised it’s important to make sure that the educational aspect is actually positively influencing the millions of children that watch it.
...ing our views, but as for children, TV is one of the key things that shape their minds.
Education mean something different for everyone. Because of this, people have different views for the purpose of education. For some education can be very important and for others no so much. However, education is still present in some ways. Education is used for many things like advancing in the work place and helping out country compete against other countries. The role that education plays in improving the lives of students is by creating democratic citizens; this happens by promoting imagination and the desire to care in classrooms.
Without a doubt, television is the central and principal form of communication in many people’s lives. This form is most often exposed to a child who instantly becomes accustomed to its presence. Children are televisions largest audience, as Morris shows, “Children aged two to five look at the TV tube on an average of 28.4 hours a week; those between the ages of six and eleven average 23.6 hours a week”. Television has played an important role in many children’s lives and its viewing has been a favorite activity for many of them. The effects of television on children have been disputed. Some people have said that viewing time has a negative impact on children. Other people, however, feel that the early educational television productions for children help tehm learn.
Television has a big influence on children because many, if not all watch television, especially in the United States. This relates to the term “socialization” because it is a societal norm to watch television, and many children just have to deal with