The Variety of Specifically Religious Programmes on the Four Main Television Channels
The coursework question, ' Describe the variety of specifically
religious programmes on the four main television channels' is what I
will be writing about. I will be giving examples of a number of
specific religious programmes and of what style they are. Religious
broadcasting is a programme is specifically about a certain religion.
When religious broadcasting began it was mainly on a Sunday and aimed
at the religious people who took an interest in Christianity,
regularly visited church on Sunday and accepted all the beliefs. As
the years went on religious broadcasting in Britain has changed and
developed a lot. The viewers have changed from a largely Christian
church to now what is called a vaguely religious. Vaguely religious
viewers are people who have a belief in God and ask strong questions
and attend religious events such as marriage in church, Christmas
services etc. The 'God Slot' that used to be on Sunday from 6pm till
7pm, is now no longer as people are not viewing regularly at this time
of the day. Today religious broadcasting has been cut down by a
considerable amount, there are programmes today specifically for a
religious audience but there are not many on television today.
The specifically religious programmes that are on television today and
the days they are on are:
Day of broadcast
Programme
Type of programme
Sunday
Songs of Praise
Worship
Sunday
Heaven and Earth show
Worship
Sunday
My Favourite Hymns
Magazine
Sunday
The Ark
Documentary
Monday
God is Black
Documentary
Sunday
Panorama
Documentary
Songs of praise is on the BBC channel and is specify aimed at
Christianity. The programme has hymns and various interviews and is
aimed at the elderly mainly who have a great interest and belief in
Christianity. The Heaven and Earth show is also on the BBC and has
I am primarily interested in how religion was taught in the early 1970s. Including: what religions were covered, how they were integrated into the text, and the values of the religion that were presented. With my interest in possibly majoring in religious studies I feel that I have an excellent understanding of how religion is taught in our high schools today, but I don’t have a thorough understanding of what it was like to grow up in school in the 1970s and go through school. How was religion presented in the textbooks of schools in the 1970s? My primary goal of this paper is to further my understanding of religion in high schools of the 1970s. Then I would like to further my study by looking at newer documents and regulations that are in place now to govern religion that is taught and expressed in our schools today. What I expect to find is that religion was taught similarly in the 70s without all the newer policies and guidelines of today. Lastly I would like to look at how these policies and regulations in our public schools are affecting our students.
Portrayal of Christianity in the Media In this piece of coursework I am going to write an essay about how Christianity is portrayed in the media. I'm going to write about mainstream shows such as Songs of Praise and Paradise found. I am also going to write about how a Christian issue is dealt with on Eastenders which was Euthanasia. Then I am going to write about how Homosexuality is looked upon in the film Philadelphia.
Religions play a crucial role in impacting how adherents live their lives and their understanding of humanities enduring questions of life. Religion is an active system of faith. Christianity is a religion centred on the teachings of Jesus Christ and the bible. A living tradition is one that is active amongst followers in present society. Whereas a dynamic tradition is capable of adapting and amending in order to meet the needs of society. Christianity is formed as a living and dynamic tradition, which is defined by its distinct characteristics. Characteristics include, sacred texts and writings, rituals and ceremonies, beliefs and believers and ethics. Ultimately, Christianity is shaped as a living and dynamic tradition through the characteristics of religion’s impacts on adherents.
Television can be considered a cultural forum. By cultural forum, this means issues and points of view can be discussed openly and almost without punishment. These issues can vary anywhere from male dominance in the household, to wars, to racism, to political jabs and still be covered under freedom of speech. Television can hold a wide variety of opinions which may offend, but for the most part due so to prove a point.
Schwaab, Herbert (2013) ‘Unreading Contemporary Television’, After the Break: Television Theory Today. Edited by Marijke de Valck and Jan Teurlings, pp.21-33. Amsterdam University PressL OAPEN Library.
Green, Damien. A Better BBC: Public Service Broadcasting in the 90s. London: Center for Policy Studies England, 1991.
Even though mise-en-scène plays an important role in crafting meaning in television programs, the impact of the mise-en-scène only works when a narrative is present. Most readers may be familiar with the idea that television programs tells stories, but Mittell argues that even unscripted television programs use narrative structures in their programming as well. While chapter five of Jason Mittell’s book. Television and American Culture, focused on mise-en-scène and the stylistic elements that contribute to the meaning made inside a television show such as setting, staging, costumes & makeup, and lighting, chapter six focuses more on the creation of the television narrative.
The birth of the television was originally introduced here, in the United States. The impact of this new technology was not only evident here in the US, but in other countries as well. In Iraq, television caused immediate changes, which in turn caused adjustments in everyday living. The benefits and negative impacts varied, but overall as in most other countries, television shapes the images and views of everything that is broadcasted. Television currently has taken the place of past leisure activities. Being informed of the news, sports, and global issues consisted of hearing it only through radio and prior to that just word of mouth. “People gathered around the TV set as they had gathered around the radio, much like their ancestors had gathered around campfire storytellers”(Schwab, 2004, p.3).
Hartley, John (2002), Communication, Cultural and Media Studies: The Key Concepts, London, Routledge, pp. 19-21.
One can argue that the invention of television is one of the greatest of all time and since the 1940’s, television has had a major impact on American culture and society. The content viewed on television influences the way individuals think about race, gender, social classes, and especially politics. Television has allowed society to view world events within the click of a button and has served as major tool, whether it is used purely for entertainment or for politics.
Just about everyone in the United States owns and watches television. Consequently, we've become accustomed to a fairly predictable and monotonous home life. Every working day, we come home, pick up the mail, switch on the TV. Every night, we cook dinner, clean up the kitchen, watch some TV. Every weekend, we do the shopping, finish the chores, and settle in to watch a movie. And why not? It's relaxing to hunker down on the sofa at the end of a tiring day and it doesn't take any energy to flip through the channels with the remote control in one hand and a bowl of buttered popcorn in the other.
Cable television was the next milestone and it offered more variety in channels and program offerings. But before “the advent of cable television, the networks attempted to reach demographics by airing at different times throughout the broadcast period. Soap operas were broadcast during the day to reach women, news in the evening to reach an older target audience.” (Berkowitz,
Television Programs There are many useful techniques greatly in television programmes and in their opening sequences. They are used to attract the viewer's attention while also creating a great way to show what the upcoming program is about. One of these techniques is the use of split screening; this is a very attractive way to put across what a programme is about, tone or genera. In the television soap 'Hollyoaks' the beginning shows a short clip of around thirty seconds to around a minute that gives a little incite into the episode, which is followed by the use of split screening in the opening credits.
television; one or two for Friends, one for Party of Five, one for the CBC, etc.
Television is a form of media that has great ability to influence and brainwash the viewing public. The talking box in one’s living room has assumed the overpowering role it plays today as a result of the weakness of society. This may seem like a negative view but a society’s strength is based on the relationships between people and when so much time is spent away from others and together with the media, the actions that take place are often times a reflection of what television presents. In President Clinton’s speech, he brings forth this very point and he acknowledges the family’s increasing weakness and calls on all people to bring back the values of the past and stop the media from playing such a huge role in our community. The overwhelming influence of the media is a constant threat to the maintenance of traditional family values and to the protection of our children’s future. Nevertheless, television cannot be changed for it is too big and powerful but compromises can be made that can strengthen society and help keep certain values protected.