Effect of Television on American Culture

Effect of Television on American Culture

Introduction

Technology has changed our lifestyles dramatically. Inventions like TV, computer and internet have brought the entire world at our finger tips. However, it is almost astonishing how many of us don't even realize the extent up to which we are addicted to them. Media is perhaps the best example to quote in this regard. Media enjoys a great power and influence over our minds. Its effects are also dominant and easily reflected on our culture. Instabilities of minds, personality's disorders and inferiority complexes at smaller levels and many ethical and moral crimes at bigger levels can all be fairly blamed on the media (McGhee, 1975). Hence, various aspects of American culture are severely affected by all kinds of media. Lifestyle of individuals belonging to all age groups is also affected.

Thesis Statement

Children are the most affected by the consequences resulted and the changes brought by media. Various cartoons, sitcoms and programs produced for children these days promote trivial and materialistic values. The image chosen is only one tiny part of such unlimited images and characters. Hence, promoting such stereotypes is affecting the social, moral, ethical and cultural norms of the young minds in America.

Discussion

According to some of the latest surveys, the statistics collected showed that 12 to 15-year-old children spend more than six hours per day on average in front of the TV screens. Typically, children in America spent just over three hours on different media gadgets. These include computers, cell phone use, tablet use, music, and other reading activities. However, 2/3rd of this time is usually spent with “screen media” that is computers, TV, the Internet, etc, where the electronic reading activities are observed to be less than 20 mins per day (Carlson, 2004).

Therefore, it is inevitable that the children who are addicted to all these gadgets will stay unaffected from their side effects. In fact there are a number of ways these gadgets have affected the lives of many children. The given image is a reflection of many of these negative impacts that includes

Promoting Stereotypes

This is perhaps the biggest problem with Media these days. The selected image is a strong prove. The girl in the image is a famous singer also starring in a sitcom meant for kids aired on Disney channel. However, the clothes and make up worn by her and the very glamorous and glittering appearance that she has makes many young girls attracted to her and the TV show. This has been the overall problem of the Media itself. Stereotypes that promote the idea of beauty represented by external appearances only have contributed significantly towards promoting several trivial values (Farley, 1998). Therefore all the young girls who will watch this image will focus more on the wardrobe of the actress rather than the actual content of the show.

Many young girls who already fancy the actress in the image will try to copy her and to look like ...