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| "Julia", 1968 TV series, groundbreaking show that drew positive and negative criticism |
Years of observing content and characterization in television programming of all types, along with frequent and continuing
academic study of television and other media, have brought me to understand that there are deep problems inherent in our TV
watching behavior. Not only are some of the oldest stereotypes and relational behavior patterns still existent in the medium,
but the ubiquity and pervasiveness of the media in general has increased also. Add continued negative portrayals with deeper
incursion into the human experience and we have an equation that adds up to problems of social proportions.
Our society still struggles with challenges around culture and race, sex and gender
issues. sexual orientation, ability and agism. In addition, our consciousness of environmental issues, democracy, health,
water and food and other social issues is hampered by the dearth of substantive reporting and coverage of these important
elements of human life. If we did not still experience deep-seated problems with class, violence and intolerance,
many of the television programs, stories and messages would be of little concern, but for their entertainment value. The
reality of the cultural life of United States of American society behooves us to look more deeply and critically at the form
and function of our most compelling medium of social communication - television, the king of all media.
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| "Mary Tyler Moore" cast, some of television's first "independent" female characters |
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| "Girlfriends" cast, a tight group of interdependent African women who use the "B" word alot...hmm... |
Though the internet is increasingly becoming important for the mass consumption of moving image programming, the source
of that product still resides in the television studios of the media conglomerates, now dwindling in number, but growing speedily
in size....and social influence.
I ask you to spend some time to look over the content of my research paper, consider my critique and findings and, if you
will, join my Yahoo group and look at other sources of information to gain perspective on this important issue. Feel free
to contact me by email to ask questions or provide further insight on your own findings, formal or informal.
We must transform, not only the process of our consumption of media, but of our creation of human culture and cultural content,
from an unconscious endeavor to a vibrant and conscious dynamic, capable of highlighting and validating the very highest values
of human life, love, action and spirit, something woefully lacking in the media most often consumed by this society.
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