Angst and Paranoia coming at you from the Small Screen

Chapters 3 and 8 of "What Matters in America" (Goshgarian) investigate the effects of print and broadcast media on society. Although a few of the articles do take a global view, the primary focus is on the United States. This focus is further refined by the intense emotions brought to the fore by broadcast television. In reading the articles in these chapters, one could believe that broadcast television has some messianic control over the thought process of the American public.

Americans have been able to relax in front of their television set for over 60 years now. A short time span when taken in context of the several millennia of human existence. Broadcast television's impact on society seems disproportionate to its age. In the articles presented in these chapters of "What Matters in America" broadcast television is accused of:

* using sensational, extremist, and anti-intellectual positions to inform and entertain

* targeting women and children in particular with subversive programming

* being controlled by a global conspiracy with the intent of addicting viewers

There are two articles that offer solutions to those feeling as if they are under attack. One solution presented by Tim Goodman in "Hate Violence? Turn it Off" (Goodman) is as simple as using the remote control to disarm the television. Unfortunately, none of the articles analyze why this solution seems so difficult to achieve. The second solution put forth by Mike Males in "Stop Blaming Kids and TV" (Males) is more rebuttal than solution. In "Stop Blaming Kids and TV", Mike Males attempts to objectively match some of the accusations listed above with empirical reality. Males summarizes that the real world is much more dangerous than the world presented on the small screen.

Broadcast television has enraptured audiences since its introduction in the mid-20th century. The producers and distributors of the television industry's content have learned to craft their product in order to build and expand their businesses. Viewers will need to increase their knowledge of these products; especially how and why they are crafted in these ways, to avoid some of the negative effects cited in these articles. Caveat emptor.

Goodman, Tim. "Hate Violence? Turn it Off." Goshgarian, Gary. What Matters in America. New York: Pearson Education Inc., 2007. 257-260.

Goshgarian, Gary. What Matters in America. New York: Pearson Education Inc., 2007.

Males, Mike. "Stop Blaming Kids and TV." Goshgarian, Gary. What Matters in America. New York: Pearson Education Inc., 2007. 267-271.