The Harm of TV

A detailed Summary of The Harm of TV

Mass communication especially television has been an important way of communication for many people around the word. In the United States, the media is mainly responsible for what many people watch and somewhat for some people's addiction to TV. Since, many shows expose many controversial topics of interest to the audience. In this essay, several reactions are shown from two authors Ehreneich who "holds that television talk shows exploit their participants" and, Marie Winn, who quotes that a "heavy viewer" who confess that watching TV makes him feel "sapped, will-less, enervated."

According to Ehrenrerich essay "In Defense of Talk Shows", TV talk shows are only making promotions at the cost of other people. Mentioning that many of them benefit themselves, by exploiting their guests. I agree with Ehrenreich since she explains how talk shows try to get the attention of the viewers by bringing up topics that many people endure in their daily lives. However, once the problems are exposed instead of resolving it, they dig deeper into the situation. In addition, since the producers and the hosts know that many viewers are interested in finding out more regarding certain topics, big controversies arise. According to Ehren

There is a big problem with this type of programs, because they seem to be determined to show what the public or the viewers want. However, there has to be a limit as to what is acceptable and what is not. While the commercials come, the producers show part of the following drama, or even the next day shows. However, the methods the talk shows use to get the viewers to watch their show is poor.

In my point of view, I somewhat agree with both writers in that many of us watch TV shows because of the controversies it causes and because "something about that particular experience [as watching TV], makes life without it less than complete"(p. 432). For example, the Jerry Springer's show invites guests who do not show any kind of respect for each other, and many have been unfaithful to their partners, and yet they get a high percentage of viewers. In my point of view, the people in this type of shows do not have any education or follow any morals. Since they are physically and verbally violent with each other. However, many people watch it because it is controversial. Sometimes, the speakers suggest the guests to use words with double meaning, inflated language. Such language has become so common in every day life that many people fail to notice it. What is even worse is that when people do not seem to react or mind. Doublespeak is insidious because it infects and eventually destroys the function of language, which is a kind of communication between people and social groups. In other occasions, I am not even sure whether the talk shows bring real people with real prob

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1072
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English