The TV Generation Essay, Research Paper
Everyone has a moment in history which belongs
particularly to him. It is the moment when his emotions
achieve their most powerful sway over him, and afterward
when you say to this person “the world today” or “life” or
“reality” he will assume that you mean this moment, even if it is
fifty years in the past.
My generation is greatly influenced by the media,
specifically television. Television becomes my reality by
bringing into my life the happenings of the outside world. Our
generation is often called the MTV generation. We are often
stereotyped with the idea that all we do is sit around and watch
TV. Sure, we probably do watch more television than our
parents did as teenagers but we have to remember, TV was
generally new to their generation. They only had a couple of
channels to choose from while we sit in front of a television
with 53 channels and a remote to control them with. We have
the option to decide upon everything from The Disney Channel
to VH1, The Family Channel to Fox. That box in our bedroom
or family room is a very controlling yet entertaining appliance.
Teenagers have always been free-spirited in any generation.
We are always doing and saying childish things while trying to
grow up. If we only have a couple years of our childhood left
then who cares if we spend it in front of a TV? Which is not to
say that we do that anyhow. Perhaps we use the TV as a way
of relaxing before we go off and hit the books for two hours. Or
maybe we use it to spend time with our family. I mean, come
on, how many teenagers enjoy going on family outings with
mom, dad, and kid brother? However, if the TV can gather
everyone together on a Sunday afternoon to watch the
“Packers” game then shouldn’t mom and dad be happy? On
the other hand, there is such a thing as bad TV. Sex and
violence is plastered all over our brains with a flick of a switch
and I tend to believe that this influences teenagers, or for that
matter, anyone who watches it. But then again, we can not
say all TV is evil. MTV has set up several programs to
educate teens on sensitive subjects and has begun to censor
certain videos and shows. Parents often say to their teens, “If
you watch too much TV you’ll fry you brains out.” Yeah, right
mom! As if we’re going to believe that. If anything we’re going
to learn something new. Like how to make a seven layer
cheese cake from Martha Stewart or how to fix a squeaky
hinge on a medicine cabinet from Bob Villa. I have to admit
though, Americans probably watch more TV than any other
country. European countries only have a couple of channels to
select from. Still, this is America. Freedom was born here so
that gives us the freedom to choose between National
Geographic on TBS or ESPN Sportsnet.
It is this special America, a very untypical one I guess, an
unfamiliar transitional blur in the memories of most people,
which is the real America for me.