In a speech made back in 1958, pioneer in broadcast journalism Edward R. Murrow told a gathering of broadcast colleagues, “This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, it can even inspire, but it can only do so to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise, it is merely lights and wires in a box.”
Murrow was referring to television, and when quiz and game shows (the first form of reality television, you could say) began to make their debut on the television scene as early as the 1950s, Murrow already saw television’s decline. Well, now it’s about a half century later, and I can only imagine what Murrow would have to say if he had the opportunity. It’s become clich say Murrow would be rolling in his grave if he witnessed the state of television today. First of all, he was cremated, and second, how could he roll in his grave? He’s dead.
It’s been written many times that television is on the decline. It consumes too much of our day, and it has made us all lazy and stupid. These are some fair claims to make, but let me add one more to this list of growing problems caused by television: depression.
Yes, depression. Not the kind of depression you get when you turn on the nightly news and watch a game of Cowboys and Indians in the Middle East backfire continuously on the Bush administration. I’m talking about the depression you get when you turn on the tube and, instead of escaping everyday life, you are bombarded with shows depicting real life, i.e. reality television. Americans are getting a close look at some of the people that we share this great land of ours with, and if they’re anything like me, they’re not liking what they are seeing.
I’m sorry I pick on MTV, but it is just hideous, dreadful television. When executives over there decided that exploiting and ruining the music business was no longer fun, they decided to be innovators in the world of reality television.
Now we have shows like “Date My Mom,” “Parental Control,” “Sweet Sixteen” and of course, everyone’s favorite, “Laguna Beach.” I find many similarities between “Laguna Beach” and “The Charlie Brown” show; the most notable comparison being, where are their parents? How is it reality when you never show the parents? These kids live in a dream world. This show is not reality. It is a packaged soap opera.
Now, you may be saying, why don’t you just turn it off? That’s a reasonable solution, but the problem is that you are getting to see how low some people will go just to be famous; not to be really good at anything, but just famous, almost like it’s an occupation nowadays. Reality television is like a drug. You feel good at first, or in the case of watching reality television, you feel glad you’re not one of those people. Slowly but surely, you realize this is a bad habit you’ve gotten yourself into and you’re just wasting your life away. You’re not feeding your brain anything stimulating or informative except staged predicaments pretending to show reality.
As harmful as reality television may be to your health, I’m not going to go as far as to say reality television is as harmful as, say, cocaine and heroin, but let’s just say it does nothing beneficial for you.
I get the feeling, though, that the reason so many of us enjoy watching reality television is the fact that we get delight and a sense of satisfaction out of watching the failure and bad luck of others. “American Idol,” for instance, gets some of its biggest ratings when they air the try-out shows.
I’ll admit it’s quite funny to watch these people get the most recognition they will get in their lifetime, but I think it says more about people like me and others who get a kick out of seeing others fall flat on their faces in their desire to be on television. Instead of enriching our minds or better informing ourselves, we are addicted to a never-ending cycle of wannabes looking to pursue a fake life.
The problem with television today, especially since the onslaught of reality shows hit the airwaves, is the diminishing role of real relationships, such as the ones with our family, in our lives. Television has become its replacement, as evidenced when you see parents on “Sweet Sixteen” being verbally and sometimes physically abused by their teenage daughter who, like many others, has a distorted view on life. Our values and morals are being replaced by a box with lights and wires.
Tags: Depression parental control television and depression
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