Television is one of the biggest sources of entertainment we use today. From gossip, news, sports, or other relatable topics, it has provided avid watchers with something to look forward to watch every day. An American farmer by the name of Philo Farnsworth broke through the barrier of this invention by putting all the pieces together from other inventers with the same idea.These people include, Paul Nipkow, who invented the first rotating disk that would allow pictures to transmit over to wire; John Baird invented the first pictures in motion that were televised in Europe; Charles Jenkins who invented a mechanical television that he called “radiovision”, that transmitted the first moving images; and Vladimir Zworykin who invented the Cathode Ray tube which transformed the television into an electronic device.
People were excited about the upbringing of televisions but also feared the new technology.People thought that televisions could transmit personal conversations onto the TV. Looking at how the television was modeled when it was first being made until now shows the dramatic change in America’s technological society. The use of television has become so popular over the years from when it was invented (1928) until now because it has become more accessible and more cultured into everyday life. The stereotypical view on television now a day is that guys watch the sports and woman watch the soaps.
The development of the different channels and shows and productions has become a phenomenal breakthrough in the way people use this as a source of entertainment. The invention of the television has provided a symbolic use of Americans entertainment as well as evolving into a functional way of everyday life and becoming a huge part of American culture. The use of popular culture is related to television because of how it has evolved into the American norm. This is a form of material culture because of how it is just a physical object that has been socially accepted into an everyday lifestyle.This is an attachment that involves a great deal of importance and enacts strict conformity known as mores.
Statistics show that the average time watching television in one day in the U. S. is five hours and 11 minutes. The percentage of households that possess at least one television is 99%. The average number of television sets in the average American household is two.
Television has adapted into many different ways so that not just adults take an interest in the shows they provide.Television has now managed to provide shows for children, teenagers, young adults, and adults. The watching of television by kids isn’t exactly safe either. The number of violent acts seen on television by the age of 18 is 150,000. The use of this invention has become a huge part of American culture and everyday life.
People are always recording, following up, watching, and cheering to the television. The norm component of culture and how it has been brought up into America’s society shows exactly how television is an important component to life.Functionalism is a term defined as one that focuses on the way various parts of the social system contribute to the continuity of society as well as the affect the various parts have on one another. With our society today, there are a lot of things that contribute to the system we run as Americans. Back in the day, society would have to listen to the radio to find out about sports and the news and the newspaper for any local action.
Also, kids and teenagers didn’t have television to distract them by watching the next Nickelodeon show or playing video games on.Society then used to run a very carefree system without the use of television because Americans used non-technological things for entertainment. Our social system functions with the prominent use of televisions every day. Now it is a lot easier to define an average American as a lazy one because of how television has came into play.
It’s a lot easier to sit around and watch television all day than to get up and do work. With the different channels and programs television has to offer, just about everybody in the world can find something to entertain themselves.Without television, society wouldn’t be able to function as well as it does now. With breaking news information, big important games, and the next soap opera follow up from last week’s episode, adults wouldn’t be able to last without this every day routine.
The effects of television aren’t always the best. It is a good source of information and entertainment but it also can affect people and their well being by what’s being portrayed through the screen. The use of stigma is a definite probability in today’s society when it comes to television.Stigma is a symbol of disgrace that affects a person’s social identity.
I would agree that television causes Americans to be lazy individuals. Because television is easily accessible and a strong social accepted object, people become reliable it and use it every day. To stay in touch with national news or to follow up on their favorite TV series, it gives people the excuse to keep themselves entertained in the laziest way. Television affects a person’s social identity by making them reliable on this source of distraction and updates in the sport, news, and gossip industry.The norm component of culture and how it has been brought up into America’s society shows exactly how television is an important component to life. The social uses of popular culture, functionalism, and stigma are related to the use of television by how Americans play it into the everyday norm of society.
Not only does television make us lazy but it also introduces children to violence and makes them also rely on this form of amusement at such a young age. Television can be used for important information but I do not think it’s necessary for an everyday reliability due to the cause of laziness.
