Now that we're near the end of the semester, what have you learned or taken away from the study of Television History? Feel free to focus on one topic or provide a short summary of various points.
We all know that television has changed over the years. We see that just by laughing at the quality of the first shows or the content within it. However, what I feel that I have learned so much more about is how social issues at the time of each show have shaped significantly what was being portrayed on television. For example, we see how sexual content and homosexuality was rarely shown within the first few decades of television. Just like the culture those days, it was a taboo subject. People did not want to talk about it because that was just how culture was.
Now, we see shows on HBO (which are examples of pay TV) where the content is not censored. People pay for it so it can be shown. Before that, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman actually presented conversation about sex. Mary confronted her husband as to why they were not being sexually active.
Also, there was a huge shift in the way that homosexuality was presented. Looking back at Soap, homosexuals were shown in a light way (and also one of the first to be shown), whereas Dynasty had a very negative attitude towards it. The main character actually beat his son’s lover to death over it. In more modern times, Ellen was another example of queer television and it looked upon it positively.
There was also Maude, which brought up the issue of abortion. In that episode, she is thought to have become unexpectedly pregnant and because abortion is now an option within society, it was brought into the conversation.
Basically, a lot of what I have taken away comes from the shaping of television throughout the years. As time progresses, more topics are being touched on, such as sexual content, homosexuality, racism, consumerism, among many more. It all contributes to the content and context of television.
By attending the weekly screenings in addition to discussing issues surrounding popular television shows from each decade, I have learned about the large role that television has played in not only the entertainment world, but in everyday American culture.
I found it very interesting to learn about the nation’s responses to shows like Amos N Andy, Julia, and more recently, Ellen. By studying viewer reactions to these show it has become clear that television was not only used as a method of entertainment, but it was used to make statements about issues like race, class, and gender. By watching these popular shows in chronological order, it is interesting to see how the attention of the general public shifts between issues every decade.
By attending the screenings I have been able to get a clear picture of how production quality has changed over the years. In earlier screenings, television seemed to directly pull elements from theatre and Vaudeville. By looking at shows like Texaco Star Theater, early live television was just a vaudeville show with the addition of cameras. Television then began to experiment with the 3-camera sitcom, which still drew some elements from theatre. As technology advanced, we start to see more single camera shows with multiple settings like The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and Dragnet 1967. This class has been beneficial when understanding American history, but I have also learned how audiences have changed over time in their positive and negative reactions to television shows and the topics they address.
Studying television history has humbled me, to say the least, showing me that the history of television is far richer and deeper than I ever imagined prior to taking this class. More than anything, I am shocked and delighted by how much television has impacted culture and the way we view "the old days." Nothing was how we really imagine it was, because television shaped that image. Censorship shaped that image. "I Love Lucy" was controversial behind the scenes, and was very aware of the "perfect 1950s family" image it was projecting in order to boost sales and promote the post-WW2 consumerist agenda. The Ernie Kovacs Show attacked these ideas, as did the Smothers Brothers. The ties of culture, politics and television run deeper than I imagined. I was also delighted to watch the Ernie Kovacs Show and others because, to be honest, I didn't think television pre-1960s could be weird or experimental. All I had to go off of prior to this class was I Love Lucy, Leave It To Beaver, and Father Knows Best.
Studying TV history reflects how the industry gets into the shape it is now. And history, most importantly help us understand TV and prevent mistakes.
First of all, TV is a technology that changed everyday life. As we can borrow from radio, broadcast TV will not disappear in the age of bit-world. As a matter of fact, Internet has proven to be a new territory for TV, even broadcast TV, to distribute content and seek for nuance business model.
Secondly, TV content and cultural circumstances are mutually influenced. Because of the huge reach of broadcast TV or any TV form, TV producers are making an impact on social movement or cultural relevance while being shaped by the social discourse and cultural base. TV has explored the content limit over the course of its history. And the time has proven there are market or platform for all kinds of content, especially with the rise of the Internet. It benefits not only all viewers but creative TV personals.
Last but not least, different TV’s business models have exploits the market and kept expanding its arm into new places. The rise of Netflix and Hulu reflects that Internet is ultimately the key to discover the future of TV.
We all know that television has changed over the years. We see that just by laughing at the quality of the first shows or the content within it. However, what I feel that I have learned so much more about is how social issues at the time of each show have shaped significantly what was being portrayed on television. For example, we see how sexual content and homosexuality was rarely shown within the first few decades of television. Just like the culture those days, it was a taboo subject. People did not want to talk about it because that was just how culture was.
ReplyDeleteNow, we see shows on HBO (which are examples of pay TV) where the content is not censored. People pay for it so it can be shown. Before that, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman actually presented conversation about sex. Mary confronted her husband as to why they were not being sexually active.
Also, there was a huge shift in the way that homosexuality was presented. Looking back at Soap, homosexuals were shown in a light way (and also one of the first to be shown), whereas Dynasty had a very negative attitude towards it. The main character actually beat his son’s lover to death over it. In more modern times, Ellen was another example of queer television and it looked upon it positively.
There was also Maude, which brought up the issue of abortion. In that episode, she is thought to have become unexpectedly pregnant and because abortion is now an option within society, it was brought into the conversation.
Basically, a lot of what I have taken away comes from the shaping of television throughout the years. As time progresses, more topics are being touched on, such as sexual content, homosexuality, racism, consumerism, among many more. It all contributes to the content and context of television.
By attending the weekly screenings in addition to discussing issues surrounding popular television shows from each decade, I have learned about the large role that television has played in not only the entertainment world, but in everyday American culture.
ReplyDeleteI found it very interesting to learn about the nation’s responses to shows like Amos N Andy, Julia, and more recently, Ellen. By studying viewer reactions to these show it has become clear that television was not only used as a method of entertainment, but it was used to make statements about issues like race, class, and gender. By watching these popular shows in chronological order, it is interesting to see how the attention of the general public shifts between issues every decade.
By attending the screenings I have been able to get a clear picture of how production quality has changed over the years. In earlier screenings, television seemed to directly pull elements from theatre and Vaudeville. By looking at shows like Texaco Star Theater, early live television was just a vaudeville show with the addition of cameras. Television then began to experiment with the 3-camera sitcom, which still drew some elements from theatre. As technology advanced, we start to see more single camera shows with multiple settings like The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and Dragnet 1967. This class has been beneficial when understanding American history, but I have also learned how audiences have changed over time in their positive and negative reactions to television shows and the topics they address.
Studying television history has humbled me, to say the least, showing me that the history of television is far richer and deeper than I ever imagined prior to taking this class.
ReplyDeleteMore than anything, I am shocked and delighted by how much television has impacted culture and the way we view "the old days." Nothing was how we really imagine it was, because television shaped that image. Censorship shaped that image. "I Love Lucy" was controversial behind the scenes, and was very aware of the "perfect 1950s family" image it was projecting in order to boost sales and promote the post-WW2 consumerist agenda. The Ernie Kovacs Show attacked these ideas, as did the Smothers Brothers. The ties of culture, politics and television run deeper than I imagined. I was also delighted to watch the Ernie Kovacs Show and others because, to be honest, I didn't think television pre-1960s could be weird or experimental. All I had to go off of prior to this class was I Love Lucy, Leave It To Beaver, and Father Knows Best.
Studying TV history reflects how the industry gets into the shape it is now. And history, most importantly help us understand TV and prevent mistakes.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, TV is a technology that changed everyday life. As we can borrow from radio, broadcast TV will not disappear in the age of bit-world. As a matter of fact, Internet has proven to be a new territory for TV, even broadcast TV, to distribute content and seek for nuance business model.
Secondly, TV content and cultural circumstances are mutually influenced. Because of the huge reach of broadcast TV or any TV form, TV producers are making an impact on social movement or cultural relevance while being shaped by the social discourse and cultural base. TV has explored the content limit over the course of its history. And the time has proven there are market or platform for all kinds of content, especially with the rise of the Internet. It benefits not only all viewers but creative TV personals.
Last but not least, different TV’s business models have exploits the market and kept expanding its arm into new places. The rise of Netflix and Hulu reflects that Internet is ultimately the key to discover the future of TV.