Assignment 5: For the Love and Hate of Television - Lena Ilagan

To the ire of baby-boomers and luddites alike, I can say with little shame that television has played an integral role in my life.  From an early age I have always been drawn to the small screen.  As a child, my favorite channels were PBS, History, and Discovery.  This was before such channels featured the reality (but quality meme material) trash of "Amish Mafia" and "Pawn Stars".  No, this was the golden age of programs which taught watchers about the secrets of the pyramids, the processes behind the manufacturing of our favorite products, or the detrimental effects of fracking.  These were the programs my eyes absorbed with a hungry fervor.  I was probably the lamest kid around when I was young (and I still am), but at least I knew about all of these great things, most of which would come handy later in my life.  

Though I enjoy other types of programs, I feel as if informational television-documentaries have had the best impact on viewers.  Not only is it entertaining, but it also immensely informative. Yes, there may be other channels of useless mind-garbage and commercial schemes, but these types of channels are a fantastic source of information.  Be it the daily news, or Nova, it is undeniable that television can and has played a vital role in informing the masses and creating a more informed population.  Viewers don't have to open up dusty, overly-erudite scholarly reports, or go to school for years to learn about topics of interest.  By turning on the television, normal people have an easy access to knowledge they never would have known about, and in turn become a better informed and dutiful citizen.

Informational geeky television is not the only "good sort" of television out there.  Shows meant for entertainment can have an important impact of the general public as well.  By watching these stories, viewers can create an emotional bond with themselves and the characters they see on the screen.  Through these emotional bonds, watchers can not only find a distraction and stress reliever to the daily humdrum, but also learn important lessons in many sectors of life.  Dramas such as "Downton Abbey" or "How to Get Away with Murder" can convey resonating and informative messages about sensitive topics in today's world.  "Downton Abbey" managed to teach audiences how to deal with issues such as domestic abuse, classism, and rape, all behind the setting of the early twentieth-century English countryside.  "How to Get Away with Murder" dealt with injustice in the justice system, domestic abuse, sexism, racism, and a plethora of other social contentions.  Even seemingly innocent programs such as "Steven Universe," "Arthur," and "Adventure Time" are able to educate younger audiences on matters ranging from bullying to sexuality and gender identity.  Entertaining television is just as important a tool as informational television, and should be regarded as such

Whether it's "Game of Thrones" or "Nova," television has proved itself a vital component of modern society.  It influences the way we think, laugh, and act, and proves a powerful tool in instigating social change for the better.  Television is not mindless junk that kills brain cells, rather, a means to inform and change society for the better.  So next time you see your child watching a seemingly inane program, watch along with them.  You may learn something too.