Sunday, March 2, 2008

Today vs. Yesterday

Have you ever considered the differences between TV today and TV in the past? If viewers from the years of classic televisions watched TV today, things might get ugly. Television today differs from the past in ways that today's generation doesn't even realize.
Let's take my favorite show, I Love Lucy, for example. In the "Lucy" days, not only was the color and definition different, but morals and values, as well. I Love Lucy was filmed when people were a bit more conservative and life was considerably more simple. Lucy and Ricky were rarely filmed in their bedroom. On the occassion that they were, Lucy slept in her own bed and Ricky slept in another. NEVER together. In television today, people are not only filmed in the same bed, activites are often televised that are private and not appropriate for all ages. In movies today, people are filmed "doing the deeds", and little to nothing is left to the imagination. We have all been watching a movie with our parents and felt the awkwardness of a sex scene. Imagine what people of the past would say!
Controversy arose on the Lucy show when Lucy became pregnant. Producers and directers debated as to whether to continue filming or to postpone. In today's world, mother-to-be's lives are documented, followed by the birth of their child! What a difference?
Language is another huge difference. Television today is often edited, but slang and swearing of today would not be accepted in the past. Language today often defines the rating of today's movies and television, but wasn't even a factor of the past.
Today, viewers often find interest in the suffering of others. For example, FOX recently came out with a show called The Moment of Truth. During the course of the show, contestants are hooked up to a lie dector and asked serious questions about their life. For each question they answer truthfully, they advance to the next level, coming closer and closer to the cash prize. The worst part of the show, is that important members of the contestant's life are seated close by, listening to all of the terrible truths.
What is reality television coming to? It is crazy to see what people will do for money! Moments on the show I just mentioned have the potential to ruin the participant's lives, jobs, families, and futures. What even happened to the days TV was real, but pure and simple. There were situations viewers could relate to, but not without revealing those terrible truths that aren't appropriate for everyone.
Is TV today responsible to the behavior of our youth? Does what we see on TV cause envy and jealousy within our lives? Just how much of an influence does TV have on YOUR life?

2 comments:

Patrick Clark said...

I believe TV today has changed for the worse. Kids today are growing up in a media controlled world. And the media is not teaching them the right values we should all possess.

Amy Listy said...

I agree with you and Patrick. My grandma and I have had conversations about this exact topic and it is obvious that the morals or lackthereof that are taught these days weren't even imagined back then. I think that reality shows and even scripted sitcoms are really starting to take things too far. It is almost scary to find out what the next step will be.