gothustartus is offline gothustartus Post #1  May 31,2010, 1:18am
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Sometimes i find myself really wishing for a blog section on eHa, in the absence of one hopefully this area isn't totally inappropriate since this is stuff i'm personally thinking about at the moment.

Through the whole "Has sex in the city warped womens minds?" thread i kept waiting for someone to ask if we thought it has warped mens minds too (if it has "warped" anyone), after all women aren't the whole audience or the only ones who may aspire to the lifestyles depicted.
There are shows on TV that present characterisations i find myself liking, empathizing with, cheering on, there are shows that present characters which leave me totally cold and disinterested. Have i been influenced by them? Yes insofar as their flaws have been outlined in neon and brought forward for scrutiny in the cold light of day, i might find myself thinking "Ouch!! I've done that, was i really that big an idiot?"

TV shows are larger than life but they do mirror our obsessions and neuroses, if they didn't they wouldn't be nearly as popular, they may drive us to some extent, as much to avoid being a particular character as to modeling ourselves on them.
Sometimes it's not even the show that interests people but unravelling the subtexts (KirkSpocking anyone?) and a person can get just as caught up in it all looking for hidden agendas.
I've never lost myself in a show, i don't plan my life on the basis of what i might see in one because it's just an hours worth of entertainment unless it presents something to seriously think about beyond the rolling of the credits, but i know there are probably people who do, the same way there are people who model their lives on what they read in magazines, who would rather be told what to do, what to think, what to feel. Is that good? Is it bad? Or is it just personal? It's bad for me because i hate being told, but if it's good for them then good luck to them, it's their life to live the best way they can and their choice on what constitutes best for them.
 
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Nanette is offline Nanette Post #2  May 31,2010, 5:47am
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i dont have the view do whats best for you blahblah

i think that society is deprived because of the sheep mentality toward celebrities and the media. the idea in this case is to remove individuality.

i can think of a historical example: haussmannization
 
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littlebluemonkeymind is offline littlebluemonkeymind Post #3  May 31,2010, 7:07am
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I think the influence of the media, and in particular, television programming, is an interesting topic.

I think one of the most obvious examples in fairly recent history of a television show that spawned a cult following, a bit of an industry in follow-up fiction, and, surprisingly, an array of non-fiction books that include essays relating the series to classical philosophy, gender roles, mythology and spirituality in the hilariously titled: What Would Buffy Do? The Vampire Slayer as Spiritual Guide was Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which ran for 7 seasons.

I think the best in television and movies taps into people's need for mythology - for characters who do the things we can't - or won't - in real life.

Oddly, I've never met a woman who carries a wooden stake as a result of the series or who only wants to date broody, non-communicative men in trenchcoats.

I imagine some people model after what they see. I would guess that more people relate to what they see sometimes, even if it is unconsciously to an archetype rather than to an actual character.

And yes, I think it is a phenomenon that affects both men and women.
 
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nightling is offline nightling Post #4  May 31,2010, 7:37am
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nightling is offline nightling Post #5  May 31,2010, 7:37am
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The only way a show influences me any at all behavior wise is if it makes me think about something I want to change and suggests a possibility I hadn't thought of. And the only way I'd adopt a particular behavior long-term is if it served me well.

I find it ridiculous to presume that a show must be warping a person's mind. I suppose a young person or someone inexperienced socially might experiment with different personas they like from a show, but no one is going to persist in ridiculous behavior if doesn't ultimately work in the real world.

I also think most people realize that the show is FICTION. And thus not always representative of how things work in the real world.

I appreciate your "blog" ghosty. And agreed with most of it.

mwah!
Last edited by nightling; May 31,2010 at 7:39am.
 
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NYCpigeon is offline NYCpigeon Post #6  May 31,2010, 8:08am
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nightling wrote :
The only way a show influences me any at all behavior wise is if it makes me think about something I want to change and suggests a possibility I hadn't thought of. And the only way I'd adopt a particular behavior long-term is if it served me well.

I find it ridiculous to presume that a show must be warping a person's mind. I suppose a young person or someone inexperienced socially might experiment with different personas they like from a show, but no one is going to persist in ridiculous behavior if doesn't ultimately work in the real world.

I also think most people realize that the show is FICTION. And thus not always representative of how things work in the real world.

I appreciate your "blog" ghosty. And agreed with most of it.

mwah!
The behavior only has to work on occasion in order for the individual to repeat it, no matter how ridiculous it may seem. I'm thinking of the lab mice experiments where they only get the food reward on occasion, but will continue to repeat a particular behavior because of the remote possibility they will be rewarded.

What is represented in the media is a reflection of society at large. Programs are dictated by public demand, desire, tolerance, viewpoints, outlook, needs, interests.

To be sure, there are many people out there, including kids, who are not equipped to correctly process what they view and will ultimately be damaged, warped, brainwashed, influenced, led by it. At the very least, the idea that the media influences "some" of us cannot be argued.

I think it's safe to say that it is a two-way street.
 
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nightling is offline nightling Post #7  May 31,2010, 8:32am
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NYCpigeon wrote :
The behavior only has to work on occasion in order for the individual to repeat it, no matter how ridiculous it may seem. I'm thinking of the lab mice experiments where they only get the food reward on occasion, but will continue to repeat a particular behavior because of the remote possibility they will be rewarded.

What is represented in the media is a reflection of society at large. Programs are dictated by public demand, desire, tolerance, viewpoints, outlook, needs, interests.

To be sure, there are many people out there, including kids, who are not equipped to correctly process what they view and will ultimately be damaged, warped, brainwashed, influenced, led by it. At the very least, the idea that the media influences "some" of us cannot be argued.

I think it's safe to say that it is a two-way street.
I can agree that children are impressionable and should not just watch anything willy nilly with no adult supervision and discussion of what is seen. I also agree that the media is somewhat the mirror.

However, I really don't believe people will keep beating their heads against brick walls when something doesn't really work a majority of the time just because it worked for them one time. I really don't believe most people are that dumb.

I also really believe in the right of people to choose what's best for them and to make their own mistakes. If they don't learn from those mistakes, that is a shame, but I think people should be allowed that freedom. How else to validly pursue happiness?

Just my 2 fwiw.
 
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OldManNoah is offline OldManNoah Post #8  May 31,2010, 10:36am
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gothustartus wrote :
TV shows are larger than life but they do mirror our obsessions and neuroses, if they didn't they wouldn't be nearly as popular, they may drive us to some extent, as much to avoid being a particular character as to modeling ourselves on them.
I tend to wonder where the writers get their material from, people in real life or from inside there own heads (imagination) or a combination of both.
When I watch sitcoms like; Everyone loves Raymond, King of Queens, According to Jim, are there really men like that out there? I have a suspicion there are. Are the characters a reflection of life or in anyway roles models to anyone? That idea frightens me.

The series/movie Jack a s s seemed to influence (some) young men for a while.

Watching Nanny 911 and Wife Swap make me think, "no wonder there are so many messed up people out there".

And then there's the come lately Twilight Saga which the media reports is all the rage with young women, about how men should treat and relate to women
(I rented the New Moon DVD but it didn't hold my attention.) I wouldn't doubt that it will influence (some) young womenz ideas of the ideal man. Now match them up with the Jacka ss crowd and worlds collide?

Nightlings comment about most people aren't that stupid makes me wanna say, "they elected Bush and Nixon twice didn't they?" Likely I should keep that thought unspoken & inside my own head. It's more my own view of people at large than going against what she says.
 
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Sassafras54 is offline Sassafras54 — Advice Official Moderator Post #9  May 31,2010, 10:38am
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Good blog, gothustartus!

TV shows that have depth to them to me are in the same category with the better novels, poems, movies, paintings, music, dances, sculptures ... they're art that (among other things) is exploring what it is to be human. They can make me think about myself, relationships, values, ethics, just life in general.

TV shows and movies are the most commercial of the arts so they're a more complex phenomenon: they're seen by a lot more people, they don't require special academic training to understand them fully, they generate more cultural buzz.

I'm not going to turn into Carrie because I'm interested in her story. I'm also not going to turn into a biblical character because I like the Sistine Chapel. But they both make me think and feel, and that can lead to effects in myself and my life.
 
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nightling is offline nightling Post #10  May 31,2010, 3:34pm
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OldManNoah wrote :

Nightlings comment about most people aren't that stupid makes me wanna say, "they elected Bush and Nixon twice didn't they?" Likely I should keep that thought unspoken & inside my own head. It's more my own view of people at large than going against what she says.
This is what's wrong with politics today. Instead of understanding the reasonable concerns the other side had that caused them to vote the way they did, we label them as stupid dimwits without really even attempting to understand their concerns.

We have created chasmatic politics. A great divide over which no one can reach. Each side has demonized the other, made no effort to understand Them.

Hello people the other side is us. They are Americans. They love their country too. Lately both sides seem to forget this important detail and it irritates the carp out of me. There should be no red and blue states. They should all be red white and blue. United we stand. Divided we fall.

We may not agree on the best approach, but we should be able to sit down and talk about differences without completely minimizing each other's concerns and demonizing each other.
Last edited by nightling; May 31,2010 at 3:59pm.
 
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