This week was the first week that we really took the focus off advertisements. Though we did not have class Monday and Wednesday was a blizzard, the readings from this week focused on something that everyone engages is everyday, television. The second part of the first reading was about George Gerbner's findings and coorelations he developed when studying what messages are sent through television.
Don't worry. This is more of an editorial about the readings then a summary. Gerbner's research was extremely detailed but also very bias. He is able to constuct percentages and shocking statistics about what he wants to find on television. I can only agree with him to an extent. His statements about male genders playing more significant roles and how women are easier to persuade is only his opinion. It's funny how Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy are the two most popular prime time shows now. Desperate Housewives is all about women and the things they go through. Men do not have significantly powerful jobs and don't run the show in their respective relationships. Grey's Anatomy is focused around Dr. Meredith Grey. Yes, I'll admit it that my girlfriend got me hooked and I do watch it every Thursday religiously. This is not the point though. Dr. Yang, a woman, is the best resident with the highest cridentials. In both shows, women are the main focus and their roles are more signifcant and powerful than that of the men.
I am not saying that George Gerbner's finding are completely false. He may have a point when he speaks about crime and even health. However, the target age groups are there for a reason. It is a business. No one ever said that business was fair or unbias. Ask Donald Trump how business works. Gerbner is simply contributing to what he finds appauling. He is trying to shape television by lending his opinion. As I read this, it became obvious to me that he was doing nothing more than stirring the pot even more. Credible are his sources, shocking are his statistics, but hypocritical are his conclusions.
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One of the things to be careful with, especially when looking at media, is the publication date of the article you're reading. Media is almost always situated in a historical context.
Does the fact that the essay was written in 1982 change your impressions of his comments? At that point, St. Elsewhere was the most popular medical drama on television, and Cheers was the hot sitcom. Meredith Grey was barely out of diapers!
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