The TV Generation Essay, Research Paper

Everyone has a moment in history which belongs

particularly to him. It is the moment when his emotions

achieve their most powerful sway over him, and afterward

when you say to this person “the world today” or “life” or

“reality” he will assume that you mean this moment, even if it is

fifty years in the past.

My generation is greatly influenced by the media,

specifically television. Television becomes my reality by

bringing into my life the happenings of the outside world. Our

generation is often called the MTV generation. We are often

stereotyped with the idea that all we do is sit around and watch

TV. Sure, we probably do watch more television than our

parents did as teenagers but we have to remember, TV was

generally new to their generation. They only had a couple of

channels to choose from while we sit in front of a television

with 53 channels and a remote to control them with. We have

the option to decide upon everything from The Disney Channel

to VH1, The Family Channel to Fox. That box in our bedroom

or family room is a very controlling yet entertaining appliance.

Teenagers have always been free-spirited in any generation.

We are always doing and saying childish things while trying to

grow up. If we only have a couple years of our childhood left

then who cares if we spend it in front of a TV? Which is not to

say that we do that anyhow. Perhaps we use the TV as a way

of relaxing before we go off and hit the books for two hours. Or

maybe we use it to spend time with our family. I mean, come

on, how many teenagers enjoy going on family outings with

mom, dad, and kid brother? However, if the TV can gather

everyone together on a Sunday afternoon to watch the

“Packers” game then shouldn’t mom and dad be happy? On

the other hand, there is such a thing as bad TV. Sex and

violence is plastered all over our brains with a flick of a switch

and I tend to believe that this influences teenagers, or for that

matter, anyone who watches it. But then again, we can not

say all TV is evil. MTV has set up several programs to

educate teens on sensitive subjects and has begun to censor

certain videos and shows. Parents often say to their teens, “If

you watch too much TV you’ll fry you brains out.” Yeah, right

mom! As if we’re going to believe that. If anything we’re going

to learn something new. Like how to make a seven layer

cheese cake from Martha Stewart or how to fix a squeaky

hinge on a medicine cabinet from Bob Villa. I have to admit

though, Americans probably watch more TV than any other

country. European countries only have a couple of channels to

select from. Still, this is America. Freedom was born here so

that gives us the freedom to choose between National

Geographic on TBS or ESPN Sportsnet.

It is this special America, a very untypical one I guess, an

unfamiliar transitional blur in the memories of most people,

which is the real America for me.