Ivory Hopkins
J. Gard
Synthesis
Media Impacts
In discussion of how the media impacts culture, one controversial issue has been whether
watching TV often is beneficial or not. On the one hand Author Steven Johnson argues that TV
is good because it enhances skills. On the other hand Sherry Turkle contends that you should
spend less time watching TV and using technology. Author Dana Stevens maintain that watching
TV is neither good nor bad. My own view is that television can be beneficial depending on what
you are watching and how you are watching it. For example, watching a television series such as
Criminal Minds or Law in Order with a critical and analytical view can teach you the law. It also
can be a waste of time when you are watching TV for entertainment purposes only.
My feelings on the issue are mixed. I do support Johnson’s position that you can learn a
lot from watching TV, but I find Turkle’s argument about using technology less and Stevens
views to be equally persuasive. This controversial issue is very important because there are not
many studies done to show that the media has drastically improved today’s culture negatively or
positively. I feel that I have a voice on these specific topics because I use the media daily to
perform a variety of task and for entertainment purposes. I also play a huge role in this
generation exactly and socialized with others in my generation who uses the media.
In the essay “Watching TV Makes You Smarter” author Johnson argues that you can
most definitely benefit from the media by watching television. He claims that movies and
television shows often have confusing plot line and morals, as well as using the World Wide
Web for a serious of complicated tasks. The confusing plot lines and tasks will enhance
important skills such as critical thinking, managing resources, and decoding complex technology
waves. Johnson also implies that you will gain new knowledge with your prior knowledge to
enhance your common sense level by thinking a lot during this state of confusion. Johnson says
that, “To make sense of an episode of 24, you have to integrate far more information than you
would have a few decades ago watching a comparable show” (214). Basically, he wants to make
the point that watching TV is far beyond just looking at pictures and text. You actually have to
think beyond what you see and interpret things differently from what they use to be. He further
elaborate by saying that, “ To keep up with the entertainment like 24 you have to pay attention,
make inferences, and track shifting social relationships”(215). Johnson focus is to show that
paying close attention to details and morals in stories keeps you actively engage in television
shows. Johnson’s final argument is that children who watch TV are forced to think with a mature
mindset like adults while adults often learn from their children when it comes to change with
advances in technology.
Although many people enjoy the entertainment of technology, one author Turkle feels
that using technology a lot is not as useful in the essay “Can You Hear Me Now?” Also that
technology has influenced people in society so much that they are having a hard time
determining what actually matters to them and that people are interacting with each other less in
person and more on social networks. Turkle says that, “One says, I don’t have enough time alone
with my mind”, another, “I artificially make time to think,” To keep up with the entertainment
like 24 you have to pay attention, make inferences, and track shifting social relationship”(274).
This proves that people spend so much time using technology gadgets that they don’t focus on
themselves because they are too busy to take time to relax and leave technology alone. Turkle
also wants to make the point that a lot of things people used to do in person such as greeting each
other, having face-to-face interactions, and just giving out your information is done differently.
Now, that technology is useful and became available to more people in society, people rather use
phone and the internet to do these things. For example, intend of people going to a place of
business and ask if they are hiring. People now can just go online and see if they hiring as well as
complete an online application for employment. Turkle feels that since technology is blooming
and is being used so often, people find time to abuse it. Basically, people used technology way
more than they should.
In author Stevens essay “Thinking Outside the Idiot Box” she argues how technology is
changing and evolving but not making people stupid or smarter. Although she never directly
took a firm stance she still objects to Johnson’s argument that watching TV makes you smarter.
Stevens also says that,” I’d participate in the experiment myself, but in my case, watching
television is definitely a smart thing to do- I get paid for it” (234). Steven is neutral because she
does not think it is good or bad. She feels Johnson has a few flaws in his argument but she still
understand what he is saying. Stevens says, “ If watching TV really makes you smarter, as
Steven Johnson argued in an article in yesterday’s New York Times Magazine ( an excerpt from
his forthcoming book) then I guess I need to watch a lot more of it, because try as I might, I
could make no sense of Johnson’s piece”(231). She partially agrees with Johnson and Turkle
argument as well. Stevens agrees with Turkle argument that less time should be spent using
technology but feels that Turkle does not understand the advances of technology and how it is so
useful in society and the media culture. Stevens states that, “There could be a better time to test
Steven Johnson’s theory than National TV Turnoff Week- just turn off the set till Sunday and see
if you get dumber” (234). Basically, she is saying that TV watchers should try turning the TV off
for a week to see if they get dumb. She is directly addressing Johnson argument and thinks that
you can learn best by testing out Johnson’s theory.
Steven is responding to Johnson essay to prove that his argument on watching TV makes
you smarter are not true and can’t be proven. Stevens is saying that although people benefit from
the media, they are not becoming dumb either. In Turkle argument on that people should use
technology less because its influencing culture through the media negatively does not have proof
either. Steven’s argument against Turkle is that the media can be extremely helpful to today’s
culture although it’s used often which is not bad at all. Basically, if you have some that you
enjoy and helps you then used it in your favor or to your advantage.
My view is the issue is still neutral. I feel as if watching TV does not make you dumb but
can but can enhance your critical thinking skill depending on how you watch it. I agree with
Turkle argument that you should watch TV less because watching TV a lot could be quite boring
in a waste of time. You could miss out on a lot of important opportunities by watching TV a lot
such as opportunities to make money and meet new people. Turkle argument is fair because
people do use technology so much that it is starting to get out-of-hand. For example, these days’
people tend to answer cell phone calls in the middle of an important conversation between two
people. Honestly, I feel technology is starting to make people become ruder when it comes to
answering calls and responding to text messages.
In each of the essays the authors were credible as to what they had to say and their
positions on the issue. They all were entitled to their opinions and took a good approach in how
they address their position on the topic. Author Johnson and Turkle wrote several books on
topics similar to this one. I feel Author Stevens is much more credible in her sources because she
has a Ph. D in comparative literature from the University of California in Barkley.
Works Cited
Johnson, Steven. “Watching TV Makes You Smarter.” They Say, I Say with Readings. Eds.
Gerald Graff, Cathy Birkenstein, and Russel Durst. Norton & Company: New York 2009.
Print
Stevens, Dana. “Thinking Outside the Idiot Box.” They Say, I Say with Readings. Eds. Gerald
Graff, Cathy Birkenstein, and Russel Durst. Norton & Company: New York 2009. Print.
Turkle, Sherry. “Can You Hear Me Now?” They Say, I Say with Readings. Eds. Gerald Graff,
Cathy Birkenstein, and Russel Durst. Norton & Company: New York 2009. Print