Television Flashcards
Early years of television:
Basic technology was invented in 1920s. Radio with pictures: visual culture emerges. Radio format (programs, single sponsor). Golden years- 1950s In ten years it went from an extreme luxury to something everyone wanted (90% had one now). TV dinners, TV trays, TV guide, water surged for 2 minutes breaks during tv commercials.
Medium Theory of Television:
News and politics- Kennedy/Nixon debate: Kennedy looked tan, was wearing a good suit. Nixon was sweating, was sick. Nixon answered the questions better than Kennedy. People who listened to the radio thought Nixon won. People who watched it on the tv thought Kennedy won. People are ashamed about television, low brow entertainment.
Broadcast news:
Walter Cronkite the most trusted man in television. Electronic to visual societies (1950s). ‘Seeing is believing’ - Chicago Fire had a scene where there was a plane crash and because the news reporters wanted the story first they aired it without checking if it was real. Visual media provides a false sense of place. Visual images creates a myth. O.J. Simpsons car chase.
Significant events in broadcast news history and presentation:
President Kennedy Assassination: 1963 Challenger explosion: 1986 Gulf war: 1991 O.J. Simpsons trial: 1995 television turned viewers into participants not just observers.
National Unity:
Olympics, wedding of prince William and Kate, funeral of princess Diana, the attacks of 9/11, democratic elections.
Cable News: CNN
24 hour news broadcast of gulf war. The channel changed the news business. Delivers timely news in greater details. Offers live unedited continuous coverage of breaking events. Emphasis on international news.
TV news today:
“Capsule Journalism”: The trend in tv news that emphasizes fancy graphics and striking color photos to the detriment of substance.
Traditional structure of U.S. TV system:
Over the air networks verses cable TV networks both are government-regulated but not government owned. Both are overwhelmingly supported by advertisers, money, and by cable audience fees.
The Big Three Networks:
NBC/CBS/ABC networks dominated until about 1980.
Formats of TV shows:
Sitcom/ Drama/ Talk shows/ news/ game shows/ reality.
TVs economic golden age: 1960s-1980s. Cable: TV’s rising star. Networks decline, narrowcasting happens, cable earns critical acclaim.
Network competition:
CNN/HBO/MTV/Showtime/VCRS!
HBO is cables oldest channel. They were able to push the norm (Sex and the City 1998). Changes in new media context: is network tv obsolete? Hulu/Netflix/cable, etc… Era of sequels, remakes. Will we ever watch tv together again?
Second Golden Age of TV:
Sopranos, the wire, breaking bad, weeds, mad men. Seems like we recently have been making a comeback.
Role of Netflix:
Netflix is both a solution and a problem. Problem: People watch tv whenever they want. Solution: People watch a lot of tv now.
Television Issues:
Good: Escape/comfort, information.
Bad: Violence, consumerism, “dumbing down society”, lack of diversity, stereotypes.
Willie Wonka, Mike TV scenes.
Norms:
Diversity 1974-1975 tv line up: The Jeffersons, MASH, Goodtimes, etc…
TV shows with diverse casts, not minor roles for non whites.
Talked about relevant issues such as abortion.
