Steven Johnson asserts in his essay entitled “Watching Tv Will Make You Smarter” (Watching Tv Will Make You Smarter) that certain series, which our society finds to be unhelpful TV, are actually helpful for our mental abilities. Steven Johnson has written a convincing paper that challenges what history and literature tells us about TV: it’s awful. Avoid watching series. The idea that televisions are meant to “control and make us stupid” is not new. Johnson believes that despite this, television today develops our ability and makes us more intelligent. While watching television, we can also learn to analyze and evaluate the environment and situations. Johnson affirms that not ALL TV shows are positive, as there are some amusement figures which can be excessively erotic.
Johnson agrees that series like History Channel or Discovery Channel are good examples of a worthwhile TV program. We can learn from them, whether it is ancient stories now famous, or about animals living in our world. Johnson shows how multitasking is a common theme in old-fashioned multiplex television series. Johnson says that the crowds are willing to accept this new twist since they’ve been conditioned by multitasking shows. Hill Street was known in the past as being too complex for viewers to understand. The Sopranos is another series that uses multitasking. It has become a series that viewers love and admire. The benefit of the complex programs has allowed us to become more open-minded. The author doesn’t want the reader to think that he’s agreeing that parents shouldn’t supervise what kids watch. Johnson wants to change the way we view what’s healthy and what’s harmful.
Nick Gillespie makes reference to the age of the people who play videogames, which is in line with Johnson’s argument. “The average gamer is 30 years of age, and about 45 percent are women” (1). Gillespie mentions that parents should supervise the video games played by their children, similar to Johnson’s comment about watching TV with your kids. “I’m not saying that parents shouldn’t pay attention to how their children entertain themselves. What I propose is to change our criteria for determining what is really cognitive junkfood and what is truly nourishing (1). Gillespie gives the example of children who play violent games. He then goes on to say that these games have caused parents to lose their children. Video games can cause children to become addicted.
It can lead to them hurting themselves or, worse yet, harming someone else. A video game can cause a child to make a simple mistake that causes rifts in a family. Families are now suing the video game company to make a statement and warn other parents about the dangers of violent video games. Both authors are comparing their ages, and they both think it is important to monitor what children learn. Not only to make sure they’re on track but also to ensure that they will be able to use the information in the future. He continues Johnson’s arguments by saying “…Today’s Reality Programming is structured in a similar way to video games: A series of tests that become increasingly difficult as time goes on. A subtler gaming device is also used by many reality shows: the rules don’t always exist at first. You learn by playing” (1). Johnson, while discussing today’s Reality Shows, mentions videogames again. Describes how many shows actually take some inspiration from video games. You will eventually figure out the solution, even if it seems impossible initially. Your brain won’t let you rest until it has finally been overcome.
What are the benefits of reality TV shows?
Reality TV allows us to see how the participants behaved on their most important day. In terms of reality TV, there are many shows that have similar elements but differing complexity. They both share the same format. In both cases, the scenes are presented in an unusual and fascinating way. The audience is left wondering why the scene is there or why they should be watching it. These two productions then confuse the audience and explain why it was necessary at the very end. Lucifer is an educational production, and is therefore beneficial to those who are spiritual.
Deadpool had an important message for me. One of them was to never judge a situation by the cover. And that there are always positive aspects in every situation. It also shows you shouldn’t give in and that everyone can be good. Johnson was correct when he said that certain television shows can make you smarter. I’ve seen someone become smarter and learn more by just watching TV. I have learned from television. As an example, I once babysat a 10-year-old girl who was watching TV. To be honest, she acted older than her real age. My niece likes to watch movies she doesn’t understand. When I asked her if I have seen Freedom Writers (an educational film for high-schoolers), I admitted that I hadn’t, but said no anyway so I could tell her the story. She explained in detail the story, including the rising, climax and falling actions, and its theme: tolerance and understanding. I was shocked because this made me wonder how a 10-year old could understand a film that was meant for older people. It made me realise that TV is useful only if you can learn something or get a good message.
Grey’s Anatomy is a show I have watched that focuses on doctors working in hospitals doing impossible and complicated procedures. As a nursing student, I had to learn all the procedures that were shown in the show. This included autopsies, taking blood pressure, and medical terminology. I think that what matters most when watching TV is to find something that will inspire you or benefit you in some way. According to studies, watching TV can improve your reading and comprehension. Johnson’s arguments are not wrong. I think watching more television can help us gain a better perspective on the world and boost our knowledge of humanity.
