When assigned the topic "Golden Age of Television", I immediately thought of some of the classic TV shows we've all grown up watching. Such television shows include Happy Days, Seinfield, Friends, and of later years Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Even Stevens, and Lizzie McGauire. To me each show listed is as good as every other show listed. I had a hard time picking an exact golden age of television in my mind. When reading the article, I found out, instead, that when referring to the Golden Age of Television they were talking about the criticism that has helped further develop the television shows we watch today. Critics are writing about "the conventions and politics of reality TV, they are critiquing aesthetics and assumptions of channels like Food Network and HGTV, they are advocating for under-seen programs and agitating for greater racial, sexual, and gender parity at the networks responsible for this century's television revolution." This article talks about online criticism versus hard copy criticism as well. I tend to trust paper criticism more because almost anybody has access to posting on the internet making the sources distrust able.
I found it very interesting when the article mentioned the aptitude of shows to produce series about either a gangster, murderer, businessperson, hero, anti-hero, etc. People want entertainment, they do not necessarily want the main characters that would most accurately resemble their lives. People want to see excitement, action, and comedy that could otherwise lack in their own lives. They want to see the gangster, murderer, and hero not so much the your everyday business person.
Your last paragraph was spot on. Society lives for excitement and action. We are so used to our everyday lives that we don't want to watch another human do the same exact thing because thats boring. I also liked how you mentioned the shows we watched as kids like Even Stevens. I Enjoyed the flashback. Well done on this post.
ReplyDeleteI agree that people want entertainment and that the entertainment they seek shouldn't exactly mimic their lives. I believe people want to see shows that portray simplicity and a different life than they already have. People don't want to watch someone on tv (I think) struggling to fill out reports as they deal with marital problems at home. That could be the lives of many people. People want an escape and thats what tv has been giving them.
ReplyDeletePeople look for a change in pace from their day to day life. Shows such as the Sopranos portrays a life very few know and understand. Shows such as these allow the mind to wander and think about something besides an individuals actual life. Your post accurately sums up the thoughts of viewers and what exactly they want to see.
ReplyDeleteSociety and life can become boring and repetitive and I believe nobody wants to go and watch a movie on the same things that they are going through in real life. Viewers want a getaway and want to watch interesting and unknown lives and actions of actors that differ completely from what they are used to. You really did a great job stating that in your last paragraph. I also agree with you on the difference of online criticism versus hardcopy criticism. Hardcopy criticism definitely creates a more trustable criticism. Great post Michala.
ReplyDeleteSome forms, like the recap, are not really feasible in hardcopy, as they are written immediately after an episode airs. Some people seem to feel that this form if inherently less reputable, as you say. But if it is a reputable critic--indeed, one of the books in the review is by such a critic--is it then less accurate? Or is it simply a question of needing to be a more careful consumer of information?
ReplyDeleteAs you note, many people have different understandings of the Golden Age, and much of that is based on the TV of their youth. Are there any objective standards, though? Is the appearance of extensive criticism a good guide? By that definition, it is hard to say that the original golden age was really a golden age, as popular criticism was not quite as widespread.