Abstract: This chapter will speak at great length about a cultural invention called “television”. Much of the essay will be highly critical of this cultural medium. The reader should, however, be forewarned that ultimately my criticism is about a certain historical culture that relies on this instrument for its basic enterprises. It should not be seen as an exercise in television bashing., Fundamentally, it is the “culture of television” that I am taking to task. This culture includes people who are snobbish about watching or those who don’t watch at all. I say this because the television media influences our cultural horizons even if one is not a watcher. It is my contention that the mass-media of television itself has become the most powerful instrument for value formation within our culture today (Sullivan, 1983a). The anchor persons for the “evening news” are now assuming the legitimacy of “cardinals” in times past. Walter Cronkite is revered more than presidents and trusted more than clergy. Football games like the Grey Cup and the Super Bowl become a national ritual and take precedence over a throne speech. All of these media personalities, images and institutions assume the proportions of what Roland Barthes (1973) called mythic structures. Mass-media communications create an immediacy. Witness the name of a very popular news program, “As It Happens” or “Eye-Witness News.” Barthes (1973) ventures that myth essentially aims at causing immediate impressions. This is why front page headlines are so important for mass communication newspapers.
Publication Year: 1987
Publication Date: 1987-01-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 12
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