Television is an important part of our daily lives. But how is television affecting the world? Shows, commercials, and actors have a huge influence over us. Surprisingly, TV is an effective kind of dictator.

Let’s start with the shows themselves. When you watch shows- especially ones you like- you feel like you’re actually in the show. What you absorb from those hours on the couch will eventually seep into different aspects of your life, whether you like it or not. That’s a reason why watching violent TV and movies as a child could make that child become more aggressive as he or she gets older because they are taught by the television that violence is ‘funny’ or ‘cool’.

Commercials influence the lives of people by their crafty nature- they get you thinking about the product. They often influence you to buy the product, companies doing anything for their product to be the ‘best of their brand’. They also use tactics to get you to buy their items like it’s a life or death matter! The advertising war is not a pretty one.

A big part of television and movies is the real life aspect- we watch our favorite stars start trends, and, being the crazed fans most of us are, we follow- no matter how expensive or crazy they are. Pop culture influences our thinking because it gives us more trends, more info, more statements about celebrities to make us feel ‘in the know’.

Television similar to music uses it’s “power” to dictate the way America progresses. If something is not being advertised on television then it is harder to be familiar with a product. Think about it: if you’re searching for a product, and are given several options and are unfamiliar with some of the brands, you’re mostly likely going to pick the one you are familiar with, or the cheapest, but that’s beside the point.

So in conclusion, I say to be careful how much television is changing your life, and how much you are letting your decisions be altered by the world around us. Sometimes I wonder if technology is making us lose our individuality piece by piece.

-Piratical Lord of the Guitars