Dear Doggs,
For this week's post I'd like you to focus on the topic of contemporary television. Right now, we're witnessing another "golden age" in T.V. thanks to the proliferation of high quality shows by networks like Netflix, AMC, HBO, etc. We also have more freedom and control than ever before when it comes to watching what we want to watch when we want to watch it. Some might argue that T.V. is surpassing film, for the first time ever, as the dominant form of entertainment in America. This brief video created by Northern Illinois University pretty much sums up the current landscape of television. What do you think?
You can take your post in any direction you want, but remember to offer an analysis or interpretation rather than merely gushing about your favorite show. Feel free to engage this video, or the essay we're reading this weekend as a starting point. You can even write about Mad Men if you like.
Can't wait to read these!
Contrary to popular beliefs, I do not believe that we are seeing a new golden age of television. If we are being completely honest, the age of the television seems as if it is about to come to an abrupt stop. Everything is online now. there isn’t much need for a TV if you own a laptop. With all this instant access that we can get online such as YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix the TV industry is taking a major loss because more often than not, monthly subscriptions for these programs are cheaper than a traditional cable package, which doesn’t offer nearly as much flexibility compared to online streaming. I wouldn’t be surprised if 10 years from now television is completely obsolete in the united states.
ReplyDeleteI do believe, however, that we are seeing a golden age or a birth of online streaming. This can partly be shown by the tremendous growth seen by online streaming sources such as Netflix, which has seen an increased growth of over 500% in the last 6 years, according to CNN Money. Now we can virtually watch anything, anywhere, within the United States, for a low subscription fee every month, ranging anywhere between $12 to as low as free- if you do not include the advertisements shown on the sites. The capabilities of online streaming compared to traditional television resembles a comparison of the iPhone 7 to a flip phone. They are both relevant, but one far surpasses the capabilities of the other.
Read the CNN article: http://money.cnn.com/2015/07/16/investing/netflix-stock-surge/
i completely agree. I can't even remember the last time i owned a television. I watch everything on my laptop using Netflix or Hulu. If what i wanna watch isnt on those two websites then i just find something else to watch.
DeleteI agree. This is a system of television that is designed to fail.
DeleteI believe that we are seeing a golden age of television. Things like Netflix and Hulu have made it to where we can watch almost anything at any moment that we want. Movies, tv shows, news channels, and other media shows are improving constantly with all of the new technology and it has made more and more people watch because of how real it is becoming. Movies have developed new ways to attract people in by using tremendous graphics, effects and storylines. I also do not see the “golden age” stopping anytime soon. I think that television will continue to improve throughout the years as technology improves. Television is even making its way onto phones, computers, and tablets, which I believe are also a type of television in its own way. These devices allow people to expand this anytime television to a new horizon by now allowing people to even experience television on the go. People can watch things like Dish Anywhere on their phone while they are on lunch break, at school, or even on vacation. Television has also easily surpassed film in my opinion and it will only continue to widen the gap in further years. They have such a wide variety of topics and shows on television in today’s culture that it is almost impossible for someone to search the television and not find a show that they like. People have actually been seen to like these shows so much that we see binge watching occur. Overall, I believe that television has expanded a lot in the past decade or so and it will ultimately continue to grow as we develop new technology for quality improvements.
ReplyDeletei agree, Yes Netfilx and Hulu have changed the way we watch television. With the diversity of these networks they provide a lot of value.
DeleteI agree with you about all of the technology allowing you to watch tv everywhere. This makes television even more popular because it's always available.
DeleteI completely agree with this! It seems like we can get access to television no matter where we are. We have such easy access now with our phones and laptops.
DeleteIn my opinion television is entering a quiet golden age. I mean quiet because I think that the shows that are generally seen as great such as "I Love Lucy" or "The Brady Bunch" have had some cultural impact and come up very often when you research TV or even the decades that those shows existed in and while there are some pretty great shows on television currently I don't think enough time has passed for these shows to have left as much of an impact. Television has seen more recent impacts in the genre that has led to some great innovative TV shows (think The Office's impact on other similar shows such as Parks and Rec and other work based humor shows). I also think this quiet golden age is only possible for television now due to the advancements that have been made in digital technology (filming techniques, CGI, etc.) that now allows for television producers to make shows that graphically would not have had worked say, 15 years ago. The storytelling medium in film has been able to slowly flourish into this quiet age of great television shows due to (in my opinion) better storytellers, storytellers who know the technology that can help bring out the best in their stories, as well as just a larger amount of better actors.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we are in a Golden Age of television. It is interesting how you mentioned that previous television shows have impacted ones we see today. Also, I believe that shows across the years such as "I Love Lucy," have been representative of the respective cultures of their time. Looking back on these programs can show us how society viewed women, how relationships of the time worked, and many other things about the time as well.
DeleteWith websites like Netflix and Hulu, I think it is true that we have a lot more freedom when it comes to watching TV whenever we want. However, I think this is because of the internet not TV itself. Hardly anyone I know actually has cable anymore. There is honestly no point of cable when you can just hook up your TV to your internet and watch nearly any show at any time. When you have cable you have to wait for your favorite show to come on at a certain time. But, with Netflix or Hulu you can watch your favorite show right away. For example, my favorite show is Grey’s Anatomy and when I first started watching it, they were already on season 10 on cable. But, since I had Netflix I was able to catch up on all the seasons. Since I was able to watch the show late at night or early in the morning, it didn’t take very long to catch up. I think that this is true for a lot of people when they are trying to catch up on a show. Some might argue that Hulu and Netflix don’t have things like the News or Sports shows. But, if you have Netflix, you have the internet. Therefore, you can catch up with the news or your favorite sports team online. Literally everything is online, so the need for cable, or even a TV is really limited. As long as you have a laptop, you aren’t really missing out on anything cable has to offer.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, I think the internet has taken control of entertainment and media and cable television is kind of irrelevant now. I think the only thing that really is essential about television is when there is breaking news and news channels can broadcast it to everyone if urgent. Other than that, its basically unnecessary.
DeleteI agree with you cable isnt built to last much longer and tv companies know it. have you noticed that when you buy a new tv they are already programmed with the netflix, and youtube app? the only thing cable has that netflix doesnt is sports but, after it airs on cable you can watch it online now because the networks that show the sports have website where you can stream.
DeleteThe predecessor of today’s modern televisions was invented in 1927 by Philo Taylor. Television became popular in the late 1940’s as the first golden age of TV began and lasted until around 1960. This original golden age occurred mainly because the limited shows on TV featured high culture programs that were interesting to those who could afford TV’s, the upper class. As the years went by and television sets became more affordable, owning a TV gradually became more egalitarian across the United States and eventually across the world. In 2013, 79% of households in the world owned at least one television. With the recent advancements in technology leading to more channels and access to a multitude of programs, many say we are in a new golden age of TV. This new golden age has come from new inventions such as Satellite-TV, HDTV, and companies such as Netflix and Hulu. Satellite-TV allows viewers to watch a wider variety of shows which has increased TV’s popularity as new programs and channels have been introduced. Not only are viewers consuming a wider variety of shows but they also have the opportunity to view them in better definition than previously before with HDTV, making sporting events and other shows more enjoyable. Along with these two improvements, programs such as Netflix and Hulu have become very popular as they allow viewers to consume shows whenever and wherever they want. Along with these advantages, Netflix and Hulu also offer shows and films that no longer exist on TV. I believe that this golden age of TV will continue so long as these companies continue producing sought after shows and as long as technology keeps improving and offering new ways to enjoy television.
ReplyDeleteBoy watching TV for the first time (1948): http://i.imgur.com/IvbSIkN.jpg
I do believe we are in sort of a transformation. The way we use our televisions now are abnormal to the way televisions were used twenty or even five years ago. You can use your television to access the internet now and also control certain settings that were not tangible years ago. The ability to pick and choose a certain genre also makes television more enjoyable. It gives you a sense of individuality to be able to access scary, comical, or action packed TV shows. Although this is all relatively new, With the emergence of all this freedom one may think that we have entered a "Golden Age" yet i beg to differ. Television shows are just as controlled as they were decades ago. Although we have a much more immense variety to choose from many TV shows are duplicates of other. Such as Family Guy and The Simpsons or the many different Sportscenter channels. Although we have many different television stations the truth is that their are only 6 corporations that control what is shown on your television. Yes with the creation of networks such as Netflix and Hulu. And even with the emergence of Youtube as be a sole proprietor of some movies and many short documentaries. They do not qualify as an instant game changer for what is being popularized and demanded on our televisions. I don't see a golden age in television. The only golden age of television that i believe ever existed was the creation of television. Ever since then it has been controlling the mind and wasting the time of many who indulge in it. Staring at a screen while remaining stagnant for entertainment purposes is idle.
ReplyDeleteTV is more popular than it ever has been before. We are able to watch it anytime and anywhere. Producers today have found ways to pull the viewers in. There are shows about really anything that you can think of. In today's world kids are glued to technology and they would rather watch tv instead of play outside. I agree that tv has taken over movies. No one wants to pay to go see a movie when they can stay home and watch netflix, hulu or just regular tv that plays re-runs of shows every day. As someone mentioned before, binge watching is a huge part in many peoples lives. We sit for hours and hours and watch season after season of our favorite shows. As soon as that one is over, we start another one. I don't think tv is going to become irrelevant for a very long time. I have noticed lately that more and more shows are being made about important topics that are going on in the world. The fact that the viewers can relate to the shows, makes it easier for the producers to make season after season for us to watch.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I think technology has a big part to play in the consumption of TV today and has made it easy for us to watch what we want when we want to. I like that you mentioned that shows are relatable, because it wraps us in more when we can relate.
DeleteI think that the traditional idea of what television is will become non-existent. We wont have any need for basic cable when the majority of the world has online subscriptions to websites like Hulu and Netflix.
DeleteTechnology has enhanced the media industry immensely within the past decade so much that standard television is no longer our main source of entertainment. We have things like Netflix and Hulu that provide us with television that can easily be accessed on our computers and smartphones so that we don’t have to be limited to watching our favorite shows and movies just from our couches at home. This makes it easier for people, like myself, who don’t have televisions in their living space to keep up with my shows/movies. As a college student, I don’t have the budget to buy myself a tv and pay for cable, nor would I even have the time to be able to sit down and enjoy watching it enough to get my money’s worth. This is why apps like Netflix and Hulu are a much easier and a more efficient way to get entertainment. I think our generation has an obsession with watching older shows that are no longer regularly streamed on television, which kind of strays us away from having to use it when we watch most of our shows on Netflix/online. I also think that it is just more convenient to use apps like Netflix because it eliminates the things that we hate most about television like commercials or having to wait until the next week to watch another episode. In my opinion, I feel like reality tv is the main thing that’s keeping television alive, aside from the news and other informative channels. Other than that and a few other popular shows that continuously drop new episodes, most of what we need is online or on Netflix. Essentially, television isn’t necessarily dead but it also isn’t the best or most popular way to get entertainment.
ReplyDeleteNetflix is definitely a money saving app, and I never really thought about how costly it is when comparing it to paying for cable.
DeleteI agree technology has changed a lot of how we watch television and places like Netflix have made it cheaper. More people are able to watch tv and I think people will continue to add on as places like Netflix get bigger.
DeleteAbsolutely, technology is the reason why marketers can sell their product in the first place.
DeleteThe dominant form of consumption for Americans is television. The early forms of television were very restrictive with what could be shown to the public. There was a time where kissing someone on the lips was too provocative for audiences to watch. As well, earlier television shows focused less on the characterization, but more about making sure the narrative elements made since. Earlier shows had almost the same concept and there were less genres of shows to choose from. One reason television shows today have become more popular is the less restrictive laws enforced on what can be depicted. Television shows are showing more than just kissing which attracts more viewers and appeals to their emotional desires. There are several groundbreaking genres for every person and can captivate almost anyone. Creative writers such as Shonda Rhimes are allowed to create several award-winning shows on one network. As well, the entire Thursday night is given to Rhime’s three shows, Greys Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder. With the emergence of great writers such as Rhimes, television shows are becoming more fascinating and story driven. The characterization and narrative elements in television shows allow the audiences to feel more connected with characters in television shows. Another big factor for television shows becoming so popular are companies such as Netflix and Hulu that allow people to consume their favorite shows anytime they want, whenever they want. Some people have even dedicated entire weekends to “binge-watching” television shows thanks to these exceptional companies. It is truly a Golden Age for television, now more than ever.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up there was little my mom could do to get my attention away from the tv and I don't think anything has really changed. I think Jeff Chown was spot on with saying that we’re in another golden age of television. Although we've somewhat broken away from watching some things on an actual television, most of what we watch on any small screen( phone, laptop, iPads etc.), would have originally been produced for cable television. These other viewing options we have, give us the opportunity to binge watch our favorite shows and catch up on the ones that were behind in and we also have on demand television. I mean who doesn't want to watch what they want when they want to. If anyone doesn't think that we are witnessing another golden age all you have to do is mention either Empire or Power and I'm sure they know exactly what you're talking about and have seen at least one episode or know someone that has. Also, very seldom would you find a tv show that has been poorly produced. So many movie stars are moving to the small screen because it's guaranteed job. As long as the writers and producers can come up with a storyline good enough to hook the audience, they can run with a show for seasons on end. Just look at how Shonda Rhimes was able to drag Grey's Anatomy along. I mean you'd think that after she killed everyone important that people would be done watching, but she's created such a great character in Meredith Grey that as long as she's alive there's a show to be watched. Great storylines equal great TV and that's what we've had for the last few years.
ReplyDeleteI agree that writers have come up with great story lines in order to keep viewers wanting more and the TV industry alive.
DeleteWith the advancement in technology, television shows and other shows of course have become even more popular. Television was definitely popular when the invention was first shared with the public, but now the television itself has lost its popularity and the shows are getting all of the attention. Shows have evolved in their meanings and ideas as well which is a factor of their popularity. I personally miss the shows I grew up watching and I also think that the new kid shows cannot compare to the old ones. However, each generation of writers and producers is different for each genre of shows and movies. I have found amusement and interest in different types of shows. For example, I enjoy the series The Originals, which is about the original vampire family, yet I also enjoy watching The Bad Girls Club, which is about half a dozen grown women making a fool of themselves on reality TV. These two shows are very different and I watch them for two very different reasons. I enjoy The Originals because of the action and suspense, and I enjoy The Bad Girls Club because it makes me feel mature and like I have my life together more than the wild girls on the show. Different shows like this is a reason why I believe that we have come into a golden age with television shows. We get sucked into the TV reality and forget about our own reality for 30 or 60 minutes which also makes television so great. There has always been shows that viewers could relate too, but as generations come and go, shows must come and go as well and I think the TV industry has done a good job in that process.
ReplyDeleteI would not say that the modern age of television is “golden”; however I would say it is a “transformative” time instead. We have lost the culture of sitting around in the living room with family watching the television set. If we want news we don't have to watch the program until we get information we want, we can simply look it up on our phones. If we wanna watch a show, why would we wait for it to come on when we could just watch it on Netflix? Especially when we can watch it must faster, and even without commercials using these applications like HBO GO, Hulu, and netflix. The age of streaming movies, and tv onto our computers instead of our televisions, first put a halt to movie rentals, such as Blockbuster, and next the concept of cable television as a whole.This is more than just a technology update though, It is also the end of a cultural era. It's the end of the television watching families, and the beginning of binge streaming in your bedroom alone.So, now we have to think forward to what the next step and change is for our technology. Will we witness the disappearance of television culture as a whole, or will an even bigger change happen? It's hard to visualize even more advancements, but with the popularization of virtual reality games I predict the disappearance of regular television sets and the appearance of virtual reality goggles in every american living room within the next twenty years.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of the "Golden age" for anything is saying that it has reached its best. As of right now I'd say it is a sort of golden age for tv, but I feel that "the best" changes. In the mid 20th century when color TV was introduced I think that many people thought that was TV's prime. Our obsession with bigger,better, and more accessible cause our definition of "the best" to change with time. With this being said we don't know when TV will be it's best. We only know when it's at its best for us.
DeleteThe idea of the "Golden age" for anything is saying that it has reached its best. As of right now I'd say it is a sort of golden age for tv, but I feel that "the best" changes. In the mid 20th century when color TV was introduced I think that many people thought that was TV's prime. Our obsession with bigger,better, and more accessible cause our definition of "the best" to change with time. With this being said we don't know when TV will be it's best. We only know when it's at its best for us.
DeleteThe idea of the "Golden age" for anything is saying that it has reached its best. As of right now I'd say it is a sort of golden age for tv, but I feel that "the best" changes. In the mid 20th century when color TV was introduced I think that many people thought that was TV's prime. Our obsession with bigger,better, and more accessible cause our definition of "the best" to change with time. With this being said we don't know when TV will be it's best. We only know when it's at its best for us.
DeleteI think I do agree that we are in some kind of “golden age” for television. This is the first time ever in T.V. history that shows that are not produced by a big name television channel has become wildly popular. “Orange is the new Black” is a great example of what new T.V. is going to be. It is great show that you can watch at anytime you want and as many episodes as you want. You also do not have to watch any commercials. Another great example is “Stranger Things”. I believe that we are going to see a huge drop in people viewing what we consider normal T.V. and everyone will start watching things like Hulu and Netflix. Netflix is already producing great quality shows. All the cable companies will stop offering cable T.V. or satellite and only offer internet. You will only need internet and a smartphone to watch T.V., this already the case. We already see a change in large televisions, they are all smart T.V.s now. A smart T.V. is basically a huge computer anyway. I do believe we are in the beginning stages of the “golden age” of Television. We still do have to wait for things to get on to Netflix and Hulu so, it is just a matter of time before we can watch anything, anytime, anywhere with no commercials and we can fast forward and rewind at anytime. Who knows how we will be watching T.V. in ten to fifteen years.
ReplyDeleteI total agree. I think this is definitely a change in T.V. for the good.
DeleteI agree that you agree.
DeleteJason, very odd (and funny) to agree with your own post.
DeleteI, for one, believe we are in a golden age for television. All though many argue that the television set itself is going out of style, the same can't be said for television. The popularity of television series is at an all time high. It seems like there are always new series starting and they get progressively more interesting and exciting. I believe that more people are getting into watching whole series as opposed to films due to the length of these shows. With multiple seasons, these shows have the ability to stay on air for years which is beneficial to the makers of the shows as well as the audience. There are so many different topics and genres of television covered that it is nearly impossible for someone to not find a show they can become interested in. With companies developing services such as Netflix and Hulu, it is easy for consumers to have access to television no matter where they are from a variety of devices. This means people can watch television when they're on work breaks, between classes at school, while waiting in lines, and while they are on vacations away from home. With these streaming services, there is an absence of commercials which is an even bigger pull towards the use of these services as opposed to watching them on a television set. With this popularity and easy access, it is hard to see the popularity of television series going anywhere, but up.
ReplyDeleteIf by golden age you mean that television and media are rapidly growing and finding ways to grow their customer base, then i would have to agree the today, television is in somewhat of a golden age. If you think about it, marketers are always coming up with new ideas to incorporate their product on screen in a show or movie. Although, i wouldn't necessarily use the word "golden" only because it's only reasonable things that are changing. When new things are presented to the public and when the audience is wowed from a presentation of the next biggest thing, that's when it's beyond reasonable that would fill in the term of being indeed "golden." But to think about it, it's not just television, it's netflix, hulu, youtube, apple tv, amazon with their firestick, and other rather cheaper products too. And with cable you have, comcast, cox, At&t, etc. So there are many competitors for people to use their product. Each one has it's own problems to worry about. So I don't think golden would be the right word to describe the age.
ReplyDeleteAlso too, the fact that there are a ton of new seasons that have producers and marketers working so hard to get a giant fan base. Because they know that if there can be fans, there can be money. Money always comes, no matter how slow you start off, money always comes. Like for instance, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the first episode only cost 11$ to make, now they just recently released their 10th season this year.
DeleteI like that you mentioned product placement. Its also good to note placement of political or social stances. Television definitely growing rapidly and i'm sure that's where the idea of "golden age" came from, good analysis.
DeleteI’m not so sure I would consider us in a "golden age", however I do believe there has been a paradoxical advance in both freedom of viewer choices and control of what can be produced. By that i mean from the viewer's side, there is freedom to choose whether you want to watch a dark mysterious drama or a family sitcom. In categories such as those along with others, there are countless more options between shows to watch than there were thirty years ago. From the producer’s side, there is a leniency with the rating system, which allows more "inappropriate" content to be captured than years before. The shows themselves have evolved not only in complexity of plot (i.e. breaking bad, House of Cards, Mad Men, etc.) but also in the content matter. Shows such as "Faking It" (a show about two girls pretending to be dating) would not have been very well received 30 years ago and "Dexter" (a show about a serial killer) might've been a bit too intense for the times. People may like to say we are in this golden age due to the incorporation of new mediums such as Netflix, Hulu, and the like. I only hesitate to say that we are indeed because television is still television. Though it may engage the viewers thought process a bit more, it is a mild activity that rarely promotes the growth of an individual and therefore should not be euphemized as "golden". CNN, the History Channel, Discovery, and a handful of others may argue against this point but it still does not yield any significant growth or retention of knowledge (so let’s call it an “iron age” or something less detrimentally encouraging).
ReplyDeleteAmerican Horror Story is now on its 6th season, and is more popular and anticipated than ever. Season 6 was introduced with 6 possible topics shown in 6 different ads for the show, but fans had to wait until the season premiere to find out which topic it was. AHS thrives on the anticipation they create through their unique season premiers and the seasons’ various storylines. The TV series was created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk for the purpose of scaring the audience and leaving viewers unsettled. Each season of AHS is completely separate from one another. There is a storyline unique to each season in addition to new characters and even some new actors. Unlike other shows where cliff hangers are used to keep viewers coming back AHS fans are intrigued by the knowledge that they are going to get a completely new thrilling experience with each season. In addition to new stories every season AHS uses our obsession with sex and gore to make your skin crawl. The experience you get is much different than a common horror movie in which jump scares are the main form of technique used to startle the audience. Jump scares are few and far between in AHS, while disturbing images/acts and terrifying creatures are widely used (not only to scare the audience) to leave the audience unsettled. One does not have to watch an entire episode to experience these types of feelings. The opening credits use various techniques, CGI and stop-motion, to create a disturbing visual as the cringe worthy theme song plays in the background. Each season’s opening is visually different; it gives the viewer an idea of the season’s story, but the hair-raising theme song remains throughout. With the start of October and Halloween around the corner, horror is popular in American culture and American Horror Story portrays just that.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/american-horror-opening-credits_us_5626ae88e4b08589ef4982dd
http://samples.sainsburysebooks.co.uk/9781488506239_sample_260150.pdf#page=14
I agree with the fact that we are in a golden age of TV. The U.S and some other countries are far advanced when it comes to technology. We now watch a lot of our "tevlevision" on smartphones and laptops which means we're watching online. There are still a lot of other countries around the world that main source of entertainment is watched on TVs and in theaters. The diversity into shows nowadays is more complex than shows in the past. More technology so more things can be done while filming scenes, but something that still matches up with old shows and new ones is the content. Some might even agree that older movies are better than the ones in this era. Due to our advancements movies of this era just get more exposure.
ReplyDeleteI haven't really thought much about the current landscape of television. But after watching Northern Illinois University explain the perspective of the golden age it seems reasonable to believe it is going through this new age. I feel as though in today's society producers or people who comes with these movie ideas are running out of ways to entertain their specific audiences. You can tell when people are running out of ideas when they begin to remake old classics movies or just movies that's already been premiered in the past. But whenever it comes to television now there are all kinds of new shows with the same ideas but with different perspectives or outcomes on how they view of ending the series. I do agree that having apps that are on the go from most networks, such as Xfinity TV, ABC, CW, were a great idea to invest in because for most people its easier to access the latest shows that we love. Especially for the people whom have or haven't had the time to watch their shows. Its great for people to binge watch whatever they want and whenever they have the time to watch without the interference of commercials. I wouldn't really know when TV had its most prime time but you would assume it would be in todays time because of the modern technologies that wasn't available to us in the past. You could also say it is today because people have came up with an idea that is most convenient for everyone in a way.
ReplyDelete