Posted by chicagomedia.org on September 23, 2009 at 14:04:53:
Certain shows can increase your 'civic IQ'
Instead of cutting off TV, viewers should be a bit more discerning
Phil Rosenthal
Tribune Media
September 23, 2009
As it is also the first week of the fall television season, Turnoff Week hasn't received a whole lot of publicity. Especially on TV.
We are, however, in the middle of one of the efforts introduced 15 years ago to encourage us to turn off our TVs for seven long days and seven long nights.
Turnoff Week began as an annual TV Turnoff Week until organizers realized a few years ago that, despite their yearly proselytizing, people were getting fatter and spending more time staring at their computers, video games and iPods in addition to TVs. So it's now semi-annual. As satirist Tom Lehrer once sang of National Brotherhood Week, be grateful that it doesn't last all year.
"Excessive use of screens for recreational purposes leads to a more sedentary and solitary lifestyle and that is unhealthy for all of us, both mentally and physically," the Center for Screen-Time Awareness explains on its tvturnoff.org site.
"Excessive" is the key. I owe my XXXL physique more to TV dinners than simply TV. You are what you eat, and I am too much.
I have been far more discerning about what I watch. There is too much bad TV, but there is still more good than anyone has time to enjoy.
The trick is to learn to watch/eat the right things and in the right amounts.
A study spearheaded by the University of Illinois at Chicago political science professor Doris Graber speaks to TV's perhaps inadvertent nutritional value, indicating that watching shows such as "24," "The Simpsons" and "Lost" has helped viewers understand political concepts better, not only in this country but Greece and the Netherlands as well.
And, oftentimes, the viewers themselves don't realize it.
"You say to them, 'Do you think you ever learn anything that's of any use?' And the majority say no," Graber said Tuesday. "Then you proceed with the interview and very often there's an exclamation, 'Oh, I think I did learn something!' "
Nearly 1 in 4 people found they had a better understanding of political issues after watching the programs, often through stories not directly about politics.
Most of those participating in the study said the shows they watched led to discussions with others that had them considering or perhaps changing their political or ethical positions.
These were people just looking to be entertained, but the concepts came through the character's interaction and enhanced what's described in the research as "the citizens' civic IQ." Because they were relaxed and emotionally engaged, it turns out viewers were more receptive to the lessons.
In other words, what might seem like recreational viewing can actually be invaluable.
"A lot of these shows are extremely well researched, so the situations they present are quite realistic," Graber said. " 'ER,' for example. I discussed that with emergency technicians, and they said the medical aspects of that are correct."
As traditional sources of news and information are going through a transition, the idea that the entertainment programming holds such potential to inform and educate becomes more significant.
"A lot of newspapers are dying," Graber said. "TV audiences are shrinking. So what do people do? Some turn to the Internet, but a lot of the stuff out there is garbage. So the issue of whether there are alternative ways of learning what's going on in the world and confronting and thinking about public policy problems becomes more important than ever."
So is it really a good idea to cut that off cold turkey for a week?
I recall an old episode of "The Simpsons" in which the kids of Springfield all stopped watching TV for a spell and played outside, took up hobbies and had a great time.
But that's a cartoon and Turnoff Week discourages indulging in that sort of viewing.