A film blog for students of my classes at Santa Clara University. Use this blog to discuss the films we are studying, classic films, current releases or production issues you encounter while making your own films.
Sunday, March 06, 2016
The Importance of television in society - for Comm 138A
How important is television to American culture and society?
15 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Good God that's a loaded question. Well, I guess to start: TELEVISION IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO AMERICAN CULTURE AND SOCIETY.
In my mind, (aside from the more obvious points that I'm sure we are all aware of)the most important feature of television (in relation to American culture and society) is it's ability to simultaneously be delivered into the intimate environment of millions of homes, potentially reaching each member of the entire household.
Television has brought a revolutionary change in the way people receive information and understand the world by shifting them from direct experiences within their own lives and environments to the second hand or somewhat contrived experiences seen on television, which make people feel that they are directly experiencing the events or different environments being portrayed on the screen.
Ultimately, I think these elements of television create social change for the American public, in the way that it contributes to the flow of information being disseminated. Information bridges gaps in understanding for Americans and helps to create a sense of unity for various causes, which can ultimately stimulate cultural and societal change by mobilizing Americans. With such an overwhelming capacity to change everyday American culture and society, I don't think television's importance can be overstated.
Television is one of the most incredible mediums we have today. It can undoubtedly shape, and be shaped, by American culture. More often than not, television programming will include stories that have been ripped from the headlines, such as #BlackLivesMatter or issues regarding women's rights. In that sense, television is shaped by the pressing issues and ideals of our time. Television is amazing in the sense that it can change week to week, whereas film cannot take audience opinion into consideration. However, television can also shape our culture. The news dictates what issues we know about and therefore controls what it and is not deemed important. The content in television shows is able to bring awareness to certain issues or alter how audiences view a certain topic or group of people. For many people, the Huxtables were the first black people they ever knew. Even though The Cosby Show was just a sitcom, it was able to increase the representation of black characters in television and change people's perceptions. As Candace mentioned, television has been one of the easiest ways to reach the largest amount of people. With a multitude of networks and different outlets, television is able to be diverse and appeal to almost every niche audience you can think of. As the medium evolves, the concept of what a television show can tackle has also evolved.
I think television is huge for American culture and society. Television has enabled us to learn new things every day, to communicate what is happening throughout the world, and to help spread/shape the American culture. Most of what is showed on Television has to do with topics that directly relate to what is happening in the real word, whether it is serious issues, comical issues, dramas, or whatever, it all has to relate as to the culture and society we live in everyday. When something is shown on television, it can communicate its message in so many different ways, in which it leaves it in the hands of the receiver as to how to perceive it.
With that being said, I think that Television has been crucial for ur culture and our society. Not only has it allowed us to communicate messages, but it has educated us on things around us and also around the world that we would have never had access to. Not only does Television show different societal problems throughout the world, but it shows solutions and hope to solve them. Television has been crucial in the development of our culture and our society.
Television has no doubt held a truly important role in its place in American history. Having evolved as a society from one that listened to radio to one that watches television, television has become a significant and transformative broadcast medium. It has set a huge precedent as to how money can be made with programming, and the nature of its constantly changing content is a huge platform for starting conversations. The ability to maximize profit from television as a business (not just an art) has also influenced a lot of what cultural ideas are propagated into American society, too, since commercial interest has for the most part guided what content appears on TV.
Over the decades, television has also reflected the different political and cultural topics that have been most relevant for each age in American history. Through a cultural studies perspective, television is a realm that richly depicts how America has presented itself and responded to world events over time. American values (and the ongoing push-and-pull between the dominant ideologies and the voices of the minorities) are also put into play on television—they are either perpetuated or challenged on the small screen. For example with I Love Lucy, the slapstick comedy series challenged traditional women’s roles but also solidified the ideal of the idealized white, middle-class family. Then decades later in the 80s, we saw The Cosby Show place black American culture and issues to the forefront (while still playing it safe with WASP values). Today, we are seeing more and more programs that frankly discuss the even wider array of social issues, including gender/queer identities, gender roles (still relevant), the criminal justice system, and more.
However, considering the direction most media is now moving in (online, towards streaming platforms and other places on the Internet), I wonder if television will continue to have such a strong hold on our society. As someone who comes from a household that cut our cable subscriptions years and years ago, I’ve noticed that younger audiences are especially moving towards getting their programming from the Internet more than cable and television sets in the living room.
Television is almost a reflection of the culture and society of it's time. With each decade, television evolves to fit the needs and wants of society while integrating various cultural aspects. Whether it's relevant television or the post network era, television has a very important role to play in our culture. In class we discussed how television has been referred to as the lowest art form, however, I think that television is slowly rising to the top of the ladder in being the most influential art form today. Television has evolved from pure entertainment to a cultural phenomenon that brings families, communities and countries together. It has been innovative in the sense that it went from less than ten channels to thousands, changing genres and styles of production along the way all to fit the cultural context of that time. While streaming online has greatly changed the norms and rituals of watching television, it is influential in dictating how we as a society spend our free time. Television is a much more influential medium that one would naturally assume and it is much more than a source of entertainment.
Okay....wow. I think television provides viewers with an understanding into American culture and society. There is this give and take between our world and television. The shows that we watch reflect the current times and issues, if television was way off basis of what was occurring in everyday life and completely unrelatable then it would fall flat. However, at the same time I believe that television takes these ideas and situations from everyday life and twists them, providing more discussion and different ways to view the very subjects that we talk about. Of course there are shows or networks that have their views and beliefs, and therefore, base the content off of that, but there are also shows that provide different sides to stories and gives viewers a way to think about how to deal with the issues that they face in everyday life. Television is an outlet for education, discussion, and change for our society. Understanding television can help to understand how out society has changed as well. However, with the way television is changing today, it will be interesting to see how the relationship between society and television change. All in all, I think television does play a huge importance in culture and society today, but also, culture and society play a huge influence on television.
I think the role of television on American society is changing. Like we talked about in class, television used to be one of the only mediums we had access to. Every American family would sit down in the living room and consume the same content. The next day at work there was something to talk about, something they could all relate to. These means that television had to be acceptable for all audiences. Now, we have a much less diluted version of television. We have access to our favorite shows on our phones, computers, and home theaters. And my favorite show is not your favorite show. I may have never even heard of your favorite show. Mike can't talk to me about how inspirational last night's episode of Bridezilla was. Television is still very important in American society but it's taken on a new role. It's higher quality and favors niche markets. If tv used to be a water cooler now its a soda fountain. I'm talking sprite, orange soda, powerade, and lite lemonade. Options, acquired tastes, experimental flavors.
How important is television to American culture and society? Like Tori, I do think the role of television has and is changing being that there are so many different ways to watch it and when we watch television. There is no reason now for the family to all be home at a specific time so they could enjoy their favorite program because it will only air once at its specific time. We now can record shows and watch them how ever many times we want. Television is going to be as important as we make it, and with all of the possibilities that come from TV, it is definitely important to American Culture. We use television in so many different ways everyday, from learning programs for babies and children, to the daily news for those who like to be caught up with what is going on around them or in the world, we can watch shows to entertain us and we can also catch up on sports. It would be hard to say that it has no impact on us when it is apparent how much use our televisions.
Throughout televisions existence, it has worked alongside American history to depict and reflect current events. As time progressed these programs became more diverse in content and more siloed to reflect specific viewer audiences, making it more relevant and also more thorough in representing the American people and culture. Television is a more current and immediate medium than things like film or books, making it very important to our culture and society. By watching a television program from an older generation, we can see a juxtaposition with the current events of the time and how that impacted the show (and vice versa). Television is shaped by current events but also works to shape current events, and this back and forth makes it very valuable to culture and society.
Also, the way television depicts American culture to the global television viewing community makes it an even more valuable component of visualizing our culture to external parties. Since people in other countries watch syndicated + translated versions of our television programming, it is one of the ways they have a look at the way people live in our country. While it does cause for exaggerated understandings of American culture (Ex: people thinking everyone in California lives by the beach because of shows like Laguna Beach or the OC), it is valuable in portraying American culture/society to the outside.
Television is a very important to our society today. Television history for the majority, has incorporated relevant cultural events or social issues. The producers and content writers have managed to provide examples of people in certain societies. Through the 60s, networks began experimenting with coverage and addressing controversial issues like alcoholism, divorce, and drug abuse. Today we still see such issues being aired but the variety is so large now people can watch multiple different shows in a day. Television continues to be the primarily source of entertainment and a provider of coverage of important events. As well, it is the primary source of communication now too. This generation requires the TV more to learn than books. News stations provide the information and history channels show the past. Television today now provides messages in advertisements, movies and shows that are very subtle but provide a powerful meaning.
I don't think TV is that important to American culture or society.
Hahaha just kidding, but could you imagine if I answered like that? Obviously it is extremely important, and for reasons that we've discussed this entire quarter. Television is a constantly evolving industry that incorporates many different factors of mutual impact including networks, producers, audiences, and government. Not only has our society impacted the evolution of the TV industry, but the content being produced has impacted our culture and the way in which we socialize and talk about social issues. The advancement of technology has had a huge impact on not only how we watch TV (streaming, etc.), but also how the audience interacts with each other and show creators.
Television is incredibly important because it's highly integrated in society. It's in nearly every home and with new technology there are now numerous ways one could watch. in a way, television has become inescapable. People grow up with television from a young age and it becomes a part of their daily lives. It's always accessible and people can pick and choose what they want to see. It's also a medium that reflects culture as we learned through the circuit of production. It's important for people to understand that TV is influenced by many factors and it results in people getting either accurate or skewed information. TV is used as a way to entertain, teach, and influence the audience.
I think television varies in its cultural importance depending on the time, content, program, etc. Some programs have a massive influence on our culture, while others may be nothing more than passive entertainment. Back in the network era, I think that television had much more of an immediate impact on society because everyone would watch the same shows at the same time, and could talk about what they saw immediately after. Now, we can no longer have these kinds of discussions because of innovations like DVRS, online streaming, etc. Since we don't watch shows at the same time, we can't have a dialogue about them because people who haven't watched it yet will hear "spoilers". This is just one example of how television is becoming increasingly individualized. Because our television viewing habits are becoming increasingly personal, it is hard for a single show to have a massive cultural impact like many popular shows in previous eras of television. So while television as a whole may still have a huge influence on our society, a single show most likely will not have so much influence.
I think that television is extremely important to American culture and society. For decades, families have gathered around their TV set to watch new episodes of their favorite shows, and while this dynamic has been disrupted by countless new original programming, streaming services, and new technologies, television still has a lot to say about hot button issues that are relevant today. Of course, shows like The Real Housewives don't really add anything to the cultural or intellectual conversation, but other series, such as Downton Abby or Mad Men, do. TV allows us to access cultures, locations, peoples, and situations that we might otherwise never be able to experience in our ordinary lives. The level of accuracy in portraying these cultures, peoples, etc. ranges based on multiple factors, but the programs that get it right or those that truly try to educate audiences and to show them that there is more out there. When people see certain situations on their screens, such as the diverse family composition in Modern Family, they can become more used to seeing it in real life and thus more open and accepting, which is very important for our society.
Television has had, and will continue to have, a prominent role in the evolution of American society. From redefining social norms to expanding the role of government in entertainment, television has left its mark on our very identity as Americans. It provided a nationally broadcasted cultural forum for any family owning a television set to participate in, and in doing so it sparked conversation on difficult social topics.
Trailblazers like "All in the Family", which provided a sharp satire on the bigoted views of conservative Americans, and "Will & Grace", the first show to place a gay character in a leading role, helped bring important political commentaries to the forefront in a format that was easy to watch and understand for general audiences. Shows like "Hill Street Blues" and "ER" put a human spin on the traditional procedural drama, and made it clear that even those we expect to be perfectly moral in their professions can often be imperfect. "I Love Lucy", "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", among many others, showcased prominent female leads and helped spur the discussion on gender equality, both in recognition and importance, in Hollywood. Politicians plan parts of their campaign around making guest appearances on television shows, willingly opening themselves up to be the butt of jokes on "SNL" and "The Daily Show" just to swing younger demographics in their favor. The television industry's massive financial investments in professional sports and international events like the FIFA World Tournament and Olympic Games speak to how ingrained television is in our lives, as it aims to capitalize on the feelings of loyalty we have for our local and national teams. And the list goes on and on.
What I've given are examples in which individual shows have made an impact in fostering cultural discussion in America. However, on a broader note, television is just, well...important to us. Simply by its broadcasted, easily digested nature, television provides a source of entertainment and education for millions of people. Especially with the explosion of paid programming, with HBO and Netflix leading the revolution at different times in history, the variety and depth of content we can tap into at any time is just unbelievable. Whether it's kicking back and enjoying a football game on NBC, or tuning in to your favorite melodrama on Bravo, television is just a part of what we do and endorse as Americans. If that isn't importance, then what is? :)
15 comments:
Good God that's a loaded question. Well, I guess to start: TELEVISION IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO AMERICAN CULTURE AND SOCIETY.
In my mind, (aside from the more obvious points that I'm sure we are all aware of)the most important feature of television (in relation to American culture and society) is it's ability to simultaneously be delivered into the intimate environment of millions of homes, potentially reaching each member of the entire household.
Television has brought a revolutionary change in the way people receive information and understand the world by shifting them from direct experiences within their own lives and environments to the second hand or somewhat contrived experiences seen on television, which make people feel that they are directly experiencing the events or different environments being portrayed on the screen.
Ultimately, I think these elements of television create social change for the American public, in the way that it contributes to the flow of information being disseminated. Information bridges gaps in understanding for Americans and helps to create a sense of unity for various causes, which can ultimately stimulate cultural and societal change by mobilizing Americans. With such an overwhelming capacity to change everyday American culture and society, I don't think television's importance can be overstated.
Television is one of the most incredible mediums we have today. It can undoubtedly shape, and be shaped, by American culture. More often than not, television programming will include stories that have been ripped from the headlines, such as #BlackLivesMatter or issues regarding women's rights. In that sense, television is shaped by the pressing issues and ideals of our time. Television is amazing in the sense that it can change week to week, whereas film cannot take audience opinion into consideration. However, television can also shape our culture. The news dictates what issues we know about and therefore controls what it and is not deemed important. The content in television shows is able to bring awareness to certain issues or alter how audiences view a certain topic or group of people. For many people, the Huxtables were the first black people they ever knew. Even though The Cosby Show was just a sitcom, it was able to increase the representation of black characters in television and change people's perceptions. As Candace mentioned, television has been one of the easiest ways to reach the largest amount of people. With a multitude of networks and different outlets, television is able to be diverse and appeal to almost every niche audience you can think of. As the medium evolves, the concept of what a television show can tackle has also evolved.
I think television is huge for American culture and society. Television has enabled us to learn new things every day, to communicate what is happening throughout the world, and to help spread/shape the American culture. Most of what is showed on Television has to do with topics that directly relate to what is happening in the real word, whether it is serious issues, comical issues, dramas, or whatever, it all has to relate as to the culture and society we live in everyday. When something is shown on television, it can communicate its message in so many different ways, in which it leaves it in the hands of the receiver as to how to perceive it.
With that being said, I think that Television has been crucial for ur culture and our society. Not only has it allowed us to communicate messages, but it has educated us on things around us and also around the world that we would have never had access to. Not only does Television show different societal problems throughout the world, but it shows solutions and hope to solve them. Television has been crucial in the development of our culture and our society.
Television has no doubt held a truly important role in its place in American history. Having evolved as a society from one that listened to radio to one that watches television, television has become a significant and transformative broadcast medium. It has set a huge precedent as to how money can be made with programming, and the nature of its constantly changing content is a huge platform for starting conversations. The ability to maximize profit from television as a business (not just an art) has also influenced a lot of what cultural ideas are propagated into American society, too, since commercial interest has for the most part guided what content appears on TV.
Over the decades, television has also reflected the different political and cultural topics that have been most relevant for each age in American history. Through a cultural studies perspective, television is a realm that richly depicts how America has presented itself and responded to world events over time. American values (and the ongoing push-and-pull between the dominant ideologies and the voices of the minorities) are also put into play on television—they are either perpetuated or challenged on the small screen. For example with I Love Lucy, the slapstick comedy series challenged traditional women’s roles but also solidified the ideal of the idealized white, middle-class family. Then decades later in the 80s, we saw The Cosby Show place black American culture and issues to the forefront (while still playing it safe with WASP values). Today, we are seeing more and more programs that frankly discuss the even wider array of social issues, including gender/queer identities, gender roles (still relevant), the criminal justice system, and more.
However, considering the direction most media is now moving in (online, towards streaming platforms and other places on the Internet), I wonder if television will continue to have such a strong hold on our society. As someone who comes from a household that cut our cable subscriptions years and years ago, I’ve noticed that younger audiences are especially moving towards getting their programming from the Internet more than cable and television sets in the living room.
Television is almost a reflection of the culture and society of it's time. With each decade, television evolves to fit the needs and wants of society while integrating various cultural aspects. Whether it's relevant television or the post network era, television has a very important role to play in our culture.
In class we discussed how television has been referred to as the lowest art form, however, I think that television is slowly rising to the top of the ladder in being the most influential art form today. Television has evolved from pure entertainment to a cultural phenomenon that brings families, communities and countries together. It has been innovative in the sense that it went from less than ten channels to thousands, changing genres and styles of production along the way all to fit the cultural context of that time. While streaming online has greatly changed the norms and rituals of watching television, it is influential in dictating how we as a society spend our free time. Television is a much more influential medium that one would naturally assume and it is much more than a source of entertainment.
Okay....wow. I think television provides viewers with an understanding into American culture and society. There is this give and take between our world and television. The shows that we watch reflect the current times and issues, if television was way off basis of what was occurring in everyday life and completely unrelatable then it would fall flat. However, at the same time I believe that television takes these ideas and situations from everyday life and twists them, providing more discussion and different ways to view the very subjects that we talk about. Of course there are shows or networks that have their views and beliefs, and therefore, base the content off of that, but there are also shows that provide different sides to stories and gives viewers a way to think about how to deal with the issues that they face in everyday life.
Television is an outlet for education, discussion, and change for our society. Understanding television can help to understand how out society has changed as well. However, with the way television is changing today, it will be interesting to see how the relationship between society and television change.
All in all, I think television does play a huge importance in culture and society today, but also, culture and society play a huge influence on television.
I think the role of television on American society is changing. Like we talked about in class, television used to be one of the only mediums we had access to. Every American family would sit down in the living room and consume the same content. The next day at work there was something to talk about, something they could all relate to. These means that television had to be acceptable for all audiences. Now, we have a much less diluted version of television. We have access to our favorite shows on our phones, computers, and home theaters. And my favorite show is not your favorite show. I may have never even heard of your favorite show. Mike can't talk to me about how inspirational last night's episode of Bridezilla was. Television is still very important in American society but it's taken on a new role. It's higher quality and favors niche markets. If tv used to be a water cooler now its a soda fountain. I'm talking sprite, orange soda, powerade, and lite lemonade. Options, acquired tastes, experimental flavors.
How important is television to American culture and society?
Like Tori, I do think the role of television has and is changing being that there are so many different ways to watch it and when we watch television. There is no reason now for the family to all be home at a specific time so they could enjoy their favorite program because it will only air once at its specific time. We now can record shows and watch them how ever many times we want. Television is going to be as important as we make it, and with all of the possibilities that come from TV, it is definitely important to American Culture. We use television in so many different ways everyday, from learning programs for babies and children, to the daily news for those who like to be caught up with what is going on around them or in the world, we can watch shows to entertain us and we can also catch up on sports. It would be hard to say that it has no impact on us when it is apparent how much use our televisions.
Throughout televisions existence, it has worked alongside American history to depict and reflect current events. As time progressed these programs became more diverse in content and more siloed to reflect specific viewer audiences, making it more relevant and also more thorough in representing the American people and culture. Television is a more current and immediate medium than things like film or books, making it very important to our culture and society. By watching a television program from an older generation, we can see a juxtaposition with the current events of the time and how that impacted the show (and vice versa). Television is shaped by current events but also works to shape current events, and this back and forth makes it very valuable to culture and society.
Also, the way television depicts American culture to the global television viewing community makes it an even more valuable component of visualizing our culture to external parties. Since people in other countries watch syndicated + translated versions of our television programming, it is one of the ways they have a look at the way people live in our country. While it does cause for exaggerated understandings of American culture (Ex: people thinking everyone in California lives by the beach because of shows like Laguna Beach or the OC), it is valuable in portraying American culture/society to the outside.
Television is a very important to our society today. Television history for the majority, has incorporated relevant cultural events or social issues. The producers and content writers have managed to provide examples of people in certain societies. Through the 60s, networks began experimenting with coverage and addressing controversial issues like alcoholism, divorce, and drug abuse. Today we still see such issues being aired but the variety is so large now people can watch multiple different shows in a day. Television continues to be the primarily source of entertainment and a provider of coverage of important events. As well, it is the primary source of communication now too. This generation requires the TV more to learn than books. News stations provide the information and history channels show the past. Television today now provides messages in advertisements, movies and shows that are very subtle but provide a powerful meaning.
I don't think TV is that important to American culture or society.
Hahaha just kidding, but could you imagine if I answered like that?
Obviously it is extremely important, and for reasons that we've discussed this entire quarter. Television is a constantly evolving industry that incorporates many different factors of mutual impact including networks, producers, audiences, and government. Not only has our society impacted the evolution of the TV industry, but the content being produced has impacted our culture and the way in which we socialize and talk about social issues. The advancement of technology has had a huge impact on not only how we watch TV (streaming, etc.), but also how the audience interacts with each other and show creators.
Television is incredibly important because it's highly integrated in society. It's in nearly every home and with new technology there are now numerous ways one could watch. in a way, television has become inescapable. People grow up with television from a young age and it becomes a part of their daily lives. It's always accessible and people can pick and choose what they want to see. It's also a medium that reflects culture as we learned through the circuit of production. It's important for people to understand that TV is influenced by many factors and it results in people getting either accurate or skewed information. TV is used as a way to entertain, teach, and influence the audience.
I think television varies in its cultural importance depending on the time, content, program, etc. Some programs have a massive influence on our culture, while others may be nothing more than passive entertainment. Back in the network era, I think that television had much more of an immediate impact on society because everyone would watch the same shows at the same time, and could talk about what they saw immediately after. Now, we can no longer have these kinds of discussions because of innovations like DVRS, online streaming, etc. Since we don't watch shows at the same time, we can't have a dialogue about them because people who haven't watched it yet will hear "spoilers". This is just one example of how television is becoming increasingly individualized. Because our television viewing habits are becoming increasingly personal, it is hard for a single show to have a massive cultural impact like many popular shows in previous eras of television. So while television as a whole may still have a huge influence on our society, a single show most likely will not have so much influence.
I think that television is extremely important to American culture and society. For decades, families have gathered around their TV set to watch new episodes of their favorite shows, and while this dynamic has been disrupted by countless new original programming, streaming services, and new technologies, television still has a lot to say about hot button issues that are relevant today. Of course, shows like The Real Housewives don't really add anything to the cultural or intellectual conversation, but other series, such as Downton Abby or Mad Men, do. TV allows us to access cultures, locations, peoples, and situations that we might otherwise never be able to experience in our ordinary lives. The level of accuracy in portraying these cultures, peoples, etc. ranges based on multiple factors, but the programs that get it right or those that truly try to educate audiences and to show them that there is more out there. When people see certain situations on their screens, such as the diverse family composition in Modern Family, they can become more used to seeing it in real life and thus more open and accepting, which is very important for our society.
Television has had, and will continue to have, a prominent role in the evolution of American society. From redefining social norms to expanding the role of government in entertainment, television has left its mark on our very identity as Americans. It provided a nationally broadcasted cultural forum for any family owning a television set to participate in, and in doing so it sparked conversation on difficult social topics.
Trailblazers like "All in the Family", which provided a sharp satire on the bigoted views of conservative Americans, and "Will & Grace", the first show to place a gay character in a leading role, helped bring important political commentaries to the forefront in a format that was easy to watch and understand for general audiences. Shows like "Hill Street Blues" and "ER" put a human spin on the traditional procedural drama, and made it clear that even those we expect to be perfectly moral in their professions can often be imperfect. "I Love Lucy", "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", among many others, showcased prominent female leads and helped spur the discussion on gender equality, both in recognition and importance, in Hollywood. Politicians plan parts of their campaign around making guest appearances on television shows, willingly opening themselves up to be the butt of jokes on "SNL" and "The Daily Show" just to swing younger demographics in their favor. The television industry's massive financial investments in professional sports and international events like the FIFA World Tournament and Olympic Games speak to how ingrained television is in our lives, as it aims to capitalize on the feelings of loyalty we have for our local and national teams. And the list goes on and on.
What I've given are examples in which individual shows have made an impact in fostering cultural discussion in America. However, on a broader note, television is just, well...important to us. Simply by its broadcasted, easily digested nature, television provides a source of entertainment and education for millions of people. Especially with the explosion of paid programming, with HBO and Netflix leading the revolution at different times in history, the variety and depth of content we can tap into at any time is just unbelievable. Whether it's kicking back and enjoying a football game on NBC, or tuning in to your favorite melodrama on Bravo, television is just a part of what we do and endorse as Americans. If that isn't importance, then what is? :)
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