The Story of TV

Google Definition of Television:

noun

noun: television; plural noun: televisions; noun: television set; plural noun: television sets

1. 1.

   a system for converting visual images (with sound) into electrical signals, transmitting them by radio or other means, and displaying them electronically on a screen.

   "the days before television"

   • the activity, profession, or medium of broadcasting on television.

     "she has a job in television"
   • television programmes.

     "Dan was sitting on the settee watching television"
2. 2.

   a device with a screen for receiving television signals.

   "a colour television"

It's odd how TV plays such a big part in our lives and we never stop to think how that strange, screen-shaped object got there apart from; "I ordered it online and it was delivered."

In a 1956 documentary, The Story of Television, they introduce the obvious but interesting idea that "man cannot see beyond the horizon, yet can with a Television."

First used in America for Advertising, Entertainment and News in the late 1920s, TV became more and more commonplace in households that could afford them as people realised there was an easier way of forming public opinion and even catharsis- Part of TV's appeal of course is its power to hold the attention, especially nowadays, of the majority of the world's population; it's unlikely someone you know hasn't seen the same programme as you. Equally, however, this comes with its dangers. What if the content being shown is misleading, or fueled by government propaganda?

This idea is made even more concerning with Television's move to the internet. Moving past 20th Century developments in TV which include the introduction of colour, TV entered the digital age with a change in the way in which it is watched; instead of the family sat round the sofa watching the black box, people are watching content alone which suits them and their own generation only. This could be criticised as a negative thing, and was almost certainly the death of the classic British family sitcom, but was TV ever a good thing? It damages eyesight and acts a distraction from engaging conversation, perhaps- The much adored sitcom The Royle Family depicts a family sat round the sofa doing just this, throwing jokes at each other and enjoying a social gathering around a representation of our lazy society today.