Author Steven Johnson, of the article “Watching TV Makes You Smarter,” argues the evolution of modern television programming has intellectually challenged audiences, rather than stifling complex thoughts—and more, that audiences are craving a more cognitively demanding, complex plot line. Johnson uses multiple examples of drama type shows and even draws positive conclusions from many of the reality shows that are so popular now.
He focuses in on a few key factors to take into account when considering the complexity and value of television—the “Sleeper Curve”, televised intelligence, and intentional viewer confusion. Johnson describes the “Sleeper Curve” as, “the most debased forms of mass diversion—video games and violent television dramas and juvenile sitcoms –turn out to be nutritional after all. ” He encourages his audience to look past the surface content of the show, to the deeper meanings of the story, to gain an understanding of a realistic account of the world around us.
Not simple life lessons, but rather gaining cultural experiences through the characters. Next, Johnson discusses the importance and evolution of televised intelligence. He basically describes this intelligence as the audiences’ ability to understand and follow complex relationships that happen on screen. Specifically, there are three components to this televised intelligence: “…multiple threading, flashing arrows, and social networks. ” (Johnson).
He goes on to show the progression of drama television shows from the early 80’s to today, by referencing graphs illustrating the number of individual threads (or stories) that are in various shows, increasing the number of threads with quality of shows. Johnson then discusses the importance of viewer confusion, and the role it plays in the overall scheme of making quality television. He uses examples of older shows that merely pointed out to the audience what they were supposed to know, or follow. Giving obvious clues did not allow for their own assumptions or cognitive thought.
The Term Paper on What Is Drama?
The word drama is derived from the ancient Greek word meaning action. If something is full of action it’s exciting, emotional, it’s unpredictable; it’s dramatic. Drama is a way of expressing or showing a story. Drama can make us feel happy, sad, afraid, superior, and inferior and so on. Drama is the essence of human existence; it’s what makes life worth living for. In modern times we have used the ...
Citing the modern show, The West Wing, he suggests the information given by characters in each scene do not paint a full picture, forcing the viewer to draw conclusions and make connections about the details of each situation. These [lack of] actions and clues in scenes cause deliberate confusion, forcing the audience to make their own sense of the situations. Johnson addresses his counterargument by writing about how even reality television (widely regarded as “bad” television), has raised the complexity level for viewers.
He notes how these changes are seen across the spectrum of television, not just in one genre. Johnson restates the importance of complexity in modern television by drawing the conclusion that the “…true test should be whether a given show engages or sedates the mind. ” He adds that the popularity of complexity has grown due to the money making potential through different media outlets, and remarks that this challenge modern television has created for all generations is a positive thing—it challenges both children and adults alike to draw cognitive connections that are not just given in story lines.
