Charlie Plummer English 101 Summary Response January 30, 2017 Use of TV on IQ Level
Can watching television actually be beneficial to the learning process? The impression of the use of watching television has been a diverse subject. In the article, “Watching Tv Makes You Smarter” by Steven Johnson he covers this topic and why he believes that watching television is beneficial. Johnson gives examples and arguments as to why he says watching television can raise an individual's IQ level. However, Johnson does address the counter claim in his article but accurately disagrees and gives reasons. I disagree and agree with points made that watching television can raise an individual's IQ level. I agree that the sleeper curve does increase the development of young people today and that in today’s television society has become more sensitive causing television to be “politically correct,” however, I disagree with the idea of watching “intelligent” shows like the History Channel is just as beneficial as watching Monday Night Football. I agree that the “sleeping curve” does enhance our cognitive faculties not decreasing them. Those unfamiliar with this school of thought may be interested to know that it basically boils down to, over time media increases the level of cognitive complexity in individuals. Johnson said, “I believe that the Sleeper Curve is the single most important new force altering the mental development of young people today, and I believe it is largely a force for good: enhancing our cognitive faculties, not dumbing them down” (279). This argument is correct in my opinion because it is true some media can increase your cognitive thinking by some of the opinions claimed or the facts stated or because of simply hearing all the ways different things can be presented and the viewers having to digest it and find what the media is saying. I also agree with the claim that today’s television compared to 20 years ago has had to become more “politically correct” and not say anything to potential offend anyone that wants to complain. Johnson’s theory on today’s television becoming more aware or cautious with saying anything is extremely useful because it sheds light on the difficult problem of today’s culture being way too easily offended by any little thing. Johnson states, “shows like E.R. may have more blood and guts than popular television had a generation ago, but when it comes to storytelling, they possess a quality that can only be described as subtlety and discretion” (289). There are things, not being said, today that should be because the people are too worried to offend some person who wants to complain and get called a racist, or a sexist, or ageist when it is not that at all; it’s when the individual thinks he/she is right and has nothing to do with that. Today it is almost an unspoken rule that anything to do with race whether directly about it or can be inferred should not be spoken about. The freedom of speech is being trumped by every ones sensitivities today. However, I disagree with the thought of saying the average Monday Night Football game is as intellectual and educational as say the history channel or even Fox News. Johnson is mistaking because he overlooks the educational factor and wants to simply is trying to make his point and say everything will raise an individual's IQ level on television, which is not true. “You no more challenge your mind by watching these intelligent shows than you challenge your body watching Monday Night Football” (280). Personally I have seen the effect of watching someone who has deliberately sat there and watched the History Channel all the time learn and receive a great deal of knowledge from doing this. By watching a game viewers can learn a couple plays or even maybe how to play the game or rules. However, There is no real concrete knowledge being taught by watching a football game. The individual will not learn the same amount from both channels equally. After reading the article, “Watching TV Makes You Smarter” by Steven Johnson I have found stuff I have agreed with like, the sleeper curve does increase the development of young people today and that in today’s television society has become more sensitive causing television to be more “politically correct”; But also found that I disagreed with stuff like, the idea of watching “intelligent” shows like the history channel is just as beneficial as watching Monday Night Football.
Johnson, Steven. "Watching Tv Makes You Smarter" They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 198-210. Print