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Ethics and TV shows
Introduction
The importance of entertainment in any person’s life cannot be overemphasized. In the recent times, there has been an increase or proliferation of the number of entertainment mediums that people have at their disposal. One of the most popular sources of entertainment is television shows. With numerous movies, programs and reality shows, the television industry has come a long way. Currently, there are television channels that broadcast 24 hours a day, in which case an individual has all degrees of freedom as to when to watch whatever show he or she chooses. It is noteworthy that television, like radios in the previous generation, is capable of penetrating the privacy of any individual’s home, something that has raised a lot of concern. For a long time, it has taken its duties as instructing, enlightening and informing. However, all these functions have faded in comparison to entertainment. In the same breath, entertainment has brewed a lot of controversy as to the morality or ethical nature of most television shows. Along with the evolution of television shows, morals and ethics have taken a downward trend as far as the content is concerned. In fact, there is a marked difference between the level of morality depicted in present-day TV programs and those of the 60’s.
Studies show that quite a large number of people believe that the United States is on a moral decline. In addition, most people believe that the entertainment and news media are a key influence as far as the decline is concerned. Many people belonging in the 50s have incredible recollections of TV shows such as “The Donna Reed Show”, “Father Knows Best” and “Leave it to Beaver” among others. Many people will acknowledge that, all of these shows came with a moral or ethical challenge for all the main characters. While trying to untangle themselves from their dilemmas, the viewers were left with valuable and tangible lessons. It is noteworthy that these shows clearly defined what was appropriate and wrong. In these shows, concepts such as situational ethics were never incorporated. Not only were the viewers entertained but also taught character-building concepts that the society embraced at that time.
Fast-forward to the contemporary TV shows and one would be dumbfounded by the content incorporated. Most of the shows in today’s television channels blatantly promote premarital sex, extreme violence, adultery, rebellion, drug and alcohol use and violation of law among other things. It is noteworthy that most of the images that are shown in present-day TV programs have long term effects on all people, whether adults or children (Rushdie 45). Unfortunately, some of these programs are shown at times when children are still wide awake. In essence, they are exposed to different forms of nudity, grisly horror scenes, graphic violence, as well as simulated sex acts that have a horrific language accompanying them. Unfortunately, these children may not be sufficiently mature to understand or process these things.
Reality shows have also become quite popular in the recent times thanks to their profitable nature. As much as some of them may not be successful, quite a number of them achieve considerable cultural prominence ad popularity. However, it is noteworthy that they are not entirely new. The reality show known as Candid Camera started in the 40’s and involved filming ordinary persons confronted by unusual situations. The situation could involve desk drawers that popped out when one was closed, cars with another gas tank and many other episodes. However, the episodes of Candid Camera that run today are in no way comparable to the initial episodes. It seems that the new version is founded on putting people through embarrassing, humiliating and painful situations while the viewers watch and are presumably entertained. If the sole reason, as to why production companies come up with these shows is to make money from the suffering, humiliation and embarrassment of unsuspecting people, then the entire production is unconscionable and immoral (Stevenson 45). As much as there may be some people who are willing to view such events, the producers are not in any way relieved from their guilt of orchestrating these events, as well as willing the reactions. The fact that they orchestrate shows where other people will experience embarrassment, suffering and humiliation, is naturally unethical (Rushdie 23).
However, questions arise as to whether producers are entirely to blame. In instances where the participants are unsuspecting, the producers or individuals who orchestrate the shows are entirely to blame. However, there are instances where the participants are willing to go through it all for whatever reason. Take, for example, a popular show known as The Bachelor. It involves one man, who is the Bachelor, and 25 women from whom he has his pick. Shot at a Malibu mansion, the show is a perfect example of how immoral a people can be. The bachelor greets and talks with each of the 25 ladies takes a number of them on dates and gets to make out with quite a number of them. The bachelor cuts the group of women every week to the last one. The surprising thing about the show is that none of the girls shows a different preference from the bachelor presented. None of them is not attracted to the bachelor presented. In fact, all the girls say that they wish they could be picked by the bachelor. Later on, the girls opine that they think they are falling in love with the bachelor. This changes, later on, to confiding that are in love with the lucky bachelor. While this is going on, the lucky bachelor feels each of the women, who are aged between 18 and 30, every week. Their families are thoroughly informed that the bachelor thinks their girl is the one. During the entire time, each of the girls is perfectly in the know of the bachelor’s ways. She can see the bachelor taking one of the ladies on a cruise, dinner date, skiing and skydiving, while they sit in the mansion. In fact, they watch as the bachelor takes each of the girls to the hot tub or into the pool and has sex with them. When there are three girls left, the bachelor asks them whether they would mind in case he spends a night with them (Greenspan 34). Surprisingly, none of the girls refuses. Each of these girls knows that the bachelor was or will be sleeping with the other girl the night before or after. However, they go ahead and sleep with him all aiming to do better than the next girl or the previous one. Unfortunately, this is the society that everyone has created either by omission or commission. Such episodes were unheard of in shows such as “The Waltons”, of the 60’s, which had clear lessons to teach the viewers. The Waltons promoted virtues such as family values, commitment to the proper decision-making for the good of all, taking responsibility for one’s actions, standing up for one’s beliefs, forgiveness and even following one’s passion. Unfortunately, despite all the hype and popularity of the present-day shows, there is nothing pleasant as far as moral lessons are concerned (Sumser 56).
In conclusion, the morality and ethics incorporated in mist TV shows has been rapidly declining. There is a marked difference between the movies of the 60’s and the TV shows we have today. Most shows have sex, lying, humiliation, suffering and embarrassment of the participants as the key line. While the blame may lie with the producers, it is noteworthy that most of the individuals who are involved in these immoral episodes are willing participants. Most of these TV shows have nothing to show as far as moral lessons are concerned unlike the TV shows of the 60s.
Works cited
Butler, John. TV, movies & morality: a guide for Catholics. New York: Our Sunday Visitor. 1984. Print
Stevenson, Gregory. Televised Morality: The Case of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. New York: University Press of America. 2003
Sumser, John. Morality and social order in television crime drama. New York: McFarland. 1996. Print.
Rushdie, Salman. Reality TV: a dearth of talent and the death of morality. The Guardian. 2001. Web retrieved 21st April 2012 from HYPERLINK “http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2001/jun/09/salmanrushdie”http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2001/jun/09/salmanrushdie
Greenspan, Bob. Morality TV: ABC, The Bachelor, and the American Decline. 2007. Web retrieved 21st April 2012 from HYPERLINK “http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/morality-tv-abc-the-bachelor-and/”http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/morality-tv-abc-the-bachelor-and/
