The Televised Cult
Essay Preview: The Televised Cult
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The Televised Cult        Most people like to watch a talk show program on television and judge each issue accordingly. Others like to be entertained or simply relate to the people on the screen. Whichever category we fall under, we all sit in to hear and watch the troubles and conflicts that these talk shows involve us in. Two professionals in which will be introduced in this essay share their personal reflections on how people are being affected by this type of media. I will review Heaton and Wilsonâs arguments and evaluate their evidence in order to analyze whether or not it is credible, relevant, or sufficient.         Psychologist Jeanne Heaton and Educational advisor Nona Wilsonâs main claim in their article âTalk TV: Tuning in to Troubleâ is that viewers of modern talk show programs are creating more problems for themselves by participating in whatâs believed to be entertainment instead of pure animosity and hate. For Example, the authors compare current Talk TV to old gruesome gladiator fights held in the Colosseum. The educatorsâ state, âwhile the show is less bloody, the crowd is bigger than ever and is roaring for moreâ (153). Heaton and Wilson use a reflective and critical tone as they highlight the mass growing amount of viewers rapidly partaking in destructive televised media. They support this claim by comparing old Talk TV shows that practiced high quality television to modern programs that created more problems to viewers by distorting normal issues for audience entertainment. The writers provide a reference made by Naomi Wolf, the authors of The Beauty Myth, as she explains the contributing factors made by Phil Donahue and Oprah Winfrey: ââ [Talk Shows did] something absolutely unique among our cultural institutions: that is, they treat[ed] the opinions of women of all classes, races, and educational levels as if they matteredââ (154). However, modern Talk TV has taken popularity due to fan ratings. The writers go on to state that âproducers claim viewers want shows to sizzleâ (155), and that âthe primary focus of Talk TV has always been to entertain and to do so by using sexual, familial, and personal problemsâ (155). Heaton and Wilsonâs purpose in writing this article is to inform and convince the readers that not only are the guest in a show are being exploited in a bad mental environment, but the viewers that participate in it. The authors use a concerned tone throughout their article intended for all the beclouded victims participating in the televised issue.
These authors share expert opinions without proper credible sources. Despite their credentials they can make knowledgeable assertions and bring about answers to their own ideas, but they fail to support their claims by using persuasive information. In fact, the authors use notions like âseems that viewers only want to see and hear about problemsâ (153), or âperhaps intending only to be entertainedâ (155). These remarks do not fortify the authorsâ credibility, especially after not incorporating any solid evidence or statistical data that would support their affirmations. Regardless of the authorsâ credentials, opinions and statements need to be accounted with hard evidence. This is important to the readers in that they need hard evidence to compare an audience to another group of people. Readers need to know if televised programs are truly affecting crowds.          Heaton and Wilson provide several examples and comparisons that were relevant to their proposal. For example, Even though I think comparing a Talk TV audience to spectators at a Colosseum from A.D. 80 was over the top, it was a great opener and attention getter for the readers. The authors share some history quoting, âGladiators fought to the death with these wild beasts and with one another. Christians, a disposable minority, were thrown to lions for entertainmentâ (153), an audience usually jeers and taunts guest or victims, but not to the point of wishing death upon them. Society is completely different to the Roman Empire Era; however, the readers grasp the idea the author is trying to portray. Another form of relevant data was the comparison of Oprah and Philâs show to the popular modern programs. The authors thank Winfrey and Donahue, âEnormous Credit for providing a platform for the voices of so many who needed to be heard belongs to these two hostâ(154). These two hosts apparently did what other shows didnât, that is provided an ear, assure assistance, and arrange a solution for those that felt unheard. Heaton and Wilson show the evolution of Talk TV when they turn to modern shows disguising common problems with more intriguing topics. For instance, modern shows ââŠoften covered what sound like common problems with work, love and sexâ(155) Heaton and Wilson share how, âCommon problems such as depression and anxiety are rarely presented, yet these disorders affect millionsâ(156). However, these popular TV shows rather talk about more interesting topics that will hype up a crowd and keep them entertained.