The Un-TV

While doing the Un-TV experiment, it became much easier to master ''doing-nothing;" and by doing nothing, I became aware of the stigma that occurs from watching TV as well as the effects it has on our lives.

The Un-TV experiment reminded me that the TV is a form of entertainment whereas I have a predetermined mentality that when I turn the TV on, I want to be entertained. Although some may argue that watching TV morphs people into zombies and essentially becomes a black-hole in reality, I believe it depends on your mindset. For instance, if you're going to the theater to watch a play, ballet, or opera you're looking to be entertained; though we tend not to morph into zombies when we watch these events. We often watch the show and seem to be drawing opinions about the characters, connecting the story line, drawing thematic conclusions, and over all analyzing the scenes before our eyes. The difference being, from watching these events and going to the movie theater and watching TV for entertainment, is that these shows are live and don't have technical events to keep us from blinking and glued to our entertainment. So why do people tend to zone-out and not think about what they're watching? Why do people become dormant when they watch TV instead of analyze the interactions among individuals?

I believe that the reason TV watching is associated with lazy couch-potatoes is because the majority of those who turn on the TV usually try to watch something to de-stress their mind, relax, have something to do while they wait, etc. Couch-potatoes aren't always necessarily looking to be entertained. While reading a book or magazine provides brain power, watching TV provides you instant relaxation by "zoning-out" with just a push of a button. Moreover, while going to the movies is associated as "doing something"--even though you're simply going out of the house to sit and do nothing--watching TV has a negative stigma, usually those who turn the TV on have trouble turning it off; while when you're at the movies, the movie you pay for only keeps you addicted to the screen for a set period of time, or when the movie is over.

Although many may make the case that TV controls our lives, or it's bad for us, or going to the movies is exactly like watching TV, I solely believe it depends on our mindset when we're entertained inside or outside of our homes. Similarly to spending hours on the internet, TV may be draining and may feel like it's sucking the minutes out of our day; though this doesn't mean that being effected by the TV is inevitable and only negative outcomes are possible. Just like most things in life, watching TV is what you make of it. Whether you want to become a lazy couch-potato or enjoy a few marathons of your favorite show, the TV is for entertainment--not to control you.