Abstract
This paper explains that the decade of the 1980s is seen as the explosion of television culture in terms of the proliferation of networks and the availability of programming through the cable. The author points out that Wallace and DeLillo are both concerned with postmodern characters that are absent internal selves, or rather, characters that seem to be informed of behavior primarily through the use of television. The author believes that sports on television now seems to be as dysfunctional as the nuclear family: a series of different schedules with a lot of hype, dreams or delusions of grandeur, with no meaningful connection to the simple love of the game.

Table of Contents
Cultural History of American Television
The Postmodern Television Consumer Culture: "White Noise" and "Girl with Curious Hair"
Television's Impact on Sports

From the Paper
"The FCC continued to be the regulating body that determined what would be permissible for the American public to view. However, the Reagan administration that preached supply-side economics, believed that deregulation was the best method of growing the economy given the many slow-downs that dominated the 1970's. "For FCC chairman (Reagan appointee) [Mark] Fowler, the only kind of regulation that was legitimate came from the market itself, and he made this clear to gleeful industry executives from his earliest days in office" (Steyer 137). Fowler also acknowledged that such regulation should be at the hands of media and broadcasting executives because they had first hand knowledge of what Americans really wanted to see. Ironically, it seemed that the Reagan administration passively promoted a liberal media that looked for alternative methods of programming even though the business executives would assess its effectiveness and its decency."

Tags:cable, fox, characters, salaries, programming

Abstract
This paper focuses on how overweight women are portrayed in American television, stressing the comical roles in which unattractive women are cast. While thin, attractive women are prevailing with more dominant, powerful roles, overweight female characters are cast in demeaning roles. Given the dominant role allows an attractive woman to address important women's issues, where her overweight counterpart is often cast in roles that confine her to the undesirable stereotype of of the pushy, nosy, nit-picker.

From the Paper
"Over the past few years, actresses have found themselves in greater positions of freedom with regards to the roles open and offered to them. Women are prevailing in television with more dominant, powerful roles and given a chance to address issues that concern the female public. However, it is usually the younger, thin women who get to stretch the limits of society. They get to explore roles of sexual and personal liberation. Thin women are shown as holding high positions in the economic world as well as having the ability to attract many men. For the most part, their older, overweight counterparts are still confined to roles that portray them as intrusive busybodies. When they push these attitudes beyond the normal social expectations, they become the joke of other characters and must then deal with their ridicule. Overweight female characters in sitcoms are demeaned and made fun of by other characters in the show. They are often characterized by overly flamboyant clothes, makeup and personalities, and as a result the other characters show a slight fear of them. These roles are especially prevalent in the evening situational comedies that one might watch."

Tags:casting, obese, minorities, stereotype, discrimination

Abstract
With the advent of the internet, television shows are further illustrating their addiction to satisfy advertisers by building what could be called bonus material onto their websites in a bid to recoup advertising that has been lost to cyberspace. In each case, the ads themselves are further driving content, bounding well past the lines in the sand of what were once considered ethical dilemmas, and creating a culture of ignorance. This essay discusses ways in which advertising is being used to affect opinion and information.

From the Paper
"Although degrees of saturation vary, American television is almost universally a sponsored medium. As such, it is built on a so-called "free" ideal, in as much as viewers of the major networks receive news, entertainment, sitcoms, dramas, lifestyle shows, and sports without paying directly for it. However, where cable television started as a commercial-free space, it too now relies on commercials, creating an across-the-board modern reliance on advertising dollars that brings with it third-party influences that have affected its form, content, and messaging in such strong ways that they can only be described as gate-keepers and creators at the same time."

Tags:advertising, product, placement

Abstract
This essay examines the history of post-modernism in order to understand the contemporary criticism aimed at it, and is especially aimed at animated television series with viewing audiences that have increased exponentially in size. The work concentrates on two specific series, The Simpson's and Beavis and Butthead. This essay focuses on television, because of the increasing size of viewing audiences, and because post modernism has not just become an era of expression, but has enlarged the expression beyond what the modernists ever conceived possible, making it socially relevant as a form of social and artistic expression. The author reviews current literature before examining the two series and drawing final conclusions.

Outline:
The Postmodern Television Movement
Postmodernist Identity
Case Study
Works Cited

From the Paper
"By definition our understanding of post modernism must be that which was birthed by the modernism before it, which was a period of artistic expression that conveyed the artists' impressions in the world around them and the emotions that the world around evoked in them. As an expression, modernism took on a somewhat abstract form, but not so abstract in nature that one was left unable to connect to the emotional expression of the artist's interpretation of the world. Post-modernism, therefore, is that artistic expression following the modern period. The original off-spring, it might be said, of modernism. Logically, then, post modernism, to convey an understanding beyond the period following modernism, is the ongoing manifestation of modernism in a period removed from the original introduction of that artistic movement."

Tags:simpson's, beavis, butthead, society, cartoons, Flintstones, identity, parody

Abstract
The paper analyzes the gender roles in television programs, the influence on women's role in a society, and the marketing techniques adopted in establishing television as an entertainment medium in the 1950s.

From the Paper
"Television programs, ever since the advent of the visual device, has been a major societal influence regimenting feelings, believes and behaviors of the audience in unfathomable magnitudes. During the early years, television programs apparently defined and presented the ideal notion of gender roles in a society, seeking to influence the real life families, particularly women, in fashioning themselves. However, essentially driven by marketing interests, the programs were in fact adopting such themes that would click with the viewers, establishing television as a necessary entertainment media in each home."

Tags:entertainment, media, gender, marketing

Abstract
This research proposal identifies the known problems with the rating systems and proposes a study that would help determine if the Q-Score reports are misrepresenting the American television viewing public. In this article, the writer discusses whether Marketing Evaluations'
Q-Scores for television ratings accurately represent the television viewing habits of all Americans, including minority groups, or whether the limited population samples and data analysis methods are skewed in such a way that minority populations are underrepresented in ratings and the media. The writer claims that this is an important study because of the integral role that television and the media play in the lives of all Americans, and as a part of American society overall. The writer concludes that if there is a misrepresentation of minority groups in the current Q-ratings reports, this must be identified and this information made available to the public so that all members of society can make an informed decision regarding media-related activities, such as advertising, that are affected by the quality of television ratings reports.

Outline:
Abstract
Purpose and Rationale
Hypothesis
Literature Review
Limitations
Works Cited

From the Paper
"If a small-scale study finds a significant problem, other researchers will be interested in doing further analysis on this issue. Also, the public may simply be made aware of the issue, therefore considering these questions when taking stock in ratings reports. It is known that the television media industry and their advertisers depends on ratings reports to make decisions regarding programming and product placement. It is also well documented that minority groups have been significantly underrepresented in the Nielsen ratings, the country's leading marketing provider of television ratings, as will be illustrated by the following literature review. What is not known is whether the Q Rating system, which collected data in different ways than the Nielsen ratings, also has a problem in properly representing minority groups and providing accurate data on the television viewing habits of the American public."

Tags:surveys, media, analysis, methods

Abstract
This paper focuses on the treatment of African-Americans in television programs spanning decades. Specific shows are discussed (e.g. - "All In The Family", "Sanford & Son"). Conclusions are drawn by the author based on his/her research regarding trends of treatment of African-Americans in mass media.

From the Paper
"There is no question that media is a very powerful force in all of our lives. Whether we realize it or not the media is an important factor in molding some of our first opinions as children. That is why it is very important for television to be representing all minorities. Television has not historically done a good job of this. However, it has improved drastically from how things were in the 1950's. It is also very important that other races are portrayed accurately. If they are portrayed in stereotypical ways, that will be the view that children have before they are old enough to make their own decisions. We need to teach our children about other races in order to live in a world that respects all races."

Tags:blacks, controversy, equality, portrayal, racisim

Abstract
This paper looks at what the consequences are for Canada when so many Canadians seem preoccupied with watching American television productions. Additionally, the paper considers what can be done to change things in this regard. Overall, one is hard-pressed to arrive at any other finding than that the overwhelming presence of American shows on Canadian TV is a troublesome development for Canada culturally, politically and even economically.

From the Paper
"What are the consequences of the overwhelming American domination of TV programs watched by Canadians? What, if anything, should be done to change this? The following paper will look at what the consequences are for Canada when so many Canadians seem preoccupied with watching American television productions. Additionally, the paper will look at what can be done - and has been done - to change things in this regard. Overall, one is hard-pressed to arrive at any other finding than that the overwhelming presence of American shows on Canadian TV is a troublesome development for Canada culturally, politically and even economically. To start with..."

Tags:american, programs, canadians

Abstract
The author of this paper examines the phenomena of reality television programs that are a large part of American television programming. The author seeks to discover whether such television programs focus on and bring out the worst aspects of American society or if, they are a mirror reflecting American culture and society as they really are. The author examines these phenomena primarily from a psychological point of view and present arguments and examples from current research and literature.

From the Paper
"However, psychologists and therapists feel that there is an aching psyche in the American culture that is using RTV as a cure, much in the way the Marx referred to religion as being the opiate of the people. Or as one writer updates it, "Is reality TV the crack cocaine of what critic Marie Winn calls the 'plug-in drug?'" (Breyer 100) RTV coupled with the massive bombardment of news, mostly bad, from around the nation and the world is numbing us to any emotional ties to reality. Javors compares RTV shows to the quick fix junk food restaurants and calls them "fast food programs" and states they are as bad for our minds as a constant diet of Double Whoppers with cheese and Chocolate Milk shakes would be to our bodies. She states that, "As a result, we are numbing ourselves to very real life challenges." (35)"

Tags:tabloid, journalism, fascinates, intrigues, audiences, set, script, entertainment, interaction, news, privacy, voyeurs

Abstract
This paper presents an extensive chronology of the manner in which African-American have been presented in movies and on television. This paper states that despite the attempt to portray American culture accurately, the media lags behind in regards to the changes in morality and values held by the American people, especially in the portrayal of minorities. The author feels that because television is an intense carrier of socialization, there needs to be much more research to assess the impact of these images on the psyche of black youth.

Table of Contents
Background Information on U.S. Media and Television
The American Audience
Four Functions of Media
The Image of African-Americans on Television
Roots of the Distorted Images of African-Americans
The Birth of Television Images
Life on Television Study
The Neilson Rating System
Televisions Impact on Socialization
Socialization and Comprehension in Childhood
Studies with Children and Television

From the Paper
"The Anglo-Saxon beliefs, which were brought to this country, showed the beginning of racial prejudice in this country. White was seen as pure, clean, good, reflecting the spiritual light; and black was seen as impurity, filth, evil and spiritual darkness. Those people who were prosperous and self-sufficient were the spiritual elect, and those who were enslaved were seen as damned. These beliefs carried on in the South, with the mythology of the happy slaves who were content to serve the master as the ultimate fulfillment of their lives. This became one of the many justifications for slavery and exploitation of blacks. During the Reconstruction period, images of a lazy, slow-witted blacks with loose morals and fondness for alcohol were used to reinforce institutionalized and social racism."

Tags:culture, black, comdey, minority, children