By Frederic Germay
I definitely wouldn’t label myself a conservative viewer nor would I claim to be the opposite, yet I’ve noticed a recurring trend in the ever-changing and unique style of modern broadcast television. One specific way of describing this evident change would be to label it as a more adult or mature direction for television. I often come across this particular change in film as well. For example, “The Matrix” was rated R for Sci-Fi Violence and Brief Language, yet if anyone were to look at the violence or language content in “Live Free or Die Hard” – few could argue a noticeable difference in the severity of the material. “The Matrix” opened in 1999, whereas “Live Free” was released in 2007 and received the rating of PG-13.
Certain studies speculate whether the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has become more lax over the years concerning their rating scale. However, the same effect has transitioned over to television and other mediums, so I would argue that it is society, in general, that has developed an increasing tolerance towards would have been considered mature material in earlier years and now craves more adult-level material.
There are several television shows that now push the envelope of graphic substance in numerous ways. The new Fox thriller, “Fringe,” combats the “CSI” series in the arena of gore. “Fringe” is now one of my must-see shows, but I’ve become quite aware of the escalating usage of disturbing content as an effective attention getter. “Fringe” has always been visually stunning in one way or another as the show’s premise is built upon presenting unexplainable phenomenon, yet now the cases have expanded to brain-liquefaction and the cringe-worthy depiction of a slug wrenching its way through a man’s throat. The “CSI” series have always been the purveyors of gruesome cadavers and the assorted death-related treats. Yet “CSI” has become a staple in modern television, and is currently the most consistently viewed drama program in United States.
Sexual material is also a key component of the prevalent mature material in television. Shows like “Desperate Housewives” and “Grey’s Anatomy” are quite explicit in terms of its suggestive content. “Grey’s Anatomy’s” plot often revolves around who’s sleeping with whom, and the promos for “Desperate Housewive” have often displayed more lingerie than a Victoria Secret commercial. Given the progressing nature of mature material on broadcast television, one could argue that more sexually explicit material such as nudity might eventually be allowed on broadcast television. Multiple cable channels, such as HBO and Showtime, have already employed such suggestive content on their respective networks for several years now.
Perhaps the most complex element of arguably mature material would be violence. A grand portion of television shows already employ violence in general, but one has to consider specifically how graphic or excessive the depiction of violence is in that particular show before labeling as ‘too mature.’ Therefore it becomes particularly difficult to categorize. Programs such as “24,” have always used violence and torture as visual and story devices throughout the years. However, “24” does issue a warning before each episode advising viewer discretion due to the graphic content. In past seasons, the show’s main character, Jack Bauer, has tortured and violently killed countless individuals. The show seems to argue that the violence is an acceptable means to fight terrorism. The current season of “24” particularly reinforces the paradox concerning the validity of torture in potential mass-casualty situations.
Language, in my opinion, is perhaps the least significant item in this trend. Broadcast television doesn’t allow certain swearwords and networks have even pulled shows and episodes from their lineup due to potentially suggestive or controversial plot arcs. Some shows, such as “Hell’s Kitchen,” use explicit language prevalently through each episode, and the editors simply ‘bleep’ out the offensive dialogue.
There are several ways that this trend can and has negatively effect our culture. Perhaps the most worrisome negative effect is how this affects children and the youth of our generation. At the highly influential age of twelve, children watch an average of four hours a day. “By watching aggression, children learn how to be aggressive in new ways and they also draw conclusions about whether being aggressive to others will bring them rewards (Huesmann and Eron, 1986).” According the Public Health Agency of Canada, studies indicate that the children who watch violent shows often try to imitate the particular instance of violence, and children that actually prefer violent shows in their youth have been shown to have an increased risk of getting trouble with the law later in life (Ledingham, et al., 1993).
In addition to that, one might argue that as a society we are being desensitized to violence and graphic content. This also could lend credence to the belief that we will approach real-life situations with that particular mindset. Perhaps this negligent attitude will transition to our judicial system, to law in general, and perhaps our children will learn values that have been drastically changed from what we were taught.
However, the transition of television to a more mature audience has not had pure negative effects alone. Not only does modern television expect its audiences to be more tolerant of adult material, but it also expects us to be more intelligent. Several wildly popular shows, such as “Lost,” “Battlestar Galactica,” “House,” and “Numbers,” provide deeply challenging stories, sophisticated and smart plots, and continue to stimulate the senses in profoundly positive ways.
Returning to the effects on our youth, television has also been show to help encourage and interest young viewers intellectually through the use of increasingly, yet subtler, educational programs. Also, television helps children learn to act in social situations and in some cases, more effectively communicate with adults. In most educational settings and establishments, instructors often use television programs to relate with the pupils.
Ultimately, I have no position on whether anything should be done to curb this ongoing trend, and I’m actively trying to remain objective on the topic. There are both detractors and positive effects relating to the steady direction television is heading. Everyone will have different opinions on the matter ranging from religious conservatism to rebellious liberalism. In essence, this debate almost political in nature. So in the long run, the only question you really need to ask yourself is whether or not you feel television is getting too mature for you?
References
Huesmann, L.R., and L.D. Eron. 1986. Television and the Aggressive Child: A Cross-National Comparison. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Ledingham, J., C.A. Ledingham, and J.E. Richardson. 1993. The Effects of Media Violence on Children. National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, [online]
