Skylar Ewing
English 102
Response Essay
January 31, 2017
Advancement of Television
Picture a modern day TV show. How many main characters are in the show, and does the show switch between characters multiple times throughout the show? Chances are there are many main characters in the show, and the storyline follows different characters during the episode. In the article, “Watching TV Makes You Smarter” writer and professor Steven Johnson explains the effects of TV episodes on a viewer’s brain. Johnson discusses the evolution of TV episodes throughout time. He claims that TV shows no longer play down to their audiences. I agree with Johnson when he claims multi-threading has become more popular and the issues that each character faces have become more complicated, but I start to disagree with him when he argues that there are less flashing arrows in a tv show.
Adding effects like multiple threading in TV episodes gets the viewers thinking more about the show. Johnson says, “Multi-threading is the most celebrated structural feature of the modern television drama, and it certainly deserves some of the honor that has been doled out to it” (Johnson 285). He is talking about multi-threading and the enhancement of complexity in TV programs. I agree with Johnson that the complexity in a single episode has changed greatly since the first TV programs. He gives a lot of thought into shows not playing down to their viewers, however I think it has more to do with technological advances. Technology today is capable of more than it was in the 70s. With these advancements directors and producers of major TV shows are able to get more creative with each episode. The outcome of this requires more of the viewers attention and cognitive thinking, but it also creates more interest for the show.
Another detail directors and producers have changed that gets views more interested in the show is the issues that a character deals with in an episode. In Johnson’s view, “A contemporary drama like The West WIng, on the other hand, constantly embeds mysteries into the present-tense events: you see characters performing actions or discussing events about which crucial information has been deliberately withheld” (Johnson 286). He is saying that the issues are set up to confuse the viewer. The issues have changed in a way that they are more complex. The common issues in an episode in the 70s would be resolved by the end of the episode. In present TV shows, problems can be presented in one episode and not resolved until the end of the season. With issues that last throughout several episodes directors use flashing arrows or hints to help the viewer connect details.
According to Johnson the number of flashing arrows has decreased in shows. Flashing arrows are placed in episodes to help connect details in an episode. Johnson writes, “A flashing arrow that gives the audience precisely the information it needs in order to make sense of the ensuing plot. These hints serve as a kind of narrative hand-holding” (Johnson 285). While it is true that flashing arrows are not as obvious nowadays in episodes, it does not necessarily follow that there are less flashing arrows in episodes. The flashing arrows are implemented into the episode and like multiple threads in a show, the flashing arrows have become more complicated. In early TV episodes the characters may state details plainly to make sure the audience picks up on the hint; however, in newer TV episodes the characters will present details that are helpful to connecting to events in the episode without giving it all away. The change is in how the hint or flashing arrow is presented. No longer are flashing arrows obvious.
In conclusion, after reading the article, “Watching TV Makes You Smarter,” by Steven Johnson I agree with the claims that multi-threading has become more popular and the issues that each character faces have become more complicated, but I start to disagree with Johnson when he argues that there are less flashing arrows in a tv show. Mutli-threading has become popular overtime but this is not only because of the viewers it is also due to technological advances. The issues have become more complex and intriguing. Flashing arrows, however, are not in episodes less, they are just less obvious. Almost any show that is aired today has many characters and the characters are referred to when it is convenient for the the storyline. This has changed since the first TV episodes premiered on television.
Works Cited
Johnson, Steven. "Watching TV Makes You Smarter." They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 179-189. Print
English 102
Response Essay
January 31, 2017
Advancement of Television
Picture a modern day TV show. How many main characters are in the show, and does the show switch between characters multiple times throughout the show? Chances are there are many main characters in the show, and the storyline follows different characters during the episode. In the article, “Watching TV Makes You Smarter” writer and professor Steven Johnson explains the effects of TV episodes on a viewer’s brain. Johnson discusses the evolution of TV episodes throughout time. He claims that TV shows no longer play down to their audiences. I agree with Johnson when he claims multi-threading has become more popular and the issues that each character faces have become more complicated, but I start to disagree with him when he argues that there are less flashing arrows in a tv show.
Adding effects like multiple threading in TV episodes gets the viewers thinking more about the show. Johnson says, “Multi-threading is the most celebrated structural feature of the modern television drama, and it certainly deserves some of the honor that has been doled out to it” (Johnson 285). He is talking about multi-threading and the enhancement of complexity in TV programs. I agree with Johnson that the complexity in a single episode has changed greatly since the first TV programs. He gives a lot of thought into shows not playing down to their viewers, however I think it has more to do with technological advances. Technology today is capable of more than it was in the 70s. With these advancements directors and producers of major TV shows are able to get more creative with each episode. The outcome of this requires more of the viewers attention and cognitive thinking, but it also creates more interest for the show.
Another detail directors and producers have changed that gets views more interested in the show is the issues that a character deals with in an episode. In Johnson’s view, “A contemporary drama like The West WIng, on the other hand, constantly embeds mysteries into the present-tense events: you see characters performing actions or discussing events about which crucial information has been deliberately withheld” (Johnson 286). He is saying that the issues are set up to confuse the viewer. The issues have changed in a way that they are more complex. The common issues in an episode in the 70s would be resolved by the end of the episode. In present TV shows, problems can be presented in one episode and not resolved until the end of the season. With issues that last throughout several episodes directors use flashing arrows or hints to help the viewer connect details.
According to Johnson the number of flashing arrows has decreased in shows. Flashing arrows are placed in episodes to help connect details in an episode. Johnson writes, “A flashing arrow that gives the audience precisely the information it needs in order to make sense of the ensuing plot. These hints serve as a kind of narrative hand-holding” (Johnson 285). While it is true that flashing arrows are not as obvious nowadays in episodes, it does not necessarily follow that there are less flashing arrows in episodes. The flashing arrows are implemented into the episode and like multiple threads in a show, the flashing arrows have become more complicated. In early TV episodes the characters may state details plainly to make sure the audience picks up on the hint; however, in newer TV episodes the characters will present details that are helpful to connecting to events in the episode without giving it all away. The change is in how the hint or flashing arrow is presented. No longer are flashing arrows obvious.
In conclusion, after reading the article, “Watching TV Makes You Smarter,” by Steven Johnson I agree with the claims that multi-threading has become more popular and the issues that each character faces have become more complicated, but I start to disagree with Johnson when he argues that there are less flashing arrows in a tv show. Mutli-threading has become popular overtime but this is not only because of the viewers it is also due to technological advances. The issues have become more complex and intriguing. Flashing arrows, however, are not in episodes less, they are just less obvious. Almost any show that is aired today has many characters and the characters are referred to when it is convenient for the the storyline. This has changed since the first TV episodes premiered on television.
Works Cited
Johnson, Steven. "Watching TV Makes You Smarter." They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 179-189. Print