Prompt:
Since the invention of television, the medium has had its ups and downs. At first, television watching was a communal affair; the first television set owners in a neighborhood would proudly invite the neighbors in to view the marvelous box. In time, however, television came to have an isolating effect on viewers; as the painter Andy Warhol once said, “When I got my first television set, I stopped caring so much about having close relationships.”
What are your thoughts on the idea that television has turned out to isolate people instead of bringing them together?
In my opinion, it is definitely irrefutable that television has placed a greater impact in uniting people, instead of isolating the people around the world. Although one may argue that the implementation of television has somehow cut down the moments of people interacting with each other, in fact it is notable that people are brought together as they are now more aware of what is happening around the world.
Due to current sophisticated technology in the space, which allows a rapid information transmission, television has become such an instrumental tool in conveying information to the people. The invention of television has overcome the shortage of the papers media which is incapable of updating the readers with latest news, and hence surpassed the industry, in terms of providing the people with higher speed and wider coverage level. With the presence of this little marvelous black box, people become learnt of what the rest of the world is doing, and this awareness has connected the people around the globe, as the people are now aware of what others are experiencing, be it a heartbreaking disaster, a thrilling football match, or simply an anecdote on a mother giving birth to twins.
One of the great instances depicting a unification of people via television would be the live broadcasting of the horrendous disaster, Si Chuan Earthquake last year. With the aid of black box, the constant reports of the casualties, real updates of pictures and videos in the happening scenes and the grievances that engulf the temporary refugee are vividly presented to the people at once. This instant notification has led to the people’s donations and establishment of volunteer teams, which provide realistic helps to the striving victims. Indirectly, the people are being united, are being connected as they are aware of what happened to each other. The same scenario is applicable to other news that are being transmitted over TV, which helps to bring people together instead of isolating them, such as the broadcasting of the South Africa World Cup match which thrills the heart of everyone, the National Geographic channel which widens the horizons of people’s knowledge and also Travel and Living channel which encourages an understanding of new culture across the boundaries.
Based on the points illustrated, it is obvious that existence of television does not distant out the people, but rather brings them together. On a macroscopic level, it has brought the people of the whole globe come into one, which they can know how each other is doing, instead of being ignorant to one’s well-being. Whereas on a microscopic level, it has encouraged more interaction for the family who sits together around it, and sparks off more topics for people to chat over dinner, which again enhances the bonding of people.
Time spent: 33 minutes
Time spent: 33 minutes
Well developed essay. The writer knows his stand and presents arguments well