Barriers and Reality

Watching three hours of television was difficult to do over Easter break. I usually do not watch television, and with all the running around and visiting family, it was even more difficult than usual.

However, I managed to catch a few shows, one of them being LOST. On this week’s episode, several survivors of the plane crash were gassed by the Others (people who mysteriously already live on this island) and left to fend for themselves in the jungle where freakish things happen. This week, there were two women (one a survivor and one an Other) who were handcuffed together and left amid the tall grasses and trees of the jungle. While they were fighting and trying to figure out a way to separate themselves, an incredible noise thundered around them. They set off running, trying to find a place to hide from the “thing” behind the noise. They came to an electric barrier that happened to be turned off. They crossed the barrier and the Other turned the barrier on, creating a wall of protection around them. From the victims’ point of view we see a black cloud of smoke (?) evaporate as it hits the barrier, and the women are safe.

Obviously, this riveting episode allowed me to experience a situation that I would not normally experience. There are other people in the world who consistently watch this show as well, and perhaps exposing myself to this episode allowed me a sort of “connection” with those other viewers; I mean, people of various ages, classes, genders, etc. take part in watching this show and while we were all tuned in, those “demographic boundaries” were crossed. However, I don’t think people would watch LOST and think they were seeing reality unfold before their eyes. They know this show is fictional and watch it for pure entertainment.

Joshua Meyrowitz believes that the “existence and development of various media can lead to radical changes in society” and that electronic media (television) “breaks down the physical barriers that separate people.” I agree with him in that watching television, listening to the radio, etc. can make it easier for ideas to spread among people of different demographics, such as class and age. I’ve never personally witnessed a radical change in society caused by media, but I suppose it could happen if the media pulled in enough devotees who had the power to further the change. Every now and then media can pull people together and make them feel connected. I’m thinking about September 11th, when millions of radios and televisions were tuned in to coverage around the clock. An event such as 9/11 can help people of various demographics connect and unite for a common good.

Baudrillard defines hyperreality as the “creation of a real through conceptual models presented by the media.” Separating the ‘real’ from the ‘unreal’ can become difficult when a person is faced with a simulation. A person’s perception of reality can become altered by the media. If a person develops there definition of reality by the television shows they watch, they will have a misconstrued perception of reality. There are a few people in the world who probably spend their time constantly watching television and they just might believe that what they see happening on television is reality.

I also caught an episode of Little People, Big World during my prime time fest. Little People, Big World is a reality television show about a family of six, three of whom (father, mother, one son) are dwarves. The viewer is allowed to enter a world which must be altered to accommodate the entire family’s needs. All of the countertops and tables are lower than in most houses and the cars contain special features to allow the mother and father to drive. This particular family is also wealthy; they live on a huge farm, which holds a play pirate ship and a cowboy town made up of rows of wooden houses, shops, and a saloon. They rent out parts of the farm for business events and hold annual festivals, offering reenactments and hayrides.

Little People, Big World exposes people to the difficulties dwarves must overcome in their daily lives, but the fact is, they do and they do so quite well. It might not be as easy for other families as it is for this family, but it might be; I don’t really know. So, it is a fraction of television that makes others aware of a world in which people live differently from the accepted social norms. This show could break down the barriers of society just by creating awareness, as Meyrowitz states. This could also be a person’s only exposure to the reality that some people have to alter their lifestyles to live according to the accepted norms of society. This television show could construct a person’s perception of reality about dwarves.

Pieces of both Meyrowitz’s and Baudrillard’s theories are true. I think television is a combination of the theories and whichever theory applies changes with the television show. Overall, I use television and other forms of media for entertainment purposes, not to form my reality or connect to others. It can allow a connection between people in certain instances (going to the movie theater) and can help a person form their reality, but I see it more as a form of entertainment.