The orienting response is a known neurological autonomous response that's triggered by sudden movement or contrast. It evolved as part of our nervous systems in order to be responsive to novel movement in the trees, potential predatorial attacks. Our attention is riveted by sudden movement, our hearts pound, our bodies tense.
Television and movies are cut successfully to trigger the orienting response. This is one dimension of why some psychologists believe television can actually be physically addictive. "Television Addiction Is No Mere Metaphor," by Robert Kubey and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, published in Scientific American, details just how real such an addiction can become.
"24," the show featuring Kiefer Sutherland as a federal agent in the Counter Terrorism Unit, counts down its minutes in real time, with one hour in the show equaling one hour in the audience's life.
Reality TV. Surround sound. 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, THX, DTS. Hi-def. Blu-ray, HD DVD. Extended editions, director's cuts.
The increasing popularity of serial entertainment, where the show never ends.
IMAX. 3D. Interactive rides. Tactile transducers. Video on the go. Media PC. iPod.
Gaming. PS3, X-Box 360, Nintendo. Online games. Blogs. MySpace.
How much time do we spend looking at screens? Studies like this one are starting to show that online networking amounts to more shallow contacts, and fewer deep contacts in tangible relationships.
What would happen if we stopped using media for a week? TV, internet, radio, newspaper, magazines? What would be left?
What's happening behind our backs as we look at the screens?
4 comments:
you know what I find myself doing just that and you know what else I fell dummer after a night of numbing T.V. but having done it for so long how do you break free of this addiction? There needs to be a filler something to fill the gap , to render the t.v. obselete. It is not so easy ? expecially coming from a generation of Super Man, StarWars, SuperMan II, BatMan , E.T, Night Rider, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, SuperMan III . The list goes on and on and on. We are a generation of movie gowers if were not watching the t.v. were at the movies ore at the drive-in. Hello my name is Jason and im a t.v. addict . You book burner.... ;-) ?
hey dude, check out the linked scientific american article. it makes some suggestions on how to cut the habit.
I've met and keep meeting people through the internet, Craig's List is a great example for me, but also from my blogs, the nicest people are anywhere, and the internet or tv are just tools, just have to know how to use them.
If you don't know how to use a wrench you can hurt yourself!
this is a great point story time. media CAN help us connect and coordinate and learn; we just need to make sure it doesn't harm us along the way.
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