Impact of television and film on society

TV and Film Impact

As technology and sheer presence of television and film grew in the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's, their ability to reflect and influence American culture also increased. The tumultuous 1970's and that decade's rise of political issues and fortunes were reflected in both television and film. The Reagan conservatism of the 1980's was significantly aided by Reagan's familiarity with both television and film. The domination of television and film by "The Big Six" in the 1990's deepened and broadened the abilities of television and film to reflect and influence culture in America and worldwide. Consequently, those 3 decades saw the dramatic increase in the importance of television and film.

Body: In What Ways Were TV and Film a Window into the Culture of the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's?

Television and film of the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's increasingly reflected and impacted revolutions of varying influence in America's culture, both feeding and feeding off of American culture and contributing to the rise and fall of political leaders and movements. America's 1970's was an explosive media decade, preoccupied with such weighty topics as the political unrest caused by the Vietnam War and Watergate, women's rights, racial segregation and the opening of popular culture to black citizens, increased political interest and cynicism, a more open sexual culture, and a new irreverence toward "classic" American values. The Vietnam War was the first televised war, with nightly news segments devoted to its progress,[footnoteRef:1] and Watergate became an increasingly hot topic of interest leading up to Nixon's resignation and the eventual rise of Jimmy Carter, a liberal outsider who rose to the Presidency in 1976.[footnoteRef:2] Predictably, there were also backlashes against critical exposure of powerful American individuals, with Nixon's order of an FBI investigation into the life of a particularly hated television reporter[footnoteRef:3]and extensive coverage of the 1975 cease fire. In addition, protests against the war were readily televised at that time and protesters became more aware of the benefits of televised protest.[footnoteRef:4] the efforts of black anti-segregationists also benefits from televised coverage and became more conversant with valuable uses of the medium.[footnoteRef:5] in addition, popular culture became more open to black citizens: a "black sitcom" called "The Jeffersons" debuted in 1975 and revolved around the lives of a prosperous, cantankerous wealthy black man, his family and an interracial couple.[footnoteRef:6] in addition, in 1977, the 7-part mini-series "Roots" -- a story of numerous generations in of a black family stretching from capture/slavery to freedom in America -- aired with approximately 130 million Americans -- more than half the U.S. population of that time, watching at least part of the series and approximately 100 million viewers watching the final episode.[footnoteRef:7] There was also increased "agitation" for women's rights, which was aided by televised shows such as "Maude," a spinoff of "All in the Family," which had an assertive woman as its star and dealt with such subjects as women's rights, women's sexuality and abortion.[footnoteRef:8] Gay rights were also at least tentatively addressed in such television shows as "Soap," which featured a gay son among its main characters.[footnoteRef:9] Film also made a comeback in the 1970's due to developments such as Dolby Sound[footnoteRef:10] and Panavision.[footnoteRef:11] Film of the 1970's explored the same topics as television and famously celebrated such antiheros as "The Godfather" and "Billy Jack," [footnoteRef:12] and such flawed, unlikely everyman heroes as "Rocky."[footnoteRef:13] These and other blockbuster films of the 1970s were directed by men under the age of 35 who were newly