Television and Its Effects on American Society

I'm usually too busy and overloaded with academic work and athletics to watch TV, and when I am given the rather rare, coveted opportunity for mindless entertainment, I prefer to play video games. I do, however, like to watch movies that come on the TV every saturday night; additionally, I do watch some episodes of The Office and South Park among other comedies every now and then, so I would not consider myself totally devoid of television. But for the most part, TV does not interest me--at least as much as it once did. I would rather devote my time to other more meaningful activities, such as competing in sports like cross country and baseball or playing the guitar and piano: activities that require at least some mental engagement "give more" for time invested. I already mentioned that I do play video games, and while I wholeheartedly admit that this is hardly a meaningful activity, I try not to gratify my urges of playing video games as often as I can. Video games are my form of television, and unlike much of the television-obsessed Americans today, I try to limit the time I spend engrossed in such mind-numbing entertainment.

Since I do not particularly watch much television, with the exception of movies and some comedy shows, it is sometimes difficult for me to understand why people are so obsessed with television, why superficial Emmy Awards coverage is given priority over such widespread media coverage of the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony. Surely Americans can see the error in their ways, the frivolity that is present as they worship attractive, saccharine actors whose achievements have been to the American entertainment monolith while scientists and others who have made real contributions to humanity receive little attention and praise for their outstanding accomplishments. However, while I would like to think that most Americans share this view of the modern entertainment industry, specifically the Emmy's, I do not believe this to be true. Americans love television and the actors whom they idolize, which, in effect, provides a fairly accurate description of contemporary American society: a society that values entertainment over achievement and discovery.