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The first essay was written to focus on negative criticism on television, “Television: The Plug-In Drug” by Marie Winn, was about the influence of television on family life and parent-child relationships. Author of children’s books, Marie Winn sees only a negative outcome with television and family. I did not like her article because I think that it’s good to watch TV. You are informed about your surroundings, you learn a lot of things and it doesn’t change family relationships. Winn says that “Home and family has changed in important ways since the advent of television”.
I think that family life has changed only because instead of always running trying to do something and staying busy, television gives families a reason to stop and sit in their own silence to relax. Winn’s main point was that television takes away from the quality time spent with families. I feel that quality time that isn’t spent with families is the family member’s faults. Parents should make time for their kids, even if they are watching TV. In the essay Winn states that families do “special” things together “go camping, go to the zoo…take trips and expeditions”.
But, in her view, the true spark of family bonding does not exist. In conclusion, if I could talk to Ms. Winn, I would tell her that time spent on TV alone; there are better things to worry about. The second essay, “Why Blame TV? ” by John Leonard, is about cultural criticism on the acceptance of violence in programs. John Leonard states that we have the right to say what we want and don’t want on TV. Everything that is on TV is there because we allowed it to be there. Leonard goes on to say that TV cannot be the blame for people making poor decisions.
The fact that someone has a lack of judgment, you won’t try to take responsibility, instead they would try to push the blame on something else. Television, its self is only an outlet for distressing and when people take advantage of that, they give TV a bad rep all together. I agree with Leonard because TV shouldn’t be blamed because of other people’s actions. In conclusion, John Leonard is right in his argument and in my opinion more positive and simple than me be don’t dread. bibliography: www. ask. com search: Pros and cons of television on families www. mariewinn. com www. google. com search: Why blame TV author