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Movies and television have changed the ways of people’s living enormously
since they were first invented. Opinions over their virtues differ from person
to person. Some people say that they have enriched our lives, while critics
blame them for their poisonous effects. In fact, their influences depend on
variables such as the viewer’s personality, the quality of programs, and the
length of viewing time. According to many surveys and polls, heavy viewers often
show serious behavioral defects that require medical therapy. These days,
watching them has become a type of addiction for many people. They have exposed
negative effects such as provoking aggressive attitudes, encouraging passive
behavior, and inducing prodigality.
The gravest problem of TV and movies is that the flood of the violent
scenes causes people to assault others without any slightest compunction. One
day, adults, thought to be decent people get involved in alley quarrels and
attack their neighbors. The rising rate of juvenile violence in schools makes
youngsters shrink and hesitate to go to school. Psychologists assert that many
children are desensitized(使……无情) by criminal actions on TV or in movies.
Outrageous acts by scoundrels often go there without punishment, and the
unlimited justice of heroes wins respect from people. Thus, the embellishment of
illegal acts dilutes citizen’s law-abiding spirit.
Another problem from an overdose of TV or movies is that they invoke more
passive attitudes from people, the opposite case of the aggressive tendency. In
fact, information from the media is unilateral(单边的) in that viewers experience
only a one-way relationship. The addicted exhibit more shyness and withdrawal
from reality. For instance, children spending too much time with a TV set don’t
want to participate in class activities. They appear to flutter(飘扬，颤动) on the
outskirts of things. Many experts report that the impact is more conspicuous in
introverts. Excessive viewing of TV or movies, thus, can block more active,
direct involvement in real life.
Commercial advertising, directly or indirectly through TV or movies, has
brought significant changes in consumption patterns. First of all, enticed(
诱惑，吸引) by information given about goods and services, audience tend to purchase
things unnecessary for their living, which results in the waste of social
resources. Also, commercials are deliberately manipulated by business industries
whose goal is to maximize their economic gains. Businesses don’t care if
consumers spend more than they earn. In the worst case, they cannot avoid
private bankruptcy. These problems sometimes grow into curbs to the progress of
the society.
We have discussed problems concerning TV and movies. However, not all of
their effects are bad. In fact, positive influences are often observed in many
programs and movies. For example, in developing countries, they contribute to
promoting democracy by reporting important political issues to the public. And
international films and television have opened a new age of globalization. Yet
phantoms(鬼魅，幽灵) — violence, escapism, and extravagance(奢侈，浪费) — attributed to
television and movies, are still lingering(徘徊，磨蹭) in our society. We need to be
mindful of what we watch.
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发表于 2016-7-10 15:25:08