Question

Compare and contrast the ways that television both shaped and reflected American life in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1980s.

Answer 1

The following is a comparison of the ways that television both shaped and reflected American life in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1980s:

• The 1950s: The television shows in the 1950s were simple and did not run all day long. Most people still relied on transistor radios and the shows on there for entertainment. Towards the end of the decade, television became more popular and people started to register their demand for more and more good content.  

• The 1960s: Americans by now had started experiencing the celebrity culture that had started taking roots. The television industry had grown substantially and had become a part of the routine of the upper class and the upper-middle class.

• The 1980s: The television had reached almost all the upper and middle-class households and had started being treated like a companion at home. The quality of the shows had improved and they actually had started influencing people's thoughts and emotions.