How TV changed and continues to change the world. 

TV has been and continues to be a space for change. The medium itself inherently comes with change. Before TV the world of media was written word or spoken word. Yet, TV brought visuals into people’s homes in a way that was never seen before. 

Watching the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode, “Hush” highlights how important these visuals can be. When the characters lose their voices, they must communicate without words. We see them do this through physical touch, eye contact, facial expressions, and more. 

http://offline.slayerworld.net/www.restlessbtvs.com/trivia/episodes/season-4/410/index.html

These other modes of communication can share so much information even in the absence of words, as we see for the majority of the latter half of this episode. 

Now, let’s think about how this episode is teaching us. TV pioneered a new medium in which lessons can be taught. And this medium is constantly available (for those who can afford it) in almost every home across our nation. 

TV allowed women to step out of their role as housewives. In the video, “Pioneers of Television: Funny Ladies,” we see how these amazing women broke through barriers to do something they love. Having these first few pioneers’ faces on screen, allowed other women and men to see that women are good for more than house chores. They are equals to man.

https://www.pbs.org/video/pioneers-television-funny-ladies/

However, as this video highlights, women were first introduced to the world of TV as “Funny Ladies.” They were used for comedic relief, something to laugh at or laugh with in some cases. But what they did was pave the way for women to be seen. As time went on, the roles women played evolved. And now we are able to see young women as not only the main character, but a strong hero like Buffy in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. 

A lot can be learned from studying the evolution of women in television. Just as a lot was able to be learned about communication by watching the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode. Yet, it is important to note that a lot of traditional education does not include TV studies. In fact, reading is the main way people learn. Watching TV does not feel like learning because we are taught that it is only a form of entertainment. Yet, I argue that I learn just as much from watching TV and movies than I do from reading. 

With that being said, the level of importance of what I am learning depends on what I am watching, but, the same thing happens with reading.