Television choices illustrate personal interests
October 5, 2011
What you watch on television reflects aspects of your personality. It may not be as obvious as doctors who watch “House” or desperate housewives who watch “Desperate Housewives,”but if you have a secret love for the culinary arts, you probably have seen most episodes of “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.”
It could be as subtle as watching a nine-hour “Bad Girls Club” marathon. Chances are, if you like to watch people fighting over non-life threatening issues, you may have some pent-up rage. That does not mean you actually join a fight club, it simply means there is a part of you wanting to know whether you would win.
If the Romans have taught us anything, it is not having to admit you have unresolved anger problems, and to accept that you are entertained by violence.
“I love ‘True Blood,'” said junior theater major Amanda Turpin. “It’s very entertaining because there are all these fight scenes.”
Turpin said she enjoys watching the violence in fantasy shows because there are usually heroes fighting and protecting some kind of damsel in distress – this is a reason she is a fan of anime.
“Everyone has something they need to be saved from,” Turpin said.
Viewers are often drawn to television shows about characters who they relate to or wish they could be.
Senior biology major Paul Ruan said he no longer watches the popular television show “Two and a Half Men” because Charlie Sheen’s character is not on it.
“Ashton Kutcher is just another pretty boy; Charlie Sheen is more real,” Ruan said. “I don’t think I actually want to be Sheen, but deep down, I feel watching that show has improved my personality and made me funnier.”
Between homework and studying, he said he finds it hard to keep up with shows. This is the case with most college students who have busy schedules.
Students should have better things to do than watch television all day. Unfortunately, not everyone can live an eventful life filled with comical antics like NBC’s “Community,” or daily suspense like “Law & Order.”
This is partly because real life is not scripted and it cannot be confined to one hour with commercial breaks.
When students do find the time to relax and watch television, they watch it to be entertained.
With the ability to watch almost anything instantly, anyone can live vicariously through thousands of characters. Television can be an incredible window allowing others to look into a different way of living.
Just don’t forget most of these ways are fictional. Being completely invested in one or more shows does not make you a couch potato, as long as you know when to turn it off and live your own story.