Newspapers / The Chowan Herald (Edenton, … / Dec. 24, 1981, edition 1 / Page 15
Part of The Chowan Herald (Edenton, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Thursday. December 24, 1881 TV Consumer Course By Barbara Baker Dr. Robert Schrag teaches a consumerism course at N. C. State University, an occurrence not remarkable in today’s value-conscious society. What makes Schrag’s' course a bit out of the or dinary is that the product his students are learning to consume is television programming. Schrag, an assistant professor in NCSU’s Department of Speech- Communication, i believes that it is important for his studies - and the population at large - to develop “skills in TV consumerism.” When he began his career at another school, Schrag taught television production courses. But he became concerned that his students were not aware of the potential social impact of the programs they were producing. It was then that he shifted his emphasis from teaching how to produce programs to teaching how to watch them critically and determine what implicit and covert messages they were getting across. §came to NCSU two i ago because the I was seeking someone an interest in rhetorical and media criticism. He now teaches three media courses as part of the speech comm&nication depart ment’s track in telecom munications. His courses on entertainment and in formation media are electives and are also open to non-majors. Schrag feels the courses are important because television is such a per vasive influence in our lives. “Ninety-eight percent of HNPORTMIT NEWS FOR BACKACHE SUFFERERS! MOMENTUM" Tablets are | 50% stronger than Doan s. i Before you take Doans Pills for ; muscular backache, remember this MOMENTUM Tablets are 50% stronger- • than Doans That means MOMENTUM ; (ires you 50% more pain reliever per ttse to relieve backache fcMSP w To reduce pain, soothe inflammation T 1 so muscles loosen-you can move more I freely in minutes 1 There's no stronger 1 backache medication you can buy with «t a prescription than MOMENTUM Tablets Take only as directed f ( . Sale! I i > ‘ > Save Men's Over Famous Name 7.00! Shirts! l*%irW Vkif) n<>u.i <^vT>/ ucoSrip J&fy' wfw / [ \ * r ‘ \ IIPVa / V /i \ l\\ SELECT GROUPHr ® 16.88 THE CHOICE OF CHAMPIONS The tradition of a Lacottt*. Thera'* more to it than just the aNigator am Mem trademark.. This I rod* LacoataVirt is anginaarad of pure cotton to braatha and stretch with you. Its ribM collar and cuffs to stay neat. And its extra-long shirttw heaps it %s one position when you change yours. ThS bod* Lacoata* 2-button piscK9t rroni inif %« bsbks it your.ciioiCu, too* S.M, L, XL. KflfUbr 24.00 \ \\ \ Shop 9:30 AJtf.Ontil 9:00 PJGUntil Christmas % \ ' I j ** • . '• - ■ *' ' A V*. V ' ** A homes in this country have televisions- more than have indoor plumbing, the average home has me tel vision on six hours a day. It’s very seductive,” be commented. Despite its rede in our, lives, most of us give little serious thought to what we are watching, and that’s whore the need for con sumer skills arises, Schrag said. * “When you read a novel, you khow what you’re dealing’ with. It’s a con tinuous message in which there is often an implied social impact,” he com mented. “But with television, you might watch an Andy Griffith rerun, then the news, then a game show and then a “M A S H ” rerun - all in the same ex periential frame. But we tend to watch uncritically instead of shifting gears. Schrag said that some programs like “M A S H”, “Lou Grant”, “Barney Miller” and “Taxi” say COA To Offer Scholarship In Memory Os Mr. White Area high school graduates may apply for a new scholarship at College of The Albemarle. Lloyd Armstrong, student financial aid director said a private scholarship has been established in memory of Robert Jennings White. Armstrong said students from high schools in any of the seven counties served by COA or those who have received their General Educational Development (GEB) certificates from the college may apply. He said students who parents are or have been employees of the Carolina Telephone and Telegraph Company will be given preference, however, it is not a restrictive requirement for eligibility. White, better known to local residents as Bobbie, was a native of Pasquotank County. He was the son of Robert Fulton and Bertha Mann Jennings White, bom on June 2, 1925. Me attMHted-fh-i*"through School, ancr graduated from Elizabeth City High School in 1942. Following graduation, White was employed as a switchboard installer by the Norfolk and Aimed At Developing Awareness In The significant things about society,' but we haven’t trained our audiences to interact critically with television and demand more programming of that caliber. As a result, he feels the medium hasn’t lived up to its potential. The teachers cited several reasons for the lack of discriminating viewing. The first is the educational community itself, which traditionally has refused to trdat television with the serous analysis that is now common in the study of films., He also pointed a finger at professional television critics, \ whose constant complaining about the poor quality in the medium does little to Encourage good programming. “Critics tend to be ‘critical,’ ” Schrag said. “They certainly shouldn’t be mouthpieces for the television industry, but their carping stance creates an adversary relationship Carolina Telephone and Telegraph Company. \ After serving in the U, S. Marine Corps from 1944 until 1946, he returned to the telephone company. At the time of his death in 1960, he was in charge of operation, repair and installation of in plant equipment in all of the company’s exchanges. White was a member of First United Methodist Church, and taught the Young Adult class. A Mason, he was a member of an a EDENTON VILLAGE I JL %Foc JK tawiiiy centers shopping center I '* ,o,h T* y * b*** "mehandise in adequate supply in our store* In the event the advertised merchandise is not available due to unlorseen reasons TG&Y will orovide a Rain Check ~onn rec,,..i «... TQ*Tr^rr^r?,r,'rv"r"r’i; b ~ l <>^rpi ' ,ble ' 0r yOU mly PUrChaS * simila, quali,y m * rchandl> * P ric « 'od'-'C"'™ «'* the policy of TG&V to see that you are happy vwth purchased is Pre ■ Cltrlstmasji Clearance W\ Christmas pi ill toat» 7Z I Decorations ccr eth m ww > I j||»H Electronic Games Mens & Ladles I Off Tit/ [lll CoMsbo» Boot* I WB JLJL Regular Rice m 111 ft* Selected Group Os Toys, ■ W ~M B A I WfR Electronics And More J | fj I Famous Brand ■■hm pronto sonar Stereo JK Watches jfl9 £Zl Turntable B Track iW HI Barilo I m**"w Ww -mm W Values To 8000 I 'S® Benrus, Helbros, Jules Jergensen r«« *3ss Elgin, and Many Others THE CHOWAN HERALD between the audience and producers.” Finally, Schrag pointed to viewer activist groups like the PTA, ACT for Children’s Television, or the Moral Majority’s Coalition for Better Television, whose approach is to pressure for removal of certain types of programs. Instead, Schrag suggested that they would be more effective if they tried “rational advocacy criticism,” an approach which attempts in insure the success of worthwhile programs. The process involves selecting programs that have something important to say and that have a rational chance of being a commercial success, then working to see that they remain on the air. “A good show that is also popular will continue to build an audience and perhaps even spawn copies of spin-offs, until that type of program becomes the rule Eureka Lodge Number 317 A.F. and A.M. He held a number of offices, including Illustrious Master of Tyrian Council Number 19, and District Deputy Grand High Priest. \ He was an active member of, the local ham radio operators’ club. His early childhood interest in elec tricity served as the basis for h|s career in com munications. rather than the exception,” he explained. Schrag advocacy groups spbnsof" screenings and groups to generate iriferest in worthwhile programs. He said that production 'com panies would probably gladly lend a helping hand, since the idea is to insure the success of the program. Besides the fact that he thinks the advocacy ap proach could be more ef fective than trying to ban allegedly harmful shows, Schrag believes it is also more in line with first amendment principles. “We can’t hold the net works responsible for what our children watch. You can’t advocate getting government out of our lives and freedom of choice on the one hand, then turn around and advocate that the networks be responsible for the content of television,” he stated. What programs does Schrag advocate? Among others he cited the popular and critically acclaimed “MASH” and the less herald FMI V 5 Specializing In Custom Exhaust & Muffler Work Albemarle Auto Parts N. Broad St. 482-3384 ed “Bosom Buddies.” “M ASH” functions as a 'behavioral model. Im probable situations don’t occur, and solutions to problems don’t always occur. It offers a social commentary, a model of how we can act with one another. “The characters are in hell, and there is no rational reason for them to act humanely - but they do. They’re saying we’re our own excuse for humanity,” Schrag said. Schrag feels so strongly about the value of “MASH” that he is planning to teach an entire seminar on the program next summer. “Bosom Buddies,” which has just been revived by ABC, says some very positive things about human relationships and growing up. It also presents a realistic portrayal of a genuine friendship between two men, Schrag said. He confessed a personal preference for comedies, saying we “don’t need examples of how to take ourselves more seriously.” Viewing Audience He takes comedy seriously, however, and believes it should reflect the humor in how people in teract in the real world. He does not rate the popular “Dukes of Haz zard” highly because it lacks a basis ir reality. But he doesn’t discount it to totally. In fact, he says it can be therapeutic. “It can be decent, mind rot television or low-level media abuse for the con senting adult who knows what he’s getting into. That’s all right,” Schrag commented. “But there are two and three-year olds who CHICKEN MANURE For Sale—Bag or bulk. Will consider delivery. Call Emmett Winborne - 221- 4204. Nov.l9,chg. SHAW Enterprises Services Include: • HOME APPLIANCE REPAIRS • HOME REPAIRS • VINYL SIDING Route 3, Box 221 Edenton Call 482-4502 Page 7-B are more attuned to life in Hazzard County than to life in Cary. Schrag also takes his media courses seriously, and students are expected to do extensive reading, write analytical papers and participate in classroom discusion on their ways to becoming more critical television consumers. And sometimes they are assigned to watch television. Assigned? That’s right. Schrag said he has found that as a rule, college students don’t watch much TV.
The Chowan Herald (Edenton, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 24, 1981, edition 1
15
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75