Cultivation Hypothesis

Helena Eritano
Mass Communication
Dr. Jacoway
December 1, 2014
The cultivation hypothesis is very insightful, as it gives the reader and scholar a notable point of view to take in. The cultivation hypothesis is based upon the idea that television, if viewed for a long period of time, would influence a person’s opinion about a specific matter or a group. The person would then, view the matter or group in the portrayed way. The cultivation hypothesis could possibly be accurate, as television does have an impact on some people’s lives. In today’s society people are more apt to watching the television, often watching others live their lives in reality programming than the viewer living their own lives. It is not too inaccurate to say, that some people are watching other’s live their lives and not maintaining their own lives. I also do believe that the cultivation hypothesis could be a sounds media effects theory because I felt that after reading Gerbner’s report that if enough people are subjected to or are an audience to the bias of a proposed viewpoint or opinion that they too would take on similar viewpoints or opinions. In the world that we live in today, the idea of only television contributing to the cultivation hypothesis would be a false statement! With social media and the internet usage at an all-time high, the television and its biased opinions are not the only displays that present ideas. Facebook pages and tweets on Instagram are just an example of some. Some of the opinions and views could be the biased representations of stars, politicians and radio commentators. Opinions of style and luxury and life matters can be found on every screen and internet highway. Media and the ideas that they create can be toted along anywhere and everywhere, in the grocery store where you can upload coupons to your IPhone, to portable, waterproof IPods you can take in the shower. Media outlets are everywhere and the influence that we allow them to have on our lives is incredible! In Gerbner’s report, I think that it would be possible for cultivation to go beyond race and ethnicity. For example, it is all too common for Latino’s to be portrayed on television as buffoons, Latin lovers and criminals. However, in reality, they are the same as any one of us, a common race. Latinos are the largest U.S minority and are still subjected to unfair biased based on the idea that the television has portrayed them in. The cultivation hypothesis fails to state why viewers attitudes are the way they are about Latinos. I believe it is an unfair judgment. The cultivation hypothesis and the television, with its large audience and influence that it has on its viewers, could also impact religious organization and gender types alike. Most people are apt to remember the negatives instead of the good about a topic and with the impact that it could have on its audience, it is not uncommon for an unfair judgment to be made. I also think that when this occurs, it is hard to let go or be forgotten thus causing more injury to the matter at hand. It is also not uncommon for gender to be compared or stereotyped in this fashion as well. In regards to profession, a biased opinion and matter is that women are better in the home and men are better in the workplace. This may have been the idea of normal decades ago, but with changing times and ideas it is a biased opinion of the past that was created by television and mass media. We also have to consider what and who are being influenced by the television and the different types of media that are being used. It is not uncommon for parents to start children as young as 2 watching the television on a regular basis. Most U.S. televisions are on for an average of 7 hours a day and more importantly on average American watches an average of 3 hours of television every day. It is not wrong to consider that parents use the television as a method of babysitting at a time in their lives as parents. Parents cannot always know what it is their children are watching or what the content to every program is, opinions are going to be made about different subjects and it will be displayed to their children. Cultivation hypothesis, I believe, is significant in the study of mass media. I think the influence that this hypothesis has its audience is debatable, depending on who you are. I think that some people who watch too much TV, or are influenced easily would have a difficult time differentiating between real and make believe. I think that some of the ideas that are presented to us in any one of the Medias ways are biased and that all viewpoints should be examined. I don’t think it is uncommon to form an opinion based on one opinion. I have done it in the past and I am sure you have formed a biased opinion at one time before as well. I think that this is useful in the study of media effects because it shows the audience or students like myself, just what kind of influence negative or positive that it could have on an audience. I think that after being educated on the cultivation hypothesis that it gives me a better idea about the content of what is being portrayed. I believe that behind every story, is another story and that each segment or piece that we take in is only a small part of what is actually going on. I think that we should explore all possible opinions and sides before making a judgment. I think this because maybe today we are making a judgment about someone/something else, tomorrow it could be me or my situation that is be judged. So I think that all viewpoints and opinions should be examined before you can make up your mind about a matter. I also think that it is important to decipher the difference between script and reality.