It's scary how invested we can get in TV shows. I'm currently watching Grey's Anatomy, and my husband often has to remind me that it's just a show. I'll text him while he's at work and say things like "[insert main character's name here] just died! What will happen now?" or "this patient came into today with [insert crazy disease or injury here], and they ended up dying. She was such a nice person and now I don't know what will happen to her son!" It's pretty sad. Sometimes characters even make appearances in my dreams at night. Usually more often than my actual friends do.
I don't think this is a huge problem, but it does make me think twice about it. I've come to accept everything that goes on in that show, even though much of it goes against my moral beliefs. There are lesbian couples, and that hardly bothers me anymore. There is a lot of drinking, and a ton of premarital sex, and it doesn't surprise me or bother me. I obviously haven't accepted it as the right thing to do, but I choose to expose myself to it. I can see how we can become desensitized to things in the media so easily, and it's definitely something to keep an eye on.
Great thoughts Rachel! It's true that sometimes watching your favorite show can have a double-edged sword. You get invested in the characters which of course is fun, but you also have to be wary about the messages that shows will sometimes sensitize you to. I love that sometimes characters make it into your dreams. Denny? George?
ReplyDeleteI agree with a lot you have to say, I have found my self feeling the same way about many TV shows i've watched. It is easy to feel validated in watching them if they are full of drama or they are hilarious.
ReplyDeleteI have felt the same way in the past! I once found myself walking through the grocery store and saw an item and though to myself "wow, so-and-so would love this!" and to my horror realizing that i didn't actually know this person, I had just watched their entire tv series.
ReplyDeleteI totally know what you mean. When I watched Friends for the second time around I got so attached to the characters that I felt like they were my actual friends and I totally cried when the show was over. I too have dreams with TV characters in it and I find it so strange. I also agree about being able to be so desensitized by media. I find myself watching things that are not so appropriate and I don't even realize it while I'm watching it.
ReplyDeleteI love Greys Anatomy!!! And I definitely know what you mean, sometimes I'll be talking to someone who has a similar situation to a character in a show, and I'll find myself saying things like "Oh wow, I totally had a friend that had that same thing happen to them!" or "My friend said the funniest thing the other day...." It really does make you think.
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