Portfolio - Final Exam

Television, rock and roll, and in recent years computer games have all been heralded as the fall of mankind. The interference of technology is cited for breakdown of family systems and creating social deficits. Certainly technology has had an impact the in specific ways families interact. The advent of the "TV dinner" was perhaps indicative of changes to come. Mealtimes that were once the family time to connect and review their day became a time to catch up on the evening news or escape from the day in a variety show. Marie Winn in Television: The Plug In Drug asks us to examine “What has happened to family rituals, illness rituals, holiday rituals -how many have survived the inroads of the television set?"

When my children were young we went "tvless" for several years. One thing that was striking about this time period was how much conversation revolved around TV. My children and I were out of the loop as our friends referenced television shows in conversations. Others viewing habits seemed amplified in the absence of TV in our world. We really noticed when people did not turn off their TV when talking with others or entertaining guests. We did things together. We ate together, we did projects together and the children played with their friends. However, we lost current event knowledge and other bits that television provides. The feeling of being somewhat separatist was not a positive.

If television is the mother she had a bazillion babies. Videos, DVDs. DS, Wei and text messaging have weaved their way in to the fabric of family life. I don't believe they have totally usurped family rituals. Rather the family rituals have metamorphosed. My grown family now calls or e-mails each other to set up a WEI game. Across the miles their WEI characters interact. The family has WEI representation of aunts, uncles, cousins and even gramma. Pictures and videos are sent through the
computer. Weddings, holidays and everyday events are widely accessible and shared instantly.

Rituals things that are repetitive. They often perpetuate the good things that a family wants to define itself by. It is important for families to connect and have rituals and traditions. It may be that rituals are not dead, but that their composition is different than in the past. Of course, I'd like my grandchildren to turn off their DSL to visit with me. If she sends me an e-mail about her latest activities instead that is fair enough. My grandchildren still have bedtime stories at night; we still get together for some holidays. However, like for many contemporary families, there are now have the options of using technology to create new and perhaps more widely inclusive rituals.