Assignment 5- Jasir Rahman- TV and Corporate Mind Control

It must be conceded that TV is a good form of entertainment.  If not, then awards such as the Emmys wouldn't mean anything, a TV wouldn't be a staple in every American home, and streaming services wouldn't be pumping out shows like there is no tomorrow.  However, such entertainment is a vessel for the mindless consumption of advertisements that inevitably fuel the corporate greed present in our capitalistic system.  Everybody hates ads, but loves their shows, and will sit through insufferable presentations about products to get back to their action-adventure, sitcom, or drama.  However, the subliminal messages still manage to get a stranglehold on millions of consumers, driving corporate sales.  In this case, I believe TV can be both entertaining and a way to package advertisements to the masses.

I do feel like there is always a better way to spend one's time than loaf around on the couch watching one's favorite show.  Laziness is engrained in our DNA, especially in a world where convenience is prioritized over quality.  Now, with streaming services becoming the norm, it is easier than ever to strike that balance, find quality entertainment at the click of a button whenever you want.  It all depends on one's values.  If you are truly driven to get ahead on your studies so you don't have to spend all night doing key terms or blog posts, then perhaps you won't engage in such behavior.  However, I often find myself forcing myself away from a screen in order to be productive.  You have to strike a balance and get your priorities straight, entertainment or productivity.  Unfortunately, it is often a 50/50 split for me, despite the fact that I know I ought to choose productivity 100% of the time.