"Feeding Trough"

This little piggy went to the market for some imitation bacon bits; this little piggy went to the basketball game for a beef hotdog; this little piggy sat and watched television until the wee, wee, wee hours in the morning. What do you suppose this piggy watched? Maybe a little “Extreme Makeover,” (perhaps pondering a tummy-tuck) or perhaps “This Old House,” (learning to avoid huff and puff danger) or whatever gratifies that little piggy. The uses in gratification theory, in which we are actively choosing and watching media, while ignoring others, to fulfill motivation, based on our psychological factors in how we were brought up. So as I have kept track of all the visual media I have consumed for the past ten days, it has been easy to reflect on what I have chosen to gratify my motivations. Scanning the list (depressingly short due to being chained to homework, of course) I thought about why I chose the specific programs I did. Then the train of thought chugged along into thinking how though we are “actively choosing” our media diet, the media conglomerates despise free will and aid us in making these choices. This is how I think of the content aggregators. It makes perfect sense that they would have a reason for following one show with another. They figure if you like the show at nine, maybe you will stay tuned the next half hour. For example, the remote is out of reach and the distance of the television would require you to actually get up, so your show ends and you catch a little of the next one. Hmmm, it seems okay, and you watch it. I don’t call this actively selecting. Take a look at the lineup for ABC on Tuesday night- “My Wife and Kids,” “George Lopez,” “According to Jim,” and “Rodney.” All are family oriented humor. Thursday night’s on CBS you can find “Survivor,” “CSI,” and “Without a Trace.” All are drama-like with gritty events. It’s easier to choose when it is given to you with a cherry on top.