Television and Cultural Identity

Last week we read chapter 10, “Television, Texts and Audiences” from the Barker book. In one part of the chapter, it exemplifies the importance of television through the construction of culture identity;

"Television is a resource for the construction of cultural identity just as audiences deploy their cultural identities and cultural competencies to decode programmes in their own specific ways. As television has become globalized, so the place of television in the constitution of ethnic and national identities has taken on a particular significance" (Barker 331).

Essentially, television is a portal for viewers to judge their own culture and the cultures that they are not familiar with. Yet, while American audiences may watch television shows through a critical approach, knowing that it is a constructed reality, other ethnic communities may see it through a referential view, understanding that the show is exhibiting reality (Barker 331). What this means is that other cultures may think that American shows are presenting a reality based view of how we live, think and act. Shows like "Seinfeld," which shows an exaggerated perspective of New Yorkers may translate to other cultures as how all Americans treat each other. I remember watching a show where an New Zealand  teenager thought that all American teens lived like the teens on the show, "The O.C." This kind of one dimensional observation of the diverse American culture is counter-productive to what this may be regarded as globalization. How can cultures be globalized when singular demonstrations like television represent ours and other cultures incorrectly?

This formation of a false display of our cultures is also shown through films. Much more widely viewed, American movies are usually seen by other cultures as the definitive portrayal of the American lifestyle. Still, movies like, Team America, play on a exaggerated global view of Americans and the post 9/11 aim to stop terrorists, understand how movies formulate ideas for other countries around the world.
 Movies are like an advertisement of one's country, only showing the beautiful, powerful, positive side of their society, and while others may have a specific and perhaps incorrect opinion of the American culture, for a country that is very  enclosed on our own culture this can also affects the American society.
 For example, when it comes to British films, it is the best and only way for me to see how the English culture is like. For some like me, the only way to learn about their humor, tastes and perspectives is through films. Although I am aware that this portrayal of the British lifestyle may not entirely be accurate, I am still entrapped within this specific perspective. Although we are aware that television and films are "make-believe," it is still difficult to leave that mindset when our exposure is so limited to the content of other cultures.