Sunshine Lives In Black and White Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sunshine Lives In Black and White - Essay Example But, despite being idealized, the reality television presented was beneficial for the viewer when compared with modern television. The simple innocence, balance, and logic of the 1960s programming provided a safe outlook on life for family and children. The quintessential 1960s television sitcom was The Andy Griffith Show. The antics of the small town sheriff, his bumbling deputy, and the sheriff’s small son form the core of the show. The innocence of the show comes largely from the small town setting. Though Andy Griffith is a sheriff, crime is relatively rare. The most frequent criminal is the town drunk, Otis. The biggest event to threaten the innocence of the town is when a nail salon opened and some of the men in town begin getting manicures. In contrast, 21st century television has taken the small town setting and removed all innocence. Modern shows involving small towns are often investigations of the evil that lives beneath the surface of small town life. A perfect example of this type of show is Desperate Housewives. Though innocence seems to permeate the suburban setting of the show, it is all a cover for the murder of a mother in the community. Everything is innocent on the outside, but corruption runs to the core . In The Andy Griffith Show, the view of reality presented is one of balance. Andy balances his job as a sheriff with his role raising his son as a widowed father. Aunt Bea balances her role as substitute mother to Opie with her role as maternal support to Andy. Modern television lacks this balance. In these modern programs, the characters are often extreme caricatures. Take Homer Simpson for instance. The patriarch of The Simpsons does not balance his role as town clown with any other responsibilities. He is father to three small children but largely shirks his responsibilities to them in favor of being the butt of many jokes. Lastly,