The cultivation theory proposes that television shapes viewers' perceptions of social reality. It suggests that heavy television viewers are more likely to see the real world as dangerous and violent due to the frequent depictions of crime and violence on television. However, critics argue that the theory has many flaws, as it fails to account for viewers' demographics and does not consider the influence of specific television shows versus television in general. There are also questions around whether surveys adequately assessed viewers' perceptions before television exposure. Overall, the document concludes the cultivation theory is not very promising due to its numerous weaknesses.

1. The Cultivation Theory Programming Station

2. The cultivation theory is a theory that insists that television is responsible for our perceptions of day-to-day norms and reality.

3. It means that every television show that you watch has some sort of hold on the way you perceive real world situations.

4. The communication studies of media uses this theory… television is a form of media. This theory does not exists without television shows. DUH!

5. Still confused?

6. Let me tell you how this whole thing got started.

7. This dude. His name is George Gerbner.

8. He tracked the amount of violence that was being portrayed during prime time programming and found that 80% of the material had violent content.

9. Then he classified television viewers into two categories.

10. Heavy viewers who watch TV for four hours or more dailyLight viewers who watch TV for two hours or less daily

11. He predicted that the heavy viewers would perceive the world as a more dangerous place because of the higher exposure to violent television portrayals.

12. Since then… everyone has pretty much blamed television for everything.

13. By watching more television different researchers have claimed that a person becomes: - more materialistic- indifferent about environmental issues- more violent more racist

14. unaware of what is reality and televisionSounds absurd doesn’t it?Oh don’t worry other people think it’s crazy too.

15. Critics have found plenty of flaws with this theory.

16. Critics claim that Gerbner did not take into account that a person’s demographics might have an affect on how they feel about the world. Gerbner also focused on television in general instead of thought that the specific television shows might be what influences their viewer’s opinion about reality. He also never asked his audiences how they felt about day-to-day norms BEFORE they started watching television.

17. And those are just to name a few problems that academics have found with this theory.

18. Doesn’t seem too promising if you ask me.

19. So in conclusion (and for my presenter’s choice slide), I just wanted to give you some advice.

20. FORGET ABOUT CULTIVATION. There are way too many flaws within the theory. And for now, watch whatever you want on TV!