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Cheryl Pawlowski
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Glued to the Tube: The Threat of Television Addiction to Today's Family Hardcover – January 15, 2000

by Cheryl Pawlowski (Author)
5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 5 ratings
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Are Joey, Chandler, Ross, Rachel, Phoebe and Monica your best friends? Did your children learn about the birds and the bees from Ally McBeal? You're not alone. Research shows that TV has become such a part of our lives, it actually has taken over the roles once held by cherished family members.

Glued to the Tube explores the strong influence TV has over family interaction and communication. Using hundreds of reliable research studies and statistics, this book breaks down familial responsibilities into categories such as friend, family manager, arbitrator and sexual advisor, then shows how television has taken over these roles, and how it has performed.

While it may be easy to identify TV's presence in society, Glued to the Tube goes one step further, exposing how:

The ratings system is set up to woo younger audiences Common depictions of race and religion isolate viewers Prime-time programming manipulatesadults and children alike Network television attempts to teach us all how to live--from what to buy to how we choose and communicate with our partners

Author and media ecologist Cheryl Pawlowski relies on numerous studies and her own research to conclude that the modern family is competing with the tube to its own detriment. Pawlowski offers practical ways a family can break free of the television addiction.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    275 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Sourcebooks Inc
  4. Publication date
    January 15, 2000
  5. Dimensions
    6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1570714592
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1570714597
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the ongoing battle for the hearts and minds of children, the tube is winning hands down over parents, asserts Pawlowski in this accessible look at the influence of television on American families. Following a short overview of how our ideals of family life have become increasingly codified since the advent of the written word, this professor of media ecology at New York University draws on recent studies and her own research to reveal the impact of broadcast media on family interactions and the fulfillment of family members' emotional needs. Contrasting the "perennially sunny, trouble-free world" of Ozzie and Harriet with the bed-hopping antics of Dallas's Ewing clan and the race-neutral popularity of The Cosby Show, she shows how TV has warped our perceptions of what constitutes "normal" family relations. At the same time, TV has eroded family relations by siphoning away time and attention that family members would otherwise devote to one another. With a barrage of statistics that buttress her view of the decline of family interaction, Pawlowski relentlessly decries TV as a powerful purveyor of negative cultural and racial stereotypes, one that steals important roles (mentor, hero, friend) away from parents and thus undermines their ability to shape their children's values. Pawlowski is at her best when acerbically detailing exactly what television's ever-shuffling roster of sitcoms and advertisements teaches viewers about gender, family and sexuality. Her final chapter offers practical advice on how to kick the TV habit.Though many of the author's points have been stated before, her accessible overview of the issueDwhich will get airplay on the author's national radio campaignDwill appeal to parents grappling with the effects of technology run amok. (Nov.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Nearly everyone agrees that watching too much television is unhealthy. Pawlowski (speech communication, Univ. of North Colorado) argues that it also destroys families. The author has marshaled an impressive number of sources, but, unfortunately, she makes no distinction between current studies and those done more than 20 years ago: for instance, she cites a 1979 paper to show that TV promotes gender stereotypes. Moreover, in her eagerness to assail TV fare, she sometimes contradicts herself, as when she describes Fran of The Nanny as "brassy and assertive" in one chapter and "subservient and belittled" in the next. By demonizing television, Pawlowski oversimplifies the influence of all types of media, and she ignores the fundamental and far more complex reasons why families fail. She reveals her primary goal in the last chapter: to rid the airwaves of "offensive programming," a goal shared by the conservative Christian organizations on her resource list. An optional purchase for public libraries.DSusan M. Colowick, North Olympic Lib. Syst., Port Angeles, WA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sourcebooks Inc; First Edition (January 15, 2000)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 275 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1570714592
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1570714597
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 5 ratings

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Cheryl Pawlowski

Cheryl Pawlowski
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Customer reviews

5 out of 5 stars
5 out of 5
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Top reviews from the United States

Meghan M. Mcguire
5.0 out of 5 stars I assume this is a wonderful book
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2014
Verified Purchase
After searching on netflix (and online) for television addiction documentaries (spoiler-alert, there are NONE), I purchased this book from amazon. This is not the first time that I have seen this book. I have, in face, accrued at least $20 in late fees from local libraries for never returning this book.
I assume that this book is fantastic (if everything up to page 9 is any indication), but I have yet to complete reading this. It is written beautifully, but has some strong competition for my leisure time. Netflix and amazon Prime are offering some superb lineups, and I have 286 movies in my queue to complete before moving onto this "book" project. <--I feel that complete things is the responsible move. This looks great on my bookshelf (next to "four arguments for the elimination of television") and provides you with "proof" in your intellectual superiority over guests in your home. Also excellent for posting on Facebook to give that "I'm above media-influence" vibe that every post should emit.
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL-BUT SCAREY!!!!!!
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2002
This book surprised me with its "pro-family" statement and the research to back it up.Dr Pawlowski is very thorough and wonderfully straight forward in her writing.The book is divided into 3 sections.The first ("How Did We Get Here?") gives a history of media in general and specific to television.The second section ("Stolen Roles) has 7 chapters each dealing w/ a different role that TV is or has taken from the family.The third section ("What The Future Holds") talks about what you can do about the hold and enormous influence TV has on today's society.The BEST thing about this book is the research evidence Did you know that there are more households w/ TV than indoor plumbing?Did you also know that children growing up today who watch TV will most likely spend 10 yrs of their lifetime watchng the tube?This book really has made me take a hard examination of TV (media in general) and MY viewing habits.The hold that this invasive media has on our lives is extremely frightening.I am recommending this book to all my friends and family.
9 people found this helpful
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anonymous
5.0 out of 5 stars Well written
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2015
An excellent book on the impact of television on the modern family.
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Christine Fusaro
5.0 out of 5 stars TV-Today's Plug in Drug
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2001
An excellent book filled with research and the author's personal opinion as to how TV has become an important influence in our lives. Today's family views TV as another one of its' members. I was able to relate to many of the author's examples of how society has become addicted to TV viewing. Her practical solutions on how to break free of TV's influence were worth reading. I especially enjoyed the way she cited examples of how many TV shows of the past and present have influenced and are influencing the behaviors and attitudes of our society. I totally agree with the author that TV is definitely the plug-in drug of our society. I have recommended this book to friends and family members alike and will continue to do so in the future.
4 people found this helpful
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Terra Morse
5.0 out of 5 stars i loved this book!
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2001
this book is just wonderful! it not only shows the impact of tv on society today, but it gives advice on how to lessen its powerful grip. a must for anyone who feels that they are 'glued to the tube'!
5 people found this helpful
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