Posted on 04/24/2019 8:05:57 AM PDT by EdnaMode
Many might think there is an obvious correlation between political leanings and TV preferences but in a new report backed by the Pop Culture Collaborative, the findings were both expected and unexpected. So much that it will make you raise your eyebrows and make you nod and say “Interesting!” whilst stroking your chin.
The Norman Lear Center at USC Annenberg and the futurePerfect Lab released a report today titled Are You What You Watch: Tracking the Political Divide Through TV Preferences which examines the links between our political beliefs, TV viewing habits, and behavior. This report comes a little over a month after the Pop Culture Collaborative backed a study about diversity in TV writers’ rooms. Are You What You Watch builds on top of a similar study which was released a decade ago and it turns out our political ideals and preferences in entertainment have shifted. The report also tracks TV preferences against views on social justice, puts a spotlight on the types of TV people from across the political spectrum are watching, and looks at exactly how we’ve changed over the past 10 years.
Through a combination of study and survey research from the Lear Center and futurePerfect Labs contributed to the report that included the same statistical clustering analysis from 10 years ago which found three ideological groups: Blues, who tend to lean more liberal; Reds, who tend to lean more conservative; and Purples, the swing group. It was found that Blues consume more TV than Reds. In fact, Reds say they don’t watch that much TV but when they are all about the Hallmark, History and Ion channels far and are fans of NCIS and Criminal Minds. Of the three groups, Purples consume the most TV. They tend to take action based on what they learn about politics and social issues from fictional movies and TV. That said, they tend to be inclined to social change campaigns. Purples like The Voice and Dancing with the Stars. They share a common bond with Blues with their liking of Saturday Night Live and Duck Dynasty which is a favorite among Reds.
Some other findings include that fans of The Walking Dead tend to rank immigration as one of the top three issues regardless of their ideology. In terms of TV shows that everyone could agree on, there is an interesting mix. Four shows that unite everyone include America’s Funniest Home Videos, Bones, Criminal Minds and Mythbusters. One show that was also on everyone’s list was Pawn Stars — but for a different reason. The report shows that this is hate-watched among all groups.
Speaking of unlikeable shows, Blues, Reds and Purples were on the same page when it came to least liked shows. These include Keeping Up with the Kardashians, 106 and Park, Pawn Stars, Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal. Oddly enough, the report finds that not liking TV shows can unite ideological groups.
By analyzing this political divide, survey results show Americans have moved closer to the left in the past decade. That said, firm perspectives have swayed to more moderate viewpoints on nine timely issues that are extremely hot right now: environment, regulation of business, privacy around new technologies, public education, guns, marriage, abortion, helping the poor and tax reductions. The resulting data of this report serves as a valuable touchstone for TV writers, studios, storytellers, brands and organizations who are using storytelling for cultural shifts.
We are NOT puppets.
I’m The Slime-Frank Zappa (1973)
I am gross and perverted
I’m obsessed and deranged
I have existed for years
But very little has changed
I am the tool of the government
And industry too
For I am destined to rule
And regulate you
I may be vile and pernicious
But you can’t look away
I make you think I’m delicious
With the stuff that I say
I am the best you can get
Have you guessed me yet?
I am the slime oozin’ out
From your tv set
You will obey me while I lead you
And eat the garbage that I feed you
Until the day that we don’t need you
Don’t go for help...no one will heed you
Your mind is totally controlled
It has been stuffed into my mold
And you will do as you are told
Until the rights to you are sold
That’s right, folks..
Don’t touch that dial
Well, I am the slime from your video
Oozin’ along on your living room floor
I am the slime from your video
Cant stop the slime, people, lookit me go
My point was that Lear created the show thinking that America would tune-in and agree with Meathead.
It didn’t. Lear is 96 and that still eats at him
every day.
I can say for sure that hate filled lefties are probably the only “group” that enjoys SNL.
It’s stupid to label people with the colors that were once used on a map to show which states voted Republican, and which voted Democrat.
I cannot believe how bad the editing and writing is in this article.
—
Norman Lear Center at USC Annenberg aka DNC West.
Great song, great entertainer.
They have over 200 Christmas movies in the library. I just don’t go there. I locked it out in the cable box.
Surprising????
Are they serious?????
Haven’t watched anything except Netflix documentaries, the occasional science fiction movie on Prime, or the Grand Tour for years.
Mythbusters rocked, though.
And something coming out of a place called the “Norman Lear Center” is considered credible, why?
I have not had a television with cable in my house my entire adult life
My children have never had a TV in their house
Other than good sports contest for which I go to a bar there is absolutely no reason to have television in the house 1000 channels of it or not
In particular news on television is complete utter liberal claptrap painted face faggot nonsense
I highly suggest to all conservatives of which 99% are on this site to just get rid of cable TV all together
And if you do keep it never ever ever watch the news on TV except for maybe Hannity or Tucker Carlson early Dobbs
Even if I did not watch any TV shows, I would have a TV in order to watch classic films or operas.
How does that differ from blues? You can tell this was written by a lib.
We watch news and sports. In Dec. we will cancel our satellite service and have free over-the-air TV, like the good old days when there were only three channels. On many evenings, there were three excellent shows on at the same time. Now, you pay for 200 channels and can’t find anything worth watching.
Mythbusters Jr with Adam Savage and a group of kids is pretty good, too.
The first reboot didn’t work well though. The guys were OK, but there was no magic.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.