Objectives
• To discuss media access and determine the overall experience with media, including viewing habits and rituals
• To detennine what fictional programming youth have watched throughout their childhoods and what they remember about those programmes
• To determine what fictional programmes youth watch presently and what is currently memorable or influential about those programmes.
• To investigate what is 'memorable' in the minds of youth-Is it the unusual or that which relates to their own lives? Do they remember story lines, particular episodes, or characters? How are their memories constructed?
• To look at the relationship between fiction and reality-To investigate how those programmes compared to their own life experiences at that time; to detennme how their memories of their own lives integrate television (regarding time placement. etc.)
Introduction
• Name
• American, studying at UND
• MA dissertation on what young people remember about the media
• Ground rules-Free flow of ideas. try as much as possible to speak at once, but feel free to interrupt and overlap, say whatever comes into your mind, but feel free to disagree and build on what someone else is saying, in the end this is meant to be a guided conversation. It is important to note that not everyone, must answer every question.
• Emphasize confidentiality-First names only
• Restrict to fictional programmes (Only if it becomes necessary to make the distinction.)
Discussion Questions
Participant Introductions-Go around the room and say four things:
I) Your name
2) What standard you are in 3) How old you are
- 4) Your favorite television show
Access, Viewing Habits and Rituals-Talk about how you watch television, not necessarily what you watch
• Think back to when you were small and tell me what you remember about watching television.
• Did all of you have TVs when you were little? (If no, did you know someone who did?)
• Where was the TV kept?
• Did you always watch at a certain time of day? (Before school, after homework, before bed).
• What rules did your parents have about television?
• Anything else you remember about the way you watched television when you were little?
• Now, let's talk about bow those rituals have changed. How do you watch television now? (Review questions again for prompting).
Childhood Memories of Shows, Characters and Story Lines
• Let's return to the past again for a moment. Think back and tell me the first TV show you remember watching. Tell me what it was and what you remember best about it.
• What did you like or not like about that particular show?
• What characters stand out in your mind? Why did you like or dislike those characters? Why do you think you remember them so well?
• Do you remember anything else from the television you used to watch?
Impact of Childhood Memories
• What did these shows/characters/story lines teach you?
• How did they relate to your own life?
• Did you talk about your favourite shows with your friends?
• Did you play games or buy things that related to your favourite shows? Tell me about that.
• Did you admire or want to be like the characters on TV?
• Tell me a little bit about what was going on in your life at the time you were watching these programmes? Can you remember any major life changes or events that
happened around you? Do remember if TV came into play with any of these life changes? (Give example if necessary.)
• Anything else you want to tell me about what you remember from television when you were a child?
Recent Media Memories
• You all told me what your favourite shows are, what else do you watch?
• What do you remember about these shows?
• What characters stand out in your mind?
• What story lines or episodes are particularly memorable?
• When you remember a particular scene in a show or a character doing something, how do you remember it? Do you picture it happening as if you are watching it again? Or can you see yourself seated watching the particular show? Is it like a
movie in your head or can you also remember what you felt like and were thinking as you watched it?
• Do most of your friends like the same shows you do?
• Do you watch them together or talk about them with each other? Tell me how those conversations go. (Model a conversation if necessary).
• Anything else that seems significant about what you watch now? Or what you remember about those shows?
Impact of Recent Media Memories
• Why do you watch what you do now? Does it entertain you, teach you something, or give you information, or a combination?
• Do you still look up to or admire characters on TV?
• Do you find that the problems the characters have on the shows you watch are similar to your own lives? Why or why not?
• Could the people on your favourite shows go to school here? Do you think you could live where they live? How much do you identify with these people?
• What effect do you think the shows you watch have on who you are? Do you and your friends dress like or do some of the same things as the characters in the shows you watch?
Overall Influence
• In closing, I'd like to know how much you think your memories oftelevision from your childhood and more recent times influence your life today? Do you think your memories of TV have at all impacted who you are, how you see yourself or the world around you?
Conclusion
• Thank you for your comments
• Explain what I am going to do with what they've told me
• Emphasize confidentiality
• If they have any other questions or what to discuss anything with me further they can contact their principal, or appropriate contact person