Contextualizing a discussion of the impact of television on the identities of young people requires a focused theoretical approach and specific research objectives. To analyze the actual impact of fictional programs, it is important to review a model of the relationship between consumption, selection, interaction and application.
EXP~~
In the youth media inclusion matrix, I have moved identity to the center of the model rather than placing it outside. The curved arrows of the Steele and Brown (1995) model gave the impression that the relationship between identity, selection, interaction and application always occurred in a uniform proposition.
MEMDRY THEIRY
Collective memory, first established by Mauriee Halbwachs, places the personal in the context of the social. This context runs parallel to the circle of lived experience in youth media involvement.
CHAPTER AND RESWCH FINDINGS
Racial distribution among respondents who indicated that they had at least one television in their home9. South African youth also seemed divided over the overall influence of television and fiction programs in their lives.
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Ultimately, however, almost none of the key findings were specific to any particular socio-economic class. The youth media engagement matrix proved particularly useful in sorting through the themes that emerged in the analysis of the group transcripts (to view the transcripts from each ACB focus group, see APPENDICES B through G). They remember what is 1) humorous, 2) extraordinary, 3) age-relevant, 4) relationship-related, or 5) personally meaningful.
In the process of the interaction of simulated play and conversational recall, collective memory is involved. However, what is still not clear in the interaction level of the youth media engagement matrix is how memories of fictional programs brought to life through play and conversation directly influence identity. The first example of the way young people make what they remember active in their everyday lives is in the commodities they remember consuming.
These results present a rather problematic view of the flow of influence presented in the youth media engagement matrix.
CHAPTER FOUR-IIISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
In the end, there is strong evidence to suggest that young people remember fictional programs that resemble their lived experience, but none that asserts the opposite—that young people remember what negates their lived experience—is true. The second hypothesis (H,) asserted that fictional programs influence youth identity through a direct link between memory selection, interaction, and application. The question that remains is how much of what young people remember consists of fictitious programs.
Others said they believe their memories of fictional shows influence them more than those of fictional shows. Other focus group participants noted that they did not believe that their memories of fictional shows greatly affected their identity because TV was not "the center of their lives" (Crawford College; April 20, 2000). The voice of young people therefore believes that the extent to which memories of fictional programs influence youth identity is in direct relation to the role that television plays in the individual's life.
There are certainly those young people for whom television comprises a large part of their lived experience or who recall fictional programs that affirm their already negative or violent personal experiences.
CD.ClUS •••
In chapter three, I provided a quantitative, statistical overview of the young adult audience and briefly discussed the history, key characteristics, and objectives of focus groups. This background prompted a discussion on the six focus groups held in schools and higher education institutions in the Durban area. By tailoring focus group questions to these areas, I found that 15- to 20-year-olds are more likely to remember programs, characters, events, or storylines that are a) humorous, b) extraordinary, c). ) age-relevant, d) relationship-related, or e) personally relevant.
First, the astute reader will note that there were very few examples cited in the focus groups specific to South Africa. Moreover, all findings and conclusions were more general than country-specific. Due to the large concentration of foreign (mainly American) programs in South Africa, it would be interesting to conduct an international comparative study in this area.
In the past, the concept of media events has only been applied to non-fictional representations of scenes such as the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger and the death of Princess Diana, but it would be provocative to determine whether or not there are fictional media events are events.
BIBLIOGRAPH Y
P I1U1I IV alII
1999) "Gender Differences in Autobiographical Memory for Childhood Emotional Experiences." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Media Events: Live Story Broadcast Public Recall of News Presented by Newspaper, Computer, Television, and Radio Verbal Ability and Prior Knowledge: Contributions to Adults' Comprehension of Television. Daily life. 1995) Critical Pedagogy and Predatory Culture: Oppositional Politics in a Postmodern Era Adolescent Loneliness: Correlates, Attributions, and Coping." Journal of Youth and Adolescence.
1995) Spaces of Identity: Global Media, Electronic Landscapes, and Cultural Borders The Cultural Context of Talking About the Past: Implications for the Development of Autobiographical Memory.” Cognitive Development, 10:.
APPE DIIF
Ok, why did you like Splderman or why did you remember it, what do you think. Okay and you've been looking for some of that juice, hey. What do you remember about Pumpkin Patch? And why you liked the show, what do you think, just because of your affinity for Homer.
What about the rest, when you see the memory of the television in your head, how you see it. And do you think you remember it because you were thinking the same thing at the same time? And why do you remember this episode, was it poignant or did you just experience it intellectually.
What influence do you think the shows you watch have on who you are?
APPENDIIG
Okay, and so, do you remember anything else, like certain stories, that stand out in your mind. And what do you remember, are there certain characters that you remember or what •.• storylines .• about Generations. And if you think so, then you talk about it the next day or you talk about it a week later.
And why do you think it was memorable, that she suddenly breastfed. Why do you think you are watching what you are watching, are you watching it because it is entertaining or because it is Informative.. why are you watching what you are watching. What impact, if any, do you think what you watch has on who you are as a person.
Do you think those memories have become incorporated into who you are or how you live your daily life.
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APPENDIX A
FOCUS GROUP OUTLINE
Access, viewing habits and rituals - Talk about how you watch television, not necessarily what you watch. Think back to when you were little and tell me what you remember about watching television. Anything else you want to tell me about what you remember from watching television when you were a child.
When you remember a certain scene in a show or a character doing something, how do you remember it? Do you find that the problems the characters have in the shows you watch are similar to your own life? Do you and your friends dress like or do some of the same things as the characters in the shows you watch.
Do you think your TV memories have at all influenced who you are, how you see yourself or the world around you?
APPENDI B
And the rest of you, you watched TV with your friends when you were younger, when you were very young. And is it the same today. are there any new rules now that you've grown up or don't you have rules.. you can watch whenever you want. That they don't want you to see. any other stories or anything else you remember about watching TV when you were little.
And did you play games, like, when you played, did you play games where you imitated characters on TV or did you, IIke .• were there any games that involved television. Okay, so tell me a little bit more about how you watch TV now, do you watch TV with your friends now. But you can't watch with your parents doing things.. like if you're watching Generations of Days and they're in the kitchen.. you can't watch with them.
So when you watch Generations, you do it yourself. on the other hand), would you watch a soap with your sisters and parents.
What else do you like about the shows you watch and why you watch them. And so, is this the only show that you think is funny, or are there other shows. And then what about the shows you remember from way back, for example Ylzo Yizo was off the air for a year or a long time so why do you remember it.
Okay, you think', so we talked about how Ylzo Ylzo is like the things that happen here, right. And 50, I think I've gone through all my questions, we're finishing a little early, so if you think of anything else you remember about TV that you want to say now... otherwise you can ask me questions. It's good to know that besides fake shows there are other things that influence you... do you think shows like Fellc/a and.
Oprah and sports Influence you more than shows like Generations or, um, /sidlngo •. What do you think.
APPENDIIC
Do you think what you watch on TV affects the way you see the world around you?
