Document-based Essay_AP English Language 6

Television has been influential in United States presidential elections since the 1960s. But just what is this influence, and how has it affected who is elected? Has it made elections fairer and more accessible, or has it moved candidates from pursuing issues to pursuing image?

The emergence of television has allowed ubiquitous communication around the world. Television has restored the feeling of direct contact between political issues and the people, making a “novel contribution” to the political life of the nation. (Source A) It got rid of the limit of the access of the citizens, even the limit of suitable distance between the politicians and them to keep fair elections.

           Because televisions visualize the images, politicians tend to care more about their appearances. Politics on televisions became “a competition for images or between images, rather than between ideals.” For example, a television debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon highly influenced the voters to turn to Kennedy because of his image shown on the television. Disregarding the content, Kennedy had better manner of responding to questions, better clothes, better facial expressions and postures. Also, candidates are showing themselves visiting orphanages and social welfare facilities to just make images of ‘candidates who care for minorities.’ The trend of candidates “concerned with projecting images” of themselves may lead citizens to be influenced by fake, made-up images on televisions and make wrong decisions in the elections. (Source C)

           Too much influence of televisions brings “contempt for politics”. According to Hart and Triece, “presidents are losing their distinctiveness as social actors and hence are often judged by standards formerly used to assess rock singers and movie stars since the advent of televisions.” Politics, an important field that makes and enforce laws for the citizens, cannot be considered the same with entertainment, being the subject of enjoyment and gossips. For example, it was inappropriate for Bill Clinton, a presidential candidate at that time, to discuss his underwear with American citizens while campaigning. This kind of “hyperfamiliarity” is not an approvable phenomenon in politics, which should be more serious and professional.