Television and Culture

Television and culture have each affected the other in major ways. From epic historical moments to hilarious TV catch phrases, television and culture influence each other daily. In this section we'll examine the relationship between television and culture.

More Culture Topics to Explore

How Obituaries Went from Dry Death Notices to Tributes to Truth

Military Funerals Give Service Members and Families One Final Salute

Ghana's Fantasy Coffins Are to Die For

DNA Tattoos: I’ve Got You Into My Skin

The History of Makeup Is Surprisingly Elitist

Could Your Tattoos Camouflage Skin Cancer?

What's So American About Apple Pie?

Hygge: The Danish Art of Living Cozily

How Fish and Chips Became England's National Dish

Get to Know the Greek Alphabet, From Alpha to Omega

'Franglais' on the Rise, Say French Language Watchdogs

What's the Difference? Quiz

The Stories Behind the Electric Slide, the Moonwalk and Other Epic Dance Moves

The Movement That Has Men Dropping Out of Society in a 'Sexodus'

Why Do We Love Guinness World Records So Much?

5 Summertime Family Traditions

5 Family Traditions for New Babies

5 Family Anniversary Traditions

The Legend of the Mysterious Night Marchers of Hawaii

10 People With Incredibly Bad Luck

Conspiracy Theories and Creationism Depend on the Same Backward Logic

Having a Cherokee Ancestor Doesn’t Necessarily Make You Cherokee Too

For White Nationalists, Genetic Ancestry Tests Challenge Concepts of Identity and Purity

Ancient Mummy DNA Reveals Surprises About Egyptian Ancestry

How the Millennial Generation Works

Millennials Are Making Birthday Cards a Thing Again

Nope, Boomers and Xers Don’t Work Harder Than Millennials

There's a Pooping Man in the Catalan Nativity Scene

10 Ways to Liven Up Your White Elephant Gift Exchange

6 Wild and Wacky Takes on the Advent Calendar

The History and Symbolism of the U.S. Presidential Seal

Nameless But Never Forgotten: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Weiberfastnacht: The Day German Women Stormed the Ramparts

There's More Than One Way to Be Monogamous

Hey Dad! The Famous Fathers Quiz

Famous Mothers Quiz

A Heavenly Angels Quiz

Pope to List Nuclear Weapons as Immoral After Visiting Japan

What Is a Mandala? (No, Not Nelson. That's Mandela)

The Bizarre, Brazen Life of Cultist Aleister Crowley

How Punk Works

A Pirate Quiz for Ye Trivia-Lubbers!

Learn More

How One Woman Unexpectedly Became the Voice of Siri

Atlanta's Susan Bennett never knew she was primed to become one of the world's most famous voices until Siri first debuted on American iPhones in 2011.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Aug 1, 2019 Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

There's a Healthier Way to Consume Your Media

Are you over-ingesting on media? Perhaps an overhaul of your "media diet" is in order.

By John Donovan Mar 19, 2018 Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

We Love What John Oliver Just Said About Science

The 'Last Week Tonight' host took an enthusiastic media to task on his HBO show for oversimplifying good science and turning a blind eye to bad studies.

By Christopher Hassiotis May 9, 2016 Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

TV Antiheroes Like Cersei and Dexter Enthrall Us. Here's Why

Antiheroes like Cersei Lannister from HBO's crazy popular "Game of Thrones" are all over TV. And we'll cheer for them, too, provided they meet a few conditions.

By Robert Lamb Apr 29, 2016 Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

It Turns Out 'Screen Time' Isn't That Bad for Kids

The American Academy of Pediatrics exchanges its 'turn it off' stance for a more nuanced approach.

By Julia Layton Jan 14, 2016 Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

Let's Go Visit the Muppets!

We headed to the Center for Puppetry Arts to hang out with some old friends. Want to come, too?

By Jonathan Strickland Nov 20, 2015 Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

How are drones changing media coverage?

Modern media embrace the flying machines. But is that good for our society?

By Chris Opfer Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

How Star Wars Works: Convention Consumables

Every con has vendors, but Star Wars Celebration offers some of the most drool-worthy art, accessories and armor in the galaxy. Check out art by Cat Staggs, armor by Anovos and unique jewelry by Norse Legion.

Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

How Star Wars Works: Fans in Costume

What would a Star Wars convention be without costumes? Fans from all over the world share their fantastic handmade creations with us, including a handmaiden, a wookiee and the latest Star Wars villain.

Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

How Star Wars Works: 5 Questions for Star Wars Fans

Every Star Wars fan has favorite things they love about the galaxy far, far away. We conducted an informal poll at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim to find out what planets, tech and characters from the Star Wars universe are the most popular.

Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

How Star Wars Works: Fandom and Charity

Star Wars: Force for Change and Unicef Kid Power teamed up at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim to show kids (and kids at heart) that they have the power to create meaningful change in the world while having fun.

Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

How Star Wars Works: The Art of Rancho Obi-Wan featuring Steve Sansweet

Steve Sansweet gave our crew a guided tour of the amazing displays he brought to Star Wars Celebration Anaheim. From paintings to plushies, the Rancho Obi-Wan booth was stuffed with original creations.

Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

How Star Wars Works: The Props and Costumes of The Force Awakens

Join Holly Frey from HowStuffWorks as she gets an early look at the beautiful props and costumes from the up coming Star Wars: The Force Awakens. And make sure to check out all of our coverage from Star Wars Celebration 2015.

Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

What is binge watching?

We've all done it. You planned to watch just one episode of your favorite show but ended up burning through four or five in a single setting. Ever wonder why binge watching is so addictive?

By Laurie L. Dove Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

Do TV shows and book deals encourage criminal behavior?

Since 2006, there's been an enormous increase in mass murders and many experts think this may be because of the publicity these criminals receive on TV and the Internet. Could the wide coverage inspire copycat behavior?

By Alia Hoyt Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

10 Completely Unrealistic Moments in Television ERs

Emergency rooms on TV are fraught with drama and tension. While nonfictional ERs have their share of stressful moments, a lot of the work they do is misrepresented when it's transferred to the entertainment sphere.

By Maria Trimarchi Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

10 Common Sayings You're Probably Saying Wrong

Maybe you could care less about grammar. After all, it's a doggy-dog world, and you're OK as long as people know what you mean, right?

By Chris Opfer Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

10 Ways TV Has Changed American Culture

Does TV shape culture or reflect it? Since TVs became commonplace in American homes in the 1950s, pundits have debated their positive and negative effects. We'll examine some of the changes.

By Becky Striepe Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

10 TV Moments That Changed the World

Love it or hate it, you have to admit that TV is one of the most powerful forms of mass media in the Western world. But what are some of the most famous, world-changing TV moments?

By Matt Cunningham Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

How has the evolution of TV changed America?

From flat-screen HDTVs to small, flip-open screens, TV viewing has become part of everyday life, far removed from the luxurious event of watching black-and-white TV in its earliest days. How has this evolution changed America?

By Matt Cunningham Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

How are cell phones changing TV?

Since the advent of smartphones, you can check your e-mail, catch up on Facebook, browse the Internet and even watch videos, all on the go. Naturally, cell phones have already affected our viewing habits and changed the TV industry. But how?

By Becky Striepe Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

5 Technologies That Customize TV Viewing

The golden age of television may be gone, but the delightful age of customization is here to stay. Here are five technologies that will let you whatever TV you want exactly when you want it. Now that sounds pretty good, doesn't it?

By William Harris Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

10 TV Technologies Making Movie Theaters Obsolete

Home theater technology is offering better and better picture and sound at lower and lower prices. When will the home viewing experience supplant theaters entirely?

By Wesley Fenlon Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

How have 24-hour sports stations changed society?

Since the launch of ESPN in 1979, 24-hour sports stations have grown into a multibillion dollar industry, with even extremely niche-focused sports networks pulling in millions in revenue. How has this had an impact on society?

By Becky Striepe Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture

Are DVR viewings factored into TV ratings?

Since DVRs have gained popularity, TV networks have had to adapt to the time-shifting, commercial-skipping technology. DVRs allow viewers to schedule recordings and watch programs whenever they like. But are these viewings factored into ratings?

By Becky Striepe Culture & Traditions / Television and Culture