When visiting other people in the dorms; I slowly began to realize that each living area looked very similar, and this is besides the fact that they all share the same furniture. This is seen in all three of the pictures, where the settings look very alike. Though they may differ aesthetically, through color palate, or decorations the rooms, each living room is comprised of a couch, chair, table, and most importantly for this topic; a television. Even though each student has the opportunity to design their living rooms differently, all three rooms look very similar to each other. The main source of similarity in these three rooms is their focus on the television. Instead of the chairs and couches facing each other to make for easy conversation and a better “hanging out” situation, all of the available seating is pointed towards the television. The television is the primary focus in each room, and has taken over as our primary focus of attention.
The television has truly become one of our main sources of communication. Storytelling used to be most dominant between people, and through interpersonal communication, whereas now we hear our stories through the Internet and television. The television has now become one of our primary ways of communicating and learning about the world. For instance, in the first picture every chair is set up to be directed towards the television. I came over unexpectedly, and did not tell the inhabitants the focus of my topic so that everything is left the exact way it always is. Even the table chairs are focused towards the television, so that all eyes face the television. In the second picture it can be seen as well that every chair is facing towards the television. Though this may make for an awkward and uncomfortable social environment, as when sitting, people are not looking at each other when speaking. The third picture also illustrates how the focus is towards the television, so that the television is the main attraction in the room.
The television is now the main focus of the majority of living rooms seen across campus. I always found it interesting when I would come into a room and we would all talk but none of the couches would actually be facing each other, they would be facing the television, as it is the main attraction. Although students are able to arrange their rooms in any way they want, the rooms all look very similar besides the fact every room that is seen is equipped with the same furniture. The layout for each room focuses on the television as the main part of the living area. Our shift from talking amongst each other for entertainment has changed to looking towards the television for our
