Isn't T.V. sensational?!

"Gangland" is a popular program on the History Channel. "Gangland" features a new location, new gang, or a new aspect of gang culture every Thursday night so we can all "experience" the nitty gritty of gang life from the comfort of our living rooms.
Recently "Gangland" did a feature on Oakland, well, actually they did two. I have never seen the show create two episodes featuring one city in this back-to back type manner but they found a way to justify it through the course of the two episodes. The first episodes seemed to feature nothing but "Black" male gangs as all the people interviewed and shown for black males. The second episode showed just Latin male gangs. Apparently, neither women nor white people bang.
As I was watching this with a friend from Sacramento, he said, "Dang, Oakland really gets down, huh? I'm not surprised.". My initial response was, "Yeah...I guess so." as I thought, wow, i really should be more careful. But as the show continued and then the second episode started I continued to see areas that I spent time in and neighborhoods that my friends lived in and I realized just how much propagandist crap was being spewed.
"Gangland" made it seem as if every male of color in Oakland was a gangbanger with an insatiable blood lust. I was furious! Oakland definitely has some gang issues and some real issues with crime in general but this show demonized Oakland so thoroughly that I have friends who have seen the show who are now concerned about their safety in neighborhoods they have lived comfortably in for years!
This is not only ridiculous but also grossly irresponsible. I understand T.V. is a business and they have to make their money but at the same time creators of documentary shows like "Gangland" have a responsibility to present a slightly less skewed version of reality than a fictional show such as "Lost" would. We as viewers, also have a responsibility to ask questions, check sources and think critically about the "information" served to us everyday.
When you see a T.V. show please ask, What is the subcontext of the show? What are the values and ideals they are trying to feed me? In what way are they trying to alter/control my view on the subject matter? Who benefits? Who pays?

An ode to T.V.

Since T.V. was welcomed into the homes of America it has been a cultural force to be reckoned with. Both, programs and commercials have been the harbinger, executor and enforcer of hegemonic culture. This role has created a bit of a love/hate relationship between television and I.

It's like a drug.

The High: Simply inject T.V. via eyes and ears,(no need for the brain you can turn that off!) and T.V. will provide you with the escape you need. You will feel relaxed, happy or at least mostly content and your worries will evaporate in thirty minutes or less. To intensify the effects of T.V. simply apply via tivo or on demand. Please take with large quantities of fat and sugar.

Side effects may include: drowsiness, general lethargy, loss of motivation, depression, weight gain or at least weight issues, change in body image perceptions, insecurity, loss of sense of self, inability to create cognitive thoughts and/or statements, loss of friends, incessant need to purchase previously unnecessary products, total unquestioning indoctrination into hegemonic ideals and complete inability to think for ones self.

Please note that T.V. is highly addictive.

(When using and administering video games, particularly online gaming communities such as "World of Warcraft" please note that all of the above applies and treat with caution.)