Television in Relation to Other Media and Recreation in American Life

Abstract

and recreation in American life has a choice of two approaches: he can discuss it in terms of the policy questions which arise as the arts of communication are developed, or he can approach it as a social scientist. I have chosen the second approach for this paper. It is not that I am reluctant to deal with controversial policy issues. I simply believe that in the long run the contribution to be sought from the social sciences is fundamental to a wise solution of the policy problems. The other media considered include newspapers, magazines, and books as well as motion pictures and radio, and recreation is taken to mean the use of nonworking time for purposes which serve the needs of the individual's personality. Recreation would embrace activities as diverse as whittling, conversing, gambling, or activity on behalf of church, social group, or political party; in fact, simply "setting," as when one sits on the porch and reflects in silence, may fall within the scope of recreation. All structured use of leisure time is thus recreation. Whether the use of leisure