ABSTRACT
Discussion about the role of television in everyday life has often centred on the dynamic relationship between household or family members and television viewing. However, the relationship between individuals and their TV sets is something that deserves attention, as the way in which people discuss what TV means to them can reveal a great deal about the everyday role of television. Television can mean a variety of things to different people: it can be a source of pleasure, providing companionship, especially for people who are living alone, and it can also be a source of anxiety, or guilt, creating tension in the domestic space. Thus, by looking at how people perceive leisure time, and the value of television, we can understand the range of responses people have to watching television. In this chapter we will also consider the ways in which television is used in social interaction – talking about TV – and consider some issues of television and personal identity.
