I find it to be interesting that the "current generation" Youngblood speaks of is remarkably similar to ours in a number of ways. In our questioning of almost all the traditional aspect of the world, it appears that entertainment has yet to change from what it was back in the day. Our plots revolve around similar themes and formulaic stimuli meant to manipulate the audience. However, it can be argued that the methods of manipulation have gone even more commercial in that we have developed product placement as a subtle encouragement to purchase products that the characters own or use in their respective dramas. Furthermore, we have more or less distilled the notion of drama into it's most easily package-able form with the onset of reality television saturating out broadcast schedules.
I feel that we most certainly have regressed with out entertainment as the quality has slumped quite markedly as the years have gone by, with continuously rehashed plots and formulas being the norm. In order to make it look different, we have used technology to dress the stale presentation with a new coat of computer generated paint. Something has got to give eventually, as the current situation is becoming ridiculous in it's amount of imitations of past successes. For instance, there are at least 5 American Idol rip-offs airing right now off the top of my head, and the same can be said for any other genre on television. Of course, there is the occasional breath of fresh air once in a while, such as with the airing of Breaking Bad. However, I am positive that the commercial powers that be will be sure to milk this new venue that deemed successful for all it's worth.
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