Final answer:
TV's cultivation of worldviews mainly operates through agenda-setting and cultivation theory, shaping societal norms and perceptions of reality. While fostering social homogenization, television can also promote fragmentation through narrow portrayals and provide a platform for various cultural expressions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the mechanisms by which television can cultivate perceptions of the world. Two prominent mechanisms identified for TV's social impact are agenda-setting and cultivation theory. The agenda-setting function suggests that the media don't tell us what to think, but what to think about by selecting what issues and stories are covered. Cultivation theory posits that long-term exposure to television content shapes the viewer's conception of reality. Over time, consistent messages within television can form stereotypes, influence social norms, and reinforce (or sometimes challenge) values and beliefs within a society. These effects contribute to a form of social homogenization, as viewers across different demographics come to share similar perceptions shaped by televised content.
On the other hand, television and media also have the potential to promote social fragmentation. By presenting uniform messages, media can contribute to a narrowed, homogenized view of the world, which may in turn prompt disparate groups to find or create their own media spaces that reflect their specific interests and perspectives. As technology develops, the increased access to a broader range of media options allows for more diverse voices to be heard, potentially countering the homogenizing impulses of mainstream media with greater diversification and inclusion.
Media play a significant role in both reflecting and shaping cultural norms. TV shows, like the popular 'Game of Thrones', have powerful impacts on societal narratives and ideologies, yet they also reveal a lack of diversity in mainstream media that can perpetuate social inequalities and limit empathy and understanding for different viewpoints. In global contexts, media can preserve traditional cultures and promote modernity, showing that mass media are not simply tools of Western influence but are capable of reflecting and transmitting a multitude of cultural experiences.