Citizen Spy by Michael Kickman

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Citizen Spy-The Television.
During the 1950s, technology had not heightened and thus, the spreading of information was quite slow. The television was the major instrument that was used to disseminate information. This was especially during the Cold War where rumors took shape and there was a state of tension between nations and individuals. It should be understood that during the Cold War, the actions were not taking place on a battlefield. The War was held silently in terms of economy, sanctions, and ability of nations among other. The medium of television was so important in shaping notions of Americanism during that time.
During the Cold War, the American culture was greatly transformed. Espionage shows that were aired at that time on television provided a well-to-do chance to explore television`s involvement in the development of a transnational culture. Spy programs aired in the 1950s on the television were part of the figurative structures that preserved and redefined governing descriptions of American national identity (Kackman, 36). The medium of television was significant at this point in time due to the influence it spurred among the American citizens. Most of the programs aired, including drama programs, documentaries and other shows revealed government secrets (concerning both former and current government agents). In this way, Americans were kept up to date with what was taking place and in so doing the television also determined the direction in which the cold war went. A superior example is that of the documentary melodrama, ‘Homegrown Spies and the Red Scare`. It should, therefore, be understood that the television was more of an expansion of the public sphere than an entertainment tool. In this sense, it helped to shape the notions and ideas of the Americans during that period. As Michael Kackman puts it;
‘They directly cultivated a sense of civic nationalism by encouraging viewers to participate in neighborhood and city activities as a patriotic local corollary to the national efforts of the on-screen spies. Good citizens, they asserted, watched television`.
Reality-based spy shows aired on television during the 1950s instituted close working relationships between the show producers and political institutions. This constituted to those who were officially on television. Besides, those who were on television included the State Department, the Defense Department, the FBI and the Treasury Department (Kackman, 37). Either of them contributed to or was cited by the many shows that featured on television during the 1950s and especially during the Cold War. However, the citizens were not allowed on television. They were a...