In media studies, cultivation theory suggests what about heavy exposure to TV drama?

• A. Heavy exposure shapes perceptions of reality; long-running series can normalize certain representations.
• B. Fictional content has no influence on viewers' beliefs.
• C. Only news programs shape social reality, not drama.
• D. Short-run series have the most impact on social norms.

Answer: (A)

Cultivation theory is about how sustained, long-term viewing of television shapes the way people perceive real life. When you watch a lot of TV drama, the repeated, consistent portrayals start to become a reference point for what everyday life is like. Because these long-running series continually present certain types of characters, situations, and norms, audiences can come to view those representations as normal or typical. That’s why heavy exposure can influence beliefs about social reality and why long-running dramas can normalize the depictions they present.

This helps explain why the statement about heavy exposure shaping perceptions is the best fit. It isn’t saying that fiction has no influence or that only news shapes reality, and it isn’t about short-run series having the most impact—the cumulative effect of ongoing exposure from long-running dramas is what drives the normalization process.