It might not be curing cancer or cloning a sheep, however television research plays a vital role in understanding ourselves and the world around us.

That is according to CQUniversity researcher Dr Wendy Davis who spends much of her time in front of the black box which she argues is ‘one of the most powerful cultural technologies' in the world.

Dr Wendy Davis believes TV is an important cog in the machinery of our culture.Nevertheless, many people have a disdain for the beloved television set with what they see as its many ‘evils and banality'.

However Dr Davis believes we can learn a lot from television.

"We can ignore or dismiss television if we like, but I don't think it is going away anytime soon. In fact, it is an important cog in the machinery of our culture.

"Television has the ability to represent the events of our local, national and international lives back to us in very particular ways."

She believes that our role as citizens of the media age is to not bury our heads in the sand, but instead we should watch television and lots of it.

"We should watch it with a critical eye."

Mockumentaries are television programs which appear as documentaries, but blur with satirical comedy. They often cuttingly critique various aspects of our culture.

Chris Lilly in the mockumentary Summer Heights High."For those who watched We Can Be Heroes it may be impossible to take the Australian of the Year awards seriously ever again.

"And if you watched Roy and HG tear apart the pomposity of the Sydney Olympics, it may well be that you will never watch an Olympic opening ceremony or men's gymnastics with quite the same innocence that you once were able to."

For the next 2 years, Dr Davis will be watching a lot of television including groundbreaking shows such as The Office, The Larry Sanders Show, The Hollowmen and Summer Heights High.

"Just like some people consider themselves ‘well-read' I am in the process of becoming ‘well viewed'."

"Comedy is often seen as the poor cousin of TV drama, but it has always interested me. It's still a vital part of the fabric of society, so I think it is still really important to look at it and see what is going on there because it's about who we are."