On TV the most reality one can find is LAW AND ORDER and a few other police procedurals. They deal with corruption. They deal with crime. PERSON OF INTEREST is another, dealing with universal, pervasive surveillance.
News-like shows are farcical mixes of propaganda and marketing as unreal as Mitt Romney’s alleged feelings.
Comedy shows can offer straightforward assessments. Their commentary makes us laugh because it’s accurate and makes us uncomfortable.
So-called reality shows are scripted, cast, and edited like pro wrestling matches. That’s essentially what they are.
On cable one finds documentaries of varying quality. The History Channel, once jokingly called the World War II or Nazi Channel, is now the Ancient Space Alien Channel. The Discovery Channel is not much better.
Think it’s not planned? Think it’s not intended to degrade us so we are even less informed? Truth is, part is planned as a direct culture war attack. The other truth is, we are to blame for choosing lowest common denominator diversion in place of engaging, educational, thought-provoking entertainment. We come home drained by the vampire consumer culture and vedge in front of the tube. We stare at the glow box. We watch not shows, only television.
Sickened to see this? What can we do? Boycott the crap, sure, but crap sells. We all like some form of crap.
Seem hopeless? It is.
Even throwing away your TV and doing without only isolates you culturally, making you not only an easier target but one separated from the herd.
Dealing with it is hard work. It demands constant attention to details. Keifer Sutherland’s show 24 began as a fine drama but soon decayed into a right wing screed promoting Might Makes Right and Torture Works thinking. FOX was an eager conduit for such propaganda. But for many, it was a slow boil, and they never noticed they were being cooked because they did not pay attention to detail.
Dealing with it also requires time and effort. You must sift the schedule for anything worthwhile. Some days, some weeks, there won’t be anything. Other times there will be quite a few. It’s like walking in an arroyo; you’re dying of thirst until the water comes, then you’re drowned.
Selective, intelligent TV viewing is possible, and good discussions and thoughts can arise from it. Active involvement, rather than passive absorption, is the key. When you turn it on, remember to turn on your brain too.
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