The Current State of Television.
Last night, as I watched TV, I saw an ad for the latest foray into reality programming. My immediate reaction was to think I wouldn't be watching such ****. Then I paused and wondered at the sheer amount of reality programming there seems to be now. Why would so many people watch this nonsense when the truth of it is, they are already 'Reality Stars' in their own lives? I don't for one minute believe that most of the truly dreadful offerings are not scripted in some way. There are a few standouts however. It would be rather difficult to script one of those terrifying winter storms on the Bering Sea aka "Deadliest Catch". I know from my own contacts with the fishing industry back in Australia, that many sea captains are truly characters in their own right, as well as being every bit as tyrannical aboard their ships as the folk who fish for crab in the waters of Alaska. I will admit, after the death of 'Captain Phil', I lost all interest in watching the further misadventures of his younger, drug addled son, or the floundering of his older one...Neither being particularly prepared to take over the running of the ship.
Andy Warhol spoke of people's desire/need for 'their own 15 minutes of fame'. For a culture which has basically been brought up by their TV sets, naturally, they want their 15 mins to be ON television. This brings to mind such offerings as Honey Boo Boo. A child 'reality star', whose future, I feel, is now in doubt. Will she reach her majority scrambling for what little bits of 'fame' she can find to puff up her ego? Or will she grow up and become an adult capable of functioning in a society where disappointment and failure are far more common?
I look at the wall of my office, and near my desk is a simple plaque. It was given to me a few years back for having been with my company for 10+ years. Next year, I will have earned a second one. There was no public ceremony when I had earned that plaque. I simply plucked it from the box, brought it home and quietly hung it on the wall. Every time I glance at it, I have a sense of private satisfaction that I have done all I could within the realm of my authority (and frequently beyond it, I'll admit) to improve both my company and the work it does. There was no need for anything more public because everywhere I look, I can see the evidence of my handiwork.
So, why am I writing all this stuff on the Internet, of all places? I couldn't be more public if I tried! To start with, I truly don't care who may or may not read anything I write here. This is simply a way of 'thinking out loud', as I unscramble thoughts, impressions and experiences. It is something that will be cached somewhere long, long after I die. It may, at some point in the future, make someone else think and wonder...Just as I am thinking and wondering now. Ultimately, it is an opinion. My opinion. And guess what, we all got one of those, on just about every subject under the sun.
But, let's get back on point, shall we.
I've never been on television to my knowledge. To be truthful, I never want to be. I wasn't raised by my TV set, so see no value of ever appearing, in any capacity, on a few million screens around the country. Yet, so many people appear far too willing to do just about anything to get themselves onto those self same screens. Do they truly feel as though the social value of their lives is so lacking that the only way to justify their existence is to appear on television? It has been said that 'fame is fleeting'. This is especially true with television. I've watched in wonder, and more than occasional disgust, as former 'reality stars' try everything to get back onto the screen. Usually through exhibiting truly boorish behavior in front of the always seeking cameras.
Television, and its reality programming suddenly has the entire world wanting to know every last detail of a person's life. All sense of privacy is simply given away, just so that person can appear on a TV screen one more time. Fame, and all its assorted bits and pieces appears to do little to improve their lives. Quite the opposite seems to be true. Talk around the traditional office 'water cooler' is less often about what an individual can do for themselves, and more about what idiocy some 'reality star' is going to get up to next. (Which makes me beyond grateful to have worked from a 'home office' most of my adult life.)
I despair sometimes over the current state of television programming. In my first years in the country, it was a mental orgy of documentaries, history, science, archeology and a hundred other 'educational' programs. It took considerable self-discipline to keep myself away from the TV each day until I had completed my day to day workload. For at least the last 5 years, and probably well before that, I sadly pick my way through channels stuffed to overflowing with more and more 'reality programming'. It's likely cheaper to produce, I'll grant. I'm certain there is someone whispering in the ear of some 'reality star', saying "I want to you to overreact this way in the next scene." True quality television is a rare gem indeed, even on subjects I have no interest. And more, it appears to be yet another way for advertisers to convince people to buy their particular merchandise, which is is usually poorly made and of no value. (Unless, you keep it in the box, in a safe, smoke-free environment for the 50 years and hope that some nostalgic mind will buy it from you.)
Have we, as a people, a culture, a nation so deteriorated that our legacy to the future is going to be nothing more than overreacting 'reality stars'? A thousand years from now, will some future archaeologist dig up the remains of some television reality programming and wonder how we ever managed to survive at all?
Jad...Out.
Andy Warhol spoke of people's desire/need for 'their own 15 minutes of fame'. For a culture which has basically been brought up by their TV sets, naturally, they want their 15 mins to be ON television. This brings to mind such offerings as Honey Boo Boo. A child 'reality star', whose future, I feel, is now in doubt. Will she reach her majority scrambling for what little bits of 'fame' she can find to puff up her ego? Or will she grow up and become an adult capable of functioning in a society where disappointment and failure are far more common?
I look at the wall of my office, and near my desk is a simple plaque. It was given to me a few years back for having been with my company for 10+ years. Next year, I will have earned a second one. There was no public ceremony when I had earned that plaque. I simply plucked it from the box, brought it home and quietly hung it on the wall. Every time I glance at it, I have a sense of private satisfaction that I have done all I could within the realm of my authority (and frequently beyond it, I'll admit) to improve both my company and the work it does. There was no need for anything more public because everywhere I look, I can see the evidence of my handiwork.
So, why am I writing all this stuff on the Internet, of all places? I couldn't be more public if I tried! To start with, I truly don't care who may or may not read anything I write here. This is simply a way of 'thinking out loud', as I unscramble thoughts, impressions and experiences. It is something that will be cached somewhere long, long after I die. It may, at some point in the future, make someone else think and wonder...Just as I am thinking and wondering now. Ultimately, it is an opinion. My opinion. And guess what, we all got one of those, on just about every subject under the sun.
But, let's get back on point, shall we.
I've never been on television to my knowledge. To be truthful, I never want to be. I wasn't raised by my TV set, so see no value of ever appearing, in any capacity, on a few million screens around the country. Yet, so many people appear far too willing to do just about anything to get themselves onto those self same screens. Do they truly feel as though the social value of their lives is so lacking that the only way to justify their existence is to appear on television? It has been said that 'fame is fleeting'. This is especially true with television. I've watched in wonder, and more than occasional disgust, as former 'reality stars' try everything to get back onto the screen. Usually through exhibiting truly boorish behavior in front of the always seeking cameras.
Television, and its reality programming suddenly has the entire world wanting to know every last detail of a person's life. All sense of privacy is simply given away, just so that person can appear on a TV screen one more time. Fame, and all its assorted bits and pieces appears to do little to improve their lives. Quite the opposite seems to be true. Talk around the traditional office 'water cooler' is less often about what an individual can do for themselves, and more about what idiocy some 'reality star' is going to get up to next. (Which makes me beyond grateful to have worked from a 'home office' most of my adult life.)
I despair sometimes over the current state of television programming. In my first years in the country, it was a mental orgy of documentaries, history, science, archeology and a hundred other 'educational' programs. It took considerable self-discipline to keep myself away from the TV each day until I had completed my day to day workload. For at least the last 5 years, and probably well before that, I sadly pick my way through channels stuffed to overflowing with more and more 'reality programming'. It's likely cheaper to produce, I'll grant. I'm certain there is someone whispering in the ear of some 'reality star', saying "I want to you to overreact this way in the next scene." True quality television is a rare gem indeed, even on subjects I have no interest. And more, it appears to be yet another way for advertisers to convince people to buy their particular merchandise, which is is usually poorly made and of no value. (Unless, you keep it in the box, in a safe, smoke-free environment for the 50 years and hope that some nostalgic mind will buy it from you.)
Have we, as a people, a culture, a nation so deteriorated that our legacy to the future is going to be nothing more than overreacting 'reality stars'? A thousand years from now, will some future archaeologist dig up the remains of some television reality programming and wonder how we ever managed to survive at all?
Jad...Out.