Thoughts inspired by Charlie Brooker's show...
I have been rather impressed by his BBC4 shows of late - he is coming into focus as a thoughtful as well as scathing critic of our culture and of Conservatism. His subdued, heartfelt words about Oliver Postgate at the end of the show following his death were some of the most pertinent made. And in the last of the series, Brooker's absolute horror at *this*, which I had (perhaps thankfully[1]) not known existed before seeing the bizarre clips: http://sky1.sky.com/noels-hq-is-back
Some friends I was conversing with at the wedding I was at yesterday had not heard of it; Sky One is entirely a backwater, and long may it remain so. Edmonds' rants against the license fee appear the moanings of a bitter, small-minded little man; his exile from the BBC is to be applauded and savoured. It is this sort of world-view that ought to make those of us in the civilised world support the BBC.
Yesterday, I couldn't argue with points made that the BBC is not what it was (add to this the effective censoring of Westwood's show, as mentioned by Robin), and indeed agree that much of the excellent stuff is on BBC4, relegated from wider public view. I argued that Brooker's show should be on BBC2 in a prominent slot - as it surely would have been 15 years ago. The point also came that Radio 1 is more ghettoised than it was - with any shows which dared to mix genres or build an unusual audience jettisoned: i.e. no Peel, no inventive scheduling which you used to have to some extent in the '90s.
But the standard of news and radio is still there, and the BBC provides a *space* for future improvements in our television and culture. Without it we may not have a chance. What would take its place, but a lethal cocktail of US imports (and not the good ones - of which there are many), 'Moylesy' and Noel's HQ...?
I am very skeptical about the view that we do not need a licence fee and that quality would maintain itself - or improve - without public ownership (the stake that we all have in it). This point is at the core of my practical disagreement with left-wing anarchist principles; unfortunately, Britain could not be run entirely along the lines of Wikipedia, Resonance FM or the Star and Shadow Cinema. The wrong people have too tight a grip on our culture at present to enable this sort of diverse, communal democracy. Positive, enabling direction from the state is essential; the current economy is making this obvious. Arts subsidy is better coming from the state, or delegated local arts bodies, than from rich private patrons. *Enriching* services for *all* need to provided, and to improve: the NHS, the BBC should be seen as exemplars - imperfect, yes. But with the potential to change things.
I will never be a state = always right person, of course. There are innumerable cases of Pinter's Few states are anywhere near perfect, but I would prefer a post-WW2 Swedish model of statist democracy to current-day British governance, of course. One looks at the cultural riches of British broadcasting 1960-90 and has to say we were doing it right then. I am for the state to point people in the right direction - and to *give them a chance*, not to subsidise inactivity. A chance to be involved in society - the arts, charitable works, public works. What must be avoided are the mistakes of welfarism; allowing an underclass to become dependent on the state (of course, they were betrayed by capital too) without contributing anything of any worth to society. The post-war left has acted alongside Thatcherism in this case to turn large sections of the working-class into hateful caricatures. Class mobility or indeed 'meritocracy' are both at a halt in Britain today; you can predict people's jobs or lack of jobs from which schools they went to, or from their parents' education.
I am not, however, for any form of Purnellian reforms - an idiotic Gradgrindian 'you must work!' ethos wholly at odds with the facts of globalised capitalism which dictates the job market. My reforms would be radical with a distinctly red element. Less emphasis on work for work's sake, more on work for a purpose. An environmental 'Green Deal' would be a good start, and would have to be EU/Obama-led.
[1] Though 'know thine enemy' is an important maxim to bear in mind, always. Brooker's show is an excellent way to become acquainted with the utter ghastliness of much of today's television - with the man's scabrous mediation making the excerpts bearable, even funny in a gallows fashion.