4.28.2007
TeeVee And The Nature Of Evil
TeeVee friends want to help you.
Aging actress Sally Field pops up on your television screen, saying she has the answer to your problem with osteoporosis. She hawks a wonder drug called Boniva. Of course, Sally is doing this for no compensation, a true humanitarian.
The first couple of times the Boniva ad is tolerable. After that, it starts tainting your soul. When Sally pops up again for the nth time, you say to yourself: “Hey, lady, I got your Bone-niva, right here. It’ll fix your osteoporosis.”
Another TeeVee friend, distinguished elder actor Morgan Freeman, haunts the nighttime hours when the networks are forced to give up ad time for public service announcements. In this PSA a healthy-looking middle-aged man sits in a professional photo studio, getting his portrait taken. Morgan appears on screen, saying you might be the picture of health but you must get a colonoscopy.
Even though you don’t watch that much TeeVee – you’re just trying to catch a few stories on the late night news – Morgan seems to be on shilling for colonoscopies every fifteen minutes.
“Hey, old man, shove it! And get a picture of you shoving it, too!”
The cynicism felt towards commercials now has seeped over to PSAs. And as you watch the news, you find yourself making snide comments about various tragedies. Then again, the way the stories are presented, the TeeVee news department is exploiting the tragedy to keep the ratings up. Asking someone “How do you feel?” after a loved one has died violently. Zoom in for a tight close-up to capture those streaming tears. See that a few times and desensitization sets in, then cynicism.
Most viewers keep tuning in, still entranced by the slick package, news as dramatic entertainment. High ratings mean more annoying ad spots sold, unless forced to repeat ad nauseam the same PSAs over and over again.
But you see beyond the illusion, no longer entranced. The parade of good and bad is sickening. The “good” are wonder cures and friendly advice of dubious validity. The bad has been transformed into infotainment. The truth sets you free but it’s ugly, corrupting.
You snap off the TeeVee. Sanity returns.
Seduction by the dark side is abated.
© Copyright 2007 Stan Spire
# posted by Stan Spire @ 11:52 PM 
