Some of our most effective writing is done when we relax and assume a conversational mode E-mail seems to encourage just such an atmosphere and we are finding contributions to the ecclesial discussion group which deserve a wider exposure Following are comments on television which fit that category (While realizing balance and restraint can and must be exercised on a personal level, the occasional reminder of TV s potential for harm is needed )
The first example is slightly Americanized from a posting by Bro Andrew Perry of the UK
Early evening soaps concentrate on the qualities of the tongue for entertainment, backbiting, insults, sarcasm and cheek.
Late evening soaps feature adultery, greed, avarice, domestic violence.
Game shows concentrate on the greedy desire for material things with a fair amount of innuendo thrown in for “entertainment”
Political talk shows specialize in mockery, lack of respect for authority, disdain, contempt, insult, derision, etc for their “pull factor”
Mainstream news is presented as “entertainment” with attractive music intros, pontification by self-important news reporters, sound bite sniping and carping criticism, along with a fair amount of sensationalist scandal, violence from the latest war and patronizing human interest.
Police dramas usually feature two detectives who bumble their way through a whodunit mystery encountering a mixed set of fleshly vices along the way These pander to the pride of the viewer m following a mystery and guessing its outcome – encouraging judgments and criticisms on the characters involved.
Soapy police dramas rely on our nosy interest in other people doing wrong things and how they try to outwit the police, who are portrayed with warts and all.
Health dramas focus on our need to watch others in health/accident misfortune and see the health service struggle to cope.
Comedies come m various sorts You mainly have the sexual innuendo and war of the sexes type with no appreciation or respect for either sex inculcated The later the hour of viewing the more explicit is the dialogue.
Talk shows again portray the vices of the tongue in abundance The later the hour, the more rude, disrespectful, churlish and back-biting are the comments.
Late night films portray increased nudity and violence This degrades man as the image of God and women are particularly degraded.
Sports programs exalt the achievements of men and women and encourage competition – frequently m a form of controlled violence.
Children’s programs show in milder form all of the above, e g flirtation for sex, playground bullying for violence, etc They often portray child against adult.
Fashion shows encourage vanity, preening, pontification, etc
Contemporary pop parades reprehensible values m its lyrics and performers and gesticulates sex in its stage performances.
Science fiction is the religion of TV It sets out an atheistic vision of the future and a hope we can work for.
Religious programs are inane and vacuous, a sop to the established religion Based on a submission by Andrew Perry, UK
Bro Clyde Snobelen, Victoria, BC wrote
The potential for evil and idolatry is huge [on the impact of TV] — and has been Consider the changes in thinking over the past 40 years We are now living in the Post Christian Era Television has been the main change agent It has led the world in most of the shifts of the past 4 decades — “Ellen” (a TV character who recently came out as a lesbian) being the latest It has all but relegated Christianity to history and a few eccentric fundamentalists It is the enemy and the most powerful media ever created by man.
Sis Sylvia Leane of Toronto responded [with minor editing]
Not only do I agree with you, but! would like to add some comments One of the subtle shifts that television has engendered is in lifestyle Most of the time we aren’t even aware of the effect on ourselves but it has “raised” (depending on your perspective!) our expectations as to what we wear, what we drive and the size, location and furnishings of our abode Entire industries are devoted to changing “styles” of everything -even colors (whether in clothing, home decor or Crayola crayons) The underlying machine which drives this constant change is commercialism (or is it capitalism?) Apparently we have to keep buying stuff so that companies have to keep making stuff so that we’ll keep our jobs so that we can keep on making money so we can keep buying stuff
A look back
In Toronto, in the 60’s, the sort of homes that my high schoolmates grew up in and which I thought were truly luxurious at the time were 1 5 story, three little bedrooms, one bathroom in about 1000 square feet And poky little closets (Where on earth did they store all their clothing?) They had central heating, but no cooling and no dishwashers Washing machines were owned, but no dryers In the winter, the wet washing was hung in the (unfinished) basement to dry During my teenage years, I only remember two homes where the basements were finished and they were also the only two homes where the mothers worked outside the home Rarely did anyone eat out as there weren’t all that many places to go to eat anyway and no fast food outlets
TV affects what we buy
My understanding is that the whole purpose of commercial TV is to sell advertising Advertisers are very sensitive to what attracts viewers Television companies know that the more viewers they can attract, the higher price they can charge for their advertising spots As programs which don’t bring enough viewers get chopped, programming gets more and more (fill m the blank yourself with whatever) to attract the numbers that will justify the dollars charged for advertising spots.
Does TV advertising affect your buying habits? If it didn’t, would companies continue to pay millions of dollars to advertise on TV? Most people think they aren’t watching the ads Yet the ads cause changes m buying behavior People watching the programs are having their attitudes to all sorts of things manipulated very subtly That’s why companies are now spending lots of money to have their products used m movies and on TV It’s product exposure and the advertisers want YOU to want it (And it worked on me!)
Impact on ecclesial life
How has this affected ecclesial life? In my (early) teens, I heard a brother speak about the “ecclesia of yesterday” and he commented on how brethren who acquired an automobile would park it a couple of blocks away from the meeting so that others wouldn’t see they had one That’s changed somewhat, eh? Sisters have gone from home-made dresses to sophisticated clothing and milliner-made hats that cover their smartly cut hair Young brethren are affected by commercialism m what they look for in a girl-friend or wife.
Some questions to ask ourselves
Are we affected by what’s on the outside rather than what’s on the inside? When we acquire things, do we cause our brother/sister to covet? Will we lose credibility m the world if we eschew their standards or styles? (Are you embarrassed by your harvest gold refrigerator when your friends come over?) Do we define ourselves by our occupation? (“What Are you?”) Do you want to be manipulated by advertising executives? Do you feel you deserve to be entertained by lost souls?
I’ve never heard an adult complain about having too much time, or that time moves too slowly! If time is precious, we should spend it judiciously “Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton ” ” For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” “But this I say, brethren, the time is short ” “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil”
This past Sunday, we were exhorted with the following from Hebrews 10 23-25 “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, (for he is faithful that promised) and let us consider one another To Provoke Unto Love and To Good Works” [the only type of provoking we’re allowed to do, said the exhorting brother] “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching”
PS A worthwhile use of TV is in educating one’s children at home There are some excellent educational programs on TV which can be videotaped for convenient showing later Another excellent use of TV/VCR is for ecclesial “shut-ins” who can’t make it to meeting The meeting can be video-taped for later showing as the meeting can be “re-done” at the person’s home.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One