Here’s an update from one of my first blogging efforts in 2009. Close
to a thousand posts ago…
The History Teacher
History is one of my things. I love reading it, especially
biographies of interesting people. I tried to make it exciting for my students.
So it's no wonder when satellite TV became available in our rural area, I
jumped at it. Why? Well there was The Twins & The Gophers, possibly a good
classic movie and most definitely the History Channel.
How sad. Some place along the line that the History Channel
forgot about history.
First, it took up bizarre spooky stuff allegedly from the
past. It was weird really. Then it’s ultimate downfall in more recent years. It had
started down the path of the wildly popular, so called reality programming which is found
on most channels these days. “Reality" TV. What a farce! "Real" people searching for monsters
and fearsome aliens. "Real" people having "real"
personality issues while logging, trucking, surviving nude in the jungle and
about everything else. They pay people to think of this crap?
The only thing they haven’t got to yet is
"Hookers." But no doubt it’s on the way. I’ve given up even checking to see if by
chance something historically interesting is on this sad excuse for a history
channel. I’ve considered giving up on pay TV entirely. Or upgrading to
something like HBO, which at least has the occasional well done movie on a
historical subject. Of course, lest we forget there is always of 24/7 cycle of
superficial sensational “news” and the even more “entertaining” exploitation of our fears and prejudices
on the well known “fair and balanced” channel.
The history channel. Or as the little old granny once said
long ago, in a campaign ad for Walter Mondale, about his opponent,
"Where’s the beef?" Truth to
tell, apparently a large portion of the TV audience prefers fluff over
protein.
Perhaps, Newton Minow, Jack Kennedys Chairman of the FCC, who once described Television back in the sixties as a "vast wasteland" summed it up best...
Perhaps, Newton Minow, Jack Kennedys Chairman of the FCC, who once described Television back in the sixties as a "vast wasteland" summed it up best...
Sad but true. It seems that nobody really wants anything but escapism any more, TB. We have that channel but I haven't looked at it in ages, I didn't know how bad it had gotten.
ReplyDeleteI don't watch much anymore, I fall asleep to it too easy. Guess I should sit up when I watch.
ReplyDeleteI've read similar critiques of the Discovery Channel, and the Learning Channel which now airs Honey Boo Boo. There's an ongoing debate about our national intellectual disintegration. Public Broadcasting -- TV and radio -- is sometimes cited as a failure because when begun in the early 70s it's lofty goal was to produce an informed electorate, but the show with the highest ratings ever was reruns of the Lawrence Welk Show. And because it's had to turn to corporations for funding, there are all kinds of shows about Wall Street, and endless political shows that rehash conventional inside the beltway wisdom and will not cause anyone to challenge the establishment in any way. The Wall Street Journal editorial board even has a show but there are zero programs representing the interests of Labor or that really reflect the interests of the masses.
ReplyDeleteThe internet is our latest great white hope and there's an ongoing struggle to keep it from being sold off to the highest bidder. Which is my way of leading up to a plug for the New Books Network, an extensive web site where academics interview other academics about their new books. On their web site on the right hand side you will see many categories, many of them history categories. If you're a little computer savvy you can load the roughly one hour programs into an mp3 player or smart phone. You can subscribe to individual categories through iTunes which is very handy.
Despite changes in the tax system since Reagan that have hit academia hard and put college out of reach of many, intellectual curiosity lives on, and people are looking into history and writing fascinating books about it. Remember when your teacher recommended that outside reading? This is it. It's a chance to hear two very well informed people go back and forth about some of your favorite subjects. I think the troutbirder would attest to the role doing the outside plays in understanding things.
Alas, it's for all intents and purposes radio though. Some people, when I recommend it, give me that blank stare. They are TV people and can't imagine going back. We've become addicted to those brightly colored moving images. All you can do is give it a try.
The History Channel is sadly missed around here as well. We also liked A&E---which at last look had also turned into a huge disappointment.
ReplyDeleteHubby and I CANCELLED our satellite tv. We travel just enough to realize we aren't missing a thing. We flip it on in hotels---and almost always turn it right off again. What garbage. And we're supposed to PAY for that nonsense. No. No thank you.
Have a wonderful weekend, Mr and Mrs T
Good TV is very hard to find these days, Trout, and I find it sad. Back in the day, there were good, wholesome shows like Bewitched, The Andy Griffith Show, The Waltons and others, and now it seems that almost every show has something offensive be it language, partial or full nudity, etc., and it is because of this that I favour channels such as Animal Planet, Food Network and ones that air the classics from days gone by. I love to read, too, and have read a few books written by holocaust survivors, as my father fought in WWII and was a prisoner of war, so I find it fascinating (albeit sad) to see what people lived through.
ReplyDeleteFirst I have to say...love that computer in the first photo. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnd I totally agree with your post today.
We do not have TV. We watch movies on our Amazon Prime or check them out at the library.
Carla
You'd think there would be enough audience for one channel of "meat" amongst all the fluff available. I used to enjoy the History Channel, too, but not much anymore. We don't have tv anymore but do watch Netflix documentaries now and then.
ReplyDeleteWe call The History Channel the Hitler Channel here after it began to broadcast so many German war episodes.
ReplyDeleteOh no, I use to watch the History Channel but for possibly the reasons you mentioned, I pretty much skip over it now. Sad. I loathe reality shows.
ReplyDeleteI like historical novels and regional history. I don't get the history channels.
ReplyDeleteI became aware of the strange programs on the History Channel when I was at my son's house this past fall. I never watch t.v. for any reason other than to watch the national news and the local news. We pre-record these and watch an hour of t.v. before we go to bed. I never have been a t.v. watcher. I could live perfectly well without one in the house. I grew up without a t.v. When I had children, we would sometimes not have a t.v. in the house if the one had needed an expensive repair. I guess I've just never acquired a taste for t.v. shows. I don't think I've missed much from what I can tell.
ReplyDeleteI like historical movies...but I also love Reality TV...I find it interesting how stupid some people are! Netflix has lots of documentaries and nature shows. In the summer we only watch TV late at night or early in the morning for the news:)
ReplyDeleteIt seems more than the History Channel has taken up with nonReality TV!
ReplyDeleteI don't even know if we have a history channel. I could ask hubby - he's the TV watcher in our house., Retired English Teacher said it all... I also grew up without TV and only watch now when the news is on. If I had my way the TV would be banned from the house.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea how or why reality shows appeal. Who the heck watches them? Netflix is a pretty good choice if you're fed up with regular tv. Although they do rely on past series and movies, there are some good ones available. I have been thinking about blogging about some of them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you totally about the History Channel. Don't watch it too much anymore, and I have yet to watch an episode on any of those idiotic so-called "reality" shows. Not my thing.
ReplyDeleteYou may have written that in 2009 but it is even moreso today. Good post.
ReplyDeleteYou are spot on correct. I have been dismayed at the demise of the History Channel. Such a shame. Can't remember the last time I watched it. It has changed so dramatically and is useless.
ReplyDeleteI like it,"when it is bad, nothing is worse."
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, television is mostly bad. But TV shows only reflect those who watch them, which is an even sadder state of affairs.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, television is mostly bad. But TV shows only reflect those who watch them, which is an even sadder state of affairs.
ReplyDeleteI understand the frustration. Reality TV is not for me either. Although I do like Deadliest Catch. Which reminds me, I taped this week. Need to go see that.
ReplyDelete