betsy oslund

Historical or dramaturgical?

Inspiring or mind-numbing?

Informative or deceptive?

What do you see in that box we call our tv?

Television has never been something I have become engulfed in or addicted to...it has just never had a huge hold on my mind. Maybe its because I grew up actually playing outdoors and making up my own games rather than sitting on the couch or maybe its because I'm far too ADD to sit and let some object choose how to entertain me. Lately, however, I have noticed how absolutely infatuated the world is with this console of telecommunicating static and pixels. Its like the leader of a cult; the preacher of the church; the dictator of a mass of people with one thing in common: the need to stare at a screen and let it invade their brain's space.

Its interesting to realize that at the origins of television… Before it was cheap enough for the common household to buy, public television (in Germany – the first country to have regular public television) was controlled by the Hitler regime. Rather than television being a private undertaking inside the home, the mass public would watch tv at special television docking points around town. Although, similar to today's programming, tv consisted of the usual news, music, food, and sports being aired, there were obvious overtones of racism, hatred, and conformism linked into every show. Subtle warnings were devised into programs, every news anchor hailed Hitler, and swastikas were flashed regularly. Television was not being utilized for public entertainment; it was an extraordinary means of public brainwashing. Although Hitler's actions were unbelievably inhumane, crude, and barbaric, he was a highly intelligent individual. Its absolutely tragic how he used his intelligence, but he achieved his goals in a very thoughtful way…by dulling the senses, the morals, and the judgments of the public and morphing them into a pre-designed form of thought through the use of easy entertainment.

We flock like sheep to the television, internet, and all other mass media. Really makes you wonder how your own thoughts are being transformed. Im not saying that television and/or the internet are these horrible destructive inventions, but its interesting to note how highly we uphold things that were invented with the intent of numbing our minds into the programmed minds of the government's soldiers. Just to put it out there…I still barely watch tv although I do from time to time when Im with friends and what-not…but for example, in the apartment I lived in all of last year, I only turned my television on TWO times. The only shows I have ever found to be somewhat exciting? 'Weeds' and the teenage British drama 'Skins'  If you watch 'Seinfeld' you deserve to be brainwashed…worst show EVER haha.

I don't think television is a bad thing, I just think we should be aware of the vulnerabilities we face when facing it. Same for the internet and magazines…you need to try and realize that barrier between entertainment and propaganda, impossible though it exists…

Because are minds were made to expand through knowledge, not be controlled through deceit.