The Sun Never Shines on TV

Summary

The article discusses the negative impact of reality TV on society, suggesting it contributes to a decline in intellectual engagement and promotes unrealistic shortcuts to fame.

Abstract

The author reflects on the evolution of television, from the days when the primary concern was the physical distance from the screen to the current preoccupation with reality TV. This genre, exemplified by shows like "Love Island," is criticized for promoting shallow values and encouraging a fame-driven culture that undermines the traditional work ethic. The article argues that reality TV has created a society of "airheads," where the pursuit of an honest living is seen as less desirable than fifteen minutes of fame. It also points out the manipulative power of advertisements featured during these shows, which can influence viewers to make impulsive purchases. Despite the availability of quality programming, the author laments the prevalence of low-quality content on television and its detrimental effect on the intellectual and moral fabric of society.

Opinions

Reality TV is seen as a negative influence on society, promoting a culture that values fame over substance.
The author believes that reality TV does not contribute positively to society, failing to produce individuals of significant societal contribution like astronauts or politicians.
There is a concern that reality TV encourages viewers to adopt a lifestyle that seeks quick fame rather than working hard.
The manipulative nature of advertisements during reality TV shows is criticized for convincing viewers to buy unnecessary products.
The author suggests that the proliferation of large television screens in poorer households indicates a misplaced priority on entertainment over intellectual pursuits like reading.
The article implies that reality TV is contributing to a dumbing down of society, with viewers passively accepting the values and lifestyles portrayed on screen.
The author nostalgically contrasts the current state of television with past times when the content was perceived as more meaningful and less commercially driven.

How reality TV is dumbing down society

My dear old Mum always warned me about the dangers of sitting too close to the television screen.

“Your eyes will go square!” She would firmly tell me; the way mums do, when passing on wisdom to their young. I would shrug my shoulders and break away from the glare of the television that had a hold of me, before becoming mesmerized once more by moving frames.

The fear at the time was that proximity to the screen could potentially damage your eyesight.

At my Grandparents' home, you would physically need to put a pound coin into a box plugged into the television. Every time my Great Nan wanted to watch the snooker, someone would have to pop a coin into the machine to get the thing working. I couldn’t understand why she would consistently shout at the screen every time Steve Davis made his way to the table. To scream for someone to be thrown down a well (ginger-haired or not) seemed an extreme and over the top measure by anyone's standard.

Back in the comfort of my living room, the quality of the television would begin to diminish over time. The corners of the image would first flicker before turning a slimy shade of green. My Father is one of those mechanically minded types and would first try to solve all problems in-house before he ever considered taking it to the menders. In his wisdom, he would casually stroll up to the screen and give the 22inch beast a good old whack.

As kids, we would be out on our bikes, throwing a football against the curb and spinning an empty beer bottle to see who would be kissing whom. Now walking home, I barely see anyone out on the streets causing havoc. The streets today are calm, quiet and lifeless.

At that time television was evolving through a range of digital advancements, allowing a new wave of entertainment to grace our screens. This monstrosity is widely known as ‘reality TV’. In its infancy, the idea was a social experiment hoping to shed light on how groups of strangers cope under extreme and strenuous conditions.

Twenty years on and the trend is now more popular than ever before. The most disturbing show is called Love Island. This is a platform for fame-hungry strangers to get together and have sex live on national television. Although society deems this behavior normal, I can’t but wonder what must be going through the minds of their loved ones who watch on behind their couches. They must be so proud.

Other reality TV shows of a similar ilk have no real substance. They will no doubt fail to provide society with the next astronaut or politician. Ironically, it will give us the next z list celebrity, who will bask in the spotlight for fifteen minutes or so. They will watch on in horror, as the contents of their personal lives are laid out bear in front of the public before dissected in front of the nation’s prying eyes.

The influence and reach of these shows have created a nation full of airheads. After hours of watching these false idols parade the airwaves the viewers to adopt their views and lifestyle choices. They see there is a short cut to ‘success’. Wanting to work an honest living is now deemed by many to be a mug’s game. Those who get onto the show are so desperate to ‘make it’ will do the most irrational things before an audience of millions.

What does this say about society?

Advertisements often interrupt a blissful fifteen minutes of viewing pleasure, selling your products no one wants. With their glistening white teeth and chiseled jaws, these over-paid stooges convince you to go out and buy a range of items you would never dream of purchasing. Their manipulating techniques are powerful enough to make balding men go out and purchase hair straighteners. After all, you will never find an overweight, unhealthy, mess of a human, fronting the face of any major brand.

I am not saying unplug your television and throw them out of a three-story window. There are some good shows out there, providing entertainment, knowledge and insights. Yet the majority of satellite channels you flick through are full of tat. Like a lifeless zombie, you can spend hours flicking through hundreds of channels in the hope of finding something decent to watch.

It has come apparent to me that the purpose of television is to sell and provide entertainment for the working classes. As households become poorer, somehow their televisions miraculously seem to get bigger. It is almost if they dump their paper-thin screens into a plant pot of miracle grow and water it before they go to bed. Books and reading materials gather dust on a shelf until they are viciously thrown into a bin bag and sold for pennies at car boot sales.

My Mum’s statement was a terrifying warning. If damaging your eyesight wasn’t bad enough, dumbing down your mind in the process is the unconscious price the masses are willing to pay.

Don’t get too close to your television set your mind will go square!

Dean Middleburgh is a writer that has had the good fortune to write for P.S. I love you, The Junction, Invisible Illness, ILLUMINATION, The New North and Storymaker.