So the topic for today is… Television!

Yes, I know that you think you know what I’m going to say next, especially those of you that have heard me incessantly mutter, bitch, whinge and kvetch about my roommates’ incessant, mind numbing TV habits.

And on some days you would be right.

But today I got up at 5-ish, went to work, and spent some time out after work and yet I have found myself here, past midnight, typing away. And… I’ve read both books by my bedside. So what kept me up? That’s right: TV shows.

This got me to thinking… what do I really think about TV? How can I get so annoyed by people watching TV, or by TV in general, yet love to watch films? How can I get so into a show that I will catch up on three episodes at a time?

What is the difference between how I see myself as a TV viewer and how I see the “average American” and am I just a self-deluding snob?

Firstly, and the easiest point to raise is advertising. Generally, most people concur on this, although not as many as I would have once expected. I do hear conversations about ads people like more than I used to. Anyway, most people would say they would prefer to watch their favorite shows without advertising. Because this is not a very interesting topic, I’ll cut to the chase and just say, ads are a mixed bunch, and although some are clever, I feel assaulted by most of them, and because of my inability to tune things out, I watch every single one. Intently. And then I feel robbed.

Secondly, timing. I have never owned a DVR. But I get the idea. I, too, like to watch stuff when I want to. I won’t pay for the whole shebang, though, because I can’t and wouldn’t even if I could. Dish or cable + packages with DVRs and bills are an entirely repugnant, bloated consumer product to me. I guess I’m more aligned with the younger generation in that I will torrent, rip, load onto my phone and all that.

Thirdly…well, there is no thirdly, actually. Instead we head straight into another one of my idealistic visions. This vision has to do with storytelling. It has to do with ancient man, sitting by the fire, sharing stories, wisdom and knowledge. It has to do with timeless oral traditions that preserved myth, knowledge and culture through the ages.

Basically, I see television, film, and books as the next steps in this august lineage. Some of my most precious memories are of being told stories by my parents. Some fantastic tales spun by my mother, others readings from books and still others personal retellings of different times and places in the world from my parents’ personal experiences: America (segregation, rock ‘n’ roll, the ‘60s,) Europe (Nazi Germany, post-War Britain.) These have become part of the mythology of my family and I hope that someday I may pass these on, along with my own stories.

In addition, I will never forget the impact that the stories I read on my own had on my developing mind and perspective: the Moomin’s dark Finnish world, the idyllic Dragon-filled lands of Anne McCaffrey, the Lord of the Rings, Dune and so many others. I still have vivid memories of iconic films: the Wizard of Oz, Blade Runner, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Fight Club, Trainspotting. And of course, here it is years later and Doctor Who has followed me from across the sea. These stories spoke to me at the time and have become interwoven in the fabric of my consciousness, whether frivolous and fun or deep and meaningful.

I guess I view storytelling as a sacred trust. And certainly the ability of an artist to inspire an audience to think, learn and wonder. Why is the Discovery Channel so popular; why do I see people from all walks of life watching animal shows and documentaries? I think it is because people truly are interested in life and learning.

Television is a miracle. Schools across the world should be utilizing all forms of media to engage their students. To profane this vehicle of the sacred trust by selling us “lifestyle products” or to push another voyeuristic glorification of some garishly consumptive celebrity is an affront.

With the proliferation of available outlets, it seems to me the time is right for the true storytellers to reclaim their territory. I know there are innumerable underground filmmakers I am unaware of and I should probably be out there digging around, finding the next cool thing, but I’m not.  Surely there has to be some way for the media barons to make some space for something a little edgier and realer if we put enough pressure on them. And I imagine that there are a bunch of community-based art projects and young filmmakers who could generate a wealth of low-budget material for school districts all across the country

Hey, I’m just shooting off at the mouth, since I haven’t really done any research, but if anyone out there agrees, post a reply, maybe even with some links to like-minded folks, sites, projects etc. I can’t be the only one who feels this way.