Would I Miss TV If It Wasn't There?
Jan. 15th, 2012 11:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
poliphiloWe had an electrician here yesterday installing a digital aerial for us- a sizeable one-off expense which frees us from paying rent to the cable company. We are on a mission to simplify our life-style and save money.
I wonder sometimes whether I could live without TV altogether. Well of course I could, but would I want to? Would I miss it if it wasn't there?
I put it on in the evenings for the company and then switch it off again because it has nothing interesting to say. I like watching programmes about antique dealers while I'm eating my lunch and I follow the news (though I know I'm being lied to and misled). Last night I watched an old episode of Dad's Army (Has nobody noticed how predictable and relentlessly unfunny it is?) and part of a dreary, self-congratulatory tribute to the producer Bill Cotton (who brought us a slew of much loved, predictable and relentlessly unfunny shows but didn't understand Monty Python). I noticed there was going to be a tribute afterwards to Ken Russell and- suspecting it would be more of the same- a mix of clips and anecdotes about what a boozy old devil he was- decided I'd be better off curling up in my chair with Charlotte Bronte. I already know more about Ken Russell than any TV documentary is likely to be able to tell me because I've watched the movies. How can you know an artist except by engaging with the art? TV has nurtured one or two bona fide geniuses in its day. Russell was one, Denis Potter was another.The BBC ought to have a channel dedicated to streaming their work. Is there anyone who matches them today? Suggestions please.
What about appointment TV? At the moment the only thing I'm excited about is Sherlock. I'm looking forward to the screening of the final episode tonight. I caught the second part of the much-praised dramatisation of Edwin Drood and thought it perfunctory. Is there anything else I'm looking forward to? The return of Dr Who? Not as much as before. I see there's a big deal dramatisation of Sebastian Faulks' Birdsong in the pipeline. Hated the book, expect to hate the TV version. We're also promised a dramatisation of Parade's End- written by Tom Stoppard, no less. Loved the book, might quite like the TV version. But, actually, I'm getting a little tired of the trenches. Been there, done that, bought the poppy. Tell me something I don't know. Please.
I have friends who have the TV running all day long. That's awful. I have other friends who don't even own a set. Given the choice- TV all the time and TV never- I'd plump unhesitatingly for the later.
I have lived without TV. It was when I was at my lowest ebb- divorced, broke, living just this side of squalor. Instead of sitting in front of the box I sat at the kitchen table and painted little pictures. I got a TV in the end because my ex-wife told me I was blighting my children's lives and they didn't want to spend their weekends with me. After I got one she said I was letting them watch it too much.
No, I wouldn't want to be without. I do seriously want to catch Sherlock while its still warm from the oven. Every so often I'll watch a documentary that tells me interesting things. I'd miss the antique dealers. Otherwise TV's a pacifier. There are times when I'm too tired for Bronte and only the life and times of Bill Cotton will do.
I wonder sometimes whether I could live without TV altogether. Well of course I could, but would I want to? Would I miss it if it wasn't there?
I put it on in the evenings for the company and then switch it off again because it has nothing interesting to say. I like watching programmes about antique dealers while I'm eating my lunch and I follow the news (though I know I'm being lied to and misled). Last night I watched an old episode of Dad's Army (Has nobody noticed how predictable and relentlessly unfunny it is?) and part of a dreary, self-congratulatory tribute to the producer Bill Cotton (who brought us a slew of much loved, predictable and relentlessly unfunny shows but didn't understand Monty Python). I noticed there was going to be a tribute afterwards to Ken Russell and- suspecting it would be more of the same- a mix of clips and anecdotes about what a boozy old devil he was- decided I'd be better off curling up in my chair with Charlotte Bronte. I already know more about Ken Russell than any TV documentary is likely to be able to tell me because I've watched the movies. How can you know an artist except by engaging with the art? TV has nurtured one or two bona fide geniuses in its day. Russell was one, Denis Potter was another.The BBC ought to have a channel dedicated to streaming their work. Is there anyone who matches them today? Suggestions please.
What about appointment TV? At the moment the only thing I'm excited about is Sherlock. I'm looking forward to the screening of the final episode tonight. I caught the second part of the much-praised dramatisation of Edwin Drood and thought it perfunctory. Is there anything else I'm looking forward to? The return of Dr Who? Not as much as before. I see there's a big deal dramatisation of Sebastian Faulks' Birdsong in the pipeline. Hated the book, expect to hate the TV version. We're also promised a dramatisation of Parade's End- written by Tom Stoppard, no less. Loved the book, might quite like the TV version. But, actually, I'm getting a little tired of the trenches. Been there, done that, bought the poppy. Tell me something I don't know. Please.
I have friends who have the TV running all day long. That's awful. I have other friends who don't even own a set. Given the choice- TV all the time and TV never- I'd plump unhesitatingly for the later.
I have lived without TV. It was when I was at my lowest ebb- divorced, broke, living just this side of squalor. Instead of sitting in front of the box I sat at the kitchen table and painted little pictures. I got a TV in the end because my ex-wife told me I was blighting my children's lives and they didn't want to spend their weekends with me. After I got one she said I was letting them watch it too much.
No, I wouldn't want to be without. I do seriously want to catch Sherlock while its still warm from the oven. Every so often I'll watch a documentary that tells me interesting things. I'd miss the antique dealers. Otherwise TV's a pacifier. There are times when I'm too tired for Bronte and only the life and times of Bill Cotton will do.
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no subject
Date: 2012-01-16 09:53 am (UTC)We don't watch live TV here either. If you dislike UK TV as dross you'd despise what's on Japanese, even if you could understand. Half of the evening's programming are variety shows where a cadre of 'talent' sit on the stage and watch odd little videos- basically stuff from Youtube, and react. We watch them react- which is always includes an inane amount of gurning. The other half is food-tasting programs (hardly ever food-cooking, though) where 'talents' will taste something and scream out "delicious!" in a variety of different ways- to great effect.
And some emotional dramas in the day-time for the house-wives.
We do the DVD box set thing now, or download torrents of Uk/US shows.
As for not having a TV, I went without in my first year in Japan. I guess I was sick of TV, felt I'd seen all I cared to for the time being, and the total immersion in Japan gave me lots of new stimulus anyway. Well, for around a year. After the year was up, I found myself getting sick of my own thoughts, and started getting back into watching movies and TV just to shuffle it around a bit.
no subject
Date: 2012-01-16 10:25 am (UTC)The Brompton Rd interlude was fairly short. I took that place so I could host you guys at weekends whilst Chris got her shit together and acquired a place of her own. As soon as she was gone I moved back in. I was able to do that because Grandpa Grist (thank you, John) purchased her half of the property (and later gave it back to me as a wedding present).
I don't understand food shows. What's the point of watching other people eat?