In 1999 Bhutan capitulated; they became the last country to introduce television to their society. Now, according to the Guardian, Rupert Murdoch's newspaper, television shoulders the blame for a recent violent crime string.
This Himalayan Buddhist haven once perceived as a paradise of virtue preferring to measure Gross National Happiness to Gross Domestic Product, now deals with murder, brawls, drug problems, vandalism and theft. Bhutan never dealt with such violence and corruption until the last several years, coinciding with the massive cable reception.
Fifty percent of Bhutan's children spend over 12 hours a day watching TV. This plays out rather well, since 30 percent of their parents prefer watching TV to speaking with their children. With all this time in front of the tube, it's a wonder the Bhutanese find time to pillage and plunder their nation.
Television, surrogate parent for many and best friend to more around the world, undoubtedly deserves some blame for Bhutan's social decline, along with other globalization issues. Yet TV can only affect people when it's on. Concrete evidence remains elusive as to the extent to which television damages society. It seemingly stifles intellectualism in some programming while attempting to promote knowledge in others.
The paradox lies within programs and how people interpret them. Channels such as Discovery, Animal Planet, PBS, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC supposedly provide informative, worthwhile programs, yet they supply no in-depth analyses. Fox "News" often colors hours of television with bald-faced lies; "Al Franken's Lies (and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them): A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right" documents these faux pas. Nevertheless, viewers turn off their televisions believing themselves well-informed after listening to lies or shallow coverage.
This "content rich" television replaces books, newsprint and magazines and transforms people into mimicking parrots who rarely analyze or criticize the icing they've just eaten. They do not dig deeper as print requires, to consume the cake. Documentaries rely all to heavily on visuals rather than information. While this medium is easily consumed, it is fast becoming a primary source of information. Television also reduces political debates to nimbus clouds rather than the once formative cumulus Lincoln-Douglas debates.
After feeling informed by these shows, viewers hit up their opiates. "The OC," "Joe Millionaire," "Beastmaster, "Fraggle Rock and to a lesser extent "ALF," however, deserve praise not as mindless entertainment. These programs imply deep societal trends and values well beyond their thin plots. How else would the general population understand the trials and tribulations California's darlings face daily as they struggle to cope with riches and fresh sea breezes? "Joe Millionaire" mocks the same greed that allows its existence, and proves that "the best part is, he's rich."
"Beastmaster" teaches us that animals commonly perceived as benign, cuddly creatures actually exist to serve our bidding. Whereas, "Fraggle Rock" provides a glimpse of guerrilla warfare tactics, as fraggles raid the radish patch to starve the hostile Gorgs. To counter this violent message, "ALF" portrayed harmony between life-forms, proving that humans and aliens share a bright harmonious future.
Duke students, like other viewers, do not fully appreciate these deeper implications of television. Instead of celebrating television as an arena for intellectual stimulation to debate whether people become what they watch or if programs stem from society's underpinnings, students flock to television as an escape. Exhausted students, like Charlie Bailey, enjoy television for its effortless entertainment, especially after many fine hours in Perkins. He knows he should work more but simply enjoys exercising his thumb rather than his mind.
The influences of television at Duke scarcely hide themselves. The World Series playoffs revealed the deep desire and need for complex coalitions amongst humans, as students took sides with "their" teams. Spending four hours to watch a single game, students ignore these behavioral implications, while concentrating on the pitch count. Television's influence upon Duke spread far beyond sports and into newsprint; countless TV references find their way into Duke student publications. Students should start thinking of their own original ideas.
Television's influences upon society remain mostly negative. Bhutan provides impeccable evidence; however, there remains hope that intellectual debate can result from even the most mindless programs. Hours spent watching television limit time to pursue more fruitful avenues of knowledge. It's so bad and yet so good. Distracting people from their worries, while providing hours of mindless entertainment that heavily influences daily actions. We cannot comprehend the true effects of television upon society other than understanding that we are for the most part less informed or dumber.
Bhutan can provide better understanding of the social impacts television leaves upon people, as the 700,000 citizens attempt to cope with their newfound troubles. They're currently considering whether or not they should vanquish Murdoch's satellite dishes to solve their problem. The damage, most likely, has already been done, so the only real solution to save those Buddhists from their newfound sins would be to introduce them to Pat Robertson and the 700 Club, or send them the master of rebuilding, Carl Franks.
Kevin Ogorzalek is a Trinity senior. His column appears every other Tuesday.
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