(21) Letter to TV Department
5-29-97
Dear Department Chair
for TV Students,
Los Angeles City College
TV and Video Production program
I am greatly concerned
that in the TV classes, the instructors hardly ever talk about Ethics or
responsibility. Media in general, and TV in particular are extremely powerful
tools. Any powerful tool can be misused. Students need to be made aware of the
propaganda, consumerism, "double-speak" and withholding of
information, which we see on TV. We should be given an opportunity to discuss
such issues in class and possibly come up with some ideas and solutions. This
will create a much richer educational experience. Here, I am not referring to
the moral issues of what my kid should watch on TV, nor about requiring rating
systems and computer chips to block out certain shows.
Since TV has a powerful
impact on its viewer, it has been misused throughout its history. In class, we
don't discuss the fact that people believe that what they see on TV is the
truth. Often people running for government offices make promises on TV. Later,
they do not keep these promises. Corporations spend millions of dollars to
promote a fantasy image about themselves through their commercials. Taking it a
level further, how about all the commercials which are trying to sell us the
latest cars, or the latest luxury items? From a psychological perspective, how
does this promotion of consumerism effect an ordinary person? Do these
commercials make people in Los Angeles, for example, feel like they are
superior human beings if they drive the newest car? Do these ads promote
classism?
How about, when some
story involving violence is shown on the news. If it's a bomb, it must be those
Arab.. terrorists? This is what they initially said about the Oklahoma Federal
building bombing. It is what they guessed about the bombing during the Olympics
in Georgia, and about the plane crash in New York. What about telling the
students how certain groups of people are subtly demonized, misrepresented and
stereotyped? Often we are not even aware of the hidden messages. The policemen
who brutally beat Rodney King, as seen on TV, were found not guilty, which sparked
"Riots" in "South Central" L.A. The students need to be
informed that the African American community and well informed people refer to
these incidents as "civil unrest". The news does not attempt to
educate people about the sociological aspects of violence. They are in the
business of sensationalizing an issue, which will attract attention, which will
sell more commercials, which will make more money for someone.
I mean, forget about us
as ordinary viewers....How about us as TV students, Are we supposed to just
ignore these issues and just roll the camera? Is it true that if a company has
enough money, they can say whatever they want to on TV? The Nazis used films to
promote their propaganda, and the viewers simply conformed. Is that what is
expected of us, the students, to not discuss in class, these important issues
that effect millions of people every day? Should we not be taught the truth
about the power and effects of TV? Should we not be taught to question what we
see on TV?
The ordinary person gets
his news and information through TV. It often does not portray minorities and
people of other cultures, in a positive light. How often are the villains shown
as some dark skinned, cynical, violent and crazy individuals. Sure, everyone is
supposed to have freedom of speech. But what about the freedom of information?
Shouldn't people (or students) be informed of the whole truth about TV? What
can we as viewers do to hold someone accountable for putting something on the
air? What can we as students, and future employees of this industry, do, to act
in a responsible and ethical manner? There is too much truth which is
eliminated or not mentioned. Should we as students take some kind of oath of
responsibility like doctors or court witnesses do? Or should we care about
nothing?
No comments:
Post a Comment