The Inkstained Mind: Before TV became the Idiot Box

7 Nov 2012

Before TV became the Idiot Box

Before Television came be referred to as 'Idiot Box', there was this.

(This is the one-hour final episode of the BBC satire Yes, Minister. It's sequel Yes, Prime Minister is equally hilarious. Put down any hot beverages - and enjoy.)

I wonder if the abysmal, narcissistic and 'dumbed down' standards of TV programming today reflect the falling calibre of the programme creators - or of their viewership?

But is the 'idiot box' the cause - or the effect?

Consider the definition of 'idiot' in democratic Athens. According to Wikipedia, the binary version of the Ancient Library at Alexandria, "An idiot in Athenian democracy was someone who was characterized by self-centeredness and concerned almost exclusively with private — as opposed to public — affairs."

In other words, does the 'idiot box' specifically caters to the self-absorbed herd? Or does it cause the viewer to turn into one of the sheeple who follow meekly without critical thinking or questioning accepted conventions?

Hmm, a point to ponder...

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WHAT IS ADVERTISING?

It's often called the world's second oldest profession.

But while the scope of the oldest one has changed little over time, the evolution in the way we communicate has had profound impact on Advertising.

In the ancient and medieval world, Advertising meant word-of-mouth. In the 1500s with the development of printing it became a 'paid public notice', disseminating the message to many. And it had Copy & Art.

Then came radio, TV, computer, cable TV, Internet, mobile phones, Internet on mobile, and it's still not done... Even what we perceive as 'change' is changing. Continuously.

So what is Advertising today?

Honestly, I don't know.

But I do know from a dozen years evolving with the business, that Advertising is most valued when it can make a tangible difference for the advertiser.

That has not changed. And probably won't.

UPDATE: Nothing's changed. But in a way, everything has.

As you see, my focus has shifted - evolved in a way - to a larger canvas. The shift or evolution was gradual, and may be have been discernable to the more observant reader.

While I was delving into the influence of media in society to better understand how perceptions are created, evolved and disseminated, I chanced upon a thread of knowledge that I frankly never knew existed.

My conclusion is that a deep pool of awareness and consciouness exists beyond the shallow narcissistic boundaries created by the convention view of social media and the Internet.

My aim is to send my readers down any path that can lead to this quenching pool.