What TV giveth, we taketh? by Navirah Zafar Jilani
Uploaded by eddyslash on Mar 20, 2009
What TV giveth, we taketh?
by Navirah Zafar Jilani
Television has become the new religion for almost everyone, living anywhere, in this world. This box, now found in many distinct shapes and sizes, has subliminally forced human consciousness to think, eat and act as it says. Taking television as an object would be outrageous. Behind this sleek screen are devils that won't let humankind think otherwise.
The moment one switches on the tube, waves of eye punching colors and images are bombarded at the eyes of TV fanatics who seem unaware of the effects they create. Media Mongols, at times, show lack of sensibility when they package ideas for the viewing audience. With the arrival of cable stations, Pakistani audience has an array of channels and networks to choose from; ranging from Indian, US, British and Pakistani channels. Apart from this, there also come low class CD channels which further accentuate confusion and struggle for the viewer to understand the self and the surroundings.
TV channels like Star World , MNET, MM1 , MM2, MNET Action, E! (Entertainment), MTV, Channel V and other channels of such league seem to make sex, sensuality, homosexuality, rape, violence, drugs, smoking, vandalism and rebellion part of the normal thinking process. Individuals belonging to the upper strata of society have access to such facilities with which they can satisfy such needs. But what about maids and house keepers who view a combination of violent and obscene images! Where do they go and leash out their desires? It is a known fact that television has become a learning ground for almost everyone who owns a TV set. Now an individual's frame of reference is not only judged by what he/she learns from the family, friends and school but television as well.
When asked about ratings or parental check, people often come up with lame excuses. My concern here is that the channels coming from foreign countries have different time streams; a show airing in America at night is telecast in the early hours of the day in Pakistan because of the time zone difference. So who is supposed to take care of the invisible products created in the minds of Pakistani audience by glamorous, violent and erotic images projected through media? By 'Pakistani audience' I mean innocent children, teenagers, housewives and uneducated house keepers; just to name a few.
The operation of...