on the other hand

[winterbadger]

I highly recommend the program Bravo's shown called TV Revolution. It's a look at how TV treatment of controversial and important topics in American life (sex, violence, race, gender issues, women's rights) has changed over time. They aired it the last week of May, but I expect they'll be showing it again, and I'd encourage people to watch it if they're interested in issues of popular culture and society. I found it fascinating, much of it in a "I had forgotten how much the world has changed since I've been alive" way. Fascinating.

Comments

[chelona.livejournal.com]

I watched all five, and LOVED them. Great show.

[kathygnome.livejournal.com]

We haven't caught all of them, but it's an absolutely amazing show.

I just hope the far right doesn't see it ;-) It's a pretty honest admission that the liberal media elite ARE brainwashing people... And thank goodness

[winterbadger]

I know what you mean (e.g., Norman Lear talking about the choices that he made, and fought for, in producing All in the Family), but I think they weren't so much trying to *create* a change in the way society worked as *portray* that chnage and say, "Look, *this* is what reality looks like. Not all feminists are loud, ugly, man-hating women; black people do things besides clean people's houses." I was struck by the one guy remarking on how straight men who had seen Queer As Folk said that they felt less frigthened and repulsed by the idea of gay men having sex and could actually identify similarities with their own (straight) sex lives).

What astonished me more than anything was being reminded how recently some fairly (to me) uncontroversial things couldn't be depicted on television. Also, how few minority-cast dramas (as opposed to comedies) there are. They obviously produced this pretty recently; I was surprised therefore that they didn't mention Soul Food, which has just finished its last season on Showtime. It had its weaknesses here and there, but I thought it was a pretty strong and diverse drama about the life of a black family.

I had totally forgotten about "All American Girl"; I remember it coming out, and I think I watched a show or two, but I had not known it got cancelled, in part, because of a negative reaction from the Asian-American community. Andturning down Bruce Lee as a star of Kung Fu in favor of David Carradine? Damn, some people are stupid...

[luscious-purple.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tip! I'm sure I'd enjoy those programs, if I have a functioning TV by then, of course. Unfortunately, I don't see any repeats scheduled for June.

(BTW, you don't mind if I comment in your journal, do you?)

[winterbadger]

I'm sure I'd enjoy those programs, if I have a functioning TV by then...

Mini-advertisment: I have a 19" colour Mitsubishi TV going begging, if anyone has a spare $50... It's surplus to requirements, but it works fine, even though the remote looks a bit clunky and unfashionable.

(BTW, you don't mind if I comment in your journal, do you?)

Not at all! Why would I?

[luscious-purple.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I would be interested! I'm not quite sure when I could get over to your neck of the woods, and things would somewhat depend on whether I could squeeze the TV into my four-door Sunfire sedan. Also whether I could maneuver it into my condo (no, you do NOT want to see my filthy abode).

But yes, for $50, that would at least give me the chance to watch my few favorite programs and DVD movies without having to warm up the TV for an entire afternoon. Thank you for the offer!

As far as whether you mind if I comment ... some time ago you were complaining about women who don't tell you everything about their past right away, and I poured out this big long story to you, and you didn't say anything, so I just figured that you were pissed off at me or something. Guess not!

[winterbadger]

It shouldn't be a problem to fit in. The TV that's replaced it has a slightly larger screen but a much hugerer cabinet. The Mitsu I was able to stick in my Geo Prizm sedan and drive home (I bought it a year or so ago from a coworker).

It's not going anywhere, just sitting quietly in a storage room.