living, thinking and writing
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| PRACTICE living, thinking and writing |
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Saturday, February 22, 2003 It's not TV, it's HBO It seems HBO can achive the mission that PBS failed: a forum for an alternative voice and free speech. And ironically, HBO is run by what we call commercial media conglomereate. That is all opposite to what we learn from those critical theories stuff on public TV and commercial TV, and media concentration. Despite a little rustiness as the first episode-- one-hour life without ADs break, Real time with Bill Maher still brought in fresh air: an open argument in popular media about the war, politics and patriotism. Bill Maher might be too radical for ABC for his comment on "cowards" right after 9/11, but I guess the nation now needs someone to radically question everything. I was little chilled on last night's discussion on "treason", it seems that this patriotism idea is so prevailing now that any different view on current administration have been accused of unfaithfulness to their country. Among all the nation's slump-downs following 9/11, there is nothing more fearful than an invisible cramp imposed on the freedom of speech. The lofty-tone propaganda in mainstream news media in the past year and half keeps reminding me the the tone and message I got from media in China long time ago. If you notice how many more rediculous reality TVs coming out since last year, you can not help but wondering if the network TVs are trying to getting around any serious issue around the country. And here is where we need Bill Maher, who is able to convey alternative voice about serious issues in a very enterntaining way that can reach average public. I am not totally into Bill Maher. This guy has too many profane comments on religion and sex, and more than often, he is trying too hard to make cynical stunts. But this is the guy who used to say he would rather lose his job than losing his soul, and only because of it, he deserves a salute. And who knows how long "raw, uncensored, outspoken" HBO can hang on, and what will happen when the radical "politically incorrect" outweighs its entertaining element, like what happened with ABC. posted by lmeimei @3:50 PM| permanent link| | |
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