Turn on the TV right now. Close the computer, stop whatever you are doing and go to the History Channel (if you don't have the History Channel then just keep reading). Chances are if you did happen to turn on the History Channel than you are watching Swamp People or Monster Quest. Maybe if you are really lucky Ancient Aliens will be on. In fact here is a schedule of the History Channel's fine programming, one that is filled with intellectually stimulating shows such as Axe-Men or Full Metal Jousting. These days it seems that the History Channel isn't so much history as it is reality T.V and shows built upon pure speculation. Last time I checked Ancient Aliens wasn't history, mainly because none of it is real. As the clip explains ancient aliens actually came to Earth to mine gold and according to ancient Inca legend they saw the sky gods appear. Maybe I need to read a dictionary, but since when does legend mean a real occurrence? I was under the assumption that a legend, despite often being perceived as truth, actually wasn't true. The truth is no one can really know for sure whether or not aliens visited humankind in the past until we have some sort of contact with them. Until that day comes programs like Ancient Aliens have no business being on a channel that is supposedly dedicated to history, for the simple reason that it isn't history. This is also why Top Shot, Top Gear (This is coming from a gear head, someone who has seen every episode of the British version Top Gear and who actually enjoys the American version), Monster Quest, Axe Men and Swamp People don't belong on the History Channel.
It is hard to blame the History Channel for their new programming, after all they are a television channel and they need to generate some sort of revenue. To peak interest a show needs to have sort of drama, humans thrive off of drama. No matter what anyone tells you people love drama, as a species we are obsessed with it. This is the reason why reality TV is so popular, it shows drama happening in "real life". The problem with history is that there is no drama in it, mainly because it already happened. There is no suspense in a program detailing how the Constitution was formed because we, the viewer, already knows (hopefully) what happened. So the History Channel changed its programming and instead, cleverly I might add, focused on attracting a large amount of viewers. This means less specials and documentaries about historical events and more of this. This is not because the people at the History Channel have stopped caring about history, but it is a reaction to the changing culture that we live in. The cold, hard truth is that people just don't care that much about history.
There have been numerous studies about Americans apparent apathy for their own history. A New York Times piece last year pointed out some rather alarming statistics. Overall only 20% of fourth graders, 17% of eight graders and 12% were deemed proficient at history. In fact 38% of Americans last year wouldn't be able to pass the U.S. citizenship test. That means almost 4 out of 10 people wouldn't be able to become a citizen in their very own country. All one needs to pass the test is a 60%, that wouldn't even count for a passing grade anywhere else. When 38% of Americans cannot identify the basic workings of our government then this country is in serious trouble. As a nation it should be our duty to educate voters and especially children on how the government actually works (it may not work well, but it does work). Instead this country is producing more and more ignorant Americans each year, which leads to more ignorant voters, which in turn leads to this.
History is so important because it gives us a a detailed account of why our world is the way it is. One cannot fully understand relations between countries, classes or parties without knowing the story behind it all. This makes the History Channel so crucial to our society. Most kids are more apt to sit down and watch a TV show than they are to read a book, so when a channel which is supposed to be about history instead shows crappy reality TV then there is a problem. Kids today, hell every person in this country needs to become better informed about not only our country, but also the world. We need more documentaries, more specials that can help explain the world that we all share. Now in no way shape or form am I suggesting that the History Channel is responsible for our ignorance, its not, but I am saying that they should hold themselves to a higher standard. Now higher standards usually mean less profit, I understand this, but for once I would love to see anyone do the right thing. The world really needs someone to place the greater good over the greater rate of profit. So I beg the History Channel to leave the ratings chasing for the the other stations and instead give the people what they need, an idea of how and why we ended up here.
No comments:
Post a Comment