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When CNN started a news channel that would provide 24 hours of non-stop news, it was considered a fabulous idea. For those wanting to be up-to-date on their world events, news junkies like me, this was a gift from the heavens. Or so we thought.
Since CNN came into existence, many networks across the world have also begun to follow the 24-hour news model. CNN itself, over the years, has given birth to multiple variations of its news network such as the Airport News Network (ANN) with TV monitors in every airport and in every boarding and waiting area; TNN or Train News Network, which provides news to commuters travelling to work on metropolitan trains; and Cruise News Network, which broadcasts news even to those sitting in a ship in the middle of the ocean. Perhaps, they will soon introduce a Sleeping News Network and a Bathroom News Network so that people can have access to news at all times. Could we ask for better service?
But, seriously; are there so many important
events taking place in the world that we, as humans, need 24-hour
news? As an ordinary citizen (unless one is the Prime Minister of
India or the President of the United States), is it necessary for
one to be so “well-informed?”
Recently, I was on a commuter train travelling
towards the airport to catch a flight. The commuter train has a
TV monitor in every compartment, broadcasting news continually.
As a captive audience, I had no choice but to watch.
'Bus falls over bridge.' 'Gunman kills fellow
college students – 32 students killed.' 'Man attacks his wife
and kidnaps newborn baby.' 'Disgruntled employee opens fire on
colleagues.'
And on and on went the news, with more
killings, violence and misery. By the time the train reached the
airport, I needed an anti-depressant. Not having one, I was
tempted to jump out of the moving train to avoid listening to any
more news.
After reaching the boarding gates, my wait for
the flight began. The inimitable TV monitors were all around me
again, this time broadcasting international news from CNN.
Unlike in the commuter train, news about local
rapists and child molesters was replaced by news of international
murder and tragedy.
'Five US soldiers killed in an ambush.' 'Bomb
goes off in Iraqi market.' 'Killing continues in Darfur.'
'Israeli jets pound Palestinian settlements.' 'Ethiopian airliner
crashes. 150 passengers killed.'
By this time, I was sufficiently frustrated.
What is wrong with these news networks and their listeners? I sat
there muttering to myself, “Why is everyone obsessed with
death, destruction and mayhem? How can anyone find other people’s
misery so interesting?”
Watching television should make us feel
positive; it should make us proud of ourselves for belonging to
the human race. And while news is a reflection of our society and
times, it appears as though we are forsaking coverage of good
news to make space for “shock-value” news. We seem to be
fascinated by news about degrading and destructive behaviour and
only discuss the lowest common denominators among us. Perhaps,
this is the reason why more people watch mega serials and soap
operas than real-life news.
As my thoughts wandered from war and genocide
to mega serials, I wondered what happened to Priya in the 'Sogam'
serial. In the last episode, she was planning to have her
mother-in-law killed by an ex-convict. Did she succeed? Well,
Priya did not know that her mother-in-law was also plotting to
poison her. I wonder who got the axe first. Ramu, Priya’s
husband, would be happy if both his mother and wife died because
he can then marry his girlfriend, Mala.
Unlike the feisty and plotting Priya, Ramya,
in the 'Pookkal' serial, is very different. She is very innocent
and naïve. Ramya only wanted her husband to marry another woman
so that his family’s progeny will continue. Unfortunately, as
soon as the second marriage took place, her mother-in-law had
thrown her out of the house. Her husband has also gone missing.
After all, is it wrong to marry your husband off to multiple
women to keep the family tree growing? Is keeping a harem such a
new concept; it has existed throughout the history of mankind.
The 'Shanthi' serial is even more thrilling
than the others. I don’t think Shanthi knows that it is her
father-in-law who killed her father and usurped all the property
from him. Once Shanthi signs the property in his name, the
father-in-law is definitely going to get rid of her.
I woke up from my reverie about mega serials
to the announcement that boarding had started for my flight. As I
stood up, I could not but wonder why humans get such vicarious
pleasure from listening and watching news and events that portray
cunning, plotting, death and destruction.
At least, our fascination with news about
misery and destruction can be explained as a “need” - we must
know how unjust and terrible the world sometimes is so that we
can protect ourselves from such events, and where possible,
change the world to be a better place to live in. But, I cannot
comprehend our fascination for watching cunning and betrayal and
the subliminal pleasure we get from entertainment that portrays
our basest emotions. While, to a certain degree, art is an
imitation of real life, it appears as if our mega serials reflect
the worst in us and how terrible we can be to each other.
Perhaps, we are secretly glad that it is happening to someone
else and we are not the people who are causing it or affected by
it.
As author Ian Fleming describes, James Bond is
the fictional character, who, at middle age, can jump from a
helicopter, attract young beautiful blondes and swim in a tank
full of sharks. James Bond let other middle aged men live in the
fantasy world of sex and guns that they can only imagine.
Maybe, like the James Bond episodes, the mega
serials let us fantasise and “clinically” be a part of events
that we are neither capable of designing nor have the stomach to
participate in. As long as we can maintain our sanity, fantasy is
not bad after all.
Perhaps, Shakespeare should have said, “Oh!
Fantasy, Thou Art Human.”
Ram S. Sriram (Atlanta)
sriramgsu@gmail.com
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