My grandparents got their first television in 1957. Around this time, TV was like a status symbol; it was something you aimed to have. When you did have one, you instantly became “very popular with the neighbours”, she tells me.
It was fascinating talking to my Nan about the dynamics of TV back in her day. First of all, it was a family affair. Everyone would gather around and watch together. You all watched the same thing. It was a fun activity the family could do together. There would rarely be more than one in the house, so you had no choice. The programming was light-hearted and entertaining. This technology was still a novelty. “We weren’t as addicted back then!” she tells me. Radio and newspaper were still the main forms of news – “you wouldn’t give up your newspaper!”
(Not actually my family… but we can pretend)
In terms of programming, my Nan recalls it’s light-hearted nature. They had “teenaged” shows and cartoons on in the mornings and afternoons, light-entertainment, like music and quiz shows, and news at night. Around 11pm, the programming would end – pretty much unheard of today. “It was very basic,” she says, “there were only about four channels.” The shows were mainly of American origin, and she recalls the demand for more Australian programming as TV became more popular. But the main difference she notices now is the huge increase of information on TV, like news and documentaries, and it’s ability to educate us. She also sites the huge increase in violence and crime on TV. “It was more family-orientated [back then]; not as deep as it is today,” she says. There is much more variety, much more choice, and much more control.
Reflecting on this conversation, the main thing I took away is the change in the necessity of television. Back then, it was a novelty, pure entertainment – no one relied on it, it was just for fun and spending time with the family. Today, TV has basically surpassed the point of necessity and become something that we take for granted. It’s just something you have in your living room, a normal piece of furniture. But you don’t even need to own a TV to watch it anymore. So it’s less about the object itself and more about what it means to “watch TV”. I personally watch more TV shows on my laptop than I do on the actual TV. You can access it anywhere, anytime. Physical TVs are becoming irrelevant, but TV watching is just as prominent as ever. TV is no longer social. It’s individual, controlled, personalised. You can watch shows about anything and everything – it leaves nothing to the imagination.
From talking to my Nan, I figure society is so different now. As the technology improved and more programs were shown, audiences would have become more demanding in what they want to watch. As TVs became more affordable, people wanted more options. As attachments like gaming consoles came in, and new channels made, the social aspect of TV fell away. It’s funny how TV went from being a novelty to being a necessity, basically overriding the need for newspapers and radios, and now it’s in the process of being taken over by the Internet. I can’t help but wonder what will be next.
Image: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22688498
Expensive Wednesdays 