Teleliteracy: Taking Television Seriously

Television and Popular Culture

by David Bianculli

Arguing for respect and serious attention to be given to the medium of television, this manifesto takes on the conventional wisdom about TV, challenging allegations that it discourages literacy and encourages violence. David Bianculli seeks to define, explore and embrace the mass medium, heralding television as an ideal forum for art, information and education.

Genres: Nonfiction, Tv

315 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1992

Reviews

[Ensiform · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rather lengthy argument by a TV critic for respecting television as a medium and appreciating the rich cultural gifts it’s given us. The author’s right when he shows that new media are always reviled by the protectors of the old, from Plato to the very recent birth of “film studies” as a legitimate field. And yes, many critics of TV are simply following this pro-status quo, kneejerk line of reasoning. But Bianculli goes a little overboard. Yes, a lot of BBC specials and American literary adaptions are high theater, and “The Simpsons” is a very clever reflection and parody of our society. But he has to keep referring again and again to the same thirty shows, in all the 50 year history of TV, to make his point.

Obviously, when television is used to adapt literary works, or documentaries, it’s a very powerful medium, and kneejerk criticism of it --- “Turn TV Off day” including the news, Discovery Chanel, etc. --- is absurd. And he certainly makes his point that what’s on TV becomes common knowledge (does anyone disagree?). But popularity isn’t a sign that a medium deserves respect. What Bianculli constantly steps around in his at times repetitive treatise is that 99% of TV is, at most, amusing; at worst, appallingly inane. In short, he succeeds in arguing that TV is a superb medium of creative expression; but he fails to convince that the great bulk of what is actually on TV is worth watching.

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I read this because I hear Bianculli's stuff on NPR, and it seemed like the sort of book I should read. However, I kept checking the publication date (2000). Forgive me if I'm wrong, but in 2000 did people still need a lot of convincing that television was something that could be or should be taken seriously. I understand a lot of that work was happening in the 80s and 90s, but this book seemed repetitive. Granted, Bianculli brings a passion for television, a lot of interesting interviews, some historical research and a witty tone to the proceedings, but rather than revealing new facts, I found myself nodding along ticking off the arguments being made.

Now maybe, and this is more likely, I am not the target audience for a book like this. Having self selected and having read many other books on the subject, this is more a book for the doubting Thom's out there. In which case, I encourage you to pick this up. If you're already taking television seriously, I wouldn't worry about it so much.