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.”
