TV Slut Report...

Still gloomy, although got a shot of sunshine through the clouds which cheered me. Such a sunshine whore.

Also apparently a Television Whore. Been reading a fascinating article in the Sept/Oct 2006 issue of Film Comment published by the Film Society of Lincoln Center. The article is written by Paul Schrader and is entitled Cannon Fodder: as the sun finally sets on the century of cinema, by what criteria do we determine its masterworks?. Schrader is a film critic, film producer, and screenwriter of such works as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, American Giglio, Bringing out the Dead and The Last Temptation of Christ. Anyhow he says a couple of interesting things in the preface, haven't read the whole thing yet, first is defining canon- "What is a canon? It is, by definition, based on criteria that transcend taste, personal and popular." To figure it out, he goes back to school and takes courses on the history of Aesthetics and the history of film Aesthetics - because to develop a canon, one must study the history of the thing. The reason he even considers trying it or the model that motivated him is Harold Bloom's 1994 bestseller The Western Canon of literature. And states how unlike the literary canon, film has another hurdle, "Film is not literature, of course, and the issues involved, though similar, are not the same. The greatest difference is there is still a debate about whether motion pictures are art at all."

Well, if people feel that way about film? All the more so about TV. You don't see anyone even contemplating a Television Canon of Great Works. Would seem silly. And people love nothing better than to pick at TV. Yet, I think as a method of personal expression, Television may be overtaking film and to an extent written words - partly due to the internet. The two appear to be almost married at the moment - TV shows popping up on the net, websodes possible to play on the TV screen, YouTube, people downloading screenshots from tv shows, fanfic based on tv shows and of course, itunes and ipod downloads. People can watch films on their tv sets. Order books via the internet and download text. And...here's the thing about TV that neither books nor movies provide - interaction. People can interact with the tv show right now via the internet, a cell-phone or a remote control. They can plan when to watch what they want, get rid of commericials, vote off characters, provide feedback to tv show-runners, chat with authors of the shows online, analyze/discuss each episode right after it airs, and create by-products such as "icons".

I state all this as more or less a prelude, not quite a defense of my own tv sluttage. That and I've been enjoying tv lately more than the movies and books I've been reading or watching. Makes entertaining background noise. Plus, stress gives me a short attention span, don't know why. (those last three words were rhetorical and sarcastic by the way, stress also apparently brings out the sarcasm in me, while depression brings out the poetry. Quite odd.).

So what the heck am I watching? Ah...

( Warning snarky somewhat opinionated take on TV. Bound to offend someone, although I did tone it down considerably. Enter at own risk. Also I've tried to avoid spoilers, but can't be certain. Discussed: Heroes, Studio 60, Mother, Class, BSG, DW, Grey's...some in depth, some just barely mentioned. Oh there are definite spoilers for LOST. Vaguer for BSG. )