By Neil Hogan
To answer the question “What does ‘television’ mean for me in my life?” I am going to refer to a few of the modules in the RMIT Television Cultures course, and touch on my interest in the television shows Doctor Who, Another Life and Westworld.
I was particularly impressed with the modules: The Rise and Rise of Quality TV; The Poetics of ‘Complex Narrative’; and Quality TV meets “genre” TV: Legitimating telefantasy’, as they helped me to realise that these combined represents the style of TV I have always gravitated towards, to escape the world. A well-produced and complex story has the capacity to convince me that the current world does not exist, and I like being able to escape from reality this way. It is a lot cheaper than traveling!
I thought it interesting how the terminology for ‘quality TV’ is entirely subjective. “The judgement of quality is always situated. That is to say, somebody makes the judgement from some aesthetic or political or moral position.” (Feuer 2007) It made me consider my viewing habits. Is Doctor Who quality TV? “These series subtly refer to previous episodes, insert more characters without worrying about confusing viewers, and present long-simmering mysteries and enigmas that span multiple seasons.” (Mittell 2015). Doctor Who has had many episodes that quote can be applied to, but it is generally accepted that quality TV and complex narrative go together. Doctor Who might have some twists, and some multilayered storylines, but it isn’t really that complex as it is written for children. I love watching this show for the ideas, but I will watch other things for more complexity.
Another Life is a recent addition to my viewing habits, and I had hoped it would turn out to be quality TV. Sadly, every trope imaginable has been shoehorned in with multiple mini narratives included to try and save it. Great special effects, amazing actors, awesome sets, adding new characters almost every episode, and including scenes that probably garner an M rating. But quality TV also needs to have something else. A really good story. The underlying story arc is wanting and just not interesting. Mysterious object sits on Earth and scientists try to communicate with it. Interstellar ship is sent to investigate the planet that it came from and has some adventures on the way. The entire season follows two boring story arcs. Thanks to the course, it is easy to see that this is not quality TV, and it will just be relegated to my watch-while-holding-the-baby list!
In relation to something more complex, I recently watched two seasons of Westworld. This show includes all the hallmarks of quality TV, along with a complex storyline. The complexity is in the levels of the narrative. If a viewer was to pause every shot and look for additional messages hidden in the mise en scene, they would be bound to find them. Unfortunately, even though season one is most definitely complex TV, season two struggles. The problem with season two is that it is a journey season, much like Another Life is. Characters are continually fighting to get to their destination, and the storylines reflect this on the way. Unlike season one which spent much time setting up then revealing surprises the viewer least expected, season two has few surprises to reveal, and the main focus is on character development. Ten episodes focused on character development by itself cannot really be called complex TV, and I felt it was not time best spent. So, from this, I know TV is only important in my life if it can give me the joy of a quality production and complex script. Otherwise there are other things I can be doing.
Finally, if it is a complex TV show, then I would expect it to garner a fan following and the intertextual reinterpretations that that would bring. I would also want to be part of the recap culture and meet with other fans who share the same passion for the show. Andrew Lynch says recap “refers to a style of TV coverage which is released after an episode of a given show has aired and usually includes reflections on diegetic events in the episode and discussion of the show’s production.” After an episode of Doctor Who is screened on the ABC there is a programme called Whovians which recaps the story in a humorous way. These kinds of fan connections enhance and inform my interpretation of the show and continue the appreciation for me in a different way. In this sense, TV is important to me as it is one of the things in my life that gives me joy through not only the show itself, but the connections and new understandings that can be made as a result of it.
In conclusion, to me, TV means escapism and, paradoxically, connection. I can not only leave and immerse myself in a different world, I can create stronger connections with other likeminded people when I return. This enhances my joy in life and makes TV a very important part of it.
Word Count: 848
References
ABC IVIEW 2018, Whovians, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, viewed 27 October 2019, <https://iview.abc.net.au/show/whovians>
Feuer, J 2007, ‘HBO and the Concept of Quality TV’ in McCabe J, & Akass, K, Quality TV Contemporary American Television and Beyond, London: I.B. Tauris, p145
Lynch, A 2018, ‘The last-night’s watch: Game of Thrones, Contemporary Recap Culture, and HBO’s Continuing Legacy’ in McCollum, V & Monteverde, G, HBO’s Original Voices: Race, Gender, Sexuality and Power. London: Routledge, p156
Mittell, J 2015, ‘Why has TV storytelling become so complex?’, The Conversation, viewed 27 October 2019, <https://theconversation.com/why-has-tv-storytelling-become-so-complex-37442>