TV gets out of the “box”
True. TV sets have undergone a major transformation: from pathetically small screens under the magnifying glass to huge “home cinema” systems with stereo sound and other special effects. However it is still hidden in the privacy of our flats and affects us only when we snuggle on a sofa after a long day's work. No doubt, TV still commands a huge audience - but divide it into 1 hour 15 minutes of average viewing time + the total number of channels + factor in various diversions (especially during commercial blocks) and you will get a fairly modest figure of those who actually watch commercials.
The famous Russian producer Eldar RyazanovTV wants to get out of the “box”, fill the streets and squares of our defenseless cities, accompany viewers from home to work and back, keeping us in tight grip of its broadcasters. In its absurdly futuristic perfection this idea was already implemented by George Orwell in “1984”. The screens there accompany people everywhere. Naturally, the aim is different: to brainwash rather than sell, whatever is the difference.
Our reality is softer and more democratic. But television is still dreaming of larger audiences and better coverage. The next example is taken from real life. On November 19, First Channel of Russian TV ran a program devoted to the famous Russian producer Eldar Ryazanov. The artistic structure of the program was excellent: camera was showing streets various cities where huge outdoor screens were “installed” on rooftops or buildings' walls. From these virtual non-existent screens people addressed audiences in the streets.
The program was quite successful. But memory retains the most important: large screens capable of live TV broadcasts. This is quite possible and not so futuristic: outdoor screens are getting larger, better in quality and more affordable. They are popular among townspeople - and they are quite capable of allowing TV to escape from home-installed “boxes”.
