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In reply to the discussion: The History Channel - the Fox News of the Social Sciences for terminal dumb asses [View all]CanSocDem
(3,286 posts)27. It works for me.
Of course I see it as a historical chronicle of the last days of the American empire. Instead of the glossy, "morning in America" fantasy, straight out of MadisonAve, we're entertained by the desperate, handheld camera confessions of real people looking to hang on to their last shred of dignity.
As for educational value, the one thing that is obvious is that it is hard to retain your dignity in a free-market economy where everything is for sale.
I watched as they savaged the trucking industry with their portrayal of drivers as hard driving, risk-takers willing to sell out their peers and the values of the industry for their moment on camera.
I always appreciated pawn shops and was a good customer for years. I'm not comfortable watching the pawnshops take advantage of people like me...
American Pickers gets me into yards that I never had time for in my travels. And introduces me to the 'salt of the earth', quiet Americans who still have a connection to a tangible history.
However, it is still just television.
Despite the sweat-popping drama of scrounging for gold, in a foreign jungle or under a frozen lake, or preparing your family for the world-ending boogeyman coming down the street, the reality of these scenarios isn't that far off the modern culture. A lot of people are taking notes.
A phrase that gets under my skin is "I watched it live...on television!" It suggests that people are forming their history knowledge on what they've seen on television. As someone who has been around since its' infancy, I'm quite sure its only purpose is to entertain.
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The History Channel - the Fox News of the Social Sciences for terminal dumb asses [View all]
Douglas Carpenter
Jan 2013
OP
Hey - Pawn Stars and American Pickers talk about history of the junk they show
liberal N proud
Jan 2013
#2
History of Egypt, Israel, India, China... ancient and in-depth vs. history of junk
DonRedwood
Jan 2013
#58
Now wait, I believe all those 12/21/12 "doomsday" shows the History Channel runs.
AnnieK401
Jan 2013
#17
And I don't think it's going to take 300 years for us to turn into it, if the species survives.
catbyte
Jan 2013
#53
They should do what the Sci-Fi channel did, and change their name to "The Hystery Channel." n/t
Ian David
Jan 2013
#33
The National Geographic Channel is another one thats pretty much down the crapper
tularetom
Jan 2013
#36
It's a cartoon channel for middle-age white guys drinking beer and munching cheetos on the couch
leveymg
Jan 2013
#37
wow! it is pretty bad when a South Park satire is no more far out than the actual History Channel
Douglas Carpenter
Jan 2013
#94
Why I steadily downgraded my cable package and totally cancelled it last month
Lydia Leftcoast
Jan 2013
#96
I am all for taking a look at unexplained phenomena including an open minded look at unconventional
Douglas Carpenter
Jan 2013
#72
Umm whats happening? People are tuning in to those shows is whats happening.
cstanleytech
Jan 2013
#46
That's it, pretty much. They think lowest-common-denominator content gets the most views.
Posteritatis
Jan 2013
#112
OOOO, now I know how impordant tommy guns was to George Jefferson an' his frens'!
Kurovski
Jan 2013
#91
when parody is barely distinguishable from actual,,things have gotten pretty bad
Douglas Carpenter
Jan 2013
#99
It's one of the reason I downgraded my cable package - it's a vast wasteland.
reformist2
Jan 2013
#66
I hate to think that this is based on what the ratings say the public wants to see. Although it if
Douglas Carpenter
Jan 2013
#87
If Pawn Stars was one of a couple of shows that were not history docs. I could handle that
Douglas Carpenter
Jan 2013
#109
History is owned by A&E, which is 50% owned by BSkyB, which is 39% owned by NewsCorp (Murdoch).
eppur_se_muova
Jan 2013
#95
I endorse the above message, and I don't watch that channel anymore, sadly.
usregimechange
Jan 2013
#97
I agree & rec. Ken Burn's documentaries like "The Dust Bowl" PBS- Best.Ever.
DianaForRussFeingold
Jan 2013
#100
I suspect that like the much misnamed "reality tv" they discovered that "reality" schlock is a lot
Douglas Carpenter
Jan 2013
#107