BERTRAM NIHAL to launch significant book on television

Veteran director and seasoned television personality Bertram Nihal will launch a stimulating and challenging all-encompassing book on the country’s television sphere on August 8 at 3.30 pm at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. The event will be presided over by University Grants Commission Chairman Prof. Mohan de Silva while Speaker Karu Jayasuriya will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest.

“My book based on a three-year research study, touches upon various sectors and areas that impact our television, ranging from the global influences to all other impacts which involve the TV producers, programme creators, owners of TV channels and their role, behavioral patterns of the audiences and other stakeholders. The ultimate output of this academic work is to suggest the most perfect model for our television. Such extensive research activities have been carried out in other countries, but little has been done here. This book will benefit those planning to venture into the television medium, those currently engaged in it and to some extent benefit the television viewers too,” said Bertram who will also launch another book on screenplay writing during Thursday’s event. “Initially I examine the historical and revolutionary changes in the relations between media studies and other associated disciplines. Secondly, I make a selective research, to illustrate the influence or the impact of TV and its techniques on the masses in general. I am of the view, that this effort of mine will reveal the importance of a theoretical background,” he said. DO YOU THINK TODAY’S TV AUDIENCES ARE OVER-FED WITH CONTENT AND POSSESS CONTRARY VIEWS. HOW DO YOU SEE THIS PHENOMENON? I hold a controversial attitude about this matter. When the masses are confronted with an overload of Information, or when they feel that they possess an excess of information, they may experience a passiveness, which is likely to result in a discarding of information. I see yet another development when TV presents inactive and outdated experiences, the masses may want to have active experiences, instead. This may allow room for someone to fill the hiatus, with realistic perceptions. TELEVISION FORCES US TO ACCEPT THE AUTHORITY OR THE DOMINATION OF OTHERS, HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THIS VIEW? By its nature, the TV Medium, prevents us from obtaining a direct awareness of nature. This is through the creation of an artificial environment, that educates us about the nature around us. Whatever controls the creative work, will interpret reality for all others. We obey the dictates of the creative person. His influence, limits our experience.

“Those involved in television production, through their domination of the medium, give us only the limited range of issues and subjects, they present to us”

THROUGH TELEVISION, DO CHANNEL OWNERS, TECHNICAL EXPERTS, AND PROGRAMME PLANNERS, USURP OUR RIGHT TO OUR OWN KNOWLEDGE? In fact, those involved in television production, through their domination of the medium, give us only the limited range of issues and subjects, they present to us. Those who control the TV medium force us to discard our experiences and foist their views and attitude on us. They render us helpless in the presence of the TV screen. There is no opposition possible. This implies, that the medium of television, can negate any exploration of truth. The Medium of Television, destroys even he foundation of discovery and perseverance. No interaction is possible, with the presentation made by TV. In such a context, how can we actually examine truth and reality? We could utilize our subconscious. But, in a highly technological society a society that is largely unscientific, subconscious has no places. As a result they destroy their environments and they take shelter in narrow area.