TV

Television is a part of media, a kind of art on its own. Some people thought TV would die out with the spreading of the Internet. But we all know it has not. It goes the same way as people thought newspapers and theatre and books would die out with the invention of TV. Well, of course nowadays the Holy Grail of Internet has a HUGE influence on everything and everyone. And television seems to integrate with the Internet somehow. You know, all these smart TVs with the Internet and all the jazz I don't have. But what I do have is my smart-ass laptop with the Internet that gives me access to all the kinds of TV shows I wanna watch.

And the shows we watch influence our lives heavily. Especially with this binge-watching trend. If you only knew that right now as I'm typing this text a drag queen in my head voices over the words with the intonations of all my favorite drag queens that I saw on RuPaul's Drag Race because Cherry Lady and I binge-watched it all last academic year long. And now from time to time (read: often) I watch recommended videos with them on YouTube. And last academic year Cherry Lady and I used to wear heavy makeup almost every day. It was no big deal to put on a cut crease eye makeup and go to classes. Actually, it's still no big deal for me but it feels quite unnecessary or what? Sometimes I look through my last year's photos and I'm like, "Wow, gurl! You did that?? Oh my!" (in a positive way). Even though I still can pull off heavy, bright, glittery makeup ('cause ain't no other lady put it down like me) but I just don't. I discussed it with Cherry Lady, and we came to the conclusion that we don't put on heavy makeup this often now because we stopped watching the show this regularly, we don't see the image so often, we don't get influenced so hard. But now I binge-watch America's Next Top Model. So I've noticed that I've started to look after the way I walk and pose on the photographs, I listen carefully to the advice Tyra Banks gives to the contestants and try to apply them in my mere life. And I am only one of a million examples. Some may go to the extremes.

And for sure TV guys know this. TV has been regulating watchers for a pretty long time. As my one and only Beyoncé sings in her "Pretty Hurts", "Blonder hair, flat chest, TV says bigger is better". Many TV shows, beauty pageant broadcasted on TV, series have been dictating people all around the world how we should look, how we should act, how we should live. Thankfully, some of the shows are changing for the better. As in ANTM that I mentioned just in the previous paragraph, Miss Tyra breaks height, weight, gender, race, age stereotypes - and more to come! She's out there to show that we're all beautiful - it's all about how we show ourselves, how we make a statement. Talking about RuPaul's Drag Race, well it's always been about broadening people's worldview, being beautiful inside and outside, and being in peace with yourself.

Well, I've talked only about two TV shows. Unfortunately, there are other programs that are not so good and helpful. I don't know about the rest of the world but here in Russia they can broadcast shows with unproved information and make it seem true like all the languages are derived from Russian. And it's just a small example. Fortunately, tho, that these types of programs are shown on the less popular channels but still - there are people who watch them! News - I won't even try to understand this kind of TV program. Well, I'm okay with the general and entertaining ones. But when it comes to some serious stuff... Gurl, I am no pro in politics, or economics, or whatever... whatsoever. But I know this shit is biased. And I don't know whom to trust. You know all about tough situations in the world. But do we know the truth? Who's right, who's guilty? I think, no TV, no newspaper, no Internet site will tell you. So what I do is try to avoid this kind of information, my life is stressed enough on its own. Or sometimes I can read an article or two on BBC website. But still, I keep my critical thinking on!

I know that nowadays many series are already made to be uploaded to the Internet. Or this Netflix that I don't have - it's like TV but not TV at the same time! I think this is the future of TV. But how wrong I am - it's not the future, it's our reality. (Probably, I was talking about my own future - one day I will have Netflix, won't I?)

Anyway, thanks for reading! It's been another task from Room to Write Project. Now share your thoughts on TV with me! <3 p="">

Be brave