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ORIGINAL: sexyred1

I laugh when people say there is nothing good on TV.

There are excellent shows on the cable channels HBO, SHO, Starz, F/X, A&E, AMC, and yes, even network.

Sample:
Game of Thrones
The Borgias
Mad Men
Sons of Anarchy
The Americans
The Killing
True Blood
Dexter
The Following
Hannibal
Spartacus (just ended)

And then there are just the fun happy shows like The Voice.

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ORIGINAL: SpanishMatMaster

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ORIGINAL: freedomdwarf1
Yep..... I'm a boring old fart

I guess this is a "yes, I realise that i am missing masterpieces of art and I just don't care". So, thanks for your answer, no more questions your highness :) .

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ORIGINAL: SlightlyScared

Ah, sorry about that, I had assumed the comics included other comics as well; the distinctly more fictional comics that have also recently been turned into films. I actually have Maus in my to-read pile.

Those shows can be found on the internet but I agree that they are TV-funded so would screen there first. The replay functions on the websites of the TV stations have would probably be the best place to find them. A sample of arty TV pieces made for the internet include the Lizzie Bennet Diaries, The Guild, Rise: Kingdom Falling and Dr Horrible's Sing Along Blog. There's starting to be something of a movement, I think, about disentangling visual media and the TV.

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ORIGINAL: Aswad
If you're going to mention comics, why not mention webcomics?
I mean, things like XKCD, Venus Envy, Questionable Content, Oglaf, Shiniez, The Punchline Is Machismo, etc.?
IWYW,
— Aswad.

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ORIGINAL: freedomdwarf1

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ORIGINAL: theshytype
I thought I was pretty clear as to why I don't read comics - they don't allow for much mental imagery as a novel.

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So... if you "do not read comics" or "do not watch television", are you at least aware, that you are missing the chance to enjoy masterpieces of art and education? That you are really missing something just because you reject a certain format?

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ORIGINAL: SpanishMatMaster

Some forms of communication have a worse reputation as others, I guess.

Nobody would ever say "I do not watch pictures" or "I do not hear music". People can be more or less music fans, but nobody just *does not hear music* at all.

Between other things, because it is unavoidable. Music is around us. But so are comics and television, if you think about it: instructions on how to abandon a plane, which can be found in many planes; televisions placed in public places. I understad, however, that what people mean is "I do not intentionally buy and consume comics" for example.

Is there, out there, someone who intentionally does not buy or consume music? Maybe a few, but they are very few, very very few.

Comics and television, by the other way, seem "elegant" to ignore. I consider this somehow snob, and somehow a product of ignorance.

Guys, some of the best movies of this century are adaptations of comics! And the comics were even better! You can read comics to learn hardcore history, about tendencies of the future in the media ("Understanding Comics"), interesting lives ("Persepolis"), ancient legends ("300"), the recent past ("Maus", "Gorazde") or the current political reality ("Palestina").

I won't even come to the multiple high-quality TV series which can now be bought as a bunch per DVD and simply seen when you have time for them.

So... if you "do not read comics" or "do not watch television", are you at least aware, that you are missing the chance to enjoy masterpieces of art and education? That you are really missing something just because you reject a certain format?

Would be my question.

quote:

I laugh when people say there is nothing good on TV.

There are excellent shows on the cable channels HBO, SHO, Starz, F/X, A&E, AMC, and yes, even network.

Sample:
Game of Thrones
The Borgias
Mad Men
Sons of Anarchy
The Americans
The Killing
True Blood
Dexter
The Following
Hannibal
Spartacus (just ended)

And then there are just the fun happy shows like The Voice.

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Let me add Rome, Breaking Bad, The Wire, The Sopranos and Real Humans.

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ORIGINAL: FrostedFlake

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So... if you "do not read comics" or "do not watch television", are you at least aware, that you are missing the chance to enjoy masterpieces of art and education? That you are really missing something just because you reject a certain format?

I think the key word here is ENJOY.

How much of the time is a television program what you are watching? How much of the time are you watching something else? When the actual program returns, do you actually recall where the program left off, when it was interrupted, or do you have to 'tune in' again. How much of this on again, off again bullshit are you able to endure without your ENJOYMENT evaporating? And, here is the tricky part, if you don't ENJOY it, why bother?

Comic books have a similar problem. They are often series. If you never read "The Avenging Fucktards" before, this months issue is not going to make much sense. Until you have tuned in to who the characters are, what the big idea is and of course, who the guys being avenged were and why the guys who did them wrong did it, and so on for quite a while. This would have to be why the characters have such amazing bodies. Makes it easier to sell that first copy.

Now, obviously, I am not saying there is anything wrong with the way TV is presented. I'm just saying, it's a good thing there is an off switch. Now, the Net, on the other hand...

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ORIGINAL: NuevaVida

"Masterpiece" is a matter of personal opinion.

For example, "Gone with the Wind" was a movie masterpiece, but I hated it.

In any case, I watch very little TV. I own a TV, I have limited cable and Netflix. As of today, my TV has not been turned on since Sunday (I love Mad Men and do not miss it).

It's more a matter of taste and how I prefer to spend my time. I am not home more than I am home. I'm out DOING things, and being as active as possible. For me, there's time and place for TV. If I hear of a great show, I'll check it out later on Netflix, but I won't purposefully stay home to sit in front of it. It's just not how I choose to spend my time. Do not mistake personal priorities for preferences. If I miss a "masterpiece" now and again, I'm ok with that...perhaps I'll see it later. There's time to catch up on TV. My priorities have to do with spending time with the people in my life, and experiencing life, and for me that puts sitting on my couch watching TV lower on my list.

I've never had an interest in comics. Just like I don't have a huge interest in SciFi or bowling or painting furniture, for that matter. It's all a matter of taste, preferences and priorities. Your post seems to indicate we should all share your priorities, and life just doesn't work that way.

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ORIGINAL: dcnovice

FR

I don't boycott TV; it just never occurs to me to watch. I did try a bit when I was in the hospital recently but never found anything that caught my interest.

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ORIGINAL: SpanishMatMaster

I did not because I was giving samples of non-fiction masterpieces.

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XKCD would only partially qualify, the others not or I do not know them.

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ORIGINAL: SpanishMatMaster
Hello!
Of course, masterpiece is a matter of opinion, but if we talk about a huge whole media it is safe to say that they would have some masterpiece.
You watch TV. Ok.
Comics - of course you do what you want, and I do not suggest that you should read comics. I only ask if you realise that you are missing important works of art. That's it.

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ORIGINAL: NuevaVida


For example, "Gone with the Wind" was a movie masterpiece, but I hated it.

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ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady

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ORIGINAL: NuevaVida


For example, "Gone with the Wind" was a movie masterpiece, but I hated it.

Hate is a rather strong word, no? I can't believe you hated it, but at least you saw it. It's kind of one of those movies that you should see at least once in your life. The Sound of Music and Schindler's List are a couple of others.

I have never seen Star Wars (yea, yea, I know), but I can still admit it was an amazing film.