鬼話電視節目 Uncanny TV Programs
The first TV program on the uncanny, called "continuous ghost talk"(鬼話連篇) appeared about 10 years ago, but since then it has become one of the most talked about programs and has drawn a huge audience, critics included. Following upon its success, a number of similar programs propped up to take advantage of the growing appetite of the audience.
It seems that these TV programs on the supernatural issues are getting more and more attractive to our audience. But such popularity is not groundless. Indeed, it reflects upon the social reality and the general psyche of modern people. If we examine these TV programs closely, we discover several common characteristics.
First of all, to contrast with our world of color TV, these programs use a lot of black and white screen video to create a scary atmosphere. A search in the darkness of an empty house is thus not a journey with a clear destination, but an endless risky venture in an uncontrollable condition. Second, the things that they’re dealing with are no longer visual objects, but often invisible threats, which work best on our imagination.
I think these programs are popular because they dramatize the predicament of modern people. In the modern society, the future is uncertain and the present is infested with all kinds of risk. Under these circumstances, people can no longer maintain any real control over their own lives, for there are so many potential factors inclined to changing the results. These programs thus provide the audience with the experience of living with uncertainties and even danger, while groping for some sense of security. Next time you see your family gathered in front of the TV set to watch such programs, don’t refer to them as superstitious people. They are merely trying to get hold of their fate.
The first TV program on the uncanny, called "continuous ghost talk"(鬼話連篇) appeared about 10 years ago, but since then it has become one of the most talked about programs and has drawn a huge audience, critics included. Following upon its success, a number of similar programs propped up to take advantage of the growing appetite of the audience.
It seems that these TV programs on the supernatural issues are getting more and more attractive to our audience. But such popularity is not groundless. Indeed, it reflects upon the social reality and the general psyche of modern people. If we examine these TV programs closely, we discover several common characteristics.
First of all, to contrast with our world of color TV, these programs use a lot of black and white screen video to create a scary atmosphere. A search in the darkness of an empty house is thus not a journey with a clear destination, but an endless risky venture in an uncontrollable condition. Second, the things that they’re dealing with are no longer visual objects, but often invisible threats, which work best on our imagination.
I think these programs are popular because they dramatize the predicament of modern people. In the modern society, the future is uncertain and the present is infested with all kinds of risk. Under these circumstances, people can no longer maintain any real control over their own lives, for there are so many potential factors inclined to changing the results. These programs thus provide the audience with the experience of living with uncertainties and even danger, while groping for some sense of security. Next time you see your family gathered in front of the TV set to watch such programs, don’t refer to them as superstitious people. They are merely trying to get hold of their fate.