UN-TV

So, last night me and Caitlin were working on her sociology project, the "un-tv" or "zen tv" experiment. Basically what you do, is watch the television for 1/2 an hr without turning it on, and then write down your thoughts... Instead, I kept a journal during the process (it was boring), and here it is:

Tara’s Profound TV Thoughts!

- The entire room is centered around the TV.
- Lots of uses: Wii, DVDs, Nintendo
- The room is quiet!
- I’m comfortable.
- Riley’s confused about why we’re just sitting here.
- A TV by itself is pretty boring.
- I have trouble not multi-tasking in a world that has so much going on at all times.
- Weird how people get so caught up in material items.
- Even Riley wishes the TV were on.
- It’s kind of sad how we rely on the TV in many ways as our only connection with the outside world.
- The TV is like the center of the whole apartment, why is that? Why do we concentrate so much on a piece of electronics? It’s not even that pretty.
- Riley just left the room; he thinks we’re boring.
- Weird how when it’s on, I’m completely sucked in like there’s nothing else in the world, but with it off it’s brought to my attention how utterly boring it is.
- I feel lazy, like I should be doing something more productive than just sitting around staring at the TV.
- It’s like a 30 minute long commercial, to where you’re not really paying attention to it, but you are because you’re waiting for your show to come back on, or for something to happen. (Caitlin)
- My mom used to use a TV as a babysitter, so this relates back to my childhood where I can stare at the TV for hours and not get distracted. (Caitlin)
- Riley finally realized we’re not going to do anything and calmed down.
- I feel like it just keeps getting bigger and bigger as I’m sucked in.
- It’s almost like it doesn’t have to be on to be entertaining. What does that say about me? I don’t normally use TV for entertainment; I use it as background noise. This is kind of like background sight. (Caitlin)
- Sylvania. That’s a weird TV brand. I’ve never heard of that. That’s what you get for “buying the Brandsmart way” (Caitlin)
- Caitlin’s had this TV for at least a year, how has she not heard of it?
- This would be harder if it was my computer because I actually use that actively while the TV is more in the background. (Caitlin)
- I couldn’t do it with my computer.
- I’m bored. A round TV would be cool! It could be formatted to fit this screen! Everyone would be taller and skinnier on my circle TV! (Caitlin)
- Shh, Riley! I’m watching TV! (Caitlin)
- Know what I think the point of this is? (C) To point out how stupid a TV is? (T) Yes! Because no one would sit in front of a TV for 30 minutes with it not turned on, but why would you sit there with it turned on? That’s retarded. I’m throwing my TV away. (C)
- I actually hate TV a lot. It’s a hindrance to active conversation and thought.


After the experiment was done, I actually didnt want the TV turned on even more than usual. I suppose I just really enjoy the silence that there is without the TV on, especially since when the TV's on it's really hard to carry on an active meaningful conversation...