Television in the Early Days

During discussion this week, it was uncovered that many people have the similar experiences of television. While everyone’s own experience was unique, there are likenesses that can be clearly distinguished. During tutorials this week engaged in collaborative ethnography. Luke Lassiter states that “collaborative ethnography pulls together threads of collaboration between ethnographers and their consultants”. Collaborating the stories we had heard from our interviews, we gained a whole perspective on what television was like during its early days. Overall, there were some overwhelming trends that were present among many of the conversations students had. This blog sums up the early television experience.

A stock photo of a family watching TV together – Source

Everyone had a different experience with television. Some people fully embraced television and made it a part of their everyday life, while others challenged it. But the overwhelming sense of ‘family’ that the television brought was substantial. It was constantly mentioned that it was a family activity to sit around the television and watch a show together. It could have been any show ranging from The Brady Bunch to Home and Away, but the fact that the family was together was the media trend that was most prevalent. My Nanna didn’t care much for television in its early days. She doesn’t remember the first time she watched TV or when it went from black and white to colour, but as time went on, she became fonder of the little brown box in the corner. Some of her warmest memories of television were with her children or grandchildren. Others celebrated television and its advancements. People remember the first time they ever saw one, or when the transition from black and white to colour occurred. But sure enough, as time went on most people were happy with the television and the family environment that it created.

 

The Home and Away logo – Source

It was most interesting reading about the memories of those who were introduced to television in different countries compared to those whose introduction was in Australia. Television in Australia, while behind the US and the UK, was superior to many other parts of the world with television broadcasts beginning in 1956. For example, television was not available in South Africa until 1976 and during its beginnings, there was only one channel. Even Australia’s close neighbour, New Zealand, didn’t have television until 1960.

While interviewing others about their memories of television, there were different strengths and weaknesses that came with this type of research. Overall, deliberately engaging in conversation about memories of television was enjoyable and extremely interesting. It gave you an insight into the lives of family members before you remember or were even born and the joy in their voices when they spoke about their memories was a pleasure to hear. The first-hand accounts that we received were valuable in terms of research and it would be fascinating to continue research in the area of memories of television. There were some challenges about this research approach as well. Early on in the conversation, I found that Nanna couldn’t remember much about television, but once she started remembering, it all flooded back and she couldn’t stop talking.

Collaborating with other students to uncover what television was like during its early days was enlightening and entertaining. Given the technological world we live in today, television will continue to develop and create many more memories.

References

IMDb 2016, The Brady Bunch, IMDb, viewed 16 August 2016, http://imdb.com/title/tt0063878/

IMDb 2016, Home and Away, IMDb, viewed 16 August 2016, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094481/

Lessiter, L 2005, The Chicago Guide to Collaborative Ethnography, University of Chicago Press, Chicago

National Archives of Australia 2016, Introducing Television to Australia, 1956 – Fact Sheet 115, Australian Government, viewed 16 August 2016, http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/fact-sheets/fs115.asp

Bargas, I, Atkinson, N & Green, D, Television in New Zealand, NZ History, viewed 16 August 2016, http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/tv-history

South African History Online 2011, Start of Daily Television Transmissions, South African History Online, viewed 16 August 2016, http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/started-daily-television-transmissions

Television.au 2016, Timeline, Television.au, viewed 16 August 2016, http://televisionau.com/timeline