So, it’s happened…At least one prediction from Ray Bradbury’s 1953 dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 may be coming true…
We’ve all observed televisions getting larger and larger of late. Well in his novel, Bradbury describes an environment in which reality television has taken over the world, and televisions have grown enormous. Specifically, your social status is defined by having television take up your entire wall. The more walls covered, the higher your standing in society.
Titan Screens, a British company, has recently created the world’s largest TV. Called “The Zeus”, it measures 370 inches diagonally at a cost of over one million dollars. This dwarfs the current average television size of 32 inches for a flatscreen. But if such a large one is now out there, you know it’s just a matter of time before Bradbury’s image of society and television become a reality.
It’s a cautionary tale, as the key element of Fahrenheit 451 is the acceptance of book burning. Unfortunately, the more we watch TV, the less we read. This lack of reading creates an environment that is naturally more accepting of limiting reading and therefore authentic knowledge acquisition. Don’t go there, people! Turn off the television, and open a book, please!
Stay groovy…
–Susie
(Copyright 2019 Susie Krivacic)
Harmonious Groove 