MovieChat Forums > All That Heaven Allows (1955) Discussion > Technophobia/Fear of Television

Technophobia/Fear of Television

posted 10 years ago by TheCineSinge
5 replies | jump to latest

I'm trying to build up a good bank of films on this subject as its increasingly looking like my topic for a dissertation next year - Technophobia/"televisionphobia" or along those lines.

So, are there other examples of the way Sirk frames the television here in the rest of his filmography?

Or other examples from the era anyone can think of?

I know there's a scene in Rebel Without a Cause in which the TV is prominent and there's a more unknown film called Meet Mr Lucifer in which a TV is passed between neighbours and ruins their lives!

I have plenty of later examples such as Poltergeist, Videodrome and The Ring but hoping there could be more suggestions, from say the 40s-60s, which deal with this subject, even fleetingly.

Thanks in advance.

[–] Jay_Machado 9 years ago

Try this one on:

Murder by Television (1935)

[–] marcusbechelli 9 years ago

You already have a selection of the best examples. I'm sure there is a scene about television in Matilda too. If you haven't already I suggest you read Spigel's work on the utopian and dystopian discourses surrounding the arrival of television into the home

[–] Crystal (534) 6 years ago

More like a depressing idea. That's the end of your life.

[–] liscarkat (18429) 5 years ago

In many movies of the 1950s, tv is presented as nothing more than a diversion for children, who are invariably watching a B-western cavalry charge or shootout. The message seems to be that television is not something to be taken seriously enough to interest adults.

[–] liscarkat (18429) 5 years ago

Spoiler Alert...

Not a theatrical film, but there's an episode of "The Twilight Zone" in which William Demarest owns a demonic tv that shows him the future, including, eventually, his own execution in the electric chair!