Brainwashed by Television.

I started reading the book series 'A Song of Ice and Fire' not to long ago. It has been recently made popular by the 'Hit HBO series Game of Thrones' which is quite similar to the title of the first book, 'A Game Of Thrones'. I haven't seen the series as of yet, but from what the people say it is really good. Each season is based on each book. There are currently five books available and I believe they are working on the second season now. So perhaps when I finish the books first I will sit down and watch the series, and gasp at how different they really are from the books. Like everyone used to do... not the other way around.

I was in my Chemistry class last week, waiting for class to begin so I figured I could catch a few pages before it started. As I was reading, a lady who was sitting beside me asked

"What do you think of it so far?"

I replied " I think it's fabulous, Lord of the Rings (probably my favorite epic fantasy) might have a hard time living up to this."

We continued talking for a little while and we began discussing the T.V. series. I said that I hadn't seen it before, but I may watch it after I finish all the books. Of course I had a long way to go seeming I just finished the first book yesterday. And this is where 'the funk hit the fan'. She said that she had watched the HBO series first, and was surprised at how poor a job the book does compared to the T.V. show. As if the television show was made BEFORE THE BOOK.

What kind of person could even think that a movie or a television show does better than the book itself. I can see someone saying they did a pretty darn good job keeping the show with the book; however the lack of detail in the show compared to book just does not cut it. Referring back to Lord of the Rings for a moment; the trilogy of movies that was directed by Peter Jackson was absolutely exceptional. The cast they had and the detail in each set was gorgeous, but as we all know J.R.R. Tolkien was a stickler about the detail. Right down to how long the grass was and what kind of soil was good for the flowers that sprinkled the field. (Use your sense of sarcasm there.) In my opinion watching a movie isn't the same as reading about everything and letting your imagination run wild. A movie or show based on a book is just one persons interpretation of the events and the world that they happened in. They are not your own; it is the imagination of someone else.

So I think people are being brainwashed by television. Everything that is on T.V. or 'Facebook' has to be real, and nothing else is right. It is dulling their brains and, imaginations, making them rely on a T.V. series to show them what a book is like, rather than picking it up their selves, sitting down, and reading it. It is like this for almost everything!
 
You're sitting on your couch watching the weather channel. "IMPORTANT WEATHER UPDATE: Huge cold front over the GTA tonight. Things are looking bad right now, there is a blizzard hitting so expect 60-75cm between now and later this evening. "

You think to yourself " Wow, this is crazy! I can't believe that's happening. Wait... I live in Toronto." You get up from your couch and look out the window. You can see the sky, and a few flurries dancing peacefully down to the ground below. What do you believe? The 'official' telling you on your oh so powerful and completely truthful television. Or your own eyes. I could talk about the topic of the media for day, but I will save that for another day.

Run free! don't let yourself be boxed in by the imaginary boundaries of the technological era! (Ironic, coming from a blogger, right?) Go out and make your own adventure. Delve into some dark ominous land where magic exists and dragons roam free! Explore the land of Middle-Earth or Wonderland or whatever world they may be in through their own eyes, instead of someone else's.

Go read a book.