Impressions of “TV is a Condition”

The chairman of the television union, Yutaka Shigenobu, published “Television is a Condition.” It’s a digital publication about the history and culture of television, and a theory of management.

 He showed recognition that the liberated “broadcast era” shifted to the “industrialized era” of the 80s, and accurately portrays how he fought against the “structured” era. It seems like quite a fight.

 The behind-the-scenes stories are interesting. Mr. Shigenobu invited the director of a movie about the Berlin Olympics, Leni Riefenstahl, to Tokyo. I was surprised to hear that Berlin Olympics gold-medalist marathoner Mr. Sohn Kee-chung arrived at the Haneda airport and left immediately after saying hello. I believe that a one-hour symposium could be held just on that story.

 The talk of wooing Jeanne Moreau in a 3-hr program on impressionism was also great. I want to see it. In 1981, Mr. Shigenobu was 40 years old. One is led to believe that great work should be accomplished while still young.

 There are stories of his time at the MIT Media Lab in 1985 when he interviewed Negroponte and Minsky. This was right after the lab was founded. I’d like to see that film.

 Mr. Shigenobu’s media and policy theories are interesting. He claims that “Digital” will represent the Renaissance-style revolution of the next generation. Personally I believe that rather than liken it to an industrial revolution, it should be seen as a cultural revolution.

 He also expressed frustration with Steve Jobs’ statement that, “We think basically you watch television to turn your brain off, and you work on your computer when you want to turn your brain on.” and he gropes for a solution to this problem.

 The Fin-Syn (financial interest and syndication rules) in the U.S., television production rules in Britain, financial restoration policies for TV makers in France, and all such rules that separate broadcast and production all point out the low level of secondary use in Japan. They show that we can expect the arrival of a new environment that overcomes this problem. I too am waiting for this.

  However, the things that we can expect to arise from 2nd generation tools will not come out of media theory, rather from the individuals who regain control of media. It is people and software that will reproduce TV.

 Mr. Shigenobu believes that in Japan’s digital age, with the required technology and industry, society will transform even without revolutions or battles. One can see a new future in this. I am anxious to see the shape of this new future.