If there is one thing that we Italians are the undisputed champions is aping the Americans. Although we boast great minds and a past historical, artistic and literary world-leading, in some areas we are very good at plagiarized patterns and trends in the U.S. press.
fall in this case those programs television that they do everything except what is proposed, focusing instead Placing an dramatization of every last detail. I refer to that very bad habit, typically American, the media of exaggerating any event, transforming it into a show, even when it presents itself as a show of fun: think of the talk show, where in theory you should discuss the current problems, but in fact is based on false quarrel between the participants prepared a table, or reality shows, where do you believe that people are made, quite innocently, in a "sociological experiment" where they are monitored, and cream instead of psychologists (clearly sadistic) organize every detail to foster situations of fights, sex scenes, heated discussions, always to make the viewer audience sull'incredulità naive ...
But, besides these, there is another category of programs that have of this contradiction, a category which is what interests us here. I speak of so-called "extension programs" but it's popular does not have a beloved club! There are many, but in Italy in recent times, what has stood out is definitely Voyager - The Edge of Knowledge conducted from that copy of botched human face slaps by the name of Roberto Giacobbo .
We can describe this type of program with the following recipe: you take a problem (sometimes makes sense in theory but not always), it stuffs the viewer of rhetorical questions designed to elicit preliminary her curiosity, questions like "Is it possible that aliens have built the three pyramids of Giza?" or "Can we show you the true likeness of the monster of Loch Ness?" or even (this is hugely popular) "What will be the first countries to be affected by the disaster of 2012? "; Then you can start the "service" (oh my God I should not call it that) and that idiot of Jacob, that he and his delightful voice that tickles the killer instinct, pretending to go and interview some "expert" and instead to explain the phenomenon concerned, all the while continuing to reformulate those questions really cool, carefully seasoning the scenes with shots that are trying to be pathetically and sci-fi piece of music in the background taken from some horror movie or thriller, not to mention the sound effects of doors creaking, lightning thunder, voices from beyond the grave ... As I said before: a spectacle, exaggerating everything (indeed, in this case would be better talk about anything). At the end: of explanations, none have been given, the service ends with the question still open, there is a shred of investigation, no one dares even to think of an approach "scientific" (everything is done for alleged witnesses, or rumors, or read), anyone who makes an experiment, or, if they do, is patently rigged or not falsifiable. And the poor viewer who drinks all .
Now, Voyager aside, it is worth repeating to the unaware that these programs are not science, nor information. Not grow with the belief that what you feel in those services is true are just tricks, a sea of \u200b\u200blies, without any content based paraculaggini designed with the explicit goal to keep you glued to the screen, you can not receive anything. Those making money on your ingenuity, by earning audience, you throw up in their head the special effects from peanuts, you show filled with U.S. style, but do not give you the information you might want. So do not let them enrich at the expense of your culture will not follow so ill informed.
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| Roberto Giacobbo and advertises his bullshit again. |
Fortunately, however, this is not true for all extension programs. Dear friends, as in all stories, this one has its heroes. In view of the Italian science journalism can boast two real journalists, those with a capital G, which for years they do an impeccable job at the highest levels that have never sold these fashions or anti-cultural, nor fell below a certain standard. I'm talking about, obviously Piero and Alberto Angela .
There'll be saying the qualifications of these two journalists, or prizes and awards that can boast, because I really never finish more. What is important now is that they say are currently the only ones able to ensure a true disclosure in our country on different aspects of knowledge: the nature documentaries, archeology, medicine, technology, food science for years ... Piero Angela, and later his son Albert, we offer services of lords, conducted with scientific rigor that is required in these cases. Anyone
has attended at least once in an episode of SuperQuark or Ulysses - The pleasure of discovery or Northwest Passage not have been able to not see the difference: the services are always full of information precise and not general, dispensed with a clear and accessible to all, or popular, the effects of computer graphics are used to make visible what you are saying is not empty and show that vain to impress the viewer, the interviews provide the participation of real experts, who often participate in service not only with their theoretical advice, but also with their experimental experience; to make the concepts more accessible, in fact, they often resort to using simulation experiment (in the studio SuperQuark , for example, there are experiments with the models from the physical facts and commented Paco Lanciano) ...
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| Piero Angela in the study of SuperQuark . |
In short, the viewer at the end of the service has really learned something and had to make the effort that is truly minimal, since in that case the potential of television are fully exploited and in a fruitful manner. So, these are the true extension programs, those who deserve to be followed and that can really teach us that, let's face it, we are a people on average ignorantello. The Angels are still the last bastion of defense of true science journalism. That's why I would advise you to visit sites related to their programs, or read their publications. Just to citarvi an example: I was lucky enough to receive a gift from a dear friend last bestseller Alberto Angela, A day in ancient Rome, and believe me, many years of educational background and personal readings not I managed to accumulate information that is I found in that one book, and I've never felt more pleasure to inform me as on that occasion! And I learned things without effort and never forget!
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| Alberto Angela in the study of Ulysses - The pleasure of discovery . |
then do away with the shame of Voyager , mysteries and stuff like that. For it is now become public schools and how we are willing to take a book in hand, it becomes really important to choose good sources of education, and because, growing up, some will have the opportunity to learn not more, and because out there have a vested interest in us keep the goats, so we can be for them maneuverable and pliable puppet.
is becoming a kind of conditioned reflex to "want" not really be taught, however, because the effort of education costs! And not everyone is willing to pay the price.
I like to close with a quote from Alfonso Berardinelli:
"Democracy esoteric cultural loves. The public who wants to learn who prefers not teach '
