Khaberni - In his article "The Qualitative Decline in the Modern TV Industry" in "The Independent" British newspaper, writer Lewis Shelton reviews how creative quality is sacrificed for so-called "second screen viewing".
Shelton believes that digital broadcasting giants, led by "Netflix", are now prioritizing audiences who browse social media while watching, resulting in productions that rely on repetitive dialogues and crude explanations of events.
Stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have highlighted this shift, revealing that filmmakers receive explicit advice to repeat the plot multiple times within the dialogue to accommodate viewers distracted by their phones.
While TV historically catered to the "passive" viewer (through summaries after commercial breaks), the author points out that current streaming works lack the elegance or intelligence that old series like The Simpsons had in handling these necessities.
Beyond repeating the plot, the article diagnoses a decline in narrative complexity. Shelton compares current hits like the series Succession to "golden age" dramas like The Wire and The Sopranos.
Despite praise for the quality of Succession, it is described as having clear and direct meanings, focusing primarily on being "transformable into memes" to satisfy internet trends, rather than the literary depth that distinguished its predecessors.
Furthermore, Shelton points to a decline in "presumed knowledge" among audiences; old comedy series like Cheers would reference classical music or foreign cinema without fear of alienating viewers.
Today, the industry gives utmost priority to "ease of access," fearing that any obscure hint might lead to losing subscribers.
In conclusion, the author argues that trying to appease the uninterested insults attentive viewers. While some modern works like Adolescence and The Pitt prove that smart television can still succeed, Shelton warns officials of the danger of continuing to dumb down the audience, to prevent this art form from descending into isolation and superficiality.
