Exit, Pursued by a Bing

New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 405, 28 March 1947, Page 9

Exit, Pursued by a Bing

S far as can be seen at the moment, this is the last Viewsreel paragraph that this commentator been fun for over two that the moment has over, perhaps the editor will write, It’s years, but now come to hand and public will excuse me if I follow the hackneyed example of countless retiring commentators and critics, and fire off a few broadsides of opinion. The thing that has struck me most is that more than 50 per cent. of any station’s broadcasting time must go to popular music; and all popular music, without significant exception, has one subject. This seems to me deplorable-not because it is sentimental (though it is) or tasteless (though it is), or commercial (though it is), but because it forces on large numbers of young people the choice between accepting false and silly standards of a very important matter, or revolting against the whole topic and putting it out of their minds; in either case not helping the development of their emotional lives. On the other hand, genuine popular music or latter-day folklore, as an anthropological exercise and for sheer entertainment, brings the regular listener great rewards. After two years’ listening what changes would I most like to see? Greater variety of recordings, whether by increased importations or by a bolder policy as regards repetition. It is very seldom, for instance, that I hear a humorous record which I have not heard many times before (this without exag: geration). More "live" talks and symposia -by the numerous people living. in each centre quite qualified to give them; talks on world and _ national affairs; arguments and discussions; critical commentaries on books, plays, recitals, and (why not?) broadcast materia} itself. Less fear of being thought intellectual; less talking down; more giving people a chance to appreciate difficult, unusual or subtle things. Finally, less music. I am convinced that programmes could be broader and more various, and that this would be a shrewd blow at that Maggot in the apple, the background listener, These things are dreams. Tiere are innumerable practical difficulties. But if the fear of the good were overcome; if it were realised that to stimulate and challenge the public is always more rewarding than to dope them (more rewarding and more fun; we need not be uplift merchants); if the radio were used for its true purpose, to awake and feed the public imagination-a lot of these difficulties could be overcome. Much of what is best in New Zealand culture has been won by cheerful and insolent attempting of the impossible. We could use new life.