I really enjoyed the new Star Trek movie. I saw it in the theater on a date with my wife, and loved it. Then I watched it at home with my wife this past weekend and still loved it. I’m not recommending that you watch it. Nor do I plan to explain some vast spiritual truth through an analogy of the Borg or anything else Trek-related. I’m just stating that I liked the movie.
Why did I like it? Yes, I enjoyed the writing, and the acting, and many other things. But the main reason I enjoyed it is because I remember watching Star Trek with my dad. I’ve probably seen every episode of Star Trek, Star Trek Next Generation, and M*A*S*H*. (I just put The Facts of Life in the title because it sounded like a good title. I like things in threes. We didn’t actually watch it.) But those shows have a special place in my heart because they are associated with my dad. And so I enjoy a new movie because of its connection to my childhood
But that made me wonder… In our current culture, what do families bond over? We can’t watch the same TV shows anymore. Most shows are not kid appropriate. Heck, we don’t even watch sports very much at my house because I don’t want my kids to see the commercials. So in 20 years, they won’t be able to turn these TV shows into movies, because these kids aren’t connected to them. The only channel I feel safe leaving on with the kids in the room is the Food Network. And I don’t see there ever being an Emeril movie. Hopefully.
Anyway, it’s just a thought I was having. I don’t know what to make of it. I don’t know if there is even a conversation to be had. But that’s what I was thinking about.
Thoughts?
Todd
its a good thought. You wouldn’t think it was a profound topic, but it has many branches. Like should we let our kids watch TV with what is put up there today. Take the Super Bowl. Something you want to watch and build community around and alot of commercials are not appropriate. I hear alot of people say that we can use things like that as teachable moments. So let them see the content and then explain why its inappropriate. I am much more of a control freak than that and would prefer to have the material i don’t want to see not be shown.
But i guess the world isn’t perfect and we have to do our jobs as parents and teach them in the ways they should go.
As for family bonding, we still do movie nights, but we make the movies appropriate. We don’t bond typically around TV shows, too risky. Well that is except American Idol, but that is full of land mines as well because of commercials and inappropriate material in the show itself (thanks goodness for DVRs). Lots of teaching going on after one of those shows!! But it also teaches them to dream!
One option that came to mind was doing special activities together. When I was in elementary school, my dad used to take me on daddy/daughter dates to the bowling alley (it was Pryor…not a lot to choose from). I LOVED those special times. We’d go to the Tastee Freeze, get a malt, and head to the bowling alley. So, now every time I bowl or drink a chocolate malt, I think of my dad.
I think most anything can become a special bonding time. It’s the fact that you’re making the time to bond that makes the difference.
At least there is music. Would I love the Beatles in the same way had my Dad not played Abbey Road countless times as I was growing up? I certainly would appreciate the music, but I can’t imagine that it would elicit the same emotional response.
(On another note, I look forward to taking my kids to ‘BAM!: The Movie’ starring Emeril. Different strokes, I guess)
My wife and I didnt have watch tv in our house for over a decade because we didnt want our kids exposed to all the mess out there. We would watch Veggie Tales, videos of older shows, and things tha tfamily might record and we previewed. I am proud of the fact that our kids will look back and remember that we actually spent family time together, back when my job allowed it. We played board games, read the Bible together, and listened to the radio together: Adventures in Odyssey and the like.Those were good times. The kids are older now and we watch tv together in the evenings when schedules allow, but my son still loves Monopoly!
My son is 19 now and he loves going to the movies. I am not that into movies but I go for him. I remember one time going to see Spider Man and I was all excited because I like adventure movies (X-Men my favorite) some how in line my son and his friend decide to see Spirit (a horse movie by Disney). I remember sitting in the theater thinking I can’t believe I am sitting here watching Spirit! What makes it good now is that we both remember it and laugh! ;0} One other great memory was reading Frank Peretti’s “The Oath” my son was in 5th grade and wanted to read it. He had a problem with reading at the time so I would read with him out loud. It took us several months to complete the book. The funny part is when I realized that the book took place like in 6 days and it was taking us months to read it! These are special times that we have together. Oh and the great part is he loves to read now and always has a book with him. I am a reader so this makes my heart rejoice. Sad part is he doesn’t want to read books with me any longer but we share the ones we think are good. God bless you Todd you will find a way to connect with your children.
Maybe we need to just turn off the TVs. The only reason the programming is the way it is, is because that’s what people want. TV shows are nothing more than vehicles for delivering advertising. The advertisers buy the ads because folks are watching the shows. If we quit watching the shows, they’ll quit buying the ads and the programming will change. At least dozens of times I’ve heard good people complaining about something they saw on TV–immorality, violence, materialism, etc–yet they keep on watching it. Something like 90% of Americans self-identify as Christian. suppose just half of them quit watching television. The result could be amazing.
Another sad testimony to the state of popular culture: the use of profanity on prime-time broadcast entertainment shows increased 70 percent from 2005 to 2010. Even bleeped or muted uses of the F-word went from 11 instances in 2005 to 276 instances in 2010.
(from a study by the Parents Television Council)
I remember watching The Dules of Hazzard as a little kid and jumping off the back of the couch every time the General Lee would jump. Now I’m watching them on DVD with my kids and they are doing pretty much the same. You’re right though, there are no clean family shows on TV anymore. Maybe we should turn off our TVs and do other things I don’t know.