I was quite shocked and disgusted a few days ago when, whilst watching the BBC Lifestyle channel, a commercial aired for a new show on BBC Knowledge titled "Louis Theroux: Law And Disorder In Johannesburg."
The advert focussed on what I'm sure is the most run-down and decrepit areas of Johannesburg (and Philadelphia, another victim) the BBC could find, topped with commentary along the lines of "a city where the streets are ruled by crime and residents live in constant fear." They posed the question of stringent security measures possibly leading to more crime.
Now I'm all for realism, hence me not posting photos of Sandton alone on this blog, but there's a point where such programs stop being informative and instead become propoganda. It instils unnecessary fear in the hearts of those without better knowledge and is in fact a lie, to be quite blatant. I know that if I weren't clued up on South Africa and Johannesburg in particular, that had I seen the commercial or program in question, my perception of Johannesburg would be one of having to don a bulletproof vest should I ever set foot in OR Tambo International airport...God forbid outside the airport doors!
To top it all off, Britain was recently shocked by recent violent crime statistics being released that state that more violent crime occurs in Britain than in South Africa. Now I, along with many, personally doubt that. I'm sure that South Africa most likely has more unreported crime. But regardless, Britain's statistics by global standards are also shocking. Shouldn't the BBC, therefore, start with exposing crime in their own back yard first?
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Thursday, August 13, 2009
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3 comments:
We need to accept that certain areas in South Africa are so crime ridden that they are no-go areas to anyone with an alternative. Surely we can not expect every program to be completely balanced? Is the Theroux piece an accurate depiction of a certain part of South Africa? Sadly it probably is.
Most naturally, but there's a difference between labelling focussing on crime-ridden areas and labelling an entire city as lawless, as the BBC have done.
For example, on Skyscrapercity, a South African user recently went to New York City. In a thread he purposely posted shots of only decrepit areas of the city, which included a lot of run-down buildings and graffiti. Now if I, for example, had never seen New York City and had seen that thread, my perception of New York would be a negative one, as I'd only have seen the small part of the city that he posted.
The BBC have every right to expose crime, but they need to do it in an intelligent manner. Johannesburg receives enough bad publicity as it is, but the continually portrayal of it as lawless and unsafe without so much as a hint of positive news is disturbing and irresponsible journalism in my opinion.
you are doing excellent working 'braving' it out here in the cold, icy mountains of Joburg-Promotion, and i commend your spirit of positivity, and realism. There's a great deal that we experience in this city, so much of it due to the workaholic nature of the 'bustling' jozi image & character we continually reproduce...so much so, that to even take a breath, and marvel at some of the beauty that our collective struggle for survival has accrued in this city, is to risk being dislodged from the crazy rhythm & momentum necessary for 'success' in this town. ..hence, regarding the high nature of crime in the city, and around it, the prevalence of a die-hard, cutthroat society, must ultimately entail a great rate as part of the established order because huge divides & exploitative gulfs between classes created desperation, 'opportunity', and suffering in all manners, for the general citizenry of the city. But not all is lost on jozi, and this is the major point of my own reflection. The country is struggling to come to grips with transforming itself, internally, in adopting its most celebrated, yet most unrealizable quality of social character, UBUNTU, particularly within the boundaries of city and suburban life. Yet, this quality remains the 'salvation', if you like, of Jozi, of the nation...Perhaps one way of approaching the goal, is to revolutionize our own perceptions and relationship with the 'ghastly' stats that are churned out ceaselessly, almost mercilessly, to us, and decide to negate their effect upon us, by opting for a different 'measuring rod' of our impressions and desires for a Jozi-perception.
This may smack of delusional thinking, but if the only approach thus far has been to be locked in battle of futile vitriol in a for or against polemical dialogue about the dangers of Jozi between fear-mongers & those unfortunately impressionable enough to feel downtrodden by the miserable existence of living in 'the most dangerous city in the world', or at least one of them.
As well as with this website, i've found another, by the Economist (surprise, surprise), a blog, that seeks to 'polish' the image of Jozi, and reveal some of the finer, simpler things that can be sampled and enjoyed, as we collectively re-imagine this city and our relationship to its evolving, transitioning character. i'd suggest readers of this blog sample it as well, www.theunexpected.co.za (The Unexpected Jozi). Hoorah to you again, fearless Sir, for this excellent and strong stance against the doom-mongers.
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