https://www.austinchronicle.com/columns/2001-04-20/81474/

Public Notice

By Kate X Messer, April 20, 2001, Columns

TV Funhouse

We had to ask ourselves if we were up for the challenge. Could we last an entire week without living vicariously through someone else? Could we endure seven straight days and, more importantly, nights, without the direct satellite link-up to the global village, without the conveniently packaged, 60-minute life and death drama, the edgy intrigue ... the station breaks?

Can we do it? Can you? This week, Sunday-Saturday, April 22-28 is National TV Turn Off Week, and, more than a statement against the festering, hegemonic multi-nat conglom that is modern American media/television, it is an exercise in discipline.

TV is such an aggressive-passive medium. For when viewers truly slip into the Zone -- that comfy, drooly blur one experiences just as one's ass cheeks begin to carve distinct impressions onto sofa/Laz-E-Boy -- the mayhem begins. It should be illegal to manipulate humans when they are in states of slackjawed stupor, but in our country, it seems to be a mandate.

We're still not sure if we've answered our own question: Can we live without TV for one week? Can we survive one Survivor-free Thursday? Can we live without knowing whether campus' sexiest couple Lauren Davis and Harry Senate gets back together? (Jeeez, no wonder the network is called "Fox.") Can we last one week without blowing kisses to that cutie pie Queen's English-spouting host of Junkyard Wars? And more to the point, how are we going to convince the roomie and the pup to do likewise? Eeeeeeee. It's rather embarrassing, this coming to grips with how much "downtime" and family time is spent toob-side. Dang!

Locally, the swinging baristas down at Mojo's Daily Grind, 2714 Guadalupe, offer some inspiration. This Saturday, April 21, 2pm, the coffee haus will host its third-annual TV Smash with the notion of taking that "Turn Off Your TV" deal one step further. Come on down with your telly of choice and give it a good whack with a sledgehammer. Just whale on it. For those who can't quite rip themselves from the lulling womb of passivity, there will be plenty to entertain: They promise Catholic schoolgirls, dancing puppets, sledgehammers, breaking glass, affordable locally brewed beer, live "Destruction Theme Music," and "more action than the Playboy channel could dream of." And to liberally paraphrase their Web site further: "No more vicarious sex and adventure. No more accepting someone else's construct of reality; let's live." www.adbusters.org/campaigns/tvturnoff/ and www.mojosdailygrind.com or 477-6656.

It's a Drag, Drag, Drag --

Last week we told you about Austin N.O.W. (National Organization for Women)'s plan to present a li'l crossdressing Pro Choice Performance Art & Press Conference at the Texas state Capitol Building this Thursday. Well, it's been postponed. Seems someone got a run in his stocking or something. Anyway, N.O.W., in conjunction with TARAL, UT Voices for Choice, Action for Abortion Rights, and Planned Parenthood, will hold counter-demonstrations all this week at UT, as well as a series of other planned events. Call fo mo info. 462-1661.

Loud & Clear

But hey, despite the cancellation of the above, there's plenty going on today, Thursday, April 19, regarding all this UT free speech fracas. The UT Coalition to Protest Campus Speech Policies has formed in response to UT's rather random handling of the incident in February. See, UT admin allowed a national anti-abortion group access to what is usually considered a "free-speech zone" on campus. The group was allowed to erect 17-foot high displays of purported abort fetuses, yet sent in the cops when students, faculty, and staff protested the exhibit. This new coalition is not thrilled with the university administration's inconsistent and unclear policies used to silence. The group presents Amplified Voices at UT's Flawn Academic Center Auditorium at 6pm. The public is invited/encouraged to attend. 587-3952 or 471-7044 or 374-0610.

P. Diddy Notice

Lest ye forget: It's almost time for the Chronicle's annual kids' summer fun guide, so e-mail your kid-centered day camps, events, and activities to [email protected] (or fax 458-6910, attn: Kids' Summer Fun) by noon Friday, April 20 (that's tomorrow), for inclusion.Kill Yr Television?