August 26, 2004
The History Channel
I have a question--has the History Channel always been the War and Violence channel, or is this a recent development? Perhaps a result of post 9-11 supply and demand?
I like programs on war, guns, and terrorism as much as the next guy, but is this the fate of popular conceptions of history? Hero worship of the guys who firebombed Germany, nuked Japan, razed the South, and hunted down drug kingpins like dogs? Of course I grant that there is value in studying and recognizing these guys, but is this all we want to learn from history?
Is cable history, like cable news, just another form of adventure stories to keep the warrior's blood flowing fast?
I don't know how long it's been going on, but I think it has a lot to do with market demand. Most history buffs are men. Most male history buffs are interested in military history. Hence, the overabundance of war documentaries. They do play other things, though. One of my professors has done a series of shows on Arthurian legends and medieval times for them, but I don't know how often they get played.
Personally, I'd much rather see more cultural histories and ancient history than war stories. Those usually bore me.
It's not the War and Violence channel, it's the Hitler Channel.
World War II is the first large scale world event being filmed on video with sound. This is a generalisation.