Sinetron unrealistic

Sinetron unrealistic

From Kompas

The economic crisis has caused great suffering to the community, especially the little people. It is deplorable that Indonesian television, in particular private TV stations, often airs entertainment programs like sinetron (teleseries) which focus on extravagant lifestyles far from the reality of the ongoing economic crisis. What is actually happening in this country?

A sinetron has three functions: to entertain, give hope for the future and impart wisdom. It is true that in this economically difficult situation the entertainment aspect must be preserved. However, can sinetron give hope and wisdom to audiences?

So far sinetron mostly show one life pattern only. A high- society figure lives in a big house, has a luxurious car and flirts with a beautiful woman. This pattern is kept up even though Indonesia is experiencing a drawn-out economic crisis.

In this time of crisis, who would lead a life like the protagonists in sinetron? At a time when prices of rice, cooking oil and other essential goods have doubled or tripled, why do sinetron still show rich people leaving restaurants with their meals barely touched? What lesson can we learn from such scenes?

Hardly any sinetron ever shows the constraints in life forced upon the little people. This has caused indifference among the well-to-do. At the same time the little people are induced to escape from reality to be enchanted by fake dreams offered by sinetron.

Why do sinetron not function to stimulate a culture in financial difficulty and encourage Indonesia people to reawaken?

MOTOYASU TANAKA

Yogyakarta