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