I’ve never been a fan of TVs in bars.
The exception to the rule being “sports bars”. That, I can understand… even if I’m not a sports fan myself I get the point of TVs in a sports bar. It’s a place you gather with your friends to throw back some beers while watching a televised game… and all the shenanigans associated with that type of social engagement.
It’s for that very reason… social engagement… that I’m not a fan of TVs in bars or restaurants. These places were set up as centers for social engagement yet provide distractions and excuses not to be.
It almost seems like just about every bar/restaurant now has several TV screens hanging on the walls. And these are not sports bars. Sometimes I wonder if it is an official requirement for opening up such an establishment.
CITY OFFICIAL: So, what kind of drinking establishment is this going to be?
POTENTIAL BAR OWNER: It’s going to be a bar/restaurant… with a tropical motif. Spicy island dishes and exotic cocktails. We want to bring a sense of a tropical jungle paradise to our customers.
CITY OFFICIAL: I guess the TVs will be showing travel programs and nature documentaries. That sounds cool.
POTENTIAL BAR OWNER: TVs?
CITY OFFICIAL: Oh, yes… it’s a requirement for your liquor license.
POTENTIAL BAR OWNER: But there are no TVs in the jungle. The idea is to provide sanctuary… away from the civilization.
CITY OFFICIAL: No TV, no license. According to the square footage of your location you are required to hang at least 5 TVs on your walls which can be no less than forty inches in size. Thank you. Next!
At other times I’m convinced bar owners hang up TVs out of insecurity. Perhaps they don’t think their establishment has enough charm for folk to gather there to engage so they have to provide a distraction to pull them in.
Perhaps I’m just an old fuddy-duddy where social engagement is concerned. Perhaps it is no longer about social interaction through conversation while sharing the sensual experience of good food and drink anymore. Instead, now it’s about gathering with glazed over eyes trained on TV and smartphone screens. (Oh, don’t get me started on the whole smartphone thing.)
If art does in fact mirror our times and society is it any wonder the trend in zombie movies are at an all time high now?