Chunks of plastic flew and animal cries echoed as members of the Young Socialists and Philosophy Club and Peace Anarchists for Justice and Liberty smashed televisions in celebration of International TV Turnoff Week.
Club members and passersby alike wrecked eight televisions that were gathered from repair shops and found in alleyways from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Scramble Light.
Jonathan Nolte, who coordinated the event and is involved with both student groups, explained the message the organizations are trying to convey.
"We'd like to improve the quality of life for everyone, and if that means telling people (they) shouldn't watch television because we care about you and would like to see you have a better life and not live your life based on what television tells you is right or wrong, then I'd like to go out and tell people that." The two groups decided to smash televisions to get the public's attention about this issue quickly and in a dramatic way. "It's a physical demonstration to catch attention," Nolte said. "People see it and go, 'Oh look, that's cool.' But the point of it is to explain why we're doing it." Deric Shannon, a member of Peace Anarchists for Justice and Liberty, believes that television is a tool used by capitalists to control the public. "Television is run by the rich," Shannon said. "What you see isn't what you or I would put on it. What you see is what a rich, white guy would put on. The power structure in the United States is controlled by rich, white males and they're the ones putting out the messages on the television. "So, socialists would be interested because they're against capitalism, and they want to create a society that is equal based on equal access to resources and the television tends to engender a capitalist society." "Television revolves around money," Nolte said. "The only things on television are what sells." Tenille Jones was one student who stopped by to see what all the fuss was about and ended up shooting ideas back and forth with Shannon about the significance of television in society. "Historically, television was the next phase in communication and technology," Jones said. Shannon countered, "If you look at it as a tool of communication, that's great, but the question is who has access to this tool of communication. It's not democratic. Not everyone has access to it." Nolte said the television-smashing event was the main occasion to celebrate TV Turnoff Week. Nolte also distributed fliers encouraging people to turn off their televisions this week.
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