What Orwell couldn't have envisioned

On the way home this evening, I was stuck behind one of those mini vans that had a mini TV monitor in the backseat, turned on to "entertain" the children in the backseat. It's not that I wasn't aware that these things existed, but rarely am I sitting at a red light with Shrek on the screen in the car ahead of me... and for that, I'm grateful. But, the incident got me thinking about Orwellian concepts.

Now, let's not get confused with the current political climate and the accusations of totalitarianism (because well, it's always the party not in power that cries totalitarianism), but in thinking more about the notion of free thought, creativity, art, science and education in general. At the risk of becoming "one of those people" I have to say, I remember having to entertain myself in the car. And I know, some smug 30 something when I was a kid was probably writing an editorial about how my generation was spoiled--and there is no doubt, we were spoiled, but that isn't really what I'm talking about. This isn't entirely about privilege (though that is a factor, no doubt) as much as it is robbing the future generations of potential opportunities. (Since, you know, there is this current emphasis on what we are stealing from future generations, too.)

Shrek's a great movie--I thoroughly enjoyed it, but what happens when the next generation comes along... will they have the creative imagination to properly rob the fairytale narratives of their childhood to regurgitate for the kids of the next generation who have digital receivers implanted in their heads? What will the scientists, artists and other thought leaders of future generation be able to contribute with a head full of Jersey Shore.

See, we weren't fed TV in the car, we were forced to play and come up with hours of entertainment with a yard, 3 foot wide blue wading pool and some moon boots, and yet it's my generation responsible for Real Housewives, Top Model and various other "reality" television. I guess the best we can hope for is a renaissance?