RICHARD R. WILK

RICHARD R. WILK: “Television and the Imaginary in Belize”

Richard R. Wilk in his article, ‘Television and the Imaginary in Belize’ speaks about the affects that TV has had on the Belizean people. Wilk argues that two changes have taken place. First the way in which people talk about the T.V debate has changed and also with access to direct satellite T.V the Belizean’s perception of time has changed.

I have spent time in Belize in 2003 and while I was there I saw only one or two TV’s those of which hardly worked. In the last few years however, technology has advanced and Belize now has full access to many TV programs that we have in the states. They are no longer behind us and are up to date on the news, worldly events and entertainment. Many of the television programs that run in Belize now are primarily fed legally and illegally from U.S satellites. The programs introduce the Belizeans to the concept of self-perception, “with an objectified ‘other,’ the problem of defining the self has a new dimension”. TV has introduced them to new concepts and ideas and people are not restricted to the Belizean ways or the Belizean traditions.

Wilk talks about a common language that has formed between the Belizean people as they discuss issues from news to entertainment. Before satellite TV, images and video of foreign cultures were received to the people indirectly, “with the colonial elite acting as selective agents, the gatekeepers to the outside world.” There is no longer that divide and everyone is able to access the same information. This also helps political opinions and those that are one-sided are seeing that they actually share many commonalities with those on the other side through the interactions they see on TV. “In Belize since the advent of television, people talk about ‘culture’ constantly, in ways that were not possible before.”

Another topic that was discussed in this article is the idea of time. “New notions of the relationship between distance and time have come into play.” The elite used to be the ones that traveled and waltzed around in their new clothing listening to the hippest music. “The local elite are no longer the only ones to emulate or envy, for they are no longer the source of new things”, all Belizeans have access to the up and coming styles of NYC. Time no longer separates Belize from other places in the world. With instant access to information Belize is only separated now by their culture and distance.