The New Pacific Return to Paradise
The electronic media are rapidly shrinking the vast distances of the Pacific and making human isolation a thing of the past. Satellite television and video cassettes have reached the remotest Pacific island, but they are a mixed blessing. Films and videos are usually packaged in Los Angeles, Tokyo, or London and they are often aggressively commercial. To island leaders they are 'electronic imperialism', to the Chinese 'spiritual pollution'. There is a danger that the people of the Pacific will imitate what they see on TV and abandon their own traditional way of doing things, but today there is cause for optimism. The Japanese have shown that foreign ideas may be imported without losing national identity and others are determined to follow their lead. Throughout the islands of the South Pacific, the people are rallying to the defence of their language and culture.
An eight part series looking at the political and technological development of the Pacific and its traditions, culture, pastimes, and beliefs.
Primary Title
- The New Pacific
Episode Title
- Return to Paradise
Date Broadcast
- Saturday 11 January 1986
Start Time
- 19 : 30
Finish Time
- 20 : 30
Duration
- 60:00
Episode
- 4
Channel
- TV2
Broadcaster
- Television New Zealand
Owning Organisation
- Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand
Programme Description
- An eight part series looking at the political and technological development of the Pacific and its traditions, culture, pastimes, and beliefs.
Episode Description
- The electronic media are rapidly shrinking the vast distances of the Pacific and making human isolation a thing of the past. Satellite television and video cassettes have reached the remotest Pacific island, but they are a mixed blessing. Films and videos are usually packaged in Los Angeles, Tokyo, or London and they are often aggressively commercial. To island leaders they are 'electronic imperialism', to the Chinese 'spiritual pollution'. There is a danger that the people of the Pacific will imitate what they see on TV and abandon their own traditional way of doing things, but today there is cause for optimism. The Japanese have shown that foreign ideas may be imported without losing national identity and others are determined to follow their lead. Throughout the islands of the South Pacific, the people are rallying to the defence of their language and culture.
Classification
- PGR
Owning Collection
- Chapman Archive
Broadcast Platform
- Television
Languages
- English
Captions
Live Broadcast
- No
Rights Statement
- Made for the University of Auckland's educational use as permitted by the Screenrights Licensing Agreement.
Subjects
- Pacific Area--Social conditions
- Pacific Area--Civilization
Contributors
- Michael MacIntyre (Producer)
- Michael MacIntyre (Director)
- Michael MacIntyre (Writer)
- Peter France (Narrator)
- Peter France (Writer)
- British Broadcasting Corporation (Production Unit)
Subjects
- Pacific Area--Social conditions
- Pacific Area--Civilization