To contnue, this is part 3 of the Filipino Librarian in Media series. Part 1 is here, where it all began. Part 2 is where I replied to her query on research on the perception of Filipinos on librarians
Portrayals of Librarians in Filipino TV and Media
The
stereotype of how boring librarians are prevents representation, good
or not, in TV and Media. I mean, who would be interested to know the
life of a librarian?
But, we do lead interesting lives!
Prof. Igor
Cabbab is a revered yoyo master. Mary Ann Jimenez-Salvador, married to
the musician and avantgarde artist Lirio Salvador, is an art museum
owner in Cavite. Melchor Cichon is a librarian and poet who writes in
his mother tongue. But no one looks at them closely. Maybe, because,
librarians, especially the work we do is concerned with culture, art,
setting up knowledge systems and tech infrastructures, and community
development. Who would be interested to put all those things on
mainstream TV?
In this day and age of ALDUB;
where a politician gets votes, and wins (!) because of a long time
running afternoon TV; and formulaic telenovelas, who would chose to watch
a show for geeks and nerds? I find myself stereotyping others.
But, aren't librarians part of this community of geeks and nerds?
Thinking, creativity, critical thinking. Nobody wants them on national mainstream TV.
