Fears that society is ‘dumbing down’ may be unfounded, according to a survey of statistics by the Policy Studies Institute.
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The idea that people only want news and culture in easily digestible soundbites has gained wide acceptance in recent months. But the latest issue of Cultural Trends presents figures which undermine this analysis. Over the past decade, it seems, popular appetite for news, arts and culture has grown rather than diminished.
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‘We have been reading a great deal about how the pressures of modern life have left many people with less free time and a lower attention span’ said Sara Selwood. ‘The evidence does not suggest, however, that the competing attention of rival media has led us to ‘dumb down’ as a society. Instead, many people are switching off Auntie Beeb and turning to Uncle Vanya.’
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During this period:
- the proportion of news and current affairs on BBC and ITV has actually increased. Only Channel 4 has broadcast a shrinking proportion.
- people are actually watching less television than they were in 1985. This fall has been particularly marked among children and 25-34 year olds.
- predictions of the demise of the book have been shown to be premature. Book buying habits have been unaffected by the advent of new media and reading is as popular as ever. Both 15-24 year olds and 35-54 year olds are now more likely to be regular borrowers from a public library than they were in 1991.
- national museums are attracting more visitors than they did in 1985.
- more people are going to the theatre, opera and ballet than in 1986 (excluding overseas tourists).
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The two new issues of Cultural Trends, edited by Sara Selwood, will be launched on Wednesday 26th March at The Groucho Club in Soho. Taking the theme Cultural Trends in the 90s, they contain an analysis of major trends since the quarterly statistical journal began publication, 25 issues ago. The two issues include an assessment of the art trade; museums and galleries; film, cinema and video; television and radio; the performing arts; music; books, libraries and reading; the built heritage and employment in the cultural sector.
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Although many aspects of the arts are more popular than they were a decade ago, the trend has not been mirrored in contemporary dance or live performance of jazz or classical music. Both have witnessed a fall in their audience since 1986 and the decline in attendance at jazz concerts has been particularly marked since 1990.
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Sara Selwood added: ‘The renewal of interest that we have seen in many aspects of arts and culture suggests that few people will be attracted by an appeal to the lowest common denominator. Instead, people are interested in the quality of their leisure time and are finding many more ways to spend it than sitting at home watching television. This is particularly true for children and young people, whose interest in reading, film and museums have continued to grow, in spite of the popular view that they find such activities boring.’
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| ‘Cultural Trends was the first publication in this country to bring together statistics about the arts and many people said that they could not be measured in this way. However, the journal has now reached its 25th issue and has demonstrated how important it is to have figures that show long term trends. The fact that Cultural Trends is genuinely independent gives its analysis credibility, particularly given the controversy over other national data sets such as the unemployment figures.’ |
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