Specyfika telewizyjnych transmisji uroczystości religijnych

Abstract

Televising, i. e. broadcasting live of a given event by means of new technologies, is the nature of television, the most fascinating possibility it possesses. In this respect it surpasses all other means of mass communication. A characteristic feature of televising is the unanimity of the real and screen time. Advanced technology of satellite transmission allows global range within time and space. Any transmission can therefore immediately become an important event on a global scale and integrate communities around messages it carries. It is for these reasons that employing transmissions of religious events to evangelise and spread the teaching of the Church or the Christian culture seem invaluable. Moreover, televising religious celebrations brings a new quality into the sphere of reception – an inclination to more careful listening, which is connected most of all with the directness of transmission. Awareness of the unanimity of the real and screen time makes many viewers more alert in following the event. This results from the fact that the transmission of the word takes place “here and now”; it is aimed both at those who are personally present at the event and those who participate indirectly, by means of television. Many recipients do not want to stay “outside” the transmission; they want to be its “part” and thus take the transmitted words as spoken directly to them. This, in turn, enhances activity, the feeling of “co-participation”, willingness to be involved in the dialogue, and helps build an atmosphere of particular unanimity. In case of papal transmissions these effects are strengthened by the importance of the event, significance of the message, quality of the transmission as well as the festive character of events. Televising religious celebrations thus has unqestionable advantages; it is spiritual “food” for the sick and those who cannot personally participate in them, sometimes it helps in advocating proper religious behaviour, makes people more sensitive to “sacrum” and, recently, it has increased the value of silence in religious experience and in everyday life. Nevertheless, the dangers it carries are manifold, too. An abundance of religious transmissions in mass media may be treated as absolution of personal participation in the liturgy and lead to routine religious behaviour. There is no unequivocal method to let positive results prevail. Common sense should be applied to the number of transmissions, careful preparation should be the duty of those who are in front of the cameras as well as those who stay in front of the screens and constant care should be ensured so that there remains an authentic wish to be part of a living community and to actively participate in the liturgy of the Church.