Empirically speaking, as a 20-something Canadian, most of my peers don’t care about television news. That’s a shame, in my opinion. The television newscast, while an imperfect platform, offers an opportunity to learn and think about one’s community, country, and world in an increasingly rare distraction-free context.
I accredit my gravitation toward TV news over the past few years to our ever-overwhelming media landscape. Endless information sources pry for our attention — there’s simply too much to take in. As someone with creative goals, there’s only so much consumption I can fathom. …
In late June 2020, concert listings began to appear for shows at a brand new outdoor venue in Toronto, CityView Drive-In. The venue’s website promises “world class talent on a massive 238-foot stage with the Toronto skyline in the background.”
At first glance, the premise is terrific: at last, an opportunity to enjoy live music from the safety of our vehicles after months of physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic era.
Regrettably, the execution reeks of corporate greed. After fees, some tickets cost more than $90–that’s per person, not per carload.
For the sake of comparison, let’s examine the Allan Rayman concert that will be taking place on July 18. Last fall, I attended a club show by the genre-bending singer-songwriter for around $30. He was terrific, as always, and for $30, I had undoubtedly a far superior visual and social experience than a drive-in could be. …