1. Comparison between Roald Dahl’s “Television” and Blur’s “Coffee & TV”
By: Sunpyo Hong

2. Roald Dahl’s “Television”
The most important thing we've learned, So far as children are concerned, Is never, NEVER, NEVER let Them near your television set – Or better still, just don't install The idiotic thing at all. ……………

3. “Television” (Continued)
………….. 'How used they keep themselves contented Before this monster was invented?‘ Have you forgotten? Don't you know? We'll say it very loud and slow: THEY ... USED ... TO ... READ! They'd READ and READ, AND READ and READ, and then proceed To READ some more. ……………

4. “Television” (Continued)
………….. So please, oh please, we beg, we pray, Go throw your TV set away, And in its place you can install A lovely bookshelf on the wall. Then fill the shelves with lots of books, …………… And later, each and every kid Will love you more for what you did.

5. Coffee & TV
The Music Video Link

6. Coffee & TV (Part of Lyrics)
……….. Your ears are full, but you're empty holding out your heart to people who never really care how you are So give me coffee and TV Peacefully I've seen so much, I'm going blind And I'm brain-dead virtually Sociability is hard enough for me take me away from this big bad world and agree to marry me so we can start over again. ……….

7. Comparison
Both pieces shares the common idea that TV is not a positive invention for the humanity.
Roald Dahl’s poem points out that TV is absolutely harmful for a growing child. He calls it “idiotic” and “monstrous.”
Blur’s song describes TV, along with Coffee, as a hideaway for people who feel empty.

8. What is different?
The poem concludes that children should stay away from TV.
Roald Dahl suggets that children read books instead of watching TV. He thinks the kids will later feel grateful to their parents for keeping them away from TV when they were young.
Unlike the poem, the song accepts that our only way out of feeling emptiness and harshness of society is through Coffee and TV.
The song keeps playing the line “take me away from this big bad world and agree to marry me.” It keeps asking Coffee and TV to take oneself away from the reality for awhile.

9. THE END