The Origin of "A Well-Informed Hundred Million = Ichioku-Sou-Hakuchika (一億総博知化)": The Theory of Media Cultural Policy of Kondo Haruo (近藤春雄)

Abstract

I will discuss about the meanings of the conception "Ichioku-Sou-Hakuchika (一億総博知化)" in this essay. This conception is the paraphrase of 一億総白痴化 which has the same pronounce but the converse meaning. Both phrases are the expression about the evaluation of TV. The former has positive nuance. It means to convey knowledge or culture and to enlighten to a hundred million people. I will call positive one a well informed hundred million. Conversely, the latter has negative nuance. It means that to view TV make a hundred million people foolish and stupid. It is more famous phrase as an evaluation of TV. However, the former 一億総博知化 supported symbolic Japanese consciousness of post-war: Ichioku-souchuryu 一億総中流 (the consciousness that almost all people belong to middle-class). Firstly, I will disclose what is the origin of symbolic Japanese consciousness 一億総中流. Secondly, I will consider what the meanings of 一億総博知化 is in the present society.