Given the violent content of many prime time dramas and sports, both of which are considered entertainment, it is apparent that many of us consider it entertaining when people hurt other people. What does that say about us?
That so many people find violence entertaining should be deeply disturbing. Instead, it’s so normal, it’s unremarkable. (And what does that say about us?)
1 comment
I think the answer is multi-faceted and even the violence considered entertaining is conditional to each person as far as, who they identify with, and how it relates to their personal experiences.
I believe our culture is losing its tolerance for vulnerability and seeing others in a vulnerable state through a lens of competition/comparison (ie: them vs. us mentality) creates the illusion that the viewer is not just watching, but part of the experience giving validation to their fluctuating feelings relative to their own vulnerabilities. This goes the same for reality television and other shame inducing programs.