What effect does cheap, ever-available entertainment have on society?

I think it's the only way for a group of oligarchical interests to reliably control a Democracy. You're not going to have citizens getting together in neighborhoods to discuss politics, or to ask each other why they are in debt, why their families must work several jobs rather than one to meet the same or worse standard of living their parents enjoyed, why the country is deep in debt, etc., etc.

But you want to start a pool for NCAA basketball? You can bet all your friends and neighbors will know the intimate details of UNC's lineup, and what seed their opponents are when compared with those of a front-runner in another conference. You want to set up some fantasy football? You'll find all sorts of people who know all the up-and-comers, the good middling players and the point-producers on every team. Is this a new flavor of misdirected energy, or has it always been this way?

BURP

Well, not exactly zombies, but uninformed about things that actually affect people's lives. You can know all you want about celebs, sports, what have you, and it will most likely have no impact on your life. Start knowing more about your community, your politicians, your rights, and you might get motivated to help cause changes and make a difference. In my opinion, it promotes 'a culture of' ignorance and apathy.

and you may be right. But there's something in me ( recessive republican gene?) that wants to put the blame on the booboisie itself.

It's difficult for me to take in 15 minutes of undiluted essence of pop culture... whether infotainment, rap, Springer, whatever... without becoming supremely annoyed at the *consumers*.

Answer to your question: B. Its always been this way. ( I think the forms change)

I do think that people want to be entertained and enjoy that for its own sake, but I think pushing the really passive forms of entertainment as a means of control is something people who want to gain and consolidate power would be interested in. It seems to me a great tool for controlling people who are ostensibly free to vote whatever government they'd like into power.

Splashy visual entertainments demi- or wholly-funded by public funds (who here hasn't had a ballot measure for funding a stadium come up in the past 5 years?) are a great way to get the public mind distracted.

On the other hand, books are also cheap and ever-available. I hope at least a few are entertaining. And when the narrative novel became popular in Europe in the 1300's or so, it was decried as a corrupting influence. I'm not trying to shoot your argument down; I'm just saying that if TV were filled with documentaries and reasonable comedy/dramas instead of the Super Bowl, etc, and reality TV, we'd be in better shape. Or how about sports being about sportsmanship and not personalities?

One autumn a few years ago my car needed major repairs and was in the shop for a couple of weeks. During this time, I would take the bus home from work and then hike up to the elementary school to pick up my daughter in after-school care and together we would walk back to the house. I remember the weather just starting to turn a little nippy and the sky was getting a little dark when I went to pick her up. On the way home, house after house I could see the blue glow of "cheap, ever-available entertainment" through the front windows (and this was during the dinner hour). I remember thinking how surreal this scene was: the calm, quiet twilight of late autumn outside, juxtaposed with the garish, obnoxious glow of TeeVee inside. I wanted to shout, "Hey, you all come out here and enjoy the solitude! Put your thoughts in order without intrusive noise and distraction." But then, had they done that, I suppose it would no longer be calm and quiet.

uh, what was the question?

We are being entertained to death :(

zzzzzzzz...

to the games tonight. Three schools within 20-25 miles of my house play tonight including my son's school, NC State. They call it March madness but it seems to me to be the only normal thing going on in the country right now.

By Harlan Ellison. Not sure if it's still in print, but if you can find a copy it's a good read.


http://www.kliljedahl.net