Entertaining Violence

Jan 13, 2015 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
It would be difficult to determine which is the greater preference – the abhorrence of violence in the streets, or enjoyment of the entertainment it provides in our homes, on our TV screens, as a matter of course every day and night. It is as if TV would not be worth looking at without a measure of violent entertainment. This of course excludes religious programmes, too many of whom, on the other hand, are founded on an island isolated from the brutal challenges of daily life. In a wry sense, therefore, one cannot seek refuge from violence by recourse to religion – a contestable viewpoint understandably.
So it is with some concern that those of us who may have crossed over the age of virile posturings, and forgone the indulgence of a purported masculinity, view the increasing bombardment of images of violence in other lands, that is apart from the unavoidable news stories, and interpret the mimicry inherent in the behaviour of local perpetrators, including those who are employed to serve (us) and protect (themselves).
So adult (and young) viewers who live with the limited presentations of the domestic TV service are befuddled by the peremptory and unexplained deletion of programmes that contain analyses, commentaries (pro and con) reasoned and unreasonable argumentations, about international issues which may have an impact on domestic perspectives of individuals and communities; and even politicians. Discourses from which lessons can be learnt, without the bias of party inputs.
It was this sort of programming from which the writer and colleagues found totally deleted, with two minority presentations – in Rachel Maddow and the Rev. Sharpton from – MSNBC – unceremoniously excluded. In its place can be found programming that focuses on violence and police investigations – ID, on top of NCIS, Law and Order, Scorpion and many more regular films repetitively emphasising that murder and intrigue are a staple diet in this deprived (if not depraved) community, as they are in say ‘developed’ USA, where there is greater selectivity, including those which can lead to more positive education.
We therefore have perpetrators and victims programmed subconsciously to their roles in preparation for the eventual collision. And it is not as if those employed to investigate seemed to have benefitted from the mass of portrayals, despite the resort to unmatched technological intelligence.
One wonders at the unrestrained embrace of shows of violence and insensitivity of the decision-makers involved.
This is an appeal for them to reflect on their corporate responsibility to entertain the population in general and more particularly the youths of this country with more positive images to emulate, and to remember that we already live daily in a real world of violence.
E.B. John

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Entertaining Violence

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