>it is only the knowledge that it is "faked" that allows
>many of us to take something suspiciously like
>pleasure in watching the physical calamities of others
But the viewership numbers for these disaster shows says something else. I
know its slightly OT, because here we're talking about movies and cinema,
but realize most of the people making and marketing this `reality' stuff
have film degrees and sometimes also work on the making and marketing of
the
features...
yup . . . good point . . . i should have been more aware
of the audience that actually [and to me unaccountably --
but that's just my problem] likes this stuff . . .
but i wonder whether the fact that the violence is already
over and that we are therefore helpless to do anything
about it serves the same or a similar distancing function . . .
if not, what is it that accounts for the enormous audience
for violence also more often than not acting to prevent
it when possible?? . . . most of us, seeing somebody fallen
and hurt on a snowy street, feel little inclination to walk
over and kick him
mike
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