How do you judge the aesthetics of a nation?? The appropriate philosophical response to that would entail delineation of the various connotations of art, common goodness, common weal, standards of beauty and so forth. But such a response would certainly be remiss if it failed to account for the TV watching habits and choices made by the populace as a whole. This especially important when evaluating the concurrent behaviors of same groups, incorporating their beliefs as surveyed in "reliable" polling, and analyzing their choices of foods and beverages.
In the last couple of weeks there have been some survey polls released that demonstrate just how skewed towards the weird the US population has become. In response to these polls, which clearly were forshadowed by intense focus group inquiries by the MSM, our national broadcast TV programming has moved in the direction to meet and sell more products to these folks. Likewise the release of new health data shows that the bulks of those commercials are more than successful, in that an ever growing(pun intended here) number of our nation's children and their parental units are eating more deep fried fast foods. Yes as we as a nation demonstrate that we believe in space aliens(80%) and in a god's intervention in creating storms to punish this country (48%) and so forth, the people seem to accept that it will not matter what they eat, that they will be protected and cared for through divine intervention rather than human based practical medical reality.
Last week the most popular TV programs included in the top ten two shows that deal with being deserted in a tropical paradise--Lost & Survivor, albeit the one with the higher rating includes the supernatural element. Half the top ten were procedural cop dramasCSI, CSI Miami (more about this lower), WAT(missing person FBI), Cold Case, and Law & Order followed in the top twenty by the other two L & O's and the other CSI and NCIS---technologically hunting down people seems to be very popular esp while a war is going on supposedly to hunt down our enemies. Maybe people need the TV versions because the hunts actually end successfully? Also in the top twenty shows are not one, not two, but yes three medical dramas, one house makeover, the monday NFL game, a psychic medium cop drama(add that to the cop list, too). a bunch of too rich and spoiled women bitches, and one lonely presidential trauma. The numbers of viewers were staggering; on average 50 million people per hour were watching the 6 broadcast channels, and another 80 million or so were watching cable each hour, most of which is either syndicated repeats of the same above shows, sports, all over improvement, comedy, and movies. At least one third of this country actively engaged in the very same sedentary activity at the same time across the country.
What does this say??well what does it mean?? On the positive side, people are intrigued by the puzzles presented in the cop shows, the dilemmas of the lost survivors, and the whims of beautiful bitches. Also on the plus side is the apparent failure of the programmers pursuit of bringing more supernatural angst dramas to the viewers--five new shows this season reveal that people just aren't buying that crap. However, these numbers also mean that the people don't care at all about intelligent literary thought, nor about rational understanding, or believability. The people seem to need to get a daily multi-hour fix of make believe reality, possibly because what they experience in the "real" world is becoming so hideous and insane all on its own.
CSI -Miami certainly describes what i mention above. The main character, horrendously acted in an almost MAD TV parody of himself, seems to rather have been cast as Superman or Batman. He cannot speak in more than five words all with very short syllables(yes the people seem to like that in their president as well), cannot delegate responsibility to anyone else, controls every facet of the procedures(do the viewers even begin to question situations when he is first to break in the door to clear a room, then is followed by fifteen SWAT officers?? or when he disarms bombs without calling bomb squads? ad nauseum), violates nearly every suspects civil rights and liberties, and still manages to not scare children with the most insipid of ruthlessly emoted compassion. The show is clearly watched for its T & A and the supporting cast of rich good looking people all of which further convinces me of the stupidity of our people and the reduction of aesthetics to sexual iconography and fetishization of the "high" life.
Although "quotidian" never really made it as a word on TV shows when it was found in the daily columns, blogs, and commentary of the literati, this year's new favorite term too often used in too many contexts--- schadenfreude--has now been heard on no less than seven broadcast network prime time productions.
You have discovered arachnoanarchy
otter clan omarian otter oasis
