Disposable Entertainment

We live in a disposable world. Nothing last forever has taken on new meaning in our fast paced, fickle minded social lives.

In this “whatever you like” culture we live in today little is treasured or kept for future consideration. Instead, we are quickly oversaturated with one specific genre of entertainment and then, just as quickly as it became popular it is replaced by the next new thing. We flock to the theaters to watch movies about robots that take over the city and cartoons made for children. We buy into the pre-release media hype and wait in line for tickets to watch a film we will just as quickly forget and replace with the next sequel much to the delight of movie executive everywhere.

Often times, this next “new thing” is just another adaptation of an older movie such as in the case of the “remake” or the “reality show” that is held in the boardroom instead of the jungle or island, with all of the same backbiting and treachery. This is really the crux of what is wrong with us. We, specifically my generation, take so much satisfaction in seeing others fail. We “root” for or against people we will never see, know on any deep level or care to know about.

I can always tell when there is a highly rated television show on by the lack of face book traffic. What is it tonight? “Last Comic Standing”? “Biggest Loser”? In any event what is most disappointing about these shows, or more precisely the viewers of these shows, is that people are taken in and believe on some level they are watching “reality”. Reality shows with dialog writers. The fact we let people manipulate ourselves into buying into such foolery is disturbing.

We live in world of speedy downloads, short term gratification and vapid entertainment. We download music, decide if we like it after a minute or so and quickly delete it. We prefer to make snap judgments rather than considering and really truly letting the music set with us before we make such hasty judgments.

Entertainment, or what passes for entertainment, is like fast food. It’s quick and easy, isn’t particularly good for you and often leaves you with an upset feeling after you’ve consumed it. Yet, much like fast food, we still keep going back to it like some addict waiting for the next staged shocking moment on television.

Of course, the internet is the worst source of such fodder. Perez Hilton and TMZ get more traffic than CNN and The Huffington Post. People pay close attention to what Paris is (or is not) wearing than follow the news of the oil crisis in the Gulf.

Everything is for the moment even in our athletic interests. The once heralded, savior one day is the goat the next day. He or she may be fortunate to redeem himself or herself or be cast aside for the next million dollar hero.

It’s interesting that in a culture that presses for fame and to be known, fame is so short lived. With a glut of wannabe’s and flavors of the week, the stage of shooting stars is often crowded and rarely remembered. Disagree? Then answer these simple questions, without googling the answers. Who won Survivor 3? Name one of the cast members from the 8th season of the Real World. Who won on the show “My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss“? Unless you have a remarkable memory or have consumed your life with memorizing such obscure filler then you’re probably stumped like me.

Our ADHD-like attitude towards entertainment, sports (well aren’t sports really just entertainment also) and news does resemble life in some ways. People come into our lives bringing us joy and light. They touch our lives and make us whole. Then, just as seamlessly they exit, leaving only the imprint in our hearts and minds. They often leave without warning and without letting us appreciate just what they mean to us. Then, we‘re forced to find some other source of happiness and comfort. Perhaps, reality television has it right after all. Everything is only temporary.