Re:TV programming

Henry Stein wrote:

> Just as the fast, junk foods are designed for infantile
> appetites, the graphic sex and violence featured on
> television targets the immature leanings of a mass
> population. Vivid depiction leaves little to the
> imagination, whereas subtle suggestion requires more
> thinking and subtlety of feeling.

Did Adler actually write that "more thought and subtlely of feeling" are important? If so, is he right? Many people go through life without deep thought, without subtle feelings. There is nothing wrong with living life superficially and having definite (rather than subtle) feelings . . . is there?

> The emphasis of graphic sex suggests a widespread
> emotional emptiness

How incredible that Mr Stein can diagnose a moajority of society without a full assessment! The emphasis on graphic sex could suggest multiple causes. Wasn't Adler big on denying that symptoms determine causality?

> that is being desperately compensated for with erotic
> preoccupation.

Mr Stein posits that the "felt minus" and "felt plus" would be "emotional emptiness" (minus) and "erotic compensation" (plus). Sounds like Mr Stein has been reading as much of Freud's theoretical musings as Adler's?

> The prevalence of violence caters to the
> aggressive/destructive fantasies of many neurotically and
> criminally inclined viewers.

Didn't Adler consider "neurotic" to be a misguided term -- and redefined that notion with "discouragement" and/or those who "lack social interest"?

Of course, it could just be that people watch violent TV programs and movies because violence exists in the real world? People can see how others react to bad situations. It is the idea of the sublime as explored by philosophers (esp. Immanuel Kant) . . . why people are fascinated by frightening situations as they can breath a sigh of relief that the victim was not them.

Sincerely,

Jay H

Replies:

There are no replies to this message.

| Behavior OnLine Home Page | Disclaimer |

Copyright © 1996-2004 Behavior OnLine, Inc. All rights reserved.