Comments on: Death And Television http://www.chrisweigant.com/2015/04/16/death-and-television/ Reality-based political commentary Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:55:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Chris Weigant http://www.chrisweigant.com/2015/04/16/death-and-television/#comment-58852 Chris Weigant Mon, 20 Apr 2015 08:52:07 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=10570#comment-58852 Just wanted to throw this out there: http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/127426/ "The corpse is a new personality..." -CW Just wanted to throw this out there:

http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/127426/

"The corpse is a new personality..."

-CW

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2015/04/16/death-and-television/#comment-58799 Michale Fri, 17 Apr 2015 20:11:41 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=10570#comment-58799 <I>So the problem becomes: what is the motivation for showing the footage and who does it serve?</I> Exactly.. But I submit it's not really a problem making a determination.. All one has to do is look at the content to know the motivation for displaying it and who it serves... Michale So the problem becomes: what is the motivation for showing the footage and who does it serve?

Exactly..

But I submit it's not really a problem making a determination..

All one has to do is look at the content to know the motivation for displaying it and who it serves...

Michale

]]> By: Paula http://www.chrisweigant.com/2015/04/16/death-and-television/#comment-58796 Paula Fri, 17 Apr 2015 17:46:54 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=10570#comment-58796 Liz (1) - yep. I would suspect the same. Michale (3)"But showing death over and over for entertainment or incitement purposes?? Bad mojo...." Yep. But it <em>is</em> a thorny question. I remember the footage of a the guy from Pennsylvania (Bud Dwyer, Treasurer at the time - 1987) that shot himself during a live press conference. It was over in a split second and it was shocking. I have never forgotten it. To your point about Vietnam War footage -- I think one of the major lessons learned by people who promote war is to minimize real footage and live coverage of wars as much as possible because it creates anti-war sentiment. As you note, we see atrocities happening to everyone-except-Americans way more often. But during the Vietnam era we had real news. News operations were not profit-making entities, they were intended to serve the public interest. They also weren't owned by major corporations who profit from wars. So the problem becomes: what is the motivation for showing the footage and who does it serve? Liz (1) - yep. I would suspect the same.

Michale (3)"But showing death over and over for entertainment or incitement purposes?? Bad mojo...."

Yep.

But it is a thorny question.

I remember the footage of a the guy from Pennsylvania (Bud Dwyer, Treasurer at the time - 1987) that shot himself during a live press conference. It was over in a split second and it was shocking. I have never forgotten it.

To your point about Vietnam War footage -- I think one of the major lessons learned by people who promote war is to minimize real footage and live coverage of wars as much as possible because it creates anti-war sentiment. As you note, we see atrocities happening to everyone-except-Americans way more often.

But during the Vietnam era we had real news. News operations were not profit-making entities, they were intended to serve the public interest. They also weren't owned by major corporations who profit from wars.

So the problem becomes: what is the motivation for showing the footage and who does it serve?

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2015/04/16/death-and-television/#comment-58790 Michale Fri, 17 Apr 2015 10:46:28 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=10570#comment-58790 Liz, Well said... Michale Liz,

Well said...

Michale

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2015/04/16/death-and-television/#comment-58788 Michale Fri, 17 Apr 2015 09:45:26 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=10570#comment-58788 Like dsws, I have a problem with death for entertainment.. If showing a death or deaths for the purposes of initiating a needed change?? Well, that is fine... <B>They took all the footage off my T.V. Said it's too disturbing for you and me It'll just breed anger that's what the experts say If it was up to me I'd show it everyday Some say this country's just out looking for a fight Well, after 9/11 man I'd have to say that's right</B> -Darryl Worley, HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN But showing death over and over for entertainment or incitement purposes?? Bad mojo.... Michale Like dsws, I have a problem with death for entertainment..

If showing a death or deaths for the purposes of initiating a needed change?? Well, that is fine...

They took all the footage off my T.V.
Said it's too disturbing for you and me
It'll just breed anger that's what the experts say
If it was up to me I'd show it everyday
Some say this country's just out looking for a fight
Well, after 9/11 man I'd have to say that's right
-Darryl Worley, HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN

But showing death over and over for entertainment or incitement purposes??

Bad mojo....

Michale

]]> By: dsws http://www.chrisweigant.com/2015/04/16/death-and-television/#comment-58787 dsws Fri, 17 Apr 2015 05:19:08 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=10570#comment-58787 I disagree. There's a line between using graphic representations of fictional deaths for entertainment, and using someone's death for entertainment. And I know of no plausible way to take the -tainment out of US infotainment. I disagree. There's a line between using graphic representations of fictional deaths for entertainment, and using someone's death for entertainment. And I know of no plausible way to take the -tainment out of US infotainment.

]]> By: Elizabeth Miller http://www.chrisweigant.com/2015/04/16/death-and-television/#comment-58786 Elizabeth Miller Fri, 17 Apr 2015 05:04:41 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=10570#comment-58786 Chris, I didn't see the Jon Stewart commentary but, I'm guessing he was commenting on the fact that the clip in question ran again and again and again for days and days and days and it's still running, indubitably. I wouldn't really know if it's running ad nauseam, since I stopped watching CNN (the only US cable news network I ever did watch) because of the tiresome repetitive nature of whatever it is they're reporting. There's nothing inherently wrong with showing death on TV or in the movies or on any medium - it's the non-stop for days on end showing of it - and everything else - that is so brain-numbing. Could that have been what Stewart was lamenting? Chris,

I didn't see the Jon Stewart commentary but, I'm guessing he was commenting on the fact that the clip in question ran again and again and again for days and days and days and it's still running, indubitably.

I wouldn't really know if it's running ad nauseam, since I stopped watching CNN (the only US cable news network I ever did watch) because of the tiresome repetitive nature of whatever it is they're reporting.

There's nothing inherently wrong with showing death on TV or in the movies or on any medium - it's the non-stop for days on end showing of it - and everything else - that is so brain-numbing.

Could that have been what Stewart was lamenting?

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