By in large, I find that television is overwhelmingly horrible. Most content on TV is unoriginal, obnoxious, and riddled with so many commercials that I usually find myself angry at the inanimate box broadcasting these images into my brain. There are some noteworthy exceptions to the mindless drivel most people watch, (Two and a Half Men? Seriously a lot of people watch this show?) including shows like The Simpsons (seasons 1-11), Futurama, South Park, and The Office. I do not have some special bias towards animated television, it just kind of works out that way.
South Park in particular has found its way into my heart by becoming increasingly more topical as the show advanced. Given the freedom to create an episode in weeks, as opposed to months for shows like The Simpsons, South Park has been able to lampoon topics still fresh in minds of the informed public. I missed the first two episodes of season 12 over the past two weeks, but was delighted to discover that Comedy Central has decided to stream all 12 seasons of South Park through a fully sanctioned website, called South Park Studios. They do have some short advertisements that cannot be skipped over, but it's still leaps and bounds above watching it with TV commercials.
The second episode of season 12, entitled Britney's New Look, documents the tragic tale of Britney Spears and her continuing fall from grace. The show depicts Britney as a immature woman who no longer maintains the mental stability to make prudent decisions for her life or career. The paparazzi is illustrated, rightfully so, as bloodthirsty vultures who, along with the American public, conspire to drive Britney to suicide. The usually sardonic show illustrated what can only be called sympathy for Ms Spears, as Stan and Kyle tried to take Britney to the North Pole to escape the prying judgmental eyes of the media.
Now, let's all take a deep breath here before any body calls me the next Chris Crocker. I realize that Britney Spears made seemingly conscious decisions to shave her head, repeatedly flash her hooha, and stay in the paparazzi infested waters of LA, and for all these reasons its understandable that she has been shat on. However, like Stan and Kyle, I find myself thinking that maybe enough is enough. Maybe we should just leave Britney alone.
South Park made a valid point by explaining that it is not only the paparazzi and shows like ET and TMZ that are to blame for Britney's inevitable suicide. It is the average American who chuckles at her dazed VMA performance, or the average college girl who religiously reads Us Weekly or People who share the blame. Those pictures the paparazzi take are worth so much money because average semi-intelligent girls leave The Economist or The New York Times on the rack while they gobble up the celebrity gossip rags.
Instead of following what Britney does, let's take a look at what's happening in Iraq, or Tibet perhaps? Maybe you could do some research on indoor pollution? Or maybe, just maybe, you could find out who's running for president? That last one is a bit of a stretch, I know. I know it's not scandalous or fun to live vicariously through the life of kid starving in Africa, but I think they'd actually be happy to be the subject of a magazine or gossip show.
So maybe this post was in some way about Britney Spears. And maybe I'm just as guilty as everyone else.
1 comment:
Unfortunately, it's not only average college-aged semi-intelligent girls reading the Celebrity Worship Rags. It's also above average adult (white and blue collar; desperate housewives) intelligent women that read this garbage. The kind of woman that one can see has real dignity and grace. A classy woman. Well, she was. Until you saw her scoop up every CWR at the stand without even bothering to read the headlines (her subscription was delayed this month). Worst of all; no shame. These magazine are read openly on the train, left carelessly on coffee tables where toddlers discover that, yes, someone being too fat or too skinny is important and that sadly, he or she was not adopted by Angebrapitlie. And, no scheduled professional studio photo shoot at his/her birth "Can we get some more makeup on this baby? I'm using HDFilm here people!"
But, what is important is that these women are reinforcing their GKIQ (Gossip Knowledge Intelligence Quotient; it's an industry term). It's actually gotten to the point where it's a social necessity for many women to have this information so they won't feel ostracized among peers. Whether they consider themselves morally, physically, or intellectually superior to these "idols" or if they really do celebrate them for their looks, fame, fortune, or the "good they do" is not important. Either way, they need the information.
While I don't think women (or men)need to read the Financial Times or The Economist, or be "up on current events" at all to be functional, intelligent people, it would be great if they didn't support these things that are so caustic to human culture and civilization. At least pick up a Vogue. It's a beautiful magazine.
Also, love your flattering pics of Brit and Hil.
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