In a half-century on the planet, I’ve seen two horror movies, and regretted them both. Every time Bambi’s mother gets shot, I shut my eyes. Whenever possible, I prefer not to invite violence, death, and gore into my dreams.
But like 15 million other Americans who watch the show “The Walking Dead,” I’m consumed with blood-splattered zombies these days. They wander around my consciousness, drooling blood and flesh, heaving legless torsos over piles of laundry. And unlike the mom in Time-Warner Cable’s brilliant Super Bowl ad, I don’t even try to expel them. How could I? They’re everywhere: kissing mortals in theaters, chasing down runners in 5Ks, hawking emergency procedures for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What they say on “The Walking Dead” is true: We’re all infected.
Comments
Almost all violent series since tv was invented have had moral story lines. Can't agree that watching all this violece is healthy or even entertaining.
Just ruined it for me Jenn. A little mindless entertainment I thought.
Interesting...some groups, say a religious group, talk of morality in terms of absolutes. Television - and I pretty much only watch The Walking Dead and sports...and I'm not proud to say TOSH.0 - as primary teacher of morality? Hmmm, I guess so because I don't like moral absolutes. Ayatolas talk in moral absolutes and some parents, who should be the moral compasses of kids, are crazy or they want to be friends with their kids or they abandon parental authority entirely. We used to read more...and reading remains underrated! And have you noticed - very little technology in The Walking Dead! Yahoo!
"a weekly exercise in values clarification... used to be common in public schools" -- citation, please.
It might be an opinion column, but declarations of fact need to be substantiated.
I'd really rather hear from Gareth Cook--can't remember the last time I saw something by him in the Globe.
No "citation" is needed, it is an OPINION column, just because YOU say declarations of fact need to be substantiated, doesn't make it so. Where is YOUR citation supporting YOUR assertion?
Just to make you all happy, happy: I am supporting her statement, since I am reaching antiquity and can attest (witness) that what she stated is true. Citations are wonderful, witnesses are even better. Ever notice in courts, that judges do not accept notes from anyone, they want to see the witnesses?
The sky is red, the moon is made out of green cheese, and assertions of fact in opinion columns don't need an substantiation. Just my opinion, of course.
I stopped watching television years ago (nothing worth watching). It still looks like I made the right choice.
There have been a number of excellent series produced in recent years. The secret is getting them on DVD or via Netflix and watching on your own schedule.
Walter White is a CHEMISTRY teacher. A physics teacher would not have fallen so.