Decline of the Roman Empire
In the later part of Roman decadence the vomitorium was introduced. When historians in 2100 want to point to a marker of American cultural decadence in the late empire period, they will no doubt cite the reality program, Hurl. As the New York Times wrote, “it revels in “hurl cams,” close-ups of young players power-gobbling tubs of macaroni and cheese, and instant replays of the losers puking.”
The line from “Leave it to Beaver” to “Hurl” is not a straight one, but we can see which direction it’s flowing. The lately departed, but much loved Texas philosopher, Rick Roderick once said,
Everything that was once lived–has moved away into a representation or an image.
The very notion that given the ultimate act of public humiliation–hurling, they should have people lining up to be contestants is beyond frightening for what it says about the state of our popular culture.
Bruce Springsteen called it right–”The Theater of Humiliation”.
Very nice, but the vomitorium was more of an emergency exit than a place to puke en masse.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vomitorium
Very nice, but the vomitorium was more of an emergency exit than a place to puke en masse.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vomitorium
Pond-I’ve read the wikipedia reference before. More than one historian has said that seats close to the vomitorium we’re well prized by those who drank too much at public events. You know, the first hurlers.
Pond-I’ve read the wikipedia reference before. More than one historian has said that seats close to the vomitorium we’re well prized by those who drank too much at public events. You know, the first hurlers.
This just makes me want mac and cheese.
This just makes me want mac and cheese.
The irony is that this reality show basically encapsulates my physical reaction to the whole of reality programming. I don’t need to eat 2 pounds of Mac and cheese, Paris, Nicole, and the rest of the shaved, buffed and artificially dramatic entourage of brass ring chasers “making a buck” in the new fame game are enough to activate my gag reflex. I watched more TV when there were only 4 channels to choose from. Can we please put the directors back in charge of the medium?
The irony is that this reality show basically encapsulates my physical reaction to the whole of reality programming. I don’t need to eat 2 pounds of Mac and cheese, Paris, Nicole, and the rest of the shaved, buffed and artificially dramatic entourage of brass ring chasers “making a buck” in the new fame game are enough to activate my gag reflex. I watched more TV when there were only 4 channels to choose from. Can we please put the directors back in charge of the medium?
I’m waiting for the diarrhea show before I finally declare America one hundred percent intellectually dead.
For now, we’re hovering at 99.5%.
I’m waiting for the diarrhea show before I finally declare America one hundred percent intellectually dead.
For now, we’re hovering at 99.5%.
Been to a Carl’s Jr. lately?
Been to a Carl’s Jr. lately?
Does anyone have recent data on viewership? I guess it’s probably just me, but I haven’t watched mainstream TV (apart from channel surfing past stuff on the way to an old movie, a documentary or interview show) in at least 15 years.
Dan, I think your “intellectual death” metric may apply to a dwindling share of the public and to a dwindling share of their actual attention.
I recommend Clay Shirky on this topic.
Does anyone have recent data on viewership? I guess it’s probably just me, but I haven’t watched mainstream TV (apart from channel surfing past stuff on the way to an old movie, a documentary or interview show) in at least 15 years.
Dan, I think your “intellectual death” metric may apply to a dwindling share of the public and to a dwindling share of their actual attention.
I recommend Clay Shirky on this topic.
Jon, have you looked at the address Clay Shirky gave at Web 2.0 this year?
It’s good food for thought and how Am. popular culture – esp. the rise of television and then blockbuster film then reality TV – was at best a necessary relief after the trauma of two world wars and at worse, a toxic, stultyfying beast that now has its own conglomerate, corporate internal power and momentum.
http://www.shirky.com/herecomeseverybody/2008/04/looking-for-the-mouse.html
Jon, have you looked at the address Clay Shirky gave at Web 2.0 this year?
It’s good food for thought and how Am. popular culture – esp. the rise of television and then blockbuster film then reality TV – was at best a necessary relief after the trauma of two world wars and at worse, a toxic, stultyfying beast that now has its own conglomerate, corporate internal power and momentum.
http://www.shirky.com/herecomeseverybody/2008/04/looking-for-the-mouse.html
House
Mad Men
Breaking Bad
Weeds
Mandrake
Entourage
The Wire (still hoping for a return)
Generation Kill
Brotherhood
Secret Diary of a Call Girl
Californication
Boston Legal
Rescue Me
South Park
Spooks
Coupling – get bittorrent
Always Sunny in Philly
Two and a Half Men
Meet The Press
This Week
Anthony Bourdain No Reservations
If you need to watch more TV than this each week, let me know. Next problem?
House
Mad Men
Breaking Bad
Weeds
Mandrake
Entourage
The Wire (still hoping for a return)
Generation Kill
Brotherhood
Secret Diary of a Call Girl
Californication
Boston Legal
Rescue Me
South Park
Spooks
Coupling – get bittorrent
Always Sunny in Philly
Two and a Half Men
Meet The Press
This Week
Anthony Bourdain No Reservations
If you need to watch more TV than this each week, let me know. Next problem?
I’m one of those who has disconnected from TV. When I’m on the road and staying in a hotel, I try to watch it, but unless there’s a rerun of the Godfather movies or something like that, I just cannot stand the shite that is on there as network and alt-work presentations. This crap is really pitched to the lowest common denominator of culture in America.
No wonder the Islamists hate our society if infinite channel American TV is the best we have to offer to the world. But perhaps they should have aimed the planes at different addresses…
I’m one of those who has disconnected from TV. When I’m on the road and staying in a hotel, I try to watch it, but unless there’s a rerun of the Godfather movies or something like that, I just cannot stand the shite that is on there as network and alt-work presentations. This crap is really pitched to the lowest common denominator of culture in America.
No wonder the Islamists hate our society if infinite channel American TV is the best we have to offer to the world. But perhaps they should have aimed the planes at different addresses…
Somehow I think Hurl may be a step up from the Roman notion of entertainment that included slaves “fighting” lions in the Coliseum.
Somehow I think Hurl may be a step up from the Roman notion of entertainment that included slaves “fighting” lions in the Coliseum.
Jon, don’t forget that a fair few reality TV hits in the US originated elsewhere (Japan, UK, etc – and there are quite a few more degrading things on the Japanese side of the reality TV coin). The US is not the only one in decline.
This is why I stick with Battlestar Galactica…
Jon, don’t forget that a fair few reality TV hits in the US originated elsewhere (Japan, UK, etc – and there are quite a few more degrading things on the Japanese side of the reality TV coin). The US is not the only one in decline.
This is why I stick with Battlestar Galactica…
Of course, the Japanese have the good sense to label their reality TV “game shows”: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25338239/
Speak of the devil:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25338239/
At least they have the good sense to label their humiliating reality TV shows “game shows”. Bit far removed from The Price is Right, though.
I liberated myself from TV a good 20 years or more ago, and it creates a gulf between me and the average enthusiastic viewer. When I say, “No, I don’t watch American Idol,” nearly everyone hears that as somewhere between, “Well, I missed part of last week’s episode, and I’m still atoning for it” to “Hell yes I watch American Idol!”
Morgan-I’m not saying there is not good TV. I’m just looking for cultural markers. Obviously the producers of Hurl made an economic decision to distinguish themselves from “Mad Men”. When we talk about the “lowest common denominator” it’s always good to know how low it actually is.
Well wait, my point is that today right now, today, there is more on TV that is good (total hours worth watching) than ever before in history. The percentage of stuff that’s bad, means nothing. It means zip. Zero.
This is the natural effect of 500 channels, everyone gets served exactly the crap they want – even you, even me. A broad market doesn’t mean 200 channels dedicated to quality programming that Morgan and Jon approve of. Notice I skipped largely the PBS clown music in y list. The difference between it and Hurl – isn’t much to me.
I refuse to watch reality TV with the same forcefulness that I refuse to watch liberal tripe.
As to the value of reality TV, I think it is a social signifier, about the value of TV itself. it means being on TV is a good thing – being willing to jump in front of the camera and say “look at me,” is a good thing. Why does everyone need to say, “but I can’t act, no please I’d be terrible.”
I prefer the obnoxious of society, that’s why I’m here to befuddle you.
If I said, Jon, I have a friend that might book you on “The Red Eye,” (a very hot show btw, tivo it) – you’d jump at the chance. Fact.
So let’s celebrate the fact that there is more good tv, than ever before – soon there wont even be “broadcast” and you wont even know whats out there you are missing.
I thought 30 Rock’s “MILF Island” reality TV idea was low and that was a joke. But Hurl is even lower. Impressive.
Sorry for the double post on the same link above by the way – didn’t think the first one made it through.
Is Hollywood and TV land still full of drugged out frat boys? Sure looks like it.
Morgan- When Andy Warhol said “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes”, the part that everyone forgot was that they would only be famous for 15 minutes and then condemned to return to anonymity. This is not necessarily healthy for them and for us. My guess is that your 500 channel universe will dissapear in 5 years. This stuff just doesn’t pass the “who cares” test.
“Befuddle” is not the correct word.
I’m a bit late commenting on this story but I think a big hurl is just what our country needs at this time. We’ve gotten so fat and so bloated with our self importance and our mass consumption, I see this as a possible symbolic if not actual turning point where finally our systems are saying “We can’t do this anymore. We’re ruining ourselves this way” and fortunately our bodies are telling us that we can’t handle the excess. We as a country have forgotten what “lean” is all about. Too many fat people, sitting on their couches, with a bag a chips in their hand watching a reality show about overeating and vomiting. Unfortunately these are the same people who don’t know many facts about what’s going on, but are pulling the levers in the voting booths and determining our collective fates. Ah Democracy.
I’m a bit late commenting on this story but I think a big hurl is just what our country needs at this time. We’ve gotten so fat and so bloated with our self importance and our mass consumption, I see this as a possible symbolic if not actual turning point where finally our systems are saying “We can’t do this anymore. We’re ruining ourselves this way” and fortunately our bodies are telling us that we can’t handle the excess. We as a country have forgotten what “lean” is all about. Too many fat people, sitting on their couches, with a bag a chips in their hand watching a reality show about overeating and vomiting. Unfortunately these are the same people who don’t know many facts about what’s going on, but are pulling the levers in the voting booths and determining our collective fates. Ah Democracy.
Some moron with a list forgot ‘King of Queens.’
Jesus
Pertaining to the essential reasoning behind this post, the tipping point actually occurred with hot dog eating contests. Glorified gluttony = The End.
Some moron with a list forgot ‘King of Queens.’
Jesus
Pertaining to the essential reasoning behind this post, the tipping point actually occurred with hot dog eating contests. Glorified gluttony = The End.
Sometimes when I read blogs, I imagine a laugh track. The ranters usually get the greatest number of claquers. Rightwing rants get double.
Sometimes when I read blogs, I imagine a laugh track. The ranters usually get the greatest number of claquers. Rightwing rants get double.
Morgan,
Was their a reason SECRET OF CALL GIRL and CALIFORNICATION were right in the center?
You know what the free market has done for digital porn, god bless America and the Internet….
Morgan,
Was their a reason SECRET OF CALL GIRL and CALIFORNICATION were right in the center?
You know what the free market has done for digital porn, god bless America and the Internet….
As long as the cost of production continues to drop, the amount of personalized entertainment (or porn) will increase for each person.
This means logically that we will see less and less that other people, not like us, see. It means other stuff too, but none of it makes me think there will be less stuff on TV you don’t like Jon.
BTW, I’m struggling to understand why people can’t handle going back to anonymity.
Ultimately, we’ll soon get a single “channel” for each person – we almost have it now, but when it happens then technically there wont need to be much broad-casted linearly.
As long as the cost of production continues to drop, the amount of personalized entertainment (or porn) will increase for each person.
This means logically that we will see less and less that other people, not like us, see. It means other stuff too, but none of it makes me think there will be less stuff on TV you don’t like Jon.
BTW, I’m struggling to understand why people can’t handle going back to anonymity.
Ultimately, we’ll soon get a single “channel” for each person – we almost have it now, but when it happens then technically there wont need to be much broad-casted linearly.
Morgan- The was the theory behing Intertainer. Not 500 hundred channels, but one channel. Your channel.
Morgan- The was the theory behing Intertainer. Not 500 hundred channels, but one channel. Your channel.
I know Jon, tell me when you want to do it again.
I know Jon, tell me when you want to do it again.
Pandora…
Pandora…
Total Hours > Percentage???
Not if you don’t have cable. Yes, many people (30-50% depending on your google) still use hangers and tinfoil to tune in to the boobtube.
And trust me. Nothing (worthwhile) is on…
‘cept LOST, heh.
Total Hours > Percentage???
Not if you don’t have cable. Yes, many people (30-50% depending on your google) still use hangers and tinfoil to tune in to the boobtube.
And trust me. Nothing (worthwhile) is on…
‘cept LOST, heh.