In Bear V Shark by Chris Bachelder, it is set it the future where entertainment is amplified to such extremes as watching a bear and shark fight to see which will succeed. They are both mechanical and in an arena with enough water to allow the shark to swim, yet not enough water to inconvinience the bear. This event is such a grand spectacle in a Las Vegas type setting, with all the flashing lights and sparkle that defines that city today. People from everywhere gather to watch this battle, simply answer the question: Who would win?
While interpreting this story, it reminded me of those famous boxing matches that are so popular today. Two men, head to head against eachother, in some arena in a popular city like Las Vegas. People hand over serious amounts of cash (like money I could buy a car with) just to get a front row seat. And what are they watching exactly? Two men beat eachother up tll one is labeled a winner. I don't think boxing is "bad", because I do watch it with my family from time to time. It is a reason for us to all get together and enjoy it. However, the same gos for Bear V Shark. The people to want so badly to watch it consider it just another form on entertainment, or something to watch with the family. The Bear V Shark story, so seemingly outrageous and extreme, hits closer to home than we may think.
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Really? Pacquiao is a boxer for the Philippines. He pretty much rouses up nationalism for the country, and word goes round that he lowers the crime rate everytime there's a match. Not promoting violence, mind you.
ReplyDeleteI remembered another key of that podcast interview was that the battle was rigged anyway. Yes, maybe we do worship entertainment a bit too much today.
Going back to the sports reference about boxing, thinking about the Lakers: all the riots and taxi-burning for a team that won to entertain you? Kind of overkill for entertainment.