In Entertainment Weekly, in a post titled “You Are What You Watch,” writer Gretchen Hansen related an anecdote: She’d been sitting on a train next to a man watching a slasher film, who said he loved that film, that it was “the best.” But what she imagined she heard him say was “you’re next, blondie.”
Even though she realized she had an overactive imagination, she also wondered if maybe she was onto something. She challenged readers to “tell me you’ve never made snap judgment about someone based on their favorite movies or television show.”
I love sci-fi stuff, from Quantum Leap to the X-files, and of course the Buffy/vampire oeuvre. I love Heroes and Lost and 24. But does this mean I’m a geek (ok, maybe I am), or occult obsessed (um, no) or that I aspire to be a member of CTU (not really–that whole “setting up a perimeter” thing gives me heartburn, and even CTU’s desk jockeys are terrorist targets)? And what about the truly dreadful “I Love New York 2″? Does watching something so vapid and insulting mean that I’m a dreadful person?
Can we just watch something, or does it have to have some sort of greater meaning about our spiritual or moral makeup? Are we what we watch, no matter how random and unplanned? Or are we what we intend and plan to watch? Or doesn’t it have an impact at all?
And on a larger level, does what’s popular in the culture reveal something about what our society is becoming? Let us know what you think–and what your entertainment tastes say about you–in the comments box below.
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posted October 27, 2007 at 7:03 am
I like to watch the HGTV channel because I enjoy doing home improvement projects. So that says something about me and what kind of a person I am. Can’t watch anything on television that is graphic, in nature, it makes me feel depressed, certainly not energetic or hopeful. I like a mystery story such as the Miss Marple series on PBS, so once in awhile I look for a good mystery but the crime shows are horrible after a few minutes, I turn them off. I like Monk because it is more light hearted. I do wonder if people who watch slasher films are violent or is that an outlet for the anger that they feel inside.
posted October 27, 2007 at 11:37 am
Slasher films could be called the most moral of all violent films. In all of them (well a fair number anyway) the opening involves two unmarried late teens engaging in sexual intercourse of some kind. These two are usually the first two victims to die. Nightmare on Elm Street one temprarily survives only to die after he was arrested on suspicion for the first other’s death. The only one who survives is a virgin. It’s an old standard in the old slasher movies that sex = death and virginity = life. Could that have been a deliberate message to teens? I like em cuz they scare me and I ALWAYS root for the good guys to win.
posted October 28, 2007 at 9:17 am
I do not believe that you are what you watch. I love to watch all types of movies, comedies, action, horror, thrillers, romance, and many more. So, what would that say about me? I basically like any kind of movie with laughs, or lots of action. I don’t watch slasher movies to see all the blood and guts, I watch them for the comedy and because i’m somewhat of a movie maker myself. I love to watch them to see how far our technology and special effects make-up have come, and to see how much more they can do. I also LOVE to be scared and jump out of my skin in movies. So, since I love such a wide variety of movies, what does this say about me? Maybe that I have a scatterbrain, which i guess is sorta true. However, Thriller/slasher/horror movies are one of my favorite kinds of movies, and I could never murder anyone, unless my or someone I love’s life was at risk. I do have to admit that I can be a bit violent when someone really upsets me, but I am no killer.
posted October 28, 2007 at 10:51 am
“Garbage In, Garbage Out” should maybe be re-written as “Garbage In, Compost Out ” these days.
I like sci-fi, home reno and CSI that makes me a forensic mechanic on the Enterprise? No it means I have lots of interests.
Lena
posted October 28, 2007 at 4:34 pm
I think it’s worth mentioning that subject matter isn’t the only, or perhaps even the primary, thing that attracts people to particular kinds of entertainment. Clever dialogue, good characterization, the presence of an actor or actress you particularly like, admiration for special effects done well, ironic enjoyment of special effects done badly, wanting a good scare, wanting to laugh – these might lead you to watch a film or show despite being indifferent to the show’s actual topic.
posted October 29, 2007 at 10:33 am
that’s exactly what i mean
posted October 29, 2007 at 6:29 pm
I believe that, without knowing the reasons all the reasons why a person enjoys a particular program, it’s about as relevant to determinign their overall personality as their choice of socks.
The single most intelligent man I have ever met in my life, a member of Mensa who would write entire computer programs in his head, had a bizarre fixation with the cartoon, “Ed, Edd and Eddie.” (Why, you ask? I have no idea, but my 10-year old loves it, too.)
My mother, who has spent most of her life as a computer analyst and is an incredibly sharp-witted, mathematical, logical person, just adores “Survivor.” I can’t figure that one out, either.
In both cases, there must be some underlying reason I can’t see or don’t understand.
The only one I can speak for comes from my own experience. I spent several years in healthcare, both in a hospital setting and in home care, ending that career with Hospice nursing. Without getting into too many of the details, let’s say I’ve seen enough blood, death, and gore that I don’t feel I need to see another horror movie, ever. I am not a violent person. I do not play video games. I don’t even like violent music. However, I love “CSI.” This absolutely baffles most of my friends.
When asked, I explained that I look at “CSI” as Science Fiction. It’s a parallel world, much like our own, but where the good guys always catch the bad guys and the rules are very clear cut. It’s wonderful.
“Besides,” I continued, “I have a thing for Grissam. He’s intelligent, he’s quirky, and he collects bugs. I dig that.”
posted October 29, 2007 at 9:12 pm
I don’t believe that you are what you watch! I love sitcoms, sci-fi, horror, comedies. I don’t like romance, or porn (soft or otherwise). I am a woman who’s raised a son alone to be a wonderful adult male who is strong in the church, and has good morals. As I keep telling a friend of mine who is always critiquing movies and tv shows: I watch TV to be entertained, not to think. Although there are some documentaries that I find quite interesting (education value??) So that train of thought to me is just garbage. Sorry, I also call it as I see it! ;-D
posted October 30, 2007 at 1:21 pm
True, “you are what you watch” can be applied here, but let’s take it slowly. I watch all kinds of shows, mostly comedies, such as “How I Met Your Mother” and “Two and A Half Men” and “The Simpsons”, but my favorite drama program is “Smallville”. A recent atricle here on “Idol Chatter” spoke about the themes of redemption and resurrection in that show, something which is sadly lacking in all the other junk out there. What in the world do people see in “American Idol” or “Lost” or “CSI”–shows which to me are not even mildly entertaining? Look at your TV listings on any given evening and see which shows show any potential for value. The first two I mentioned above are merely exploitation–nobody cares! These poor folks are put on public display and made to show their inadequacies to the whole world. At least there’s still football (which, as George Will points out, involves two of America’s obsessions: violence and committee meetings) and baseball, which is, to me, a great way to spend a summer evening. Of course, there is hope: a lot of good cable channels have excellent programs if we would just widen our horizons a little. And the Monday night CBS comedies help me get through an ever-stressful day. Try them–change your viewing habits. The funniest (and, in my mind, the most brilliant) show on TV is still “The Simpsons”.
posted October 30, 2007 at 3:42 pm
I love nothing better than a good movie from the 40′s or 50′s. I appreciate the acting, the way the movie is put together. I like musicals, mysteries, dramas, stories of the possibilities of change in humans–from good to noble, from oppressed to saved. I love trying to figure out ‘whodunnit’. Some of my fondest memories are going to the movies with my grandmother, of going to matinees on Saturday afternoons and seeing one full-length movie, one serial movie, the cartoons and the sing-a-longs (with the white bouncing ball). While there are many movies of the past that I would not waste my time seeing, there are others I just love: Pretty Woman, Meet Joe Black, King of California, Double Jeopardy, Dave. I could go on and on. Movies and TV can be entertaining, informative, uplifting and inspiring. I watch Law and Order, all three versions, but I am partial to Criminal Intent. I like Monk and The Closer. I’d better stop. God bless those who add to our lives through the entertainment medium.
posted October 30, 2007 at 11:26 pm
No one should be judging anyone based on any one behavior. I am a retired teacher who enjoys reality, celebrity gossip and game shows. My husband, who is one of the smartest people I know, watches old movies, interviews and biographies of accomplished people, but enjoys cartoons, too. So?