We are not the Romans

[javasaurus]

Ya know the Romans? Those advanced people of ancient times that unified much of Europe, and brought us paved roads, aqueducts, and tootsie rolls? Their taste in entertainment was violent, bloody, and realistic. When they performed Oedipus, they used slaves in the title roll and forced him to actually gouge his eyes out. They believed death scenes should include, well, death. Everyone knows that they had spectacles of animals vs. people, with the animals usually winning, and gladiatorial combats. Did you know they would sometimes fill a colosseum with water and stage ship-to-ship combat to the death? It seems to me startling that such an advanced, dominant culture, with its long-lasting marvels of architecture and art, could be so barbaric in their entertainment values. What was the reason?

At least we can take comfort in knowing that we've moved beyond that. Can you imagine what kinds of reality-based spectacles we'd have if our advanced modern technology and art was influenced by such barbarism? But we have risen above the ancient fascination with experiencing pain and death and fear vicariously. Our fictional horrors yield a similar (if perhaps diminished) thrill with the safety net of knowing it's not real, that no one was hurt. We as a culture are beyond taking delight in the physical and emotional distress of our fellows. And this makes me proud of our great culture.

Java

p.s., yes, I was kidding about the aqueducts.

Comments

Romans

[queenmaggie.livejournal.com]

Yes, but...
I don't believe we've progressed as much as we commend ourselves on. Certainly I think there are plenty of folks out there who would be happy to watch the same bloody battles if they were available, just witness the cries of censorship when people try to restrain the violence and nastiness shown on television.
And, btw, the ships battle at the colluseum only happened once, as far as can be told. It was recorded early after the building was complete, but then the developers added huge amounts of underground corridors, keeping rooms, and holding pens, and after that there was no way to keep flood waters contained. (My sole reference, a PBS show on engineering and archaeology)
The spectacles in the colluseum were an on-going development. They started out as being simpler battles between condemned criminals; last one standing to receive a pardon (ie, giving the Gods the right to judge) and progressed exponentially as the emperors discovered that giving the crowds bread and circuses kept them pacified. Basically, there wasn't enough work for everyone to make a living, so they gave them food and entertainment to prevent them from rioting. A large part of that was due to the inheritance system, and the system of political power: if you weren't part of it, you couldn't aspire to become part of it.

Re: Romans

[javasaurus.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, sarcasm doesn't always convey well when written (yes, I know there are many fine authors whose words drip with sarcasm, but I'm not one of them).

I didn't mean to offer (or inspire) a lesson on Roman history, and I know my facts may not be completely accurate (but they're close!). Instead, I meant to suggest that a culture of advanced standing in technology and art and philosophy also had very barbaric tendencies when it came to recreation and pleasure. My suggestion that we have a better culture was meant to be tongue-in-cheek. Some of the most popular shows on TV are "reality" shows and talk shows in which we can see people make foos of themselves, hit each other with chairs with real anger, go on dates, eat real bugs while living with strangers in the middle of nowhere. We've had in recent years a series of movies called "Faces of Death" in which people and creatures were caught dying on tape. Do you remember the amount of upset that was caused when it was revealed that "pro" wrestling was staged? How about pro boxing? COPS? Rescue911?

Despite our technology, our art, our education, we are still as fundamentally barbaric as the Romans.

[blueeowyn.livejournal.com]

Darling, what have you been smoking? Tootsie Rolls in Room? Wouldn't they at least have been Tootorum Rolli or something?

As for us being above watching another person's demise, after hearing about the card on the radio, I can sort of believe it. Then I remember the popularity of some other events and I don't think so.

Then I think of how much I would love to see certain people get what I think they [should] have coming to them ...

However, I do believe that thou may bite thy tongue if thou keepest it constantly in thy cheek.

[javasaurus.livejournal.com]

Oy.

Please read my response to the above post.

The Romans developed aqueducts, not tootsie rolls. They had no chocolate.

Unfortunately, there is no "sarcastic" mood with LJ, so I chose cynical instead.