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

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.