Dot - 1/22

In class on Thursday when discussing Baudrillard, we were presented with the term "militainment", that is watching military related things for entertainment purposes. I had never heard this concept before but was immediately fascinated by it and what it says about our culture. 

Ask anyone and I am sure they have watched some form of television program focused on some form of the military. Our culture has become so obsessed with entertainment that we use instances of war to satisfy our craving for visual pleasure. Looking back on many popular television shows we can see just how obsessed our culture is with the military. 

Mash, Hogans Heroes, JAG, Band of Brothers, just to name of few. 

As technology in our culture has developed, it is not unusual that the genre of military entertainment has expanded too. Today there are many video games that actually allow players to assume the role of soldiers and gun down the enemy. I have always had a problem with this as it desensitizes that general public and makes war and killing seem like a very normal and acceptable thing. 

With militainment becoming such a large part of what our society sees as basic entertainment, I am fearful of what the world of actual warfare will become. When we take pleasure in viewing something so devastating, what can come next? When we get bored with basic warfare, who is not to say that we will develop a need to see brutal and more inhumane killings? When and where will our fascination stop?