Part of Post-Modernity is the invention of something that is not real in order to explain the unexplained, and to give the community a feeling of understanding. In class, these examples included TV shows such as “The X Files, Fringe, and Lost”. These shows explain periods in our lives where we feel like we have no control, so there must be people out there with magical powers and monsters. The unknown is no longer completely unknown, now there is a solution in the community’s minds, even though they realistically know it is probably not true. However, this practice of creating something to replace fear is not new. It dates back in time to several other occasions. One example of this is the creation of “magic”. In civilizations that could understand aspects of nature, they created “magic” or forces that use magic as a form of power. When people fell ill, they felt it was the god’s punishing them for something that was wrong in society, which was a much easier concept to understand than it happening for no reason, to both good and bad people. Also, the Salem Witch hunts are a good example as well. Using binary opposition ( describing ones identity in opposition to a common “enemy”, if you aren’t like us, you are a witch), many innocent people were killed as a means to control how the population acted. If the community feels at risk, they will create a reality that may not actually be real, in order to explain and control the fear from growing. A personal example during my childhood is “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”. It was a show about an awkward teenage girl in high school that happened to possess magical powers. I loved this show because it comforted me that even if my high school years ended up being troublesome, at the back of my mind I might be a witch to make my life easier. Even though I realistically knew this was not true, I still consumed all the media related to the show, including reading all the books and buying the “Sabrina The Teenage Witch” Barbie dolls. Most people in American culture will do anything to escape and numb reality. This tactic may be as harmless as a TV show about Vampires, or be as serious and dangerous as the Witch Hunts.
-Serendipity
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You make a good observation on the way we consume types of media to avoid reality (though in a couple weeks you'll start questions what reality is yourself!). You actually have a number of strong ideas throughout, but make sure they are connected to each other. There are a couple of places where you analyze media critically with regards to its ideology of magic that would be great for you to explore further.
Smiley Face :)
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