It is said that you can tell a lot about people by the books they read, the movies they watch, the hobbies they have, and the way they entertain themselves. The same is true for a culture or society. By examining how a society entertains itself, I believe you can get a fairly accurate barometer of its overall moral and cultural health. A society that breeds great poets and musicians, a society that dares to dream of a higher calling or believes in the nobility of self-sacrifice and devotion to the ideal of helping one’s fellow man, can by most historical standards be said to be culturally healthy. In a society where, as a general rule, the benefit of the whole, the needs of the downtrodden or weak, and conformance to moral restraint outweigh the selfish desires of the moment, that society that cannot help but flourish and grow. On the other hand, a society which has sacrificed nobility for expediency, which has replaced self-sacrifice with self-indulgence, where idealism and teamwork have been set aside in favor of survival of the fittest, then that culture cannot help but, by comparison, be seen as sick, even diseased, and on the road to ruin.
At the height of its economic, political and military power, the Roman Empire was also typified by a deep moral decay. The technology and security of the Empire provided both opulence and decadence on a scale not seen since the days of Babylon or Gomorra. Great portions of that society had become so indolent and pampered that their unchallenged minds turned from exploration and conquest of the unknown, to idle amusements and carnival-like entertainments. The ruling powers understood that an idle populace could easily breed dissent if not kept distracted and entertained. One of the most disturbing examples of this quest for distraction was the carnal games made popular in the Roman Coliseum. In wildly popular bouts, a pack of wolves would be set against an angry bear, or wild boars would be goaded into a frenzy and then set at each other until one or both were gored to death. Eventually, humans were added to the mix. The gladiator combat that resulted pit man against man in a bloodsport appealing to our basest instincts. Armed combatants would duel it out, sometimes against each other, sometimes against wild beasts driven mad by hunger and abuse. Prisoners and felons would be sent into the arena lightly armed (if at all) and pitted against wolves, lions, or trained gladiators. All to cheers of feral delight from the on-looking crowds. In the event that one was injured but not killed, a plea for mercy could be given to the Caesar. He would sit high on his grand podium, and with a thumbs up or thumbs down, decide quite literally who lived or died. Often, for dramatic flair, Caesar would poll the crowd, and by the volume of the cries for or against, decide the victim’s fate. Human life was reduced to the level of a commodity, a resource, an expendable item sacrificed on the altar of entertainment.
The modern trend of “reality shows” bears a disturbing resemblance to the games of the Coliseum. Show after show has appeared on television designed to pit one person against another in a battle for ultimate supremacy. Shows like “Survivor,” “Joe Millionaire,” “The Bachelor,” “Paradise Hotel,” and even “American Idol” have contestants battling for their social survival against not only the environment, but against each other. We watch in voyeuristic fascination as conniving, back-stabbing, manipulative behavior is rewarded. At the end of each week’s installment, one team member is “voted off” because they couldn’t make it, or weren’t adept enough to build tenuous political alliances which would inevitably be shattered and renegotiated the next week anyway. In several of the shows, sexuality comes heavily into play, and the most appealing, the most buxom, or the most promiscuous are promoted, while the less desirable are sent packing. We add the flavor of the Coliseum again as “Viewer Voting” is brought into play, and America decides who stays or goes, who “lives” or “dies.” The crowd cheers or jeers and one American Idol falls while another rises to the next level. It is like the ultimate interactive video game where lives and careers hang in the balance, and YOU make the call. Or so we would be led to believe.
The reality of these “reality” shows is that they are all carefully managed and manipulated to provide the greatest entertainment value. We think we have a vote, but ultimately, Caesar decides. We are carefully manipulated into bonding with some contestants so that we feel for them, or developing such animosity towards others that we cannot wait for them to get voted off. It’s all great theater and high drama. And it’s all about survival of the fittest. It’s us against them; lie, cheat, and steal to get ahead and stay on top. It’s anything goes as long as you win.
If we are to use our entertainment as a barometer of our cultural health, then what does this modern fascination with Coliseum Lite say about us? We used to cheer for the underdog. Now we sit in our video bleachers and give a resounding thumbs down because he or she didn’t make the grade, didn’t have what it takes to satisfy our lust for power, sex, or money. Instead of sacrificing ourselves for others, we use them as resources, as expendable items sacrificed on the altar of our own self-indulgence.
I cannot help but think of what would have happened if a middle-aged carpenter’s son, of average looks and little money, had been a contestant on “Survivor” or “Joe Millionaire?” How many rounds would a frumpish-looking, unwashed and unshaven Jewish Rabbi have lasted by our modern standards? Then I think, what if He had applied our own standards to us in deciding whether or not to go to that Cross?
Lucky for us, He looked at all of us, the weak, the poor, the ugly and the broken, and despite all sense or rationality by the world’s standards, gave us a resounding “thumbs up” as He gave His own life in place of our own. I’m sure his beating and crucifixion would have been televised, probably in a prime-time slot right after “When Animals Attack!” or “COPS.” I also suspect that the reason for His sacrifice would have been carefully edited out so as not to “offend” anyone. Blood on the arena floor is entertainment, but blood on the Cross is politically incorrect. We are a sick society indeed.
“Published originally at EtherZone.com : republication allowed with this notice and hyperlink intact.”