Lowest Common Denominator

Entertainment in the USA – or what passes for it – is pitiful in content. I speak mainly of TV and much of radio. Turn to any station/channel and witness material offered for public consumption. Ask the question, has this material informed me? Has it motivated me to think more acutely? Am I better off having consumed this material?

Your answers will likely be negative. To each of the questions. Try it out sometime.

News programs are trying, but they report mostly negative news; if it has negative value, it runs. If it is positive in nature, it rarely is aired with the exception of the last 60 seconds or so of the broadcast. You know this is true.

Movies. Concerts. Music. Discussion or debate. Most are vapid. They do not challenge the audience to strengthen their minds or understanding of our world, society or nation.

Just escape. Mindless music. Popular music forms with lyrics that are mumbled or over played by loud music that drowns out the message. What are the artists saying? What is the meaning of their art? What are we to know from it, grow from it?

Movies are focused on sex, nudity, bawdy language, violence, blood, killing, etc. The more violent or prurient, the more likely it is to be included in the movie. Even plays or musicals.

I seek escape from common day worries just like everyone else. But at the end of the day my mind needs feeding on things of value, things that matter, things that suggest we can and ought to work hard for better outcomes.

Why should this be a challenge? Why can’t American artists and entertainment moguls aim for higher standards of artistry and golden values? British movies and TV programs are better, why not us?

I see this whole problem as underachievement. It is the easy way out for most audiences. They don’t want to ‘work’ for their entertainment. They want the story to be given to them, not unfolded using some of their own brainpower.

Many people do not go onto college because they lack confidence they can do the work. So, they avoid higher education and settle for something more immediate. That choice often works out – entrepreneur small business, artist self-taught, building trade that really cooks for the person, etc. No argument either on the decision or the outcome. Both are excellent for the person involved.

But what happens to most others who opt out of the hard path? Will they do the same with every hard decision that comes their way? Will they be underperformers for their entire life? Will this affect their happiness, emotional stability and so much else?

And what price does society pay for underachievers? The answer to that question is long, complicated and worthy of much research. I suspect many PhD’s could be earned in just this field of study alone.

OK. Lowest common denominator. Underachievers. Underperformers. What else? Maybe tens of millions of people who simply do not engage with the complicated real world and its many unsolved issues? Might these people be looking for easy answers or leaders who simply ‘do it for them?’

Methinks this is a root problem we need to invest time and resources in. Might you be interested in joining this crusade? 

December 3, 2020