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Hard to See: How trauma became synonymous with authenticity

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Re: Hard to See: How trauma became synonymous with authenticity

#21

Post by ravenstine »

odessacubbage wrote: post #9
tfigueroa wrote: post #5

This explains feelings I’ve had watching Euphoria . I’ve noticed a worsening physiological response just watching the show , so haven’t finished season 2. Initially I felt there was some catharsis to get out of it, but I’ve had to stop myself and ask what the effects really are. More cortisol? Less shock from real trauma? I’m not sure. Yet I was drawn in by the trauma, and the thought - formed somewhere in my mind -…

so much of modern tv just feels like misery porn.

That's why I stopped watching it entirely, and so can you.

My hypothesis as to why most TV is misery porn goes beyond just that people can relate to misery. I think it's the combination of misery and violence, whether it's physical or verbal.

The modern world is so tightly controlled that the average person knows that they can't commit much if any violence in real life, for any reason, good or bad, without either facing penalties or extreme misunderstandings. Sure, there's mentally unstable individuals who attack every now and then, but the law can't do anything about them and we just shrug and think "that's just what they do," more or less.

Secretly, or subconsciously, part of many everyday people wants to be the character who puts people in their place, or stabs people, or cooks meth, or shoots people, or beats the ever living shit out of people, and so on. Even if they have a moral compass of some kind, and don't even have the balls to do any of that, they've got some brain cells that gets excited from seeing people do things they know they could never even think of doing.

Even if it's not physical violence, people clearly like the fake or instigated drama on reality and cooking shows. They've all wanted to say "fuck you" to their boss at some point, but only by living vicariously through fiction can they picture it happening.

Of course, these nefarious characters in media must be miserable somehow, or the world around them had to make them who they are in some way, else the illusion can't work.

Re: Hard to See: How trauma became synonymous with authenticity

#22

Post by jancsika »

> In her essay Regarding the Pain of Others, on images of violence and suffering, Susan Sontag famously asks: “What is the point of exhibiting these pictures? To awaken indignation? To make us feel ‘bad,’ that is, to appall and sadden? To help us mourn? … Do they actually teach us anything?”

I'll take a stab at it:

1. The point is basic education, let's call it "social literacy."

2. Not necessarily, though in some cases it obviously does.

3. Sadness is sometimes a consequence of the process of gaining social literacy-- same as when people cry while gaining literacy through reading novels, no?

4. Sometimes, but of course mourning is only one small category in the process of learning about the world around you.

5. Well, for one thing-- off the top of my head-- this knowledge essentially inoculates one against some of the worst types of religious demagoguery. E.g., "god's plan" is seriously questioned by some of the worst types of human-induced horrors, and reasonably rejected upon discovery of the worst natural horrors. See Dostoevsky's "Brothers Karamazov" (can't remember the chapter). Reasonable religious people may disagree, but the point is zealous demagoguery doesn't function well in light of such knowledge.[1]

1: Though it's no panacea: e.g., nihilism is an easy option in such conversations.

Re: Hard to See: How trauma became synonymous with authenticity

#24

Post by dgreensp »

Trauma is the consequences of abuse and ongoing lack of safety, in the body. It’s always been around. I think the use of public spaces to discuss, integrate, and heal people’s personal trauma is relatively new in our culture? Something like that. The rules of social interaction are changing. Being “witnessed” by one’s community or group, or someone, is part of shaking off trauma, but who? What counts as one’s community these days (online)? When do we hold space for whose trauma? There are some good questions there.

Bo Burnham is all about fake authenticity. That was actually a great example, as much as I like his stuff.

And “trauma porn” whose only purpose is to titillate is of course not of moral value. But telling people’s stories and sharing our experiences has value.

Re: Hard to See: How trauma became synonymous with authenticity

#25

Post by cbogie »

ravenstine wrote: post #21
odessacubbage wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

so much of modern tv just feels like misery porn.

That's why I stopped watching it entirely, and so can you. My hypothesis as to why most TV is misery porn goes beyond just that people can relate to misery. I think it's the combination of misery and violence, whether it's physical or verbal. The modern world is so tightly controlled that the average person knows that they can't commit much if any violence in real life, for any reason, good or bad, without either fac…

i can relate personally to the ’will to violence’ domination sentiment you shared, but on the other hand, there are a few people in my life with whom i’ve discussed this topic with, and really don’t experience these sorts of thoughts or impulses.

Re: Hard to See: How trauma became synonymous with authenticity

#26

Post by dan12ha »

ravenstine wrote: post #21
odessacubbage wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

so much of modern tv just feels like misery porn.

That's why I stopped watching it entirely, and so can you. My hypothesis as to why most TV is misery porn goes beyond just that people can relate to misery. I think it's the combination of misery and violence, whether it's physical or verbal. The modern world is so tightly controlled that the average person knows that they can't commit much if any violence in real life, for any reason, good or bad, without either fac…

Jordan Peterson talks about the internal feeling of having a giant scary bear inside you is nescessary for being in the world with confidence. I can't remember the exact phrasing but it's something to do with humans living on the edge between chaos and order. I think it was the book 12 Rules for life.
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