petty politics
Have you noticed that there has been an influx of tabloid-type publications lately? Even The Westender, a weekly Vancouver newspaper that was almost as respectable as the Georgia Straight, recently had a makeover and now looks more like British tabloid OK! than something that should be taken seriously.
Who's fault is this? Should we blame the papers for narrowing our choices? Or is it our own fault for gobbling up this petty crap? Ok well maybe we do have more of a choice now... but it's not the kind that is beneficial to us. Now we can choose between 15 different yet equally desperate spins on the Brangelina story. DO WE REALLY CARE THAT MUCH? Is the news market responding to our demands? Don't people want to know what is going on in the world besides the latest eating disorder sweeping through Hollywood?
When the most money is made by appealing to people's basest desires for instant gratification, false hope, and obsession with the lives of celebrities, how long will it be until that's all there is to read?
posted by Jessica @ 11:11 AM
9 Comments:
I don't know about you, but knowing that Brangelina is doing okay (or not) is one of the few things in life that gives me pure pleasure! I know that there is an election and wars and people in need that I could focus my attention on, but what fun is that? If I want to get literate maybe I'll glance at the thought du jour in The Globe and Mail. But for the most part, I want to be sedated. Don't you?
at least you realize this. unfortunately, the masses may not. is it not as though the war has ended, or died down at least, if we look at media coverage of it overall? I don't think it's good to forget about those kinds of things.
OMG! Brad and Jen are gonna have a baby! did u hear! That is so exciting! And so much more pleasant than any REAL news...don't you agreee? Long Live the tabloid!!!!
whoopsm did I say Jen? I meant his other woman....
Personally, I would rather read about Hip Hop beef. But hey that's just me.
The problem is the masses don't read at all, even junk like that.
One that I've noticed now that has shifted increasingly to tabloid-style coverage is Maclean's. The week after Hurricane Katrina issue, the cover was some chick lifting up her shirt to show her tits off, the story being something along the lines of 'The female chauvanist'.
In all fairness even the New York Times now can be found guilty of lessening the importance of stories like the war because they always get more coverage on days not featuring hurricanes, judge confirmation hearings, etc. It has been a convenient story to slot in around other happenings of the day with the assumption that since it'll be there tomorrow we can talk about something else now. One day 20 soldiers getting blown up is front page news, the next day a similar event gets buried in say the international section.
here's what i think... there are people who talk, and then there are people who are talked about. which would you rather be?
99% of the readers of that tabloid jump are you know who. ;)
chicks love that drama & gossip. :P
hi adrian.
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