In many ways, I view the Walking Dead as sort of a conservative uber-fantasy. After years of only being able to shoot at targets and animals, zombies take over the world, and it’s up to YOU to make use of your vast arsenal to ensure your family and friends are safe from the hoard. They called you crazy, they said “who needs a dozen different military assault rifles?” But who’s laughing now?
But at least one member of the Fox News club doesn’t see it that way. Dr. Manny Alvarez wrote an entire op-ed about why The Walking Dead is bad for America.
“Is watching “The Walking Dead” seriously hurting American society? I would argue ‘Yes.’ Hate me all you want, or call me paranoid and misinformed, but there is one common theme that is pervasive in American pop culture today: violence. Even more specifically, zombie violence. The idea of a zombie-infested world inspires fantasies of monsters possessed by an uncontrollable rage to kill, and viewers get a thrill imagining what it would be like to participate in this new world order.”
And as a doctor, Dr. Manny thinks it’s just plain silly that we’re pretending like zombies can exist at all:
“Give me a break. As a doctor and scientist, I know one thing for sure: When you’re dead, you’re dead. Our brains should be less focused on imaginary zombie hordes and more focused on harnessing the tools that we need in order to enhance our lives, whether it be music, education, science or the classics. Entertainment should help us soothe our brains so that we can ease our minds of some of the stress from our daily lives.”
So you know, any show that depicts any sort of violence or crime or anything that might offend our sensibilities must go. Every cop show, every crime scene procedural, entire channels like FX, HBO and AMC all must go because their programs do not consist of nearly enough rainbows and sunshine and science and music.
While his overall point of “too much TV rots your brain” might be perfectly reasonable, his argument using The Walking Dead as the basis is rather ridiculous, and you should check out the entire thing here.
Tweet
Follow Us
