Author Topic: sparked by a new show on TV  (Read 1335 times)

towrite

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sparked by a new show on TV
« on: February 18, 2008, 12:56:57 PM »
Last night was the first episode of "Dexter". I was interested, so I watched it, and ended up disturbed. He was adopted and nothing much was known of his earliest years. His adoptive father said whatever was done to Dex was done so early, "too early", that it got in very deep. Dex had no feelings, could not understand human rel'ships, esp. intimacy, and felt dead inside.

My reaction - this is rambling, but I need to get it down.

This is an account of the death of souls, of autonomy and self-determination, the death of self-respect, of any sense of self-worth.The tragic toll of physical death is final. The death of a soul lives on, the living body struggling with unseen wounds which cast long, deep shadows into the future.

For a mutilated soul, there is no end to the internal war, few rainbows, and little comfort. The wounds direct every thought and action. There are no witnesses.

The histories of happy, complete souls are frequently recorded, living out their potential with zest, vigor, and a sense of worth and purpose, free from the excoriations of doubt, terror, dependence, and confusion.

But the histories of these souls, the walking wounded, if you will, crimped at an early age, living under the constant threat of annihilation and shame - where are their stories?

The mutilated souls are voiceless, their existence silent. No one stands to support, confirm, validate or witness the murder, the torture. We live muted, alone, and sometimes with a second helping ---- ridicule. From the murderers, or from the "others", those happy, complete souls or the unconscious ones, the ridicule comes as blame and condescension when we first find a voice ---- "You can't be serious!" ..... "You have a vivid imagination!" .... "...at least you weren't ____ " ..... "Turn it over to God" .....  "When did you make that up???"

To the murders I say, "If you can't be a model, then you'll have to be a horrible warning."

Kate
"An unexamined life is a wasted life."
                                  Socrates
Time wounds all heels.

Gaining Strength

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Re: sparked by a new show on TV
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2008, 01:50:28 PM »
towrite - I think I am understanding you post.  The topic of Dexter brings up so much for me.

I am astonished that the empty, bereft character portrayed in this show (speaking only from the advertising) is thought of as "entertainment".

There is a big juxtaposition between the tawdry, dark side of contemporary entertainment and the way society treats people who have been deeply damaged or wounded by their families of origins.  It is very complex.  But I connect with you on the description of a damaged soul and it's continued life (not to mention the damage left in its wake if no attempt to heal is made.)

Why do you think this show fit with the TV powers that be well enough to be given air?  That is a mystery to me, a mystery and a disturbing mystery at that.

Ami

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Re: sparked by a new show on TV
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2008, 03:28:42 PM »
I have never heard of Dexter,but it sounds upsetting ,from what you write.
 Towrite and GS,I know that deep despair. I see myself, as being underwater. I was 6 ft.under when I came on the board.Now,I get glimpses of the shore. I am maybe 2 feet under,still.
 I see "underwater" as being hopelessly bogged down and lost in emotional patterns. I see it was not being able to get a breath of fresh air(wholeness) b/c your lungs are filled with water(distorted thinking)
 I don't think that it is our faults that we got there. I know that when Scott died, I got "numb". I could see why grieving people could appear not to "get it" b/c ,in a way, they don't. They are in  a"universe" where none of this happened, and  other people are in the universe, where it DID.
 My point is that the "numbness"(denial, unreality) kicks in automatically, JUST as out numbness from our FOO kicked in automatically.
 I became numb as a teen. I could not help it. I am just coming out of it,now.
 When I was underwater( and still am, to some degree),I could not help it.
 The way out is "truth" about yourself and  love,if you can get it(lol).      Love   Ami
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.        Eleanor Roosevelt

Most of our problems come from losing contact with our instincts,with the age old wisdom stored within us.
   Carl Jung

Certain Hope

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Re: sparked by a new show on TV
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2008, 07:58:37 PM »



Whoever is buying commercial time on this show is an optimist I think.  Are we supposed to feel compassion for Dexter?  Is this show romanticizing serial killers?  I sure don't know.  The show is disturbing and I'm going to watch it again because I can't figure it out. 

Hi,

The only thing I know about this show is what y'all have said here, but I wonder if maybe that's what the producers are hoping... that people will keep watching it just to try to figure it out. I don't know, but in a way it the idea reminds me of a much more potent version of the tv show "House". If you've seen that program, this doctor is so irreverant, so... antihuman and N'ish... and yet it's a very popular series...
maybe simply because he sooo goes against the norm? Just wondering.

Carolyn

towrite

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Re: sparked by a new show on TV
« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2008, 11:26:55 AM »
Lup, I think I am more focussing on the monsters who harmed this child (of the man) in a deep enough way to cause him these wounds. Like we all have experienced.

Iz - yes, it is evident in the first show, but not exactly like that - more focussed on his emotional deadness and his wondering what it would be like to feel like normal people.

It is so tragic to me that some people with these wounds can never heal, can never live out their potential, while others of us can heal. There are so many fatally wounded lying on the tracks.

Sorry I'm in such a black funk.
"An unexamined life is a wasted life."
                                  Socrates
Time wounds all heels.

Confounded

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Re: sparked by a new show on TV
« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2008, 02:03:58 PM »
Having seen only the ads for this show, I have no idea how well done it is.  But it seemed like something that might get a good share of viewers.  The ultra-badguy turned good, fighting to save or avenge wrongs perpetrated on the innocent, is a popular theme.  Moonlight's vampire fighting the good fight is another show along those lines.

We live in a time when our species has so much knowledge, and such amazing technology.  It seems we could accomplish any goal that we might set for ourselves.  But across the planet, those who function as if they were above the law, use vast amounts of resources to accomplish things that are not productive, and in many cases are extremely destructive.  Crime is everywhere, top to bottom.  Driven by primitive instincts (greed, lust, envy, etc.), waste plagues our species, and good, law-abiding, concerned citizens feel nearly powerless to stop it.  What can be done to fight such powerful forces of evil?  People are frustrated.  There is great appeal in a character who operates as if HE were above the law, AND does something that the viewer sees as being good.  How the avenger acquired his mindset and/or extraordinary powers is incidental to his righteous mission.

SilverLining

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Re: sparked by a new show on TV
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2008, 05:54:22 PM »
Dexter has been on Showtime and apparently is very popular.  The network execs see $$$ and bought it for wider distribution.  There are even billboards for the show near my home. 

I've seen a few episodes on disc and haven't quite decided what to think.  It was definitely disturbing at first, but it gets more interesting and starts raising questions.  Dexter talks a lot about "being a monster with no feeling" but he seems to act with more feeling toward some people than many of the "normal" people around him.  It gets harder with passing episodes to peg him as simply a monster.