Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2.fluke 9/24/84; site fluke.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxb!mhuxn!mhuxm!mhuxj!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!fluke!moriarty From: moriarty@fluke.UUCP (Jeff Meyer) Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: Gods & TV Message-ID: <318@vax2.fluke.UUCP> Date: Wed, 30-Jan-85 02:45:36 EST Article-I.D.: vax2.318 Posted: Wed Jan 30 02:45:36 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 1-Feb-85 01:07:30 EST References: <327@decwrl.UUCP> Reply-To: moriarty@fluke.UUCP (Jeff Meyer) Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA Lines: 94 In article <327@decwrl.UUCP> arndt@lymph.DEC gives me great straight lines: >Some neat examples and exercises: > >Worksheet: Most theologies include an acknowledgement of good and evil in >ourselves and our world and provide value standards that help individuals >define what is good and evil. Watch at least one situation comedy episode >and at least one action adventure episode and using your own understanding >of good and evil, write down instances where they appear in the programs. > > Good Evil >------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > | > | > >Worksheet: List the needs and hungers you feel and can identify in yourself. Sweets. Caffeine. Bite-size Pizza rolls. > List the needs and hungers that television seems to most often > express. How to have sex, money and power with no corporate responsibilities. Computer-driven transportation that talks. Bite-size pizza rolls. >Worksheet: Viewing television as a religion; What god or gods are you being > asked to worship? God of cute children (except for Gary Coleman, who is the god of cute midgets. On second thought, scratch the cute). God of forty-year-old sexpots. Gods of wisdom, who can decide which is better, Sprite or 7-Up. > Who are the prophets and what are they saying? Apparently, Entertainment Tonight, and that Joan Collins is having David Hasselhorf's baby. They think. > Who are the Christ figures? The aforementioned baby. It will rise to power by seducing dimwitted corporate executives and talking to Buicks. Also David Banner, if you can picture Christ growling, green, and wiping out sinners with tree trunks. > What would be an appropriate list of ten commandments for > television's religion or theology? Thou Shalt Not Go Up Against Dallas's Time Slot. Thou Shalt Never Lose Thy Travellers Checks Unless They Be American Express. Thou Shalt Breed No Sportscasters Who Are Not Sprung From the Loins of the Cliche. Thou Shalt Fire No Bullets Which Hit Anyone (Special Dispensation for MIAMI VICE). Thou Shalt Show No Science Fiction Shows Without Rayguns. Thou Shalt Show No Science Fiction Shows. Thou Shalt Show No Computer Professionals Who Art Not Nerds. Etc, Etc. >Worksheet: Think about television's stories as PARABLES that comminicate > messages about who we are as humans. Watch two hours or more of > varied programming, deciding for each program: > > What are the basic messages of the parables? If you have a car and fire a gun and wear tight pants (and are male), you can sleep with lots of beautiful women. > Which television parables are in some way complementary to the > parables of your own theology? There's a sucker born... > Which are contradictory? (satire off) All people should be stars. (satire off) I could win the Publisher's Clearing House Giveaway... --------------------------------------------------- "It's a job for YOU, Dangermouse..." "Oh, *good* old DM!" "...AND Penfold." "Oh, ick." Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc. UUCP: {cornell,decvax,ihnp4,sdcsvax,tektronix,utcsrgv}!uw-beaver \ {allegra,gatech!sb1,hplabs!lbl-csam,decwrl!sun,ssc-vax} -- !fluke!moriarty ARPA: fluke!moriarty@uw-beaver.ARPA