Saturday, October 4, 2014

Dear HBO, Hollywood, and other creators of awesome entertainment products...

Dear HBO, Hollywood, and other creators of awesome entertainment products,

I was just watching the brilliant and wonderful "Boardwalk Empire" and I suddenly realized I don't really wanna watch people being tortured or beaten to death anymore.

I'm not saying people should boycott anything or stop enjoying whatever they enjoy and I thank you for the hours of quality shows and movies you've given me... I mean, "Six Feet Under"?  Holy shit.  That show literally changed my philosophy and spirituality.  That one TV show made me less afraid of death and more in love with life.  So… you know… well done.  You beautiful, creative folks have proven consistently that art is important and necessary and can even be profitable and popular.

But…

I've noticed that lately when I encounter an "edgy gritty violent" scene I usually sigh and fast-forward to the next scene.  I think maybe I've blown my 'violence-porn' fuse.  Probably during a Mel Gibson movie.

For the record I am unapologetically in favour of all free speech and free expression.  From naked 80 year old burlesque performers to the insane and ignorant ramblings of holocaust deniers, I truly believe we have to allow people to express themselves without censorship if we are to evolve as a species.

But…

It seems like sometimes you guys feel like you need to include brutal "boundary pushing" violence in fucking EVERYTHING and I'm worried that you're doing it because you think I want to see that.

I really don't.

So…

Although I would never suggest that people shouldn't make the art they feel they need to make…
And I get the whole 'watching a good person suffer makes me love them' Joseph Campbell "Hero's Journey" thing…
And "Fight Club" is one of my favourite movies ever...
And Zombies are awesome and I get that I'm a being a big pussy here…

I just wanna say:

If you're writing something right now and you feel like you need to make me watch somebody get tortured or murdered… you really don't.  I get it.  Go to the next scene.  The next scene might have some hot graphic sex in it.  I promise I won't fast-forward over that.

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Wes Borg is a Canadian comedian, playwright and musician from Edmonton, best known as a member of the comedy troupe Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie. Borg now resides in Victoria, British Columbia.  You can hear more of his hilarity by buying his album on CDBaby or iTunes

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