Schadenfreude

Schadenfreude \SHOD-n-froy-duh\, noun:
A malicious satisfaction obtained from the misfortunes of others.

pardon me if this blog entry seems a little more scholarly than usual, but I have been thinking of something for a while in relation to why we watch certain programs on TV, or why these shows even exist.

Every Sunday, my roommate sits down to watch two episodes of the A&E show "Intervention." Each week, the show follows the life of an addict (alcohol, crack, heroin, gambling, etc.) painfully close and then organizes an intervention and rehabilitation program for the subject. The show often shows with explicit detail the process of drug use and addiction, complete with scenes of inserting heroin needles. Why would we want to watch this?

Of course the argument may be that this is not exploitation, but is a documentary display of reality that exposes the public to the harsh truths of addiction yada yada yada.

I think producers, advertisers, and viewers know it is much more than that. Why are other types of shows so popular? Survivor, American Idol, Elimidate...is it because we like to see the winner succeed or are we equally, if not more so, interested in seeing the failure and embarrassment of others?

I'm not trying to judge anybody here, the only parts of American Idol I watch are the early episodes where the dreams of so many untalented hopefuls are extinguished in front of Ryan Seacrest and millions of viewers at home.

Our culture is based on merit, individual success and overcoming obstacles. Yet the reality is not everyone is successful. Shows that portray the misfortune of others offer an interlude in our own lives and a chance for us to feel good about ourselves because 'hey, at least my life doesn't suck as much as theirs."

I'll get off my soapbox now, MTV's "Juvies" is starting....