Are We Getting Dumber?

Have you seen the movie Idiocracy? It’s a little-known Mike Judge film starring Luke Wilson, Dax Shepard, and Maya Rudolph. It is a biting social satire that explores the effects of television and corporate control on our intelligence. Luke Wilson and Maya Rudolph are sent to the future in an Army experiment, and they find a world full of idiots whose most-popular TV show is Ow, My Balls and whose big Oscar movie is Ass.

It makes me wonder whether Rock of Love Bus and The Real World are a direct line to this horrific future. If so, what can we do about it. The lure of these ridiculous reality shows is big. They are like visual crack. I’ve spent many a weekend lost in a Real World, I Love the 80s, and even Living with Ed marathon. And I love getting lost in a good scripted show or movie. Does that mean that I’m making my self stupid by allowing myself to be entertained?

Ah, but that is the beauty of a good social satire. It makes you think. Some others I like are Thank You for Smoking, American Dreamz, But I’m a Cheerleader, and Heathers. And of course, there is The Colbert Report and South Park. What about you? What satires speak to you? Do you like satire as a tool for social commentary?

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