Why is murder a form of entertainment?

[Backdrifter]

How has this most ghastly of crimes become such an accepted basis for entertainment? Sure, it goes back to ancient theatre - from the Greeks through to Shakespeare, murder is rife in plays. We don't see it so much in modern theatre, but obviously a lot on TV and in films.

But in those older art forms it's often deeply tragic, and you feel the impact of it. Now, it becomes almost twee, in things like Rosemary & Thyme, Midsomer Murders, Murder In Suburbia. Murder's the worst crime that can be commited. But we wouldn't accept this treatment of, say, rape. if someone tried to pitch an idea for Midsomer Rapes, Rape In Suburbia, Dial R For Rape, they would be frogmarched out by security, and possibly put on some sort of list. And quite right too. But murder.... that seems fine!

In that sense, isn't something like Midsomer Murders, where someone is blithely knocked off each week and it's lightweight Sunday evening fare, in a way 'worse' than e.g. Reservoir Dogs which has a comparatively lower body count than most violent films, but got banned on video for ages? Shouldn't murder make us wince?

[Jemisa]

You taught me a new word BD "blithely" I had to look it up. Cheerful, Happy, Carefree, casual.

Jem

[Booldawg]

Watching Vibe getting constantly fragged on MW2 is embarrassing rather than entertaining ;-)

[Backdrifter]

Well jemisa, the question doesn't seem to have been as thought-provoking as I'd hoped, not yet anyway, but at least it's been a teeny bit educational for you, so I'm happy on that score.

Good point, yes many games also have killing people as a main feature.

[yogi-bear]

We're off to see Prescription:Murder tommorrow at the theatre, with Battlestar Galactica and The A Team's Dirk Benedict playing Lt Columbo...........wonder if MR T will be there saying...."I aint going on no plane, sucker!"

Murder is entertainment......look how many times Wile E Coyote copped it when he was after Road runner....BEEP BEEP!

[Backdrifter]

well even when the coyote was flattened more than a pancake he popped back into shape. I doubt they'd get away with that in a film or drama series, more's the pity.

I suppose the 'entartainment' bit of it comes from finding out who did it or, in the case of Columbo, seeing how he solves it, rather than from the shooting/stabbing/steamrollering itself. But doesn't that relegate the murder to being almost a minor detail?

[bundleone]

I dont like seeing the murders committed on telly, but enjoy the investigaion side of it.they are often too graphic.

[Ankou]

the focus of those shows you mention is not about murder but crime solving drama. therein lies the appeal i guess. a dead body with loads of clues and a dramatic or twisty sub plot adds the entertainment. a straightforward bank robbery would make it feel like keystone cops, and rape - although it is dealt with in some quarters - would make for uncomfortable emotional viewing, rather than bland dead person/catch killer (with the aid of the worlds most amazing computer software of course).

most people watch the shows saying 'i knew it was him/her' or 'humph, that computer just took a piece of toenail and pinpointed the exact location of a mass murdrer in a dockside warehouse downtown just seconds before he killed the leading incidental character, that aint real'. they don't watch it and go, 'aw poor person got shot/stabbed/blown up' etc etc becuase we know it aint real.

[Ankou]

humph = hurrumph or suchlike

not to be confused as a sitting room conversation with humf.

http://1.bp.blogspot....KqceTuw/s320/humf.jpg