Editor's Blog Aug 01st 2012
Getting High on Tragedy
Shakespeare was a genius; not only was he a talented writer and performer, he was also a keen observer of human nature, expertly using this to his advantage. Shakespeare knew a good story when he saw one and he was clever enough and able enough to adapt these stories, using his observations of the human condition, in order to provide centuries of audiences with memorable characters, intriguing plots and lyrical speeches. His plays had something for everyone; from the common, plague-ridden, manure-encrusted groundling all the way up to the pox-marked, blanched-faced, wig-wearing educated gentry. All hail The Bard!!
What Shakespeare cunningly observed was that human beings, by nature, are predisposed to maintain a morbid fascination with the tragic; hence the resounding success of all his Tragedies (Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Othello etc.). Loosely translated for all you groundlings out there – we all like a bit of a car crash.
This has been made painfully evident during our coverage of recent tragedies, accidents or near misses. These are the stories that get the most hits! Not sure what that says about the type of news that floats our collective boats, but there must be a reason why we are all drawn to the morbid over some of the uplifting stories we post centring on philanthropy and good deeds.
Is it because we’re but a small town where everyone knows everyone else, their mother, aunty, grandpa and cousin, twice removed? Many would have you believe this is the case, but I think not. Otherwise why would tales of tragedy and loss dominate all international news bulletins? Why are we drawn to death, destruction and dehumanisation? Is it a chance to breathe a sigh of relief and give thanks that we don’t live there? That those things don’t happen to us? That we can experience tragedy as a voyeur without having to suffer through the pain of it all? The human psyche is a horrible twisted mess.
So, much like our Billy S., we have realised that people get high on tragedy, and, risking fewer hits in the future, I really hope we see less of it, better driving on our roads and more feel-good stories to help us smile for the right reasons, and not just because we’re glad it happened to someone else.
Spray-painted by Eddie along Devil’s Tower Road.
