Dexter: Thinly Veiled Societal Sickness
By Daniel Miessler on October 14th, 2007: Tagged as America | Culture | Health | Psychology
There’s a very popular show on Showtime right now called Dexter. The show is both interesting and at the same time quite disturbing.
The main character a man who works in a crime unit (kind of like CSI). That seems basic enough except he’s also a serial killer. He’s literally a very disturbed individual who is compelled to kill other people (and who enjoys doing so immensely).
The twist (and the only thing that makes the show acceptable) is the fact that he is a “moral” serial killer, i.e. he only goes after people that he judges to be horrible people — child molesters, rapists, murderers, etc..
What I find troubling about the show is its popularity. I think it points to a quiet and perverted rage that exists just below the surface of American society. I believe this show is allowing its viewers to explore their own homicidal feelings in a safe environment. That environment consists of two things:
- It’s just a T.V. show, right? This isn’t hurting anyone.
- Besides, even if I am enjoying watching him kill human beings, they’re bad people.
Right, sure. You’re still empathizing with a person who takes pleasure in killing people. This is a very tangible step towards our cultural acceptance of Schwarzenegger’s “The Running Man” where the public relishes in the hunting and murdering of criminals.
The creators of this show have quite simply found a way tap into and harness this unhealthy anger in a socially acceptable way. Ultimately not much direct harm will come from people enjoying the show. The problem is that it bumped us down a few rungs on the decency ladder. And I’m not so much worried about what rung we landed on this time, but rather what rung we’re we’ll be on after a few more drops.:
Vicariously I / Live while the whole world dies / Much better you than I
Comment by Tim F. — 10/14/2007 @ 5:56 am
Daniel, this is exactly my point about ultimate fighting.
Comment by Carl M — 10/14/2007 @ 1:48 pm
I love the show. It’s not about the fantasy of killing people but the interactions between the characters. You have to watch the show to understand but Dexter chopping people up is not the reason most people watch.
Comment by Jason Sares — 10/14/2007 @ 7:35 pm
America loves a vigilante, many of our greatest folk legends are about that ( for the record the US loves a vigilante, Australia a thief ).
Next time you walk through SoMA in San Francisco realize that many of the streets’ names come from the early civic leaders of the city by the bay: that is, vigilante squad organizers.
See: The Barbary Coast by H. Asbury.
Comment by Steven G. Harms — 10/15/2007 @ 3:23 am
@Carl
Interesting. Much to discuss here.
Comment by Daniel Miessler — 10/16/2007 @ 1:42 am
Hey Dan ~
Speaking as someone that has not seen the show, you might be making a mountain out of a mole hill here.
Many Hitchcock films got us to root for the bad guy too.
Compared to any number of video games the show sounds rather tame.
The greater issue you touched upon, namely our declining values is an important one.
I clearly remember a time when most of my friends had to be 17 to get into an R movie, and sure we managed to get our hands on some materials that were unsuitable for our age but it took effort. Often the fact that our parents gave a damn was important enough to let me see the bigger picture even if I did just have to see the Warriors cause “every cool kid did”.
Now most parents don’t even think twice about taking their kids to these movies.
I remember a couple years back when I saw the sequel to Silence of the Lambs in the theater, I could barely handle the movie’s content but behind me there were 5 kids aged 2-10.
Movies today are probably 10 times worse.
So as with any problem, lack of parent concern is the number 1 problem. There seriously needs to be an intelligence test and/or birthing license (like a driver’s license) to have kids, but that is yet another conversation.
A huge portion of blame can be laid on the entertainment industry too. Movies, comics, video games etc. fall into a never ending competition of one-upping ones peers in the industry. Spielberg receives critical and commercial acclaim with a film like “Saving Private Ryan” and all of a sudden, a movie with lesser amounts of blood and gore are seen as cartoonish and/unrealistic. This has to stop.
Comment by Dustin — 10/16/2007 @ 4:57 am
I haven’t seen the show either, but there is something that draws me to the idea. An avenging force killing evil people, like the Punisher comic, appeals to me. But I am strongly against torture. It sickens me beyond almost anything. I have no problem with someone killing pedofiles, rapists, etc, I do have a major issue with someone taking pleasure in it and torturing them.
Movies like Seven and Saw really disgust me. But I have no problem with executing depraved individuals.
My views have really changed since I became a father. And I know a lot of people get away with committing really horrible acts.
Comment by Eamon Landon — 10/16/2007 @ 10:06 pm