Shows are typically not a medium to seek solace in, or something that we innately soak up for valuable insight into our lives.
We watch to pass the time, serving as background noise to break silence, but when Jim finally kisses Pam, or when Jesse Pinkman finally garners the courage to stand up to Walter White, there’s a lesson to be learned there.
Students at Delta, like Taesean Patrick Myles and Mathias McClain, share that their connection to TV shows provide a deeper meaning than what we might be privy to as typical viewers.
Miles said that his favorite TV show growing up was “Total Drama Island.”
“It normalized all the different types of people I might meet. There’s a lot of out there characters in the show, and there’s a lot of out there situations I might get into. It influenced my sense of humor too,” said Myles.
McClain said his favorite show is “Rick and Morty.” He explained that he was able to connect to more than what was on the surface of the dimension traveling nihilistic alcoholic Rick Sanchez.
“I learned how to do more free thinking, and not just follow along with everybody else. It was very clear about what needed to be done, it was more natural…not direct,” said McClain.
Another example of shows displaying psychological realism can be seen in the Adult Swim show “Smiling Friends.”
The pilot episode features a man, Desmond, who needs smiling. He’s depressed, and it’s obvious he’s ready to give up because he’s literally holding a gun to his head the entire episode.
As the two main characters, Charlie and Pim, try to make him smile by showing him the joys of life: family, friends, and amusement parks. Desmond still doesn’t care and he’s ready to give up.
Pim is cheery, happy about everything, striving to change Desmond despite the obvious.
Desmond’s best and ironically most funny line from the episode is, “are the best parts of life really just momentary distractions to keep yourself busy so you don’t think of the harsh realities of life for a second?”
Charlie knows this guy is a lost cause, and takes him to sign papers that say that they couldn’t make him smile.
As the characters enter the building, a tiny monster that’s been terrorizing the rest of the smiling friends’ company staff runs towards Desmond. Desmond shoots the monster and then, in hilarious fashion, finds his calling and finally, smiles.
Most of that sounds pretty silly and downright ridiculous, but when you think about it, Pim and Desmond represent two schools of thought when approaching an outlook on life.
You can be Desmond: a cynic, who refuses to find joy in anything, even when times are fun. Or you can be Pim: positive, cheery and optimistic.
This episode also displays without that guidance, a purpose, or sense of fulfillment, we all can feel like Desmond from time to time.
“Everything has a certain meaning behind it. Things are always different to somebody else,” said McClain.
