One of the major themes found in multiple Western literature is that stories are meant to teach us lessons. This can be seen in multiple genres:
- Children’s Books: This genre can be very in your face about the lesson the audience needs to learn. I remember as a child reading “The Little Red Hen” and it basically stated the moral of “those who don’t contribute, don’t deserve the reward” right at the end.
- Romance: This genre can be problematic, but it usually boils down to praising monogamy, faithfulness, and stalking-like tendencies in males towards their beloved female. Obviously, it is difficult to argue that some of these things are morally correct, but it is what is accepted in society. Don’t believe me about the stalking thing? If a guy described how he liked to watch you sleep or loudly played love songs on a boombox outside your bedroom in the middle of the night, would you find that romantic or weird/creepy?
- Horror: Now, this might seem silly because horror movies are just meant to frighten you, right? However, if you think about it most victims in horror movies are guilty of some offensive that makes the audience feel like their death is justified. There are certain rules in horror movies that must be followed like: don’t have sex/steal/do drugs or other very petty crimes (if it is a crime at all).
In fact, many horror books and movies provide a relatively flimsy excuse for why their victims are worthy or not of surviving. For example, moving into a house with a creepy vibe and a bad history? That was a dumb move and it’s your own fault for being killed by a vengeful ghost. Decided to play with a Ouija board or created a summoning circle? You would have been better off reading the bible, but now some demon has possessed your doll/small child/house/whatever.
Either that or the murderous psycho killing people is “justified” in killing you. Dexter, which is both a book and television series, follows the exploits of a “good” serial killer who sates his bloodlust by murdering other killers. Jigsaw from the Saw franchise “teaches” people who have made bad life choices by placing them in life or death situations.
Seriously, what is wrong with humanity?
