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In the summer of 1864, an entrepreneur built an observation tower just outside the walls of the federal prison at Elmira, New York. He charged 15 cents for citizens to climb the tower and observe the Confederate prisoners below. Ginger cakes and drinks were sold. The venture paid for itself in a matter of weeks. Then winter came.
Shortly afterward another observation tower was constructed by another business interest, and competition being what it is, the cost for admission was driven to 10 cents. Business was booming.
A generation ago, television entertainment ventured into shock modes regarding outlandish relational turmoil and screams for validation from guests who longed for an escape from anonymity. Audiences laughed at the absurdity, confidently comforted by the normalcy that supposedly governed their lives. But the guests left with the assertion that at least their story made it to the screen.
Television ratings remained strong enough to maintain the genre for a few more years. Then came social media forms lending themselves to some of the same attention-getting over-reaches.
Über den Autor / die Autorin
Paul D. Patton is Professor Emeritus of Communication and Media at Spring Arbor University in Michigan. He is also an ordained minister and trained counselor. He was on the pastoral staff at Trinity Church in Metro Detroit from 1978-1993, where he founded Trinity House Theater, an experiment in the integration of Christian faith and the theater arts. He is the author of over thirty produced stage plays, radio plays, and performance essays.
Robert H. Woods, Jr. is the Executive Director for the Christianity and Communication Studies Network (www.theccsn.com). He has taught in Christian higher education for more than twenty years. He is the editor or author of over a dozen books. He resides in Washington state with his wife, Rebekah.
