Hey Kevster,
I completely agree with your statement that in the past institutions with the loudest voices were more restrictive in nature. I would argue, however, that the loud voice of a free press and freedom of artistic creation in entertainment are good things. These institutions don't have the direct control over our lives that institutions like the church or an absolute monarchy had in the past and indeed many dictatorships today still have. Your stated choice not to watch or read or listen to much of this is a perfect example of these institutions lack of authority to restrict our behavior. If one doesn't like something, then choose something else. There are more choices today than ever. There were less in the past. In TV particularly, there is immensely more material produced than even 25 years ago, and if one can't find anything currently, new technologies are allowing us to enjoy just about anything from the past.
I don't agree, though, that entertainment shapes culture more than it reflects it. I believe art emerges from people's life experiences. Writer's typically draw on things they have heard about or read about or experienced directly. Creating something completely from imagination is rare indeed. How many people could relate to such a thing? Even fantasy and science fiction often draw inspiration from real life. Good writers tweak and manipulate those ideas into new and entertaining concepts. The skewing of stories you mention is exactly the kind of creativity that makes things interesting for many. I have an analogy now.
Some people like to eat the same types of food regularly (my sister
) because it's familiar and comforting, while others like to try lots of new things or it becomes repetitive and boring. That's more me. Sometimes I end up trying a dish I don't like and I don't have it any more, but I had the choice. Neither behavior is right or wrong, and both can be happy it there are lot's of choices. One just chooses fewer.
Speaking of commonly shared human experience seems tough to nail down. Even the universal theme of love can be experienced differently as, and I hesitate to bring it up, witnessed by heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, non-monogamous, polygamous and other types of relationships throughout history. I think these all represent some type of love, but I don't share most of these types of love experiences. I'm really not talking about the legality or political views of these experiences, rather more simply that they are all human experiences. Bill Paxton was in a show about a polygamous marriage a few years back. I never actually watched it, and can't think of the name at the moment, but I remember thinking it was pretty cool that the topic was being explored in a series. The creator's life experience seems to have been quite different than mine. I know very little about the subject.
I'm actually with you in that I don't watch much network television anymore. My son and I did enjoy Agent Carter, but I have no idea about the original source material. My son likes all the super hero stuff and I think Haley Atwell is a pretty good actress. I really enjoyed her performance and several others in the miniseries Pillars of the Earth. Did you ever see it?
I guess I just like the idea of having lots of choices even if I don't choose many of them.