In a sequence of events only possible in the internet age I heard a hypothesis about why the AIDS epidemic created the shitty entertainment industry we see today. To be clear, I think there’s a lot of fantastic entertainment coming out but there is some truth to criticisms of the blockbuster orientated industry today.
So, onto the AIDS Hypothesis on Shitty Entertainment.
The Sequence of Events
I’m working on my role-playing games, writing a novel, and watching YouTube, my usual daily activities in retirement when I see a long sequence about Judge Janice Goldberg on Law and Order played by Fran Lebowitz. She’s funny, I say to myself. In the comments I see people know her from her writing. Writer? Off to Wikipedia.
She’s an interesting character indeed. I read the article and see her talking about the tragic effect of AIDS on the theater scene in New York. I think to myself, what? AIDS wrecked the theater scene, what’s that about?
I start thinking. Always dangerous. The more I ponder, the more I think she’s onto something but not just about the theater scene in New York; about the entirety of the plethora of shitty entertainment we see these days.
Why AIDS Created Shitty Entertainment
Who did AIDS kill? Gay men. What do gay men do? They go to the theater. The go to musicals. The go to artsy movies. They love the arts. Now, to be clear, I’m firm in my conviction that stereotypes don’t apply to individuals but we’re not talking about a single person here, we’re talking about group dynamics.
An entire generation of young gay men died of AIDS. Men a bit older than I was at the time, teen and twenties. All of a sudden, theaters are selling fewer tickets, particularly to artsy type shows. Creative shows. What’s left are straight men who like things that go boom and curvy women.
These deaths certainly didn’t destroy the theater or creativity in general but it caused some shows to fail where they might have succeeded. Some shows to never make it to the stage. These shows are written, produced, and financed by older gay men with money. There are fewer opportunities in the industry for young gay men to thrive.
Fewer young, theater loving, gay men to become old gay men with money today. I think you follow my reasoning here.
It’s Not all AIDS of Course
Our current cookie cutter, boom bang, Mary Sue, virtue signaling, generic rut of shitty entertainment isn’t completely driven by the fact there are fewer artsy gay men in the industry but if you don’t think it’s a factor, well, we disagree.
The next time you decide to bitch about Hollywood and shitty entertainment, take a moment to mourn the lost.
Tom Liberman