Violence In Entertainment
Arnold, an advanced theologian, had given a lot of thought to violence in entertainment.
Virtually no one on Earth (except Arnold) realized that the use of violence in entertainment was regulated by a pact between God and the Devil, drawn in the first centuries A.D., after the debut of Oedipus Rex. God allowed for some violence in entertainment, having ensured it was written in the Bible. The Devil did not disagree because violence corrupts.
At first, with stage plays, the pact was simple enough, even as novels were written. Where it all fell apart was, as so many opinionate, because of Hollywood. Violence could be depicted in many ways, directly and vividly, and served many needs. Audiences looked for thrills. Creators loved being profitable.
Being an advanced theologian, Arnold (remember him?) was invited to sit in to the once-a-century round table with God and the Devil. Arnold sat in the audience, between the Angels and Demons, the sweet smell of love on one side, the stench of decay on the other. God and the Devil agreed that violence in entertainment served a purpose, a centuries old compromise, with God being rather condescending and the Devil telling God it was right.
Arnold returned to his apartment awed and unsettled. He saw the Devil working a con job on God. If the Devil had suckered God on entertainment, what else had it succeeded in? Just how smart was God?
Originally Arnold thought this would be about squibs spurting blood and horror films. Now it was about God looking the other way because of arrogance. Would a world without violence in entertainment be a more peaceful world? Or was violence an outlet?
Arnold did not know it mattered. He yearned to speak about it with God, but God was not open to criticism. The Devil was always open to chat.
Arnold turned on Netflix and worried for the future.