Why are we so drawn to death? A reflection on Media’s role in shaping our minds
There is no other species in the world that delights as much as humans in witnessing images of death. A few weeks ago, I said to my husband, “I don’t want to watch any more movies or shows with dead bodies.” He replied, “That won’t be easy!” And he’s right. It seems nearly impossible to turn on the TV, scroll through social media, or even glance at a news feed without encountering tales of murder, violence, and death, as though this were the only way to captivate an audience’s attention.
Every time I open Google News, particularly in the “Around Me” section, it’s a flood of violent headlines: suicide, murder, assault. This constant stream is not just a passive experience, our minds absorb these images. We are bombarded daily with visuals tied to death, violence, and danger, yet rarely are we shown anything that celebrates life, growth, or connection.
This bombardment has a profound impact on our view of the world. Our minds become more fragmented, more compartmentalized, as we try to process an endless parade of horrors. What we see reinforces a vision of life where only isolated, violent acts are worth noticing. We’re given no insight into the intricate, nurturing relationships that form the foundation of all living systems.
Even nature itself has become tinged with danger in our collective psyche. Media landscapes are saturated with survival shows portraying the wilderness as a deadly adversary to be conquered. This narrative has seeped into our language, embedding expressions like “in the eye of the storm,” “drowning in problems,” “a cloud over one’s head,” “out of the woods,” “swimming against the tide,” “when it rains, it pours”,…. Each of these phrases perpetuates an adversarial relationship with nature.
This brings me to question the role of media today. Rather than using their vast reach to help us cultivate a nuanced, discerning view of the world, mainstream media often stuns us with a barrage of disjointed facts, isolating incidents, and tragedies. In this cycle, there’s little time for self-reflection or understanding the broader picture.
What if media could foster discernment, empowering people to question how they think, to look at the world through a new lens, to ask deeper questions, and to reconnect with the vibrancy of life?
Imagine a media that showcases the interconnectedness of all things, that invites audiences to understand mutual effects, reciprocity, and the intricate web of life that surrounds us. Such a regenerative media approach would allow viewers to develop their own understanding of the world, enhancing their ability to discern patterns and see beyond immediate crises. It could unlock potential, sparking individual and collective transformation by revealing a new vision of the world, one that moves us toward empathy, understanding, and unity with the living systems we’re part of.
Through a regenerative lens, media could serve as a catalyst for positive change, encouraging us to move beyond passive consumption and toward a more mindful, interconnected way of seeing the world. This shift in perspective could empower audiences to not only witness life but to participate in it actively, cultivating the resilience and wisdom needed to thrive amid the inevitable challenges. A media designed to inspire and connect could, at last, remind us of our own role in the grand tapestry of life.