The flight attendants tell us to look around and find our nearest emergency exit, just in case we may need it. I find that to be a metaphor for life. The performing arts have for centuries been a place for audiences to escape, whether it be from the drudgery of serfdom, or from the ravages of war, or from the piles of laundry. The escape can be a retreat from overwhelm, a safe haven while procrastinating, or just a reprieve from boredom. There's even that word that we learned in high school English class: catharsis. The term was first used by Aristotle, and implies emotional cleansing brought on by experiencing the emotions (sorrow, anger, laughter, pity) of the actors on stage. These displaced emotions (felt without risk) result in an emotional restoration and
revitalization of the audience. And it sure beats laundry.
With the advent of television, the opportunity for catharsis has increased to the point that it has been cheapened to the most mundane escapism. One can easily find something to laugh at (rarely with), or something to cry about (either real or imaginary), or someone to pity, all with just the push of a few buttons. From a child's perspective, it is most difficult anymore to distinguish the blurred line between real and imaginary, realistic and ridiculous, or even good and evil. To find a venue that is clear on these distinctions, while being entertaining for both parents and children, is difficult indeed. To find it and be able to trust that the actors will not appear on the cover of a tabloid within the week is even more rare.
We have enjoyed our adventure with Stargate, watching the episodes with cult-like fervor, as if it were our own personal Rocky Horror Picture Show. We know the lines; we know the characters; we know the stories. We even know the actors. We've taken the opportunity to go a step further and join others in this crazy arena of fandom, and trust me, we are the normal ones. We've actually made some crazy friends along the way. What a trip it is to be in a room full of people loving the same obscure television show that you do, especially when you are used to people thinking you like Star Trek. It means so much as a parent to be able to show my children the backside of a set, or that the actors are just people. It means so much to me as a woman to have hugged MacGyver.
Our Stargate buddy Allison, had this to say about science fiction and fantasy on a social media post. I found it worth repeating:
"I truly believe that good science fiction and fantasy, in literature, movies and television, can illuminate the struggles of the human condition by stripping away the mundane and banal and getting right to the heart of the matter. Topics that are clouded by prejudices or taboo can be unpacked in an unthreatening setting, allowing for deeper contemplation of root issues. And, it's just plain good escapism to rid the mind of the quotidian in order to process our daily lives." [Allison McVay]
This is our escape (among others) and we will share it with those who may be interested. You two know who you are.
My daughter at Youth Group in February 2009, talking about meeting Richard Dean Anderson of MacGyver fame (who also plays Col. Jack O'Neill on Stargate).
She is at 0:50 and again at 2:35.