I’m not a doctor, and I certainly don’t play one on TV.

But I have heard that prolonged exposure to news media and and all this discussion of pandemics is bad for you. I won’t get into the psychology of it, but news in a time like this has a way of making people crazy.

I have known that people watch dramas that showcase the issue they’re facing, but I have usually avoided such content (at least consciously). Then in what I considered a perverse move, I started looking for pandemic dramas online: Contagion, Armageddon, Pandemic, 48 Days Later, etc.

So I posted about this, and many of my friends showed their approval and understanding. Tony Barnes chimed in: “It’s cathartic.”

Catharsis:

a: purification or purgation of the emotions (such as pity and fear) primarily through art

b: a purification or purgation that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tension

This article in GQ had a bit to say about it:

“Why Coronavirus Makes You Want To Wach Contagion”
https://www.gq.com/story/why-coronavirus-makes-you-want-to-watch-contagion

Well, this is a new one for me, as I usually get by well enough without it. So I’m not promoting the idea of looking for pain, but  there may be a way for this kind of media to do you some good. But, if they leave you feeling like shit, find something else to do.

What did you watch during the pandemic?