This becomes very true in the new version of American Gladiators. The characters portray stereotypes which stem from the very reality of our society, although in a much more exaggerated form. The audience is enthralled with the battle between the Contenders or real people vs. the Gladiators because it represents the idea of good vs. evil steming back to the story of David and Goliath. The show tries to play on this idea through the physical forms, names, and histories of their Contenders and Gladiators, but also through the language with which they use to describe each. Contenders are described in a way that makes them ordinary, mortal, optimistic or down and out while Gladiators are described as great, bigger, badder, unstoppable, and honored. The attachment that viewers get with the Contenders is based on their histories, like the New York City firefighter, which post 911 has been seen as one of the most heroic figures in America. The Gladiators are all forms of figures similar to mythological or super hero characters, making them seem immortal.

The calculated actions of wrestlers like the Contenders and the Gladiators are like theatre, and appear to be real but in reality are not. Their roles are similar as well because the audience knows the Gladiator will, in most cases, beat the Contender. It is the few Contenders or the few good that overcome evil in wrestling that make the spectacle worth watching. The audience wouldn’t watch if the characters were not what they were familiar with or expected and that includes Contenders and Gladiators. In this way, society is presented with a spectacle to watch in which was formed based around our previous and current actions and beliefs.

feeling: tired
where: my apartment

Purchases: Strategic Media Decisions, $72.00 @ Coffman Union, Bagel & Cream cheese, Smart Water, 2 granola bars, $3.09 @ Gopher Express, Assorted groceries (angel hair pasta, granola bars, mountain blast poweraid, triskets, sharp cheddar cheese, & turkey, $24ish @ Rainbow Foods

Feeling: cold, it dropped 45 degrees in the last 24 hours brrrrr