Needless to say, the images we see on TV of conflict in the region do not give the impression of a dynamic country at all.
Of course, a TV scheduling conflict isn't really something to get worked up about, but on the scale of trivial stressors (i.e. which brunch place to choose and what mid-90s teen movie to stream on Netflix), it's right up there.
The programme is fascinating, but unfortunately seems more interested in the reality TV-style conflict than exploring the condition.
But television loves conflict, and political TV depends on a cast of disturbingly similar pundits and politicians to discuss the issues facing an increasingly diverse nation.
This is why I dig hardcore and dumb-shit pop-punk the most, and don't care about the rest of it: it's very "work hard, then hang out" even if two philosophies like "straight-edge" and "drink beer, pull down your friend's pants, watch TV" are in conflict.
"It makes good TV if there's conflict.
Yes, it's time for the Bush administration to do more to get the poisonous Palestinian-Israeli conflict off TV.
In an inspired cultural mash-up, "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew" aligned reality TV's need for conflict and meltdowns with recovery's need for honesty, humility and group support.
But the novel's legitimate points of view, that Americans suck, for example, are not that new, and there's a real coldness to the way its underlying stance on corn dogs, TV, pollution and nuclear conflict is expressed.
Then, there are the visual rhymes: an early clip of President Nixon, announcing the cessation of the conflict on TV, is echoed by a closeup of a Nixon figurine on a pilot's dashboard, nodding madly as the helicopter dives to its doom.
