Veering off from History to Current Culture - the Sopranos - a ReWatching

The DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE - AGAIN!!

Because I read so many magazines and newspapers, I couldn't help but be drawn into the current crze for re-watching the Sopranos which many media critics have crowned as "the best Tv series in the golden age of tv series." I started watching last night, my second time as I watched it when it was new in the 90's. Once again many themes emerged for me:

1. The immoral and destructive culture of GREED and Each Man for Himself that is at the heart of all crime. ,p/> 2. The capitalist delusion that happiness can be bought and that it comes from money and social prestige.

3. The disdain for others, whether different races or different sexes - the Tribal mentality that all others, outside the tribe of of no worth and also are enemies.

4. The psychopathic lack of consciousness of the value of life. This goes against almost all civilization.

5. The rise of brute force as a measure of success and hence the concept that brute force is at the center of masculinity. ,P/> An often isquoted phlospher whosse mane I will have to look up again said that "Nature is red in tooth and claw without the social contract." The social contract is law, civilization, a set of governing values that all agree to abide by for the good of all and which we see eroded over all the world at present where individual selfish desire and greed have pushed to power at the cost of the common good.

There is a lot to think about in this program and also I wanted to mention the common references to the Roman Empire as in, perhaps the second or third episode where Tony Soprano's says "We are the Romans." It is worth noting that the Roman Empire like the Viking culture was baed on slavery and b rute power to steal from others their land, the lives, and the product of their labor. At various times in our own history we have faced and rejected these negative values as in the second World War when we faced, fought and defeated the Nazi criminal expansion and theft of entire neighboring countries.

Gender is a whole other topic for another time as I am getting ready to go to visit the Camden Shipyard and Maritime Museum for the first time this afternoon and before I go, I have a dog to walk!

Happy Trails whether on land, on water, or on thought waves!

Jo Ann