The Commentator

Torah and Pop-Culture.  I’ve thought about it, I guess.  I grew up in a home where the movies I watched were carefully monitored, I was permitted to pick one TV show a week to watch and I rarely listened to the radio.  Things aren’t so different now except that I now monitor my own exposure to “what’s out there.”  It’s obvious to me that this behavior is primarily driven by a sensitivity to halakha and the morals that halakha reflects.  The messages and underlying assumptions in so much of pop-culture espouse the antithesis of the ideals with which I hope to lead my life as a halakhic individual.  I find it necessary to weed out the good (or at least neutral) from the bad.

After reading some of the articles included in this issue, I asked myself again: Have I really thought about Torah and pop-culture? What is their relationship? Do I even have an opinion on this matter or am I just following my impulses? I would never write off pop-culture completely nor can I ever embrace it entirely.  I find value in its entertainment and its providing an opportunity for a healthy break, yet I also see harm in many of the subversive messages embedded within many movies, TV shows, magazines and songs.  Those that argue that pop culture has what to teach us through the moral messages and discovery of self that it provides often point to one line or one scene, forgetting the broader picture that surrounds it.  And while I too appreciate that some movies have inspiring messages and thought provoking themes, I wonder if we could not have gotten the same benefit from a different source, one about which we have no concerns.  So why do I sometimes watch movies or an occasional TV show? To be honest, because I enjoy it!  Recognizing that as the truthful answer I can move forward, being mindful of how much time I spend on these activities and being cautious of what I select for my entertainment.  And sure, my eyes will light up when I come across those sharp and concise lines offering insight into my life or a movie whose theme forces me to think deeply about an important topic.  

What do I think about Torah and pop-culture? I think that the questions are better than the answers.  But I think that as long as we are questioning, monitoring, filtering and constantly evaluating our behavior we can find some good, healthy entertainment in the world of pop-culture.

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