Signs of Life in the USA
Calley Hagen
Matt Montoya
English 101
14 October 2014
A Response to Stephen Garrett’s “Why We Love TV’s Anti-heroes” In the reading, “Why We Love TV’s Anti-heroes” by Stephen Garrett, he points out that anti-heroes are becoming more popular than the traditional hero. Garrett states, “the word hero is abused in the news, the sports reports, and even in conversation” (318). For example tabloids recognize someone who battles a drug addiction and overcomes it or a substitute kicker for the football game kick the winning field goal (318). You see he argues that traditional heroes are “boring” and that there are no longer any more real heroes (318-321). Anti-heroes are characters or people who are just evil but still get the viewers to like them. When Garrett talks about anti-heroes taking over TV he uses examples like Tony Soprano to Don Draper who are all known for doing the wrong things but still retaining sympathy from the viewers. Garrett also talks about in his writing how The Newsweek bore a headline “Too Much of a Bad Thing”. The piece argued that because it appears on TV that no one can be truly good or evil, something they are referring to as an “anti-hero overload”. Garrett believes there is no going back to traditional heroes and that they don’t fit in anymore. I believe anti-heroes are taking over TV because no one really knows what is going to happen next, they are always on the edge of their seat waiting for more unlike the traditional hero movies. In the text he uses examples like Grey’s Anatomy, the characters aren’t bad doctors but drama and medical issues makes them seem like they aren’t all genuine to their duty. For example, in the show an intern Izzy Stevens falls in love with a patient, for those of you who don’t know that is beyond bad and is against so many rules. Anyway the patient is dying and Izzy will pretty much do anything to make sure he lives so they can be together. She happens to try to “kill” him so he will be at the top of the
Matt Montoya
English 101
14 October 2014
A Response to Stephen Garrett’s “Why We Love TV’s Anti-heroes” In the reading, “Why We Love TV’s Anti-heroes” by Stephen Garrett, he points out that anti-heroes are becoming more popular than the traditional hero. Garrett states, “the word hero is abused in the news, the sports reports, and even in conversation” (318). For example tabloids recognize someone who battles a drug addiction and overcomes it or a substitute kicker for the football game kick the winning field goal (318). You see he argues that traditional heroes are “boring” and that there are no longer any more real heroes (318-321). Anti-heroes are characters or people who are just evil but still get the viewers to like them. When Garrett talks about anti-heroes taking over TV he uses examples like Tony Soprano to Don Draper who are all known for doing the wrong things but still retaining sympathy from the viewers. Garrett also talks about in his writing how The Newsweek bore a headline “Too Much of a Bad Thing”. The piece argued that because it appears on TV that no one can be truly good or evil, something they are referring to as an “anti-hero overload”. Garrett believes there is no going back to traditional heroes and that they don’t fit in anymore. I believe anti-heroes are taking over TV because no one really knows what is going to happen next, they are always on the edge of their seat waiting for more unlike the traditional hero movies. In the text he uses examples like Grey’s Anatomy, the characters aren’t bad doctors but drama and medical issues makes them seem like they aren’t all genuine to their duty. For example, in the show an intern Izzy Stevens falls in love with a patient, for those of you who don’t know that is beyond bad and is against so many rules. Anyway the patient is dying and Izzy will pretty much do anything to make sure he lives so they can be together. She happens to try to “kill” him so he will be at the top of the