Tragedy - why is it interesting?

My thoughts on it:

To make a journal sellable, newspapers and magazines specialize on articles that attract a vast number of reader’s interest. As a rule of thumb, a story that catches a reader’s attention is one that deals with human emotions.  How an individual responds to a certain situation is dependent on various factors such as: a person’s social status, educational attainment, exposure, race and gender.  Considering the law of supply and demand, why the demand for articles such as these?

Romantic relationships are not always built on openness, trust, and intimacy. These relationships are full of paradoxes which people often overlook and ignore. Being emotionally impaired brings out our monsters -- our fears, our insecurities, and the real us. According to studies, “infidelity entails somewhat different negative consequences for men and women, men and women display different emotional and behavioral reactions aimed at reducing the costs of infidelity.”

The New Encyclopedia Britannica reports that, "adultery seems to be as universal and, in some instances, as common as marriage." Imagine the inconsolable grief and pain, not to mention the confusion, anxiety, and sleepless nights? When all is out in the open, the faithful spouse may survive the nightmare, but his or her scars will not easily heal, and the damage done to the marriage may never be completely repaired.

Death - a permanent cessation of all vital functions or the end of life is expected to happen to every individual, but it is something that we can never be prepared for. A tragic death however, is a different story. When an atrocious incident happens it is a big probability that you may even question the value of your own life, or wonder how the person involved deserved such destiny. The tragic events that we read can affect us and how we feel.

So why do reader’s read stories about romantic betrayals, marital infidelities and tragic deaths? The common feeling or emotion I can notice on these topics basically is the unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual damage – pain. “Pain spares no one”. Reading articles such as these may help the reader reduce stress and anxiety. Awareness through reading can make a person realize and understand how to deal with the excruciating pain they have been experiencing. Reading articles about tragic events may be somewhat gratifying for the reader; it may be one factor for them to realize that they are not alone, and that there are worst situations compared to what they have encountered. An agonizing editorial focusing on topics we are sensitive to motivates us from potentially damaging situations, protect ourselves while we heal, and avoid those situations in the future. It is a big probability that these articles may help the reader move on with life and let them appreciate the current situation he/she is in.  In contrast, articles that focus on abysmal misery may serve as a learning ground for others. These articles contain knowledgeable information that may come handy for future endeavors. Ironically, even the most knowledgeable individual will be unprepared to deal with this kind of situation.

Another factor is inquisitiveness. People are often curious of another person’s misfortune and what brought about such horrible situations.  A number try to draw up conclusions on why such occurrences had happened and who the culprits may have been or worst, feel anger towards the person who they feel caused the misfortune. Some are attracted to articles such as these because of the media hype of highlighting these sagas, especially when they affect known personalities, for instance royalty and entertainment personalities.

A poignant story about royalty’s romantic betrayal, infidelity or tragic death may not be the same as what may have happened to a normal being, yet the fact that it did happen, sends a message that life is not a fairy tale. These heartrending proceedings may happen to any persona.  The rich, poor, male, female, Asian or American, well bred or those of humble beginning may encounter the pain brought about by the situations mentioned above.  Hence the articles on these topics cover a vast number of readers, whose attention may some way or the other attract their attention.

The aspect those predicaments convey are timeless, meaning that it may happen in any generation or era, in another factor too, one can consider. Articles which attracts a reader’s attention  at first release and succeeding releases or re-runs, is another plus factor too for the publication industry.  More publications or followings would definitely mean more profit.

The drama brought about by the media are also a source of excitement and entertainment, to show us that every new day a new occurrence can come, thus making the drama longer and having a serial in the process. I remember when I was young; I was so inclined to buy seventeen magazines because their monthly publication contained a story about romantic infidelities.

Exciting events wake up a person’s senses to make it known that at least there is something different from what is happening every day.  When we start to read something that does not end on a specific article or day, we look forward to the succeeding events, consequently making the publication more sellable.  This is definitely one of the main objectives of a magazine or news paper, it basically is not merely for information but for profit as well.

The situations enumerated are not everyday occurrences in spite of it not being timeless. The reality that they can happen and spare no one is what makes it more interesting to many.