Dark comedy Quote by Mary Gaitskill
![“...loading your brain with subliminal messages… How loathsome to turn a sadistic murder into entertainment [in the newspaper] -- and yet how hard not to read about it. What dark comedy to realize that you are scanning for descriptions of torture as you disapprove. Which of course only makes it…” quote by Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1b9/mary-gaitskill-7551_dark-comedy_loading-your-brain-with-subliminal-messa_204085.jpg)
““...loading your brain with subliminal messages… How loathsome to turn a sadistic murder into entertainment [in the newspaper] -- and yet how hard not to read about it. What dark comedy to realize that you are scanning for descriptions of torture as you disapprove. Which of course only makes it more entertaining. "But naturally I was hoping they'd report something grisly," you say to your friends, who chuckle lighthearted acknowledgment of hypocrisy.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The End of the World” by Mary Gaitskill, 1995
The quote critiques how media turns violence into entertainment, exposing our paradoxical fascination with horror while condemning it.
In simple terms: Media makes murder seem entertaining, yet we disapprove of it.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and question your own consumption of violent media.
Themes
media criticism
hypocrisy
violence
entertainment
morality
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- reading news
- watching true crime shows
- discussing media with friends
- self‑reflection on content choices
Key Concepts
cultural critique
psychology
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does you media consumption reflect your values?
- Can you enjoy a story without endorsing its violence?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook the role of personal agency in choosing what to consume.
![“The place Joanne is building inside [herself] has rooms for all of this. Not just rooms. Beautiful ones. For Karl and Jerry and Karen and Nate in his cowboy hat and the hot-tub guy and movie directors and old-lady healers and people trying to love their asses and people who think they're stupid…” quote by Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/117/mary-gaitskill-7551_cowboy-hat_the-place-joanne-is-building-inside-hers_231488.jpg)
![“[On Dr. Strangelove ]: My idea of doing it as a nightmare comedy came in the early weeks of working on the screenplay. [...] What could be more absurd than the very idea of two mega powers willing to wipe out all human life because of an accident, spiced up by political differences that will seem…” quote by Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/467/stanley-kubrick-3001_absurdity_on-dr-strangelove-my-idea-of-doing-it-as_369730.jpg)
