A Review of 24

I had never seen the show 24 before we saw it in class. I was not surprised nor was i shocked to see the character being portrayed as some sort of hero who does not follow the rules or "slightly" bends them. This is seen and portrayed in just about every book, movie, or play ever written. There has to be a good guy and some evil thing out there that he must stop or it would never sell. People strive and want to see others hurt or punished for their wrong doings. This is seen in Foucault's discussion of town viewings of punishment or torture. Since we don't gather around the town square to watch the legal system punish bad guys we settle for watching bad guys on t.v. get punished instead.

The show is not one I would watch in particular. It isn't my thing, but feelings aside, the show was very moving and suspenseful. There wasn't a moment something wasn't happening. It was quick paced and action packed. It was also easy to follow what was going on. I like when I know what is going on from all angles, it makes it interesting.

So, let's discuss Jack Bauer a little. Who is he really? We all know he isn't real. He does not exist any more than Steven Segal's character in The Glimmerman did. Besides, as the producers want us to think, wouldn't you rather him be on our side. The government is not completely corrupt. There are good agencies who actually want to help the American people and want to see justice done. This is a show based on Americans' feelings at a time when they were in desperate need of answers after 9-11. The producers were trying to show that the government had reasons for the way they treated the prisoners they seized. Could the government have had the show written to try to sway our thinking so we would be sympathetic to those who torture others? I'm not sure, I doubt it, but I wouldn't rule it out.

On a side note: What gives someone the right to torture another? Are there acceptable circumstances? If so, what are they and who determines them acceptable? Is torture nothing more than our imagination's way of telling us something isn't right?