"Melodrama is not merely a type of film or literary genre, but a pervasive cultural mode that structures the presentation of political discourse and national identity in contemporary America." (Elisabeth Anker, "From Politics to Evil - Melodrama and State Power")

"The American media's historical obsession with simplified narratives of good and evil and our popular culture's ubiquitous melodramatic heroes, villains and victims are driving ambiguity and complexity from the public sphere. We're beginning to look and act like the characters in these deterministic fantasies. In America, democracy is becoming melodramocracy." (Glenn W. Smith, "Snidely, Saddam and Melodramocracy")

I submit that an election is NOT a melodrama, the electors are neither rescuers nor victims and the candidates are neither victims nor rescuers. The adoption or assignation of melodramatic roles is a disservice to democracy ... and mental health.

Once upon a time, it's my understanding, feminist studies explored the melodramatic narrative in order to better understand how it served to subordinate women. In "my day," the adoption of such staging was eschewed by me and the people I respected. Times change. Sometimes for the worse.



I am neither a sociologist nor psychologist. If I were, I suppose I could better express the manipulative adoption of such a paradigm for unhealthy purposes. I'd merely suggest that it's probably to the benefit of others to explore this for themselves.

I was seen to be breaking DU rules in my attempt to explore this in a thread. It was NOT my intention to violate the rules. I apologize for any misunderstanding.