Submitted by James Folsom on Mon, 07/04/2011 - 09:55
There is a difference between living and existing.
The Colony. An experiment to see what it might be like after a global disaster wipes out everything. They took ten people and set them in an Armageddon type setting. No running water, no electricity, no comforts of any kind. Basically a bunch of abandoned buildings, nothing else and their survival instincts is all they have.
My first thoughts while watching it are that there are some things that a show just cannot re-create in an "experiment" such as this. For instance, had there been a real global disaster there would be dead bodies everywhere rotting in the streets. Also some of the survivors if not all of them, would be injured or sick. You can't really inflict an injury or disease on a show participant. But it's a TV show so they are doing what they can. All in all they did a good job.
Another thing, the people on the show know this is temporary. They know that they will one day go back to comfortable beds, air conditioning, full refrigerators and cable TV. If it was real and they KNOW those days are gone forever and that what they are living now is permanent, would they have the will to go on? I don't know that I would.
The first thing that is interesting to me is how quite a few people go into "survival mode" and just like that turn into animals. They no longer have human traits like compassion, trust, politeness. It's all about being wary of people. You have to protect yourself. If someone steals from you, it is not like you can go to the store and replace it. It could mean life or death. So you will kill to protect what is yours. Again this begs the question...is this how you want to live? Do you want to be an animal? Or would it be better to die?
My first thoughts while watching it are that there are some things that a show just cannot re-create in an "experiment" such as this. For instance, had there been a real global disaster there would be dead bodies everywhere rotting in the streets. Also some of the survivors if not all of them, would be injured or sick. You can't really inflict an injury or disease on a show participant. But it's a TV show so they are doing what they can. All in all they did a good job.
Another thing, the people on the show know this is temporary. They know that they will one day go back to comfortable beds, air conditioning, full refrigerators and cable TV. If it was real and they KNOW those days are gone forever and that what they are living now is permanent, would they have the will to go on? I don't know that I would.
The first thing that is interesting to me is how quite a few people go into "survival mode" and just like that turn into animals. They no longer have human traits like compassion, trust, politeness. It's all about being wary of people. You have to protect yourself. If someone steals from you, it is not like you can go to the store and replace it. It could mean life or death. So you will kill to protect what is yours. Again this begs the question...is this how you want to live? Do you want to be an animal? Or would it be better to die?
Or is it possible to rise up out of mediocrity, and become a leader, exhibiting calm and clear reasoning in a time of stress and fear?
Whatever takes place, watching our people on The Colony figure out ways to filter dirty water and make it drinkable, use old batteries to light up their surroundings, figure out how to make fire to dry their clothes with -- it is pretty amazing.
Whatever takes place, watching our people on The Colony figure out ways to filter dirty water and make it drinkable, use old batteries to light up their surroundings, figure out how to make fire to dry their clothes with -- it is pretty amazing.
It's also amazing that the people who become the most useful are the "handy-man" types. The people who in our society make the least money and are probably looked down upon the most are the most necessary in this world.
Interesting. Perhaps we should give them more credit for the work they do today? I can see Larry the Cable Guy and the cast of Swamp Men, Monster Garage, and American Pickers suddenly becoming the heroes in the aftermath of widespread disaster.
Though The Colony makes some good points, the show does leave out a few key areas.
Though The Colony makes some good points, the show does leave out a few key areas.
What I'd really like to see is real-life filming of situations like this (modern day disasters) and interviews with people (for example) who were stuck in the Superdome during Hurricane Katrina. That was real. Those people were stuck in that building and had to fend for themselves. It was a mess. It was chaos and utter confusion for many. What went on in there? That's what would tell you how it would really be like. I'm guessing there was plenty of disgusting things. It had to be. Because to this day we still haven't seen any pictures of what it looked like in there after the storm was over and everybody was taken out. No TV shows, no movies, nothing. That is how horrible it may have been. So, what if the entire world was like that, after a series of disasters? I say no thanks, just go ahead and kill me.
I wouldn't want to face this. It's too horrifying to consider. Perhaps you're brave enough to face this -- kuddos to you. Look at Kevin Costner in the
post-apocalyptic movie, "The Postman". Just an average guy that rose up, and made a life for himself, despite the ashes of a fallen world.
Maybe that's you. I say go for it then. You could be the next Mad Max. Or not. Well, if you want to be either, you better start training.
You better know how to fight. You better know how to use weapons. And you better know how to connect with people, and motivate people to rebuild
and not give up on hope.
There is a difference between living and existing.
What I would ask myself is do I just want to exist? The answer is no.
But apparently some people will do what they have to do. Like Mad Max.
But apparently some people will do what they have to do. Like Mad Max.
After all, in real life and not in the movies, there have been countless disasters such as the European "Black Plague" where humans persevered and made it through.
Imagine a time where half the people on a continent are gone. It would be easy to give up. But our forefathers evidently did not or we wouldn't be here.
So who knows, maybe faced with the situation even people like me would have a greater will not to die than we think. Maybe knowing the survival of the species depending on us would make us rise to the occasion?
So who knows, maybe faced with the situation even people like me would have a greater will not to die than we think. Maybe knowing the survival of the species depending on us would make us rise to the occasion?
Great Article!
Great article! I wish I could've gotten to watch the show. You did a great job of showing both sides of the story: how they worked well with the situation but also what they could've done better. You're right about so much: that we'll never be able to really tell what it'll be like in a post-apocolyptic world and we'll never know if we have what it takes to survive.
Seeing your point of view on the handyman role in this world is almost worth a laugh. I agree with your opinion, but I got a kick out of the way you stated it and the examples you used. I guess it'll make us look at those "handyman" type of people with perhaps a little more respect. We all hope we'll have what it takes to survive and re-create another life in a world after Armageddon.