MDI Thespianitis

[HKHaugan]

MDI (Thespianitis)

 With all the new diseases coming into our culture there is one that seems to be most publicized and, having numerous symptoms, causes allergic reactions and is contagious. It’s thespianitis. It has a central gestation location in a suburb of Los Angeles known as Hollywood and seems to infect personalities whose only skill is to assume personality change when given what is known as a script. But something happens when they gather in meetings called award ceremonies and interviews where no scripts are available. Lacking scripts the infection causes calibrated emotional outbursts. Symptoms include a condition called obscenitosis which indicates the person suffering from thespianitis cannot carry on a conversation without the use of obscene language and gestures. This seems to be accompanied by a fading ability to use reason and intellect when describing anyone or anything with which they disagree. Facial grimaces and grunting sounds replace linguistic communication. One analyst has described this condition as MDI, manic-depressive inertia. This condition comes from arrested adolescent or pubescent emotional development that induces fear causing constant personal identity crises, emotional diatribes and the absence of reasoned ideas and concepts.

 There are many TV and cinematic studios inhabited by these infected denizens. Having access to numerous media outlets many of their employees suffer the same kind of debilitating and degenerating symptoms. There are a few whose minds and hearts seem immune but those who are infected tend to abuse, insult and defame those who are immune. The closest term to describe the atmosphere in their gatherings is hate which seems to arise from within the infected, a kind of self-hate inducing gender confusion and insecurity. Lack of scripted material, fear of failure, public exposure and self-realization dominate the thespianitic sufferer. There used to be the Academy Awards for excellence in dramatic undertaking. But this disease has become so embedded in that area it might best be named the Obies, the Obscene Outburst Awards for those whose symptoms are the most applauded.

 Many of the sufferers are professional athletes, sports and news reporters, columnists, college professors and numerous anarchistic groupings crippled by this degenerative disease. There is a cure. Many of us know what it is, how to deal with it and the way to share it.