Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Price is Right: A Torture Wheel of Fortune" by Edward Dorn is a darkly satirical poem that uses the framework of a game show to critique and highlight the voyeuristic and often merciless nature of media consumption, as well as the ethical and moral contradictions in society. Dorn transforms a familiar television format into a dystopian nightmare, where the stakes are painfully real and the entertainment value is derived from human suffering.

The poem begins with an unsettling scene where contestants are connected to devices that torture them for incorrect answers or perhaps for the audience's amusement. This setting immediately challenges the reader by juxtaposing the typically upbeat atmosphere of a game show with the grim reality of physical torture. The contestants' nervousness and their fiddling with the wires attached to their privates amplify the horror and the perverse inversion of the game show genre.

The mention of the contestants' anxiety, particularly the men's concern "over the question of balls" and the women being "more querulous," introduces a gendered perspective on fear and apprehension. This not only heightens the tension but also subtly critiques societal gender norms and expectations, especially under extreme stress.

Dorn cleverly integrates a socio-political commentary within the format of a question about why anti-abortionists hadn't commented on a Baboon Heart transplant. The contestant's guess—that it was due to the "moral majority's nervous concern with evolution"—injects a critique of political and religious groups who often engage in selective moral debates. This reflects on how certain scientific advancements challenge or complicate entrenched ideological positions.

The host's reaction to the contestant’s answer, where he "immediately threw the switch" causing pain and suffering, underscores the cruelty inherent in this dystopian game show. This act of violence is disturbingly met with the "delight of the vast viewership," estimated at 100 million, pointing to a societal desensitization to violence and suffering, magnified and normalized by media portrayal.

The poem ends on a chilling note, emphasizing the collective relief of the viewers who are "delighted not to be on the show." This starkly illustrates the poem's critique of contemporary media culture: a culture that often thrives on schadenfreude and exploits human suffering for entertainment. The mention that "not one in a million knew the answer" suggests a widespread ignorance or apathy that enables such a spectacle, highlighting the complicity of the audience in the perpetuation of this brutal entertainment form.

Overall, Dorn's poem is a provocative reflection on the ethics of entertainment, the manipulation of public perception by media, and the moral complexities of modern society. It forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the consumption of media violence and the ethical boundaries of entertainment.

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