Does this bizarre story in the world of sports prove that digital media is capable of producing cathartic experiences?
I don’t know how many of you have been following Manti Te’o’s story, but I couldn’t help thinking about our discussions in class about catharsis and flow.
After initiating an online relationship with a woman he knew as Lennay Kekua, top NFL prospect Manti Te’o was surprised to eventually realize he was a part of a hoax; that his girlfriend was not real. I find this story really interesting when considering the similarities between Te’o’s relationship with Kekua and our relationship with cinema. It is from this perspective that I believe this bizarre story demonstrates a cathartic experience produced by digital media (Facebook to be exact); that the user (Te’o) becomes emotionally involved with a fictional character, an imitation of reality that exploits his emotions and feelings through the use of tragedy.
http://www.thestar.com/sports/football/article/1316334–manti-te-o-s-dead-girlfriend-hoax-was-notre-dame-player-victim-or-was-he-in-on-it
Nick