SHOCKING!

SHOCKING!

I read this piece  on magazines with amusement as they talk about “shocking” covers sell more copies of magazines…(duh). Of course  “shock” used right, is a powerful differentiator….  and shocking in itself that this BASIC idea warrants an article as if it’s some revelation. It has a bad name due to some bad shock jocks, tabloids,  reality shows and junk culture in general. Shock DOESN’T mean X rated or evil!  Instead, it’s executing a degree of noticeability to awaken people and cut through the noise in a media saturated world.   And that’s usually good.

In reality,  shock is that powerful differentiator,  as in:

Shockingly DANGEROUS  as in Coronavirus 

Shockingly DISTURBING as in mass shootings

Shockingly WHACKED as in Family Guy

Shockingly AUTHENTIC as in a well crafted series such as The Sopranos was

Shockingly COOL as a groundbreaking new device or app

Shockingly INSANE as in Modern Politics

Shockingly FUNNY  as a George Carlin was

Shockingly BEAUTIFUL as in a Hubble Space Photo

Shockingly DUMB as in (put idiot celebrity here)

Shockingly OUTRAGEOUS as in Lady Gaga or this years version.

Shockingly  THOUGHT PROVOKING as in a powerful story or report.,  in terms of rising above the noise.

SHOCK, DONE RIGHT, CAN BE ENLIGHTENING,  as it can magnify to teach and inform on a higher level , because it cuts through the wall of average.  In a programming sense,  shock can be a very positive thing when done for the right reasons.