Issue 42 - Columbia: A Journal of Literature and Art

which is sometilnes referred to as What Cannot Be Said.
Agony decides the fate of Theater People. Theater People who
lose a loved one become Showfolks; Theater People whose loved one
enters into Laughter become Stolen Pets.
Upon the death of his loved one, a Showfolk is awarded a cash
prize equal to 100 times the average yearly salary. During Agony, What Can Be Said is alive with contradictory
Showfolks, because of their proximity to those who enter into
but never leave Agony, feel a legitimate need to be looked at
and/or heard. Thus, when they become Tenants, and so long as
they remain Tenants, they are required to work a job in the television
or radio industries as newscasters, game-show hosts, or talkshow
hosts. These positions allow them to be themselves, more or
less, and to be looked at and/or heard. Most will pursue training
in the field so as to compete with other Showfolks for the elite
positions, but many will eschew training
and thereby bring a variety of obstinate
Upon the death
of his loved one,
aShowfolk is
awarded acash
prize equal to
100 times the
average yearly
salary.
peculiarities to local media.
Television and radio stations, when
they are hiring for on-air positions, are
reqUired by law to hire Showfolks before
they hire anyone else. This means that a
Showfolk applicant will beat out all non­
Showfolks for the job, even if the
Showfolk in question has had no training
- indeed, even if the Showfolk in
question is not able to speak. His only
competition is other Showfolks. In the
beginning, when there have been relatively
few Agonies, there will be relatively
few Showfolks, and these few will be
inclined to seek out the most glamorous jobs at the most popular
stations. A smaller portion will no doubt yearn to stay close to home,
and some may seek out positions that allow them to maintain something
close to anonylnity. As Agonies accrue, Showfolks will become
less anomalous, though not necessarily less exotic - will become a
caste, almost - and will saturate all levels of TV and radio "talk."
A Stolen Pet, if his loved one arrives dead in Laughter, is known
thereafter as a Shock Jock. Shock Jocks are awarded a cash prize
equal to 500 times the average yearly salary. Shock Jocks, once they
have received their award, are allowed to apply for and to work at
any job they can get, but they may not receive pay for the work they
do. Stolen Pets who are not Shock Jocks remain Stolen Pets and
receive no monetary award.
wishes. II