An Analysis of Bones: Theater or Humanity?

The prime-time drama of the show Bones suggests a lack of emotional connection in real life situations today by bringing the reality of child neglect to the forefront. One way this is spotlighted is through the purposeful names of the show's famous crime fighting duo, Bones and Booth. Bones the lab squint meticulously scrutinizes the forensic evidence at the scene of the crime, while ignoring or downplaying her own reality of of being abandoned by her father. Although her FBI partner Booth helps the victims, he also takes advantage of his public trust position to suggest that an abuse of the powers-that-be results in victimization more often that not. He does this with the help of the silent victims by running rampant from one victim to the next in order to help his stoic partner solve the crime. Perhaps this victimization also runs rampant outside the show and in reality. In short not only is the crime questionable, but the victimization, too, for the emotional evidence is harder to see.

Another way the show Bones brings the reality of child neglect to the front-lines is through the simultaneous implication of theater and therefore humanity. Specifically theater imitates humanity in some fashion, and the second association from the name Booth is president Abe Lincoln's murder in a theater booth. Further although theater is drama for the most part, contradicting humanity are the implied audience members because very few will outright admit to buying the tickets. Blood being spilled in turn fingers the question of whether the audience is an accomplice or whether humanity is also guilty of a crime.

If the would-be theater audience comfortably sitting at home in front of their televisions is guilty for watching the show Bones and for silently witnessing the action taking place on the implied stage, the prime-time show Bones suggests that humanity on a bigger scale is also responsible. Perhaps we are responsible for silencing voices when they need to be heard, and the implications of that statement alone are endless. On the other hand the show Bones leaves the guilt and hence the responsibility question very open-ended. It would be a shocker if the presumed "criminals" stepped up to the plate. In short the lethal cocktail of silence and inaction kills just as much as knowledge beforehand.

On the other end of the spectrum, Bones' job of being a forensic lab specialist suggests a crime is usually something a person can see. Yet the character's real-life situation of her father abandoning her suggests the contrary, because the evidence isn't as visual. This suggests that a perceived injustice is less credible than the real-life injury of one of her victims being stabbed. Similar to a life-threatening wound is Bones' parent ultimately abandoning her, seeing that it is least of all emotionally traumatic no matter her father's reasons for doing so. Clearly the reason doesn't justify the crime. Unfortunately Bones is one of many children left without. In addition there is much evidence that children today are more disadvantaged than at any other previous time in history. Given the real-life situation of being abandoned, Bones is a surprisingly strong character. She solves the crime without question. Now if only if the rest of us could be that unwavering and stoic.