"Billy was fascinated by the television. At its most basic level, it occupied his time and shut out the demons of isolation. This was another irony because, for so long, he had shunned the tube for a similar purpose-to prevent it from bombarding his brain with demons of banality. However, each time he turned the machine on, he began to discover a world of assorted delights, as well as gain insight into the insidious manner in which this medium was shaping the mass psyche. If nothing else, he learned there was nothing innocuous about it."

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Source: Jim Carroll (2010). “The Petting Zoo: A Novel”, p.176, Penguin

About the author

Jim Carroll

Poet

Jim Carroll was an American poet and author, known for his raw depictions of youth and addiction in works like 'The Basketball Diaries.'

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