Chuck Klosterman: ‘Modern people hate horses’

The writer argues that America’s “white-hot hatred of horses” is responsible for the unpopularity of HBO series Luck.

“Why isn’t everyone losing their minds over this program?” Klosterman asks, noting that the show has all the components necessary for success: established actors, a great time slot, an intriguing premise and flawless execution. In the end, he blames Hollywood’s “pro-horse agenda” for “shoving horses down our throats.” This equestrian oversaturation, he argues, has resulted in a widespread backlash against horses.

“Every episode of Luck forces the viewer to spend a lot of time watching horses run for glory,” Klosterman writes. “Now, you’d think this would make us happy — I’ve long argued that horses are the world’s third most beautiful mammal. There was a time when that opinion was widely shared; there are at least 19 episodes of M*A*S*H where Harry Morgan says, ‘The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.’ But Harry Morgan is dead, and so is American’s ‘ho-mance’ with the equine. Today’s fat, soulless Xbox slave would rather punch a horse in the throat than watch 20 minutes of Luck. This is our collective problem.”

[Grantland]

Originally published on Horse Nation Feb. 5, 2012.