Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Violence in the Media
Does violent imagery in film, television, and video games encourage violence or merely reflect our violent tastes? Some argue that watching (or inflicting virtual) violence causes people to engage in aggressive behavior in the real world, while others (like Stephen King) see it as a release, a chance to exorcise violent feelings in a benign way. What do you think?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I think that violence in the media reflects our violent taste, and does not encourage violent acts. My opinion is that violent behavior is caused from other factors such as a person's experiences and environment. A violent person is likely to be attracted to violent media, but the media is not the underlying cause of the behavior.
ReplyDeleteIn people that lead happy and positive lives, I do not think that the media can create nonexisting violence in the individual. I agree with Stephen King that we are simply attracted to violent themes, and find it as a release from anger.
I agree that violence being broadcasted in the media encourages people to engage in violent activities, especially in our younger generations. Since younger people are more impressionable, if they see something or someone they're interested in, they are more likely to try to emulate that. The video game industry is a perfect example of this. Violent games like Halo and Grand Theft Auto have actually been linked to some crimes committed by teenagers where they tried to act out the game in reality. Even the perpetrators of the Columbine shooting were accused of getting the ideas of the shooting from a violent video game the two boys often played. Although, the ripple effect of violence in the media can vary in severity, I do believe it has an influence on people, especially our generation.
ReplyDeleteI feel that violence in films, video games, and television reflects our violent taste. Not only that, but it also affects our violent actions. I believe that all violent activities that are committed can be traced back to the media. I believe this because if there weren’t any violent films with guns or killing, people wouldn’t have any sort of interest in it. People that commit crimes commit them because they have been exposed to a film or scene in a movie Also video game is a key factor in violent actions we take. Video games are meant to be entertaining and enjoyable. For example Call of duty is a combat military game where you go around shooting and killing people. Even though it’s just a game to a kid it becomes physiological. Then later on in life they’ll grow up thinking its okay to go around shooting up people.
ReplyDeleteViolence on tv and in the media does influence people to behave violently in reality. Young men idolize the things they see on TV. They hear rappers rapping about drugs and guns in their songs, and they all of a sudden think they can sell drugs and shoot people. Young women watch things like the bad girls club and all of sudden think its ok to fight and be trashy. When video games like grand theft auto came out, the new reported cases of children being influenced by the game and acting very violently. Because media portrays this image that we can do anything we want, everyone now tries to live by that motto. Yes Stephen King is right it lets us let out anger, but today people see everything on the media and think it is okay to do.
ReplyDelete