Has the rise of graphic violence and "horror" films in the movies accelerated the devaluation of human life on our streets?
Submit Date: 9 DEC 1998 Name: Gabriel Email: "Dark_Elf2480@yahoo.com Response:
People have been misguided by the government in movies by the violence shown to our society. We must rule out all violence in movies and change our society.
Submit Date: 16 NOV 1998 Name: LISA SANCHEZ Email: "ZOE7767@AOL.COM Response:
It has come to my understanding that some time in the early 1990's, a young boy lit his sister on fire and killed her. While lighting her on fire he repeated the words, "fire, fire, fire". He heard these words on the famous t.v. cartoon, "Bevis and Butthead". It is true that some people don't believe that the cinama has no influence on our youth....but i am a youth. I know what I see and I learn from it! If you put a video on how to make a milk shake, I will watch it and follow it and be able to take that back with me to make again on my own. What stops me from doing the same with a t.v show that gives me info on how to construct a bomb? People have to realize that it is happening out there and should be stopped.
Name: K. Leonard Email: k8wra@juno.com Response:
I don't think the graphic violence on TV has had as great an effect on the rise in violence as the recent wars that have been played out on TV with military officers shown gleefully pointing to the body bags of dead enemies and celebrat all the killing. When I was young, we used to go to the movies (TV hadn't arrived yet) with great anticipation at being scared by the "Mummy" and the evil Dr. Fu Man Chu and all the evil interplanitary crooks who chased Flash Gordon. Most children recognize that TV is fairy land stuff. But when faced with the violence of child abuse, marital fighting, guns as a means to settle differences, and the violence which permeates our daily existence, they are taught by what they see.
Name: Rahul Faria Email: lfaria@internetcorp.net Response:
If a person feels that he/she can handle a violent movie, let him/her watch it. However, if a person cannot handle violence in movies and will easily get influenced by it, it is advisable to restrain that from watching violent movies. I don't get influenced by them, I will only watch a violent movie if good reviews have been given to it.
Name: RAlph Randall Email: Response:
Freddie Crougar, Chucky, Thriller, Tales From the Crypt are movies viewed multiply times by many and are still playing. Terminator, Scareface, King of New York , New Jack City, Rambo, Bronson are movies viewed multiply times by many and still playing. All were/are box office smashes and all give insight to what is considered popular entertainment. I believe there is a connection between this particular entertainment and the increased devaluation of life on the street. The phrase "life on the street" gives insight into the types of people more likely to be negatively influenced by this type of entertainment. Life on the street, what does that mean... homesless, druggies, unhealthy living conditions for people, and includes homeless children and children of druggies, a growing population. In addition it means doggie dog, or dog eat dog, viciousness, stealing, trickery. The combination of reality (for those subjected to "life on the street") and this form of entertainment is part of the increaase in graphic violence in my opinion. It is also my opinion, that because we live in a capitalist society the responsibity for individual actions that mimic the graphic violence portrayed in film and movies will be around for ages before any link is revealed and dealt with in the public. If you want to find out for yourself, talk to teenagers, who's parents are in jail and or on drugs, and they (the teenager) has to make a way to feed themselves. Ask them what they would do to someone who steal from them and be prepared to hear some horrible graphic violence. Not all will respond extremely negative but must will, is my opinion and experience.
Name: Natasha Mason Email: Response:
Society can not blame the movies and videos for increasing violence. However it is disturbing to see human life devalued in the mass media. Everything is sexualized on the big screen, and our community has become somewhat desensitized to the craziness around us.
Name: james buie Email: jasbuie@uclink4.berkeley.edu Response:
Yes. humans learn by seeing, tasting, touch, etc. If you show
five different people a violence scene, one or more may copy.
I want to make alot of money.(legally) Any one know of
hit movie playing this week-end that shows me how to get
my first million?
Name: Ginifer Johnson Email: mjohnson@customcpu.com Response:
WHEN CHILDREN SEE HORROR FILMS IT MAKES THEM INSCURE AND AFRAID AND PARENTS WONDER WHY " MY CHILD IS DISFUNCTIONAL" AND WHY DO THEY RUN ALL THESE CHARTER NORTH , HUMANA HOSPITAL COMMERCIALS, TALKIN ABOUT TROUBLED YOUTH AND CHILDREN. ( AND IF YOU DONT GET HELP HERE PLEASE GET HELP SOMEWHERE. CHILDREN REACT TO EVERYTHING THAT THEY SEE NEGATIVE OR POSSITIVE. THE MEDIA WILL CONTINUE TO PUT THESE DEMONONIC MOVIES AND TELEVISION SHOWS ON T.V. BUT ITS THE PARENTS JOB TO REGELATE WHAT THEY WATCH . AND IF YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE DONT WATCH IT. CUZ IF YOU DON'T WATCH THEY CANT RUN IT. YA KNOW
PEACE
GINIFER
Name: dottie Email: dottie @erols.com Response:
There is an affect if we send youngsters out
in the world from home with no preperation to recognize
the pitfalls being put in their way. Parents must prepare
their children and be vigilant.
Name: amando diaz Email: 74256.2244@compuserve.com Response:
Learned behavior is primarily observable and
viewing graphic violence definitely influences
behavior. Whether the behavior is seen on the
evening news or on a large screen at movie
theaters. Youth in particular are vulnerable to
the imitation of acts that appear to be in their
eyes as "cool" or has the ability to impress
peers.
The dilemma is that censorship of this type of material is a violation of the first amendment's freedom of expression. And to begin censoring news (any further than it already is) or film would deny individuals access to information that could have some cultural relevance in a very broad sense.
Name: Canice Email: Canice@msn.com Response:
Nothing is responsible for the devaluation of human life on our streets than ourselves. We must stop looking for excuses, and face the problems at home squarely without excuses. The fact that somebody is jumping off a bridge does not mean that I should jump off, too.
Name: June C. Wallace Email: cezjun@toj.com Response:
It is a rather interesting dilemma. After all movies, the theatre etc tend to reflect what is happening around us in everyday society, Yet this portrayal tends to "reinforce" the negatives that are displayed. The portrayal in itself seems to give credibility and glamourize the negatives, particularly since children are not left with the perception that death is a final, very final entity. Undoubtedly the portrayal of violence begets futher violence, particularly in a society where there is little discussion within the family or even in the educational system, so that learners are given the opportunity to put the violence in the movies within context (if that is possible). The influence of the media cannot be confined to violence only; the portrayal and glamourizing of gangsters and other get rich quick activities also impact negatively. The influences of association between drugs and alcohol and feeling good, frequently displayed in the media through advertisements of medication etc, also have an influence among those who are already in the high risk group of drug abuse. What is the solution? Parents need to be parents; communities need to return to being surrogate parents, so that the youth grow up knowing that they are wanted, that someone cares, both of which will ultimately lead to greater self-love and higher self-esteem.
Name: Craig Griffin Email:cgriffin@tfs.net Response:
No. This is only a result of what is already hapening; a reaction & not an initiation. The major culprets are non- parenting and an absence of conscious.Human life is devalued on a momentary basis i.e.by hopeless, visionless,empty days.
Name: Barry Portier Email:bportier@nando.net Response:
In our community (Black) the problem is not with what is on TV and in the movies, it is the lack of time we spend with our children. If the home base is sound it will act as a beacon to show a person who may be straying too far a way back to healthy values. There will always be a percentage of people who wack out no matter what. as a young black man growing up in NYC, no matter what i saw on TV , movies or in the streets I knew right from wrong. Those kids that dont have a solid base at home should feel the pressure of the community to stay in line. Great literature is full of violence (physical & emotional) what do you want to do ban books too! Parents and community standards are the best filters for negative stuff.
Name: Earnest C. Surmons Email: surmons@pig.net Response:
The answer is yes it has
Name: au Email:dimple@concentric.net Response:
Violence has had a great influence on the society since
it is often demonstrated in the media, movies, books and general entertainment. Often though young adults see these demonstrations as strategies for solving problems.
Name: Cecil Hassell Email: CHass19771@AOL.COM Response:
The problem is we as men don't love or respect
the Love the Lord has for us. If we did we would
not support or endorse anyone or anything that's
contary to the Word of God. Violence is not the
problem,a lack of Love shown by older men and
women that encompasses wisdon,respect,selfcontrol,
discipline,and a passion for the Love of the Lord
Jesus Christ.
Name: Mike Email: mmakonne@vt.edu Response:
In my opinion it doesn't. After all art imitates life. The problem is not with the movies or TV shows, it's with society. Violent movies/shows only portray what's really going on out there, they're not the cause of violence, they are the products of our (violent) culture. To say that they influence violence on our streets is merely avoiding the issue. Sure, the issue of violent movies is an easy target for politicians and talk shows, but other than that I don't believe they have any influence on real life.
Name: Keith Email:keithrb@ix.netcom.com Response:
When I grew up there were also violent films, some good black violent files (Shaft, Cleopatra Jones, etc..). But there was also a strong family structure and a black culture fighting to be recognize and getting the rights that we deserved. I think that's the difference with the current society. The fight for what we deserve isn't as loud as the fight for what we should be handed by the man. The easy way is to blame the media and everyone else, but we have to fix our homes first.
Name: Lisa smith-Lloyd Email: tag1@cafe.ca Response:
yes it has. My daughter and I have discussed the topic on several occasions and I firmly believe that television is the voice of satan. I no longer allow my daughter to watch tv on school nights due to the fact that I find that it is too distracting to her as well as disterbing to me.
Thank you for providing such an outlet for my frustrations.
Name: Terry Email: Response:
Let's face it, we're a voilent society and the movies are only one aspect of it. There are many influences that determine a voilent reaction. Yes, maybe the movies may get some of the blame but I think the greater affect is a persons home life. Now more than ever we can influence the type of programming for TV and the movies. Use your voice to get the type of entertainment you want. Since there are more African American producers now, write to them and let them know what you'd rather see. I, for one, want to see more movies that portray us in the writings of the Bible. This may be the other end of the spectrum but my point is that voilence isn't the only form of entertainment and certainly not the only form we should have major roles in. I'm sure all of you can remember as kids pretending to act out a voilent scene that you thought was cool. Well there are some people who don't understand the game of pretend so it is for that reason we need to explore and project other aspects of our society rather than the voilent one.
Name: Walter A Email: flyboy@erols.com Response:
Of course it has. Only a very naive person would believe that the hundreds of hours of violence viewed each year has no impact on society.
But this is America and I will defend to the near death (I love life) your right to produce and view violence.
Nuff Said
Name: rlands Email: lands@electric.austin.tx.us Response:
I don't know if it has accelerated the what is happening on the streets, but I do feel is a reflection of our passive acceptance, "lazy-fair(laissez-faire)" do nothing attitudes. It's just more junk getting our heads at faster rate, clogging our brains to think rationally and intellectually. People get an excited when they talk about how somebody got jacked, smoked, punked, jumped, beat down or got over in a movie, yetwhen it comes to talking about political, academic, economic, or historical events, you get this look of "What are you talking about!?" It is said it is the media's responsibility to have more movies, shows, etc. of higher character, yet we are quick to make movie with a lot of violence, sexual immorality and such a block buster hit. If it is true capitalism that keeps these industries from their moral obligation, then apply the principle of supply and demand, you stop demanding they will stop supplying. PEACE--rlands
Name: sherise Email: slanays@umich.edu Response:
i think violence anywhere influences more violence.
considering most of the movies made are not "horror"
movies, the impact of horror movies is not a
significant one. the most horror-filled films are
the films that depict real-life events out of the
imaginations of sick men/women.
