Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric
I've been giving some thought to this ... you posed the question earlier. I don't know if I can see a correspondence, but the American media is a powerful institution. (I almost said "American culture"  , that's a nice oxymoron  ) I think one could argue that the American media is a weapon of mass destruction, insinuating itself into every part of the planet. The more-or-less glamorization of the gang culture makes it attractive to young people all over the world. The trivialization of crime ... it becomes a plot line ... and its sanitization and realistic presentation make it attractive. The fad of reality shows seems to be convincing people that what they see on TV is real, rather than merely realistic. In some ways the US media creates its own realities: they lose the war in Viet Nam, but they win the same war in Hollywood (with a little help from Stalone ) I don't believe it is the intention of the script writers to make crime attractive, but impressionable youth might see it that way. I don't believe that musicians mean to foment violence, but that seems to be what happens. Problem is, victims of movie portrayals of drive by shooting get up, grab a coffee, take their pay cheque and go home. In real life, they end up on a slab; and numerous lives are ruined in the process. |
The Indiana Jones film shown last night had so much "harmless" violence in it that gives the wrong idea to kids - like people getting punched in the face repeatedly and no effect, that gives the wrong impression and must have an effect on how kids see violence ; obviously??? There was a time when kids didn't see violence on TV so readily and it really was all after 9pm - yes Hollywood is misleading. I saw a early episode of "Shameless" in which the climax was setting fire to a council house and the whole family celebrating - this is cartoon violence glamorised by Channel 4 and in the light of senseless violence in the riots last August - surely "Shameless" and the rest does influence this kind of behaviour.
As well as all the Hollywood propaganda!!!