My critical investigation will be to explore how and why institutions use media violence? And whether this actually causes real life violence? With a focus on television and emedia violence because they are the most pervasive format for media violence. An analogy is made with the notion of Romeo and Juliet; the obsessive attraction that brings conflict on the relationship. The media has a lot of influential power and control in forming people’s ideologies; through the use of media language, representations etc. 'Since the media are more or less omnipresent in all of our lives, this means we are all influenced to some extent by what we view, listen to, browse, play and read. This direct-effects approach requires a stimulus and a response- an external stimulus exerts itself on an object and causes an internal response, like fire on wood or a tap on the kneecap.’ Dan Laughey This clearly backs up the idea of media being a designed method of deception. Marxism is the system of socialism of which the dominant feature is public ownership of the means of production, distribution and motivation by profit. “Violence is one of the most fun things to watch.”—Quentin Tarantino. It's well known that TV violence holds an attraction for most viewers and this attraction translates into ratings and profits. If it weren't for these involved alongside the audience demand, producers would undoubtedly be much more willing to acknowledge the harm in TV and film violence and do something about it.
‘Rambo’ is a film where I can explore the genre of violence in the form of entertainment; a film with a gross of £2,927,437 (UK) (9 March 2008) that dates back to 1982 with First Blood. In the trailer for the film, Stallone voiceover narration 'when war is in your blood, killing is as easy as breathing'. It suggests killing is easy for him because there's nothing else that implies otherwise; no emotion attached. Eminem and Rihanna ‘love the way you lie’ music video that caused a lot of issues to do with its lyrics and video but despite the controversy over the single, the song immediately reached number one in most popular music charts. It can be misconstrued as promoting intimate partner violence. Also, Call Of Duty – Black Ops video game, the anticipation over the release shows that the audience has an expectation of those
institutions and they as a result simply fulfil needs.
‘The media have effects which in turn have the power to influence the thoughts of individual audience members to such an extent that they might ‘act out’ the ideas and activities the media have exposed them to.’ Lisa Taylor and Andrew Willis. This makes more sense when we look at postmodernism philosophy, the idea that we cannot distinguish between reality and media, a hyperreality. The use of violence can relate to the effects theory. It can be argued that the violence being depicted is causing a moral panic amongst the public. Constant exposure to violence in the media may lead people to believe that violence is everywhere and that they should be afraid. ‘More and Trojanwicz (1988) argue that reasonable fears concerning crime can be harnessed to fight the threat of crime, but when these fears become unreasonable they amount to a counterproductive response and become a social problem’ Paul William and Julie Dickinson. I will link this with Rambo and the way it depicts men through the representation of Rambo as a fearless character who’s physically fit, connoting masculinity. This sends a message to men that being a man means ‘you have to show the world only certain parts of your self that the dominant culture has defined as manly.’ according to Tough Guise.
Media violence may teach young people that violence is a normal way of solving problems otherwise you could be the odd one out 'It is almost always easier to sing along with the crowd' Richard Hoggart. Media is to blame in the sense that its in charge of what we are exposed to 'crime in the media has been a focus of concern because of the assumption that the salience given to certain types of crime, notably those involving sex or violence, creates a distorted picture of reality.' Paul Williams and Julie Dickinson. If something is shown often it becomes part of the mainstream popular culture. 'The consensus…is that there is a direct, casual link between the excessive viewing of violence, or the playing of video games’ Martin Barker. It can stimulate people to act violently or to become desensitised to violence.
'And whenever the phrase 'media violence ' is used it conjures up one image above all else: an image of motiveless mayhem.' Violence is part of the basic human nature but if it’s not shown realistically then that’s when it’s immoral. It can be argued that in Rambo the violence is necessary to tell the story and to fit in with it’s military theme.
Dominic Monaghan and Megan Fox personify the fiery relationship Eminem and Rihanna share in this song in its video - displaying the never-ending cycle of love; starting with them both lying on the bed, then going through numerous fights and make-ups, before ending up in the same place they started at the beginning of the video: their bed. It can be misconstrued as promoting intimate partner violence.
Media violence may teach young people that violence is a normal way of solving problems otherwise you could be the odd one out 'It is almost always easier to sing along with the crowd' Richard Hoggart. Media is to blame in the sense that its in charge of what we are exposed to 'crime in the media has been a focus of concern because of the assumption that the salience given to certain types of crime, notably those involving sex or violence, creates a distorted picture of reality.' Paul Williams and Julie Dickinson. If something is shown often it becomes part of the mainstream popular culture. 'The consensus…is that there is a direct, casual link between the excessive viewing of violence, or the playing of video games’ Martin Barker. It can stimulate people to act violently or to become desensitised to violence.
'And whenever the phrase 'media violence ' is used it conjures up one image above all else: an image of motiveless mayhem.' Violence is part of the basic human nature but if it’s not shown realistically then that’s when it’s immoral. It can be argued that in Rambo the violence is necessary to tell the story and to fit in with it’s military theme.
Dominic Monaghan and Megan Fox personify the fiery relationship Eminem and Rihanna share in this song in its video - displaying the never-ending cycle of love; starting with them both lying on the bed, then going through numerous fights and make-ups, before ending up in the same place they started at the beginning of the video: their bed. It can be misconstrued as promoting intimate partner violence.
While Eminem and Rihanna ‘Love The Way You Lie’ music viedo is a narrative broadly about ‘domestic violence,’ it looks less like a classic domestic violence narrative in which there is one clear abuser and one clear victim of abuse, and more like an abuser's fantasy that represents the relationship as a mutually abusive relationship with passion that burns so hot there's a thin line between love/hate ‘Can't live with you; can't live without you.’ Which is not to say those relationships don't exist in the world, but I'm not sure they're as common as our media suggests they are. Marjorie Gilberg, executive director of Break the Cycle, which works to end teen violence. ‘The danger is that pop culture defines our social norms,’ Gilberg says.
There was loads of mixed reception regarding this song and video, audiences loved it or hated it. A survivor of domestic abuse said ‘I love the video…There is no “responsible way” to portray it. The video is an honest depiction of what it looks like on the inside. As far as Rihanna’s part in the song and her past with domestic violence, I don’t agree that she’s glorifying it. It makes the hook more honest. That’s why she was chosen for the song. To express the honest emotion. The video is a masterpiece.’ Or it ‘highlights the severity of abusive relationships’ both these comments implies that this video actually raises awareness whereas others disagreed and thought ‘violent relationship was one of passion and not of the terrifying reality of domestic violence.’
There was loads of mixed reception regarding this song and video, audiences loved it or hated it. A survivor of domestic abuse said ‘I love the video…There is no “responsible way” to portray it. The video is an honest depiction of what it looks like on the inside. As far as Rihanna’s part in the song and her past with domestic violence, I don’t agree that she’s glorifying it. It makes the hook more honest. That’s why she was chosen for the song. To express the honest emotion. The video is a masterpiece.’ Or it ‘highlights the severity of abusive relationships’ both these comments implies that this video actually raises awareness whereas others disagreed and thought ‘violent relationship was one of passion and not of the terrifying reality of domestic violence.’
Rap music has been labelled as the music genre that spreads violence among its listeners. Music and music videos are pushing into new and increasingly violent territory. Eminem’s violent lyrics seem to promote hatred against women. For instance, his song Kim graphically depicts him murdering his wife; and Kill You describes how he plans to rape and murder his mother. Lyrics can ‘encourage, reinforce and legitimise' violence, homophobic violence, negative behaviour in general.
Other research indicates that media violence has not just increased in quantity; it has also become much more graphic, much more sexual, and much more sadistic. In 2001, only a quarter of the most violent television shows, and two-fifths of the most violent movies, were rated R. The majority were rated PG or PG-13.(Source: Center for Media and Public Affairs, 2001) A common problem with video games is that people under the rated age are able to access the games. Activision's mega-blockbuster Call of Duty: Black Ops has been given an age rating of 18 by the BBFC. Black Ops has also set new sales records in the United Kingdom; Two million copies of the game were sold in five days. The great amount of excitement is the concern which is bound to attract the younger audience and most having an older sibling will mean most times they are able to view an intense battle, containing strong bloodshed. 'The very act of studying a videogame is a postmodern one.' Lisa Fortescue-Poole. If we play a video game, we may respond by becoming more violent and aggressive in real life situations Or 'less able to empathise with the suffering of others, and therefore more likely to act violently towards them'- players take the 'role of a an aggressor' in video games’. Lisa Fortescue. The fighting action is conducted from a first-person perspective, where players can use a knife to attack and slit the enemies throat’s.
Hall argues that there are three decodings or possible positions that readers might produce: ‘dominant, negotiated and oppositional’. This means the audience either accept the text or the reader partly accepts the preferred reading, but sometimes resists and modifies it in a way which reflects their own position, experiences and interests or rejects the preferred reading. Viewing media violence can be mitigated in all age groups by learning and applying critical viewing and media literacy skills. Media literacy curricula provide a variety of teaching tools to deconstruct the techniques used to stage violent scenes and decode the various depictions of violence in different media genres — news, cartoons, drama, sports and music.
It is almost impossible for researchers to determine whether a given individual is violent because of media violence or because of other factors, such as substance abuse, childhood trauma, or having violent and/or antisocial parents. We cannot escape the fact that correlations are not causes.
It is almost impossible for researchers to determine whether a given individual is violent because of media violence or because of other factors, such as substance abuse, childhood trauma, or having violent and/or antisocial parents. We cannot escape the fact that correlations are not causes.
Violence has always played a role in entertainment from history. The extreme violence in ‘Rambo’ made it into an R rated film. Rambo kills several river pirates; one is shot multiple times in the head at close range. A man literally rips and inch off of a mans throat, lots of blood pour. 'Brown 'violent action films', we are told, are designed 'to excite and stimulate the viewer rather than concentrate on the story being told.' The film in fact has a clear story and contain scenes of violence, scenes in which the audience is clearly called upon to cheer as the characters get their revenge.
So is media violence responsible? Violence exists in society, it’s always been there. Children see violence in their schools, neighbourhoods and their homes. Parental/adult responsibility for managing media in the lives of children is fundamental. Television in the home is the greatest source of visual violence. Film violence has become too advanced, the sights, sounds and special effects often makes us shudder but no doubt violence has always been a part of film making. Violence is a problem in our society but we can make a difference. We must educate ourselves about its influence and impact on our lives.
So is media violence responsible? Violence exists in society, it’s always been there. Children see violence in their schools, neighbourhoods and their homes. Parental/adult responsibility for managing media in the lives of children is fundamental. Television in the home is the greatest source of visual violence. Film violence has become too advanced, the sights, sounds and special effects often makes us shudder but no doubt violence has always been a part of film making. Violence is a problem in our society but we can make a difference. We must educate ourselves about its influence and impact on our lives.
