Violence in the Media Essay -- Papers

Violence in the Media America has become the most violent nation in the industrialized world. The many violent images seen in movies and on television on a daily basis, though not the only cause, are a strong contributing factor. There are those that feel the point-of-view from which the audience views the violence varies directly with the way the scene affects them. A film's perspective determines the audience's reaction. In "slasher" films, for example, the point of view shifts between the attacker and the victim. So the audience feels the terror of the victim and the lust of the victimizer. If the viewer shares the experience with the victim they feel helplessness, fear, and also the rage that comes with being attacked. However, when the viewer is allowed to share the experience of the attacker the perspective is different, they get the sense of power and being in control. In many sexual assault scenes the camera focuses on the victim's face, which puts the viewer in the position of the rapist. What is of concern is that many Americans want to identify with the powerful attacker. It can be argued whether or not this is a direct cause of imitative violence but it, with out a doubt, offers viewers the vicarious experience of violence related to sex. (Censorship, 1985) Television does not make people commit crimes, but it provides the ideas, social sanction, and often the instruction that encourages anti-social behavior according to Madeline Levine, psychologist. (Viewing Violence, 1996) Dr. Jib Fowles, a researcher from the University of Houston would disagree. He testified to the U.S. Congress that TV violence was a good way to relieve tension. Dr. Radecki strongly disagreed saying that "Fowles has never done a si... ...itable role models for them. Bibliography: Croteau, David and William Hoynes. 1997. Media/Society: Industries, . Images, and Audiences. London: Pine Forge Press. Dudley, William,ed. 1999. Media Violence: Opposing Viewpoints. San . Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc. Fiske, John. 1989. Understanding Popular Culture. New York: Routledge. Holland, Keating. 1999. "Violence in the Media Should be Regulated." . CNN Poll. http://www.ultranet.com/crowleyn/ccnnpoll.html Levine, Madeline. 1996. Viewing Violence. New York: Double Day. O'Neill, Terry. 1985. Censorship: Opposing Viewpoints. St. Paul, MO: Green Haven Press, Inc. University of California at Los Angeles. Television Monitoring Report. . http://www.cep.org/tvviolence.html