By making young people immune to the violence they see in the media are we in turn normalising violence in general and on the streets making the adolescent more likely to act violent towards other people if they think it is normal, or is the media simply preparing young people to real life and making them more aware of what is happening in the world a round them?
It is also argued that the games Glamorises violence as in a particular game called ‘Grand Theft Auto’ the player gains money when he or she kills people and players also have to carry out different violent acts to pass certain levels. This is definitely an example of the glamorisation of violence, it is clearly identifying violence with excitement and fun. This is very likely to effect any child that continually played the game - whether they notice or not. This particular game is a certificate 18, but this does not stop many young people playing on it. How many of you have played this popular game without even realising that it has a certificate?
The facts are that however much the law tries to enforce these certificates millions of children still play on the games. Should this amount of violence be acceptable and should the games and films be allowed to glamorise it? This could cause young people, who may be easily influenced to believe that if they commit a violent act the thrill and excitement may outweigh the consequences of their actions.
As we have noted, these games do have certificates but it is very easy for young children who are under the age limit to buy or rent these games. Quite often parents who do not associate computer games with violence are unaware of the content of many of the games that their children are playing on a PC or Play Station. If you told your parents exactly what the game you were playing consisted of do you think they would have second thoughts about lending you that money to buy it?
This problem is greater now than in previous years as many young people now have T.V.’s and Computers in their own rooms and are left to view or interact with the material with no parental guidance.
Would you watch certain films/TV programmes, if you had to watch it with you parents in the same room? Maybe not!
In a recent survey we asked 100 teenagers aged 13-17 if they had seen a film or played a game under the age of consent without their parent’s permission and we found that an astonishing 84% of them have.
We also asked how many of you had a TV or computer in your room and again a high percentage came back as yes, 69%. This shows just how much violence many teenagers are routinely witnessing and interacting with in the privacy of their own bedrooms. This may seem normal to many of you but it was very different story for you parents, they probably only had one TV for the whole house- so they were much more restricted than you. That’s why all the old films that are supposedly ‘scary’ aren’t at all scary for us!
This could also mean that many young people are being desensitised to real life violence. You are subjected to so much violence through your computer and T.V screens that should you see a fight or robbery in the street they might well consider it as a normal aspect of life. Do you think this ahs happened to you?
This is especially troublesome when the violence that they engage in through computer games is of a cartoon type nature. If a character loses a life they just get another one or the game can be re-started. The awful reality that in real life we only have one chance may not now be immediately understood.
The normalisation of violence occurs when violent acts are repeated often over a period of time so that it becomes normal to the person watching, or hearing it. Researchers call this the ‘drip, drip effect’. This affects everyone in their day to day life, consciously or sub-consciously. Have you ever seen a film which has bad language all the way through, and then started to swear more? Or have you seen a film showing somebody drinking or taking drugs and having a good time continuously, and then felt like you would want to do that? If so then you have been affected by the media. We are all affected by the media. If it were not the case that what we watch and hear effects our behaviour, why would big business spend millions of pounds on advertising designed to influence us?
There have been many examples of violent murder and death in art throughout the ages in the visual arts and in literature but the audience are always aware of the difference between art and reality. Possibly in modern society with its various and multiple outlets for entertainment that difference between art and reality is being blurred. Although we can see that the media is affecting people in their every day life, the real argument is whether it is affecting us in a bad way or a good way. If society is being effected in a bad way what can we do to stop it? There is no simple answer as the line between good and bad, right and wrong becomes more and more blurred by society and media today. For example the certificate in which a film is given is not just based upon how much violence there is but also how the violence is presented.
A prime example of this is; in the cartoon, ‘Tom and Jerry’ which is usually shown at times during the day and is aimed at children, Tom hits Jerry with a hammer. This is acceptable as a cartoon because of the way in which it is presented, the violence is shown in a comical way and it does not show the effects. Jerry is not hurt. This same scene in a film which did show the effects of the violence and through camera shots, lighting special effects, sound and colour presented the same events but would not be appropriate for children. This links into a key question in this debate; is fictional violence different to real violence in its effect on people? It could be argued that screen, visual or lyrical violence that does not make clear the awful effects that it has on individual lives is more dangerous than showing real life violence as in footage from wars or real life crime. If a teenager or susceptible person is made aware of the pain suffering and sadness that is caused by violent action they may be less likely to engage in such activity.
If a violent film shows the pain and suffering of victims or if a violent lyric in a song includes a message of hope or a warning against ruining lives through violent action then that film or piece of music may create a positive message through its often negative images. It may well be possible to defend the lyrics of artists such as Eminem or the work of film makers because the underlying positive message of their work is that violence leads to ruined lives. If they were to just come out and say don’t be violent to others their message would never get through to those that most need it.
A film that illustrates this is ‘The Pianist’ it is based on a true story and is set in Poland during the Second World War. The story is one of a Jewish man and his family, living in a ghetto in Warsaw and then being sent to Nazi labour camps. The film contains images of death and destruction, yet it is still accepted as a certificate 15. This is because it shows the effects of the violence on each individual person, and shows how it can destroy lives and families. It could be argued that a film such as ‘The Pianist’ is in fact an invaluable educational tool teaching society lessons about the ultimate ends of violence and informing us of historical events. It is certainly an example of a film that as an effect upon the viewer.
It may be harder to defend the content of violent video or computer games that do not seem to include any positive message. The most violent players get the most points and the victims within the games don’t have families at home crying over their loss. Should this be accepted as a part of our everyday life, or should the law be changed to prevent games and films being too violent? Do you think these games are ‘wrong’ or do you think that the games are just a bit of fun and most people know the difference between the game and reality? If you have an opinion on the matter we would love to hear from you. Write in on:
66 Greendale Street
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Or phone/text in on:
O7989 257 162
As we have seen violence in the media can be argued to be both good and bad and if in fact it is having a negative effect on younger generations, is their any way to improve the situation? As we have seen there is no simple way to completely stop violence in the media or in reality.
