Violence in Media - Essay Example

Violence in Media Introduction Violence has always played a role in entertainment. Laval Guy Paquette and Jacques de Guise studied six major Canadian television networks over a seven-year period, examining films, situation comedies, dramatic series, and childrens programming (though not cartoons). The study found that between 1993 and 2001, incidents of physical violence increased by 378 per cent. TV shows in 2001 averaged 40 acts of violence per hour” (Violence in Media Entertainment). Violence in media is increasing day by day because of the heavy competition between different media groups. It is difficult to keep the viewers stick with media, if the programs are boring. Viewers, especially teenagers like violence in media very much. For example, scenes in television programs, in which a hero who fights with few villains will always attract the teenagers who is happens to be the major viewers of televisions. Moreover violent stories in internet and printed medias always grab the attention of the youths. Increasing violence in media is a controversial subject at present. Many people believe that medias play a vital role in spreading violence in the life of the youth population. Inspired by the violent programs in media, people, especially the youths may try to imitate it in their real life also. On the other hand, many other people argue that medias cannot stay away from the real life situations. They argue that current world is filled with violent activities and it is suicidal for the medias to isolate violence completely from their channels. This paper briefly analyses the pros and cons of violence in media. Arguments in favour of violence in media Some people argue that violence in media have not much influence on the public. They are of the view that today’s people are more intelligent than the ancient generation and they have the capacity to segregate between good and evil. They also believe that it is difficult to influence the current generation with fabricated news or violent scenes. Today’s people know what is real and what is imaginary. They know very well that it is impossible sustain a society if people opt violence whenever a conflict occurs. According to Dr. Cheryl K Olson, Professor of Psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School Center for Mental Health and Media, Boston, Massachussetts, contrary to media headlines and public perceptions, there is little evidence of a substantial link between exposure to violent interactive games and serious real-life violence or crime. He has conducted a research in order to study the influence of violence in media on real life violence which proved the futility of the argument against the violence in media (Dr. Olson). “What has dramatically increased is our exposure to local and national news about the "recent trend" in school shootings. Research has shown that crime-saturated local and national television news reports increase viewers perception of both personal and societal risk, regardless of actual danger” (Dr. Olson). Media coverage of school violence and other violent activities are actually increasing the public awareness about the things happening around them. For example, parents who watch the violent incidents on television will advice their children to stay away from such things. Their advices will make the teenagers more aware of the consequences of violence and they will think twice before engage in a violent activity. According to the Secret Service review, one in eight perpetrators showed some interest in violent video games, one-fourth in violent movies, and one-fourth in violent books, but there was no obvious pattern. Instead of interactive games, their interactive medium of choice was pen and paper. Thirty seven percent expressed violent thoughts and imagery through poems, essays, and journal entries (Dr. Olson). It is not necessary that violent media always encourage the people to engage in violence. People have different characteristics and no two individuals are alike according to psychological principles. In other words, violence in media influences people in different ways. Some people think deeply about the violence they seen in media and will write articles against it in media. In that sense violence in media encourage people to think about the consequences of it and to stay away from it. Arguments against violence in media In many cases, the violence shown in the media have no justification at all. Real life situations are no way near to the violence shown in the media. Exaggeration and imagination are the major elements behind many of the violent media scenes. For example, Gladiator was an Oscar winning movie which portrayed the life of Roman militants and their real life fights till death to give entertainment to the public. But many of the scenes shown in the movie has the backing of exaggeration and imagination in order to sensationalize the movie. The Center for Media and Public Affairs (CMPA), which has studied violence in television, movies and music videos for a decade, reports that nearly half of all violence is committed by the "good guys." Less than 10 per cent of the TV shows, movies and music videos that were analyzed contextualized the violence or explored its human consequences. The violence was simply presented as justifiable, natural and inevitable -- the most obvious way to solve the problem (Violence in Media Entertainment). Most of the campus shooting incidents is motivated by the violent acts in media. Teenagers often watch movies in which the hero uses his gun to destroy his enemies or villains. In America like countries teenagers have the licence to possess gun and they use it just like a toy. In campuses, even a small between two people can be transformed into a violent act and in many cases, shooting incidents occur. According to Fox News April 16, 2007, on April 16, 2007, a gunman kills 32 people in a dorm and a classroom at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. Moreover, on 16 January, 2002, Graduate student Peter Odighizuwa, 42, recently dismissed from Virginias Appalachian School of Law, returns to campus and kills the dean, a professor and a student before being tackled by students. The attack also wounds three female students (Fox News) In all the above cases, media played a major role. Media even utilized the above incidents also for their own advantage. Medias are waiting for news and in most of the cases; they will sensationalize or fabricate news. They will add colours to the news in order to grab the public attention and to increase their viewership. (Media Education and Media Violence) Scenes like the one shown in the above photograph are common in televisions in order to entertain people. It is the modern version of the gladiator events held during the period of Roman Empire. Such events always motivate the teenagers to imitate it in their real life also. The program producers always ask the children to stay away from such fights as it is dangerous. Such warning messages itself shows that even the program producers are suspicious about the outcomes of their violent programs. Conclusions Violent programs can definitely influence the public, especially the teenagers. The segregation between good and evil is difficult for the teenagers and they often take lessons from media contents. The heroic acts filled with violence, performed by the people and shown on television, internet or printed medias can motivate the people towards violent behaviour. It is difficult to avoid violence completely from media. At the same time it is possible to reduce the quantity of violence shown in media. Entertaining people with violent acts is not suitable to the life styles of the modern generation. Works Cited 1. Fox News. 2007. “List of Deadliest Campus Shootings in United States”. 4 May 2010. 2. Dr. Olson, Cheryl K. 2004. “Media Violence Research and Youth Violence Data: Why Do They Conflict?”. 4 May 2010. 3. “Media Education and Media Violence”. 4 May 2010. 4. Violence in Media Entertainment. 2010. 4 May 2010. Read More