Sex Offending and the Press - Essay Example

?Sex Offending and the Press Era of mass information and advanced technology stimulates constant personal development providing flows of cognizance and comprehension. Today modern level of people’s intelligence is notable for high enlightenment and inquisitiveness that can be nourished by media sources. Frequently, it is almost impossible to stay unaware about specific events when they are glamorized or criticized in various publications and television shows. Increasing tendency of Internet users states that humans access electronic materials to expel depression, low spirits, tedium and nervousness putting more entertainment in sometimes insipid life1. Unimpeded availability of articles, books, videos, journals and research papers inevitably causes implicit influence on people’s conscience regarding any possible problem of humanity, including topics of sex offending, murder and violence. These mentioned categories are more often covered and reported in media trying to attract people’s attention. However, it is fair to say that more often than not ideas with sexual subtext are taken to the basis of consecutive piece of art not because of their urgency and author’s intentions to encourage critical thinking of audience, but mostly and merely for drawing attention to own intellectual property. It is no wonder that queries of abnormality attract humans as something extraordinary and unperceivable. Hence, details of death and process of committing murder may cause significant curiosity impelling to give birth to philosophic reflections. Therefore, authors and reporters are prone to raise those topics that are able to attract as many readers as possible. It is well-known that the most valuable thing that is possessed by every human being is own life deprivation of which is considered to be the most serious crime against personality2. Despite that, often problem of homicide is chosen as a gist of numerous literary works that provide detailed description of killing method, murder weapon and feelings of potential felon whom not infrequently authors like to justify for adding more intensity and zest to own reflections. More than 70 per cent of public admit that they form their opinions about murders and violence under influence of television and press3. In this respect, currently specialists of different fields are becoming more concerned about consequences of media products effect. Long time ago psychologists have commenced and till today never stop to make various experiments with target audience for being able to find relevant reasons of illegal behavior and violence that can be affected by television4. There are several points of view concerning nature of TV and press’ influence on people’s conscience. For instance, some authors believe that detailed information about sex offences is able to raise reader’s desire to try crimes in real life, because finding out more about felonies may cause interest and challenge wondering whether particular person will manage to commit the same actions if there is such opportunity. Discussing forbidden, unacceptable and amoral things can be rather tricky due to the fact that human state of mind is prone to change and doubt all the time encouraging person to make sometimes imponderable things just because of curiosity. By contrast with this idea, other specialists firmly believe that books and articles about crimes raise people awareness about negative aspects of felonies. Hence, comprehending of sex offending can be beneficial for policy makers5. It is fair to say that high publicity not always had such broad development. In spite of the fact that the first news paper appeared in 1600s, the policy of openness and free press was adopted only after providing democratic principles in the country6. However, mass printing and divulgence of events with considerable urgency created a serious public outcry managing to attract not only ordinary readers but also attention of government. This in its turn gave birth to numerous legislative acts and laws pointed at decline of crime rate7. Being depicted not only in cinematography, but also in theatre and press, topic of homicide is widely spread in modern art. Meanwhile query of murder may appear even in children’s books and the most trivial novels; manifestation of violence gradually starts to become the major and the most popular literary instrument that helps to attract reader’s attention in a fastest way. Many critics have been trying to find the answer on a question “What forces a writer to kill own hero or depict a portrait of felon in books?” There are several obvious reasons for such standardized subterfuge of plot. For example, Umberto Eco writing about his the most sensational work “The Name of Rose” stated that he felt an ordinary but extremely enormous desire to envenom monk, however, the only way that could allow him to achieve this was putting his imagination on paper. It is interested to know that a real vogue to write books dedicated to murders was born in the beginning of nineteenth century, as if writers believing in own strengths started to go beyond the limit of permissible and conceivable things. In addition to this, reader’s interest about mystery of death and murder plays significant role in author’s choice of plot elements. By nature human being is attracted by dark and obscure things. We constantly strive to find out as much as possible about everything that is forbidden or unreachable. In case author tries to reveal inner world of murderer, his personal feelings, repentance or absolute absence of compassion, there is a matter of psychology that manages to conquer people’s conscience and perception abruptly. In past times opportunity to describe how one person takes somebody’s life basically has given a writer abilities of the Creator who metes out justice and measures human’s life. In literature murder is seen as a situation that should not stimulate readers to kill. On the contrary, such literary instrument must show that violence is not an entertainment or effective way to demonstrate own rightness, but the summit of the most serious and hideous crime. In spite of that, murder has always been a topic that manages to tickle nerves and make blood run cold. There are a lot of legendary literary works that depict homicide with surge of heroes’ emotions and feelings in utterly realistic forms. Masterpiece of Russian classical literature is a novel “Crime and Punishment” written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. The main hero Rodion Raskolnikov wants to prove himself that he is not worse than anybody else, that he can overpower own weaknesses and compel himself to kill a person. However, a man loses this fight realizing that he is over such worthless scheme and that he is a person with conscience, which defines commitment of crime from moral point of view. The theme of murder can be found in works of Erich Maria Remarque, such as “Three Comrades” or “Arch of Triumph”, in which no matter what writer teaches readers to appreciate human life. Starting in the Greek theater, murder has been always glamorized in the arts. A bright example that can be recollected is plays of William Shakespeare where homicide adds peculiar note of tragic element. However, despite popularization of murder topic, many philosophers and behavioral scientists consider that presentation of homicide in arts does not affect people’s perception negatives, but on the contrary rouses a fear of violence8. Ideas of violence also can be met in advertising campaigns of many world-known companies. Marketers faithfully believe that exactly theme of sex offending and homicide can be easily sold because it manages to catch gazes of potential consumers promptly. Examples of such companies can be Versage and Dolce&Gabbana that keep on printing extravagant advertisements in glossy journals and increase number of customers annually with high speed. Specialists state that sexual subtext is able to bring success to advertising campaign but only if it is used properly. It is very important not to cross the line when mass propaganda of violence starts9. No matter what intentions companies may have, the most important thing is to remember that their marketing strategies should not harm society by instilling incorrect understanding of social problems in people’s minds. Depicting violence can be represented in respectful and appropriate way, which is able to benefit not only profits of enterprise but also prosperity of entire humanity10. Consequently, use of sex offending and murder theme in press as a powerful marketing instrument should not be always considered as abnormality and negative trend in case authors imply propaganda of anti-violence policy. Bibliography Adams, V., ‘Psychology of Murder’. Time, vol. 99(17), 1972, pp. 4-5. Bing, R., Race, Crime and the Media. McGraw-Hill, New York, 2010. Ducat, L., Thomas, S. & Blood, W., ‘Sensationalizing sex offenders and sexual recidivism: Impact of the serious sex offender Monitoring Act 2005 on media reportage’. Australian Psychologist, vol. 44(3), 2009, pp. 156-165. Greer, C., Sex crime and the media: sex offending and the Press in a divided society. Willan, Cullumpton, 2003. Jewkes, Y., Media & Crime. SAGE Publications, London, 2011. Soothill, K., ‘Sex crime and the media’. Criminal Behavior and Mental Health, vol. 14, 2004, pp. 227-230. Marsh, I. & Melville, G., Crime, Justice and the Media. Routledge, New York, 2009. Moore, T., Marketing Strategy from the Masters. FT Press, New Jersey, 2011. ‘Murder trial told of mob influence’. Daily Dispatch, 1989, viewed on 13 March 2012, Quayle, E., Vaughan, M. & Taylor, M., ‘Sex offenders, Internet child abuse images and emotional avoidance: The importance of values’. Aggression and Violent Behavior, vol. 11(1), 2006, pp. 1-11. Appendix A Advertising of Dolce & Gabbana: 1. 2. Appendix B 3. Advertising of Versace: Read More