Culture and Crime: The Private Eyes Film - Case Study Example

Heading: Crime and Culture Your name: Course name: Professors’ name: Date Introduction This paper explores ways in which films integrate and reveal unconscious myths that are based on the public needs. Therefore, it borrows ideas from the ‘Private Eyes’ film in order to clearly demonstrate the effects of crime movies on the human mind. Private Eyes (1981) ‘Private Eyes’ is an American film that was staged in 1981, and it features Don Knotts and Tim Conway as detectives of the Scotland Yard. The film starts with the murder of Lady and Lord Morley in their car by a black caped figure. As a result, inspector Winship and detective Tart embark on a journey to the deceased’s mansion, with a letter from Lord Morley that directed them to carry out an investigation on the murder (Leitch 2003, pp.192-214). In the mansion, the two investigators find the mistress and doubtful staff. Among the staff are a Japanese caricature, busty maid, hunchback, gypsy, and insane butler. In the process of carrying out their investigations, the two realize that the staff is killed one by one, and the bodies vanish before the investigators show them to the mistress. Moreover, they find themselves in a torture chamber where Winship is fixed in a deadly trap, but is rescued by black caped figure. They later find out that the black caped figure was Morley himself who was trying to find out the intentions of the mistress. He faked his death but succeeded to know the heiress evil intentions (Leitch 2003, pp.192-214). Why people watch crime films The facts in the aforementioned film show how films play a significant role in the creation of unconscious myths among human beings. These myths are created on the basis of the public needs. This can be best understood by exploring the public needs that the media tries to satisfy. To start with, Schwarz, Diener & Kahneman (2003, pp. 205-210) notes that human beings need a variety of information on various aspects of life. Therefore, the media is put in place to meet these human needs. In the case of crime films, one of the appeals to the public is the availability of information on crime. Through it, the public gets informed of what is happening in the society that is full of immorality particularly criminal activities (Franklin 2006, pp. 69-78). In the ‘Private Eyes’ film, viewers get to know what is happening in the society. For instance, people plot against each other because of their selfish interests, like in the case of the mansion heiress planned to murder Morley for their money (Leitch 2003, pp.192-214). Secondly, the use of films is influential in that it has entertainment element that appeals to the audience (Schwarz, Diener & Kahneman 2003, pp. 205-210)). This implies that the crime films are created in such as a way that they captivate human mind. Today, quite a number of people search for entertainment in the media, and a majority of them get thrilled by crime films. This is because, in most cases, they want to identify with the heroes and heroines of the film (Vito 2006, pp.290-295). The idea of crowning criminals as heroes has a negative effect in the viewers’ minds, especially the young people. For instance, in “Private Eyes’ film, viewers are thrilled by the black-caped figure’s action to rescue the Winship from the deadly trap. They are also captivated by the way the black caped figure jumps out of the flowerbed and scares the heiress to unconsciousness. People also get attracted to crime films because they want to hit back at their own troubles (Golsan 2007, pp. 13-17). Therefore, they believe that watching aggressive and violent scenes will help them release stress and rejuvenate themselves. Most important, they feel good when a villain is killed, arrested or tortured. In a way, they imagine that their enemies or troublers are subjected to the same horrible experience. For example, in the film ‘Private Eyes’ viewers are likely to rejoice over the fact that the mansion heiress is caught by Lord Morley trying to kill the detectives and escape with money (Leitch 2003, pp.192-214). Integration and exposure of ‘Hollywood mythmaking’ by crime films With the understanding of people’s motivation to watch crime films, it is notable to focus on the effects of these films on human beings. First, Vito (2006, pp.290-295) states that crime films are instrumental in the development of aggressive behaviors among human beings, especially when exposed to the youth. This is because young people are still maturing, and therefore, they are more susceptible to media influence than the adults. Besides, Epstein (2009, pp.56-60) argues that young people identify with heroes and celebrities in the media. Therefore, crime films cultivate aggression and violence among human beings because they imitate and copy their lifestyles and actions. In the film ‘Private Eyes’ Morley’s actions of investigating the heiress’ actions are likely to be imitated by the viewers. This is because, despite violence and aggression, he is seen as a hero in the film. Likewise, viewers will apply the same tactics in an attempt to solve their real-life problems. More so, both adults and adolescents extend the violence and aggression that is found in their entertainment into the real world (Epstein 2009, pp.56-60). As a result, cases of rioting in schools and workplace as well as criminal activities, such as, armed robberies, rape cases, and murder, are on the rise in the society. In terms of the adults, such aggression and violence will be carried on to their spouses; hence, the cases of wife battering, rape, and murder (Broe 2003, pp. 8-10). Some of the adults may also resort to criminal activities in order to free themselves from financial instability and social problems. On the other, children will develop violent and aggressive behavior into adulthood; hence, becoming a menace to their societies. They are also capable of behaving violently on their peers whenever they are frustrated. In addition, Golsan (2007, pp. 13-17) notes that crime films have a negative effect on human beings because in the process of seeking entertainment, people get desensitized to violence. This is because watching lots of violence and aggression in films gradually removes the sense of humanity in an individual and replaces it with hatred and insensitivity to fellow human beings. This further implies that media violence makes people get less shocked by criminal or violent activities in real world. In fact, cases of murder become so normal in their lives that they do not feel anything wrong about it. Furthermore, such people hardly display sympathy on the violence victims in the society. For instance, exposure to the ‘Private Eye’ film is influential in desensitizing viewers to murderous acts. What is more, Lachlan &Tamborini (2008, pp.21-25) state that crime films have detrimental effects on human beings because they make people develop a mean world syndrome. Here, individuals view the world as a mean and insensitive place to live. This is because the images created in the crime films are firmly fixed in their minds to an extent that they cannot perceive the world normally. Consequently, people begin to develop fear of their world by replacing the real world with the imaginary one on stage. Besides, Broe (2003, pp. 8-10) argues that they tend to think that they are victims of the fast growing crime in the world, even if there is a low crime rate in the society. In reference to the film’ Private Eyes’, viewers are likely to develop fear in their families and in the neighborhood after watching it. Moreover, masters may begin getting suspicious of their workers with the assumption that they are out to harm them and steal their valuables. Surprisingly, others might try to employ the same tactic by Lord Morley, which may lead to disastrous consequences. According to Golsan (2007, pp. 13-17), crime films also negatively affects human beings in that they condition them to what they see on the screens. This is because of the highly captivating element of the films of appearing real. People who watch violent films, such as, ‘Private Eyes’ create mental images that relate to the actions in the film. Subsequently, they transfer the same actions to their real life, hence, causing a lot of harm to other people. For instance, ‘Private Eyes’ is an interesting crime film that has many violent scenes which are successful. Therefore, Potter & Smith (2000, pp.13-15) say that viewers are conditioned to think that those are the best schemes to use in investigation, or in search of solutions to their real life problems. They tend to color the viewers’ world’s experience in terms of their thoughts and feelings. Besides, they supply them with material that they can use in their conversations, especially in the handling hard thoughts or to amuse. Furthermore, Golsan (2007, pp. 13-17) postulates that people that consume crime film tend to internalize those scripts and apply them in life. With this fact, is justified to state that the ‘Private Eyes’ viewers are likely to internalize problem solving skills displayed by the characters in their lives. As a result, they lose their natural, innate skills with a belief that the ones on stage are the most appropriate ones. Hoffman & Brown (2010 pp. 156-171) note that exposure to media violence increases an individual’s blood pressure, heartbeat and respiratory rates. Consequently, there is a high probability that the same feelings can be released to others with an aim of inflicting pain. In relation to the film ‘Private Eye’, it is important to explore its qualities and characteristics in order to understand its impact on human minds. Explicitly, Leitch (2002, 196-206) notes that the film has two major qualities that include professionalism and masculinity. In professionalism, the film demonstrates how human beings are obsessed with their jobs because they are tightly attached to them. For instance, the two detectives are attached to their jobs so much that they are willing to risk their lives in mansion by investigating Lord Morley’s murder case (Leitch 2003, pp.192-214). Even with the murder of the staff in the mansion, the two are hell-bent on finding out who is behind their client’s murder. Clearly, their actions are an indication that they are obsessed about the risky job. In real life, viewers of this film are likely to be inspired by the detectives’ actions and obsession of job. As a result, they will engage in dangerous missions that can even cost their lives (Hoffman & Brown 2010 pp. 156-171). The fact that the detectives succeed on stage does not have the same implication in reality. This is because films have an element of exaggeration in order to appeal to the viewers who enjoy watching fruitful efforts rather than tragedies (Broe 2003, pp. 8-10). Secondly, the film bears an element of a continuous pursuit for truth which is displayed by the Lord Morley and the two detectives (Leitch 2002, pp. 196-206). As the story closes, the audience finds out that Lord Morley had fake his, the wife’s and the staff’s death in an attempt to find out the truth about the mansion heiress’ intentions. It is explicit that the Morley had all along grown suspicious of the mistress’ actions in the mansion. In order to confirm his fears, Lord Morley sets up a deadly, though captivating plot of faking his death and employs detectives to investigate his murder (Leitch 2003, pp.192-214). Watching this film has a lot of negative impact on the audience, for they are likely to indulge in the perpetual search for truth on certain issues in life. Unlike in the film, this truth-seeking mission is not always successful and can even have serious costs on the participants. Additionally, Wykes (2001, pp.138-140) says that the film is erosive in that it makes people lose trust and faith in their neighbors, employees and friends. This, in turn, disturbs the natural peace that exists in the society and encourages many other immoral practices among people. Thirdly, ‘Private Eyes’ film is characterized by an aspect of comfort of independence among the characters. This implies that characters in the film are not accountable to anyone for their actions and intentions. For instance, Morley fakes his own death without fearing the impact that that would have in the society, particularly his members of staff in the mansion (Leitch 2003, pp.192-214). On the other hand, the detectives independently go about their mission. This stimulates the same spirit of independence among the viewers who eventually become individualistic. The aspect of social corporation among people is slowly rooted out and individualism prevails. The film conditions people to handle their own affairs without enlisting social or governmental institutions (Gentile 2003, pp. 20-25). Subsequently, the amount of problems among people increase in the society to confirm that that people need one to survive in the world. According to Leitch (2002, 196-197), the second quality of the film ‘Private Eyes,’ is masculinity. This is prevalent in the film as most of the characters are males who are trying to exercise their manliness on the female characters. In the film, masculinity is emphasized on the hero, Lord Morley, and his detectives (Leitch 2002, pp. 196-197). In the story, a black caped figure, who later appears to be Morley, successful rescues Winship from a deadly trap, and scares the heiress to unconsciousness as she tries to kill the detectives and escape with money (Leitch 2003, pp.192-214). These facts are instrumental in the creation of concepts of masculinity and feminism in the viewers’ minds. This implies that people grow with the knowledge that men are stronger than women, and that they can always overcome them in their attempts. This is evidenced by the fact the black caped figure (Morley) outwits the heiress in her plan (Leitch 2003, pp.192-214). The film depicts the male characters as heroes and the female ones as villains. Consequently, this concept can trigger violence and aggression against women in the society. It makes male viewers associate feminism with weakness and villainy. This can further cause men to be violent and aggressive towards their spouses and even lose faith and trust in them. Besides, it makes people think that masculinity is just displayed by conflicts that exist between men and women, for most of them depict men as stronger than the women (Golsan 2007, pp. 13-17). Therefore, crime films celebrate masculinity at the expense of the suffering feminine beings. Still on masculinity, the film bears an aspect of a love-hate relation between women and man. This implies that there is a mixture of feelings displayed by the men to the womenfolk (Broe 2003, pp. 8-10). In the film, it is evident that the male characters have both hatred and love feelings towards the heiress. For instance, Morley suspects that the heiress is planning to murder him and take his money. As a result, he sets up a scheme of faking his death in order to confirm his fears (Leitch 2003, pp.192-214). In his actions, the black caped figure frustrates the heiress’s efforts to get rid of the detectives in order to proceed with her mission. The film brings out this aspect at its climax in order to capitalize on it. As a result, the viewers leave theatres with a concept that women are wicked and weak (Golsan 2007, pp. 13-17). On contrast, they hold an opinion that men are heroes in the society as they can always outwit women. Therefore, the viewers will tend to conceptualize the facts in the film with a view that masculinity is superior to feminism. There is a high probability that the same concepts will be applied in their real lives. Conclusion Crime films have detrimental effects on the human mind and actions towards one another. People watch such films in order to get information, entertained, and avoid the cruel reality. Nevertheless, their normal minds are gradually eroded in that they apply the same ideas, skills and actions in the real life. Viewers tend to borrow the violent ways of solving problems in the film into reality, and this at times has negative consequences in their lives. Crime films desensitizes viewers to violence, develop aggressive and behaviors among children and adults, and creates a ‘mean world syndrome’ in their minds. The film ‘Private Eyes’, addresses the issues professionalism and masculinity with a view that people are over-obsessed with jobs, and that masculinity is superior to feminism. References Broe, D 2003, ‘Class, Crime, and Film Noir: Labor, the Fugitive Outsider, and the Anti-Authoritarian Tradition’, Social Justice, vol. 30, no.2, pp. 8-12. http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5025708659 Epstein, BJ 2009, Northern lights: translation in the Nordic countries, Lang, Oxford, Frankfurt. Pp. 56-60. Franklin, DP 2006, Politics and film: the political culture of film in the United States, Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham. Pp. 69-78. Golsan, K 2007, ‘Murder and Merrymaking: The "Seen" of the Crime in Renoir's 1930s Cinema’, Film Criticism, vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 13-17. http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5025708659 Gentile, DA 2003, Media violence and children: a complete guide for parents and professionals, Praeger, Westport, Conn. Pp. 20-25. Hoffman, B & Brown, M 2010, Staging an execution: The media at McVeigh. In Framing Crime: Cultural Criminology and the Image, London: Routledge, pp. 156-171. Lachlan, KA &Tamborini, R 2008, ‘The Effect of Perpetrator Motive and Dispositional Attributes on Enjoyment of Television Violence and Attitudes toward Victims’, Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, vol. 52, no.6, pp. 21-23. http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5026457121 Leitch, T 2003, Chinatown and the Private-eye film. In Crime Films: Genres in American Cinema, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. pp. 192-214. Leitch, TM 2002, Crime films, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge; New York. Pp. 196-206. 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